Selecting the right tent is about finding the sweet spot between weight, and the level of waterproofing required for the environment and terrain you are exploring.
This is why we love and highly recommend Big Agnes collection of tents. Their tents are easy and intuitive to set up and have been designed with durability in mind. There are lots to choose from depending on your target weight, desired packed size, occupancy needs, price and intended activity.
All the tents are 3 Season and use Big Agnes proprietary fly and floor fabrics. Most styles also come with a compatible footprint to increase the durability of the floor, suitable for the Australian environment. This also makes it easier to care for and maintain your tent.
Where the range begins to diversify is when we start to look at weight. The range starts from as little as 900 grams with the Semi-Free Standing Fly Creek and Tiger Wall tents. With Freestanding styles like the Copper Spur starting from as little as 1.08kg.
For the bikepacker out there, the Copper Spur, Tigerwall, Fly Creek, Black tail are available in a bikepacking version with shorter poles and compact bag to make it easy to fit on your bike.
Here our top picks from the range, can’t see the right tent for you? You can view the full collection here or shoot our knowledge team any questions you have to sales@backpackinglight.com.au.
Best Bikepacking Tent:
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 Bikepacking Tent
Packed Weight: 1.59kg
Packed Size: 18 x 34 cm
Design: Freestanding
Available in: 1,2 and 3 person
Features we love:
- Featuring a 12" Shortstik Poleset, ideal for packing onto handlebars, panniers and saddlebags, or saving space in any pack + Multiple bike-frame attachment configurations for burley compression stuff-sack with daisy-chain webbing system
- Proprietary ultralight nylon double rip-stop, mixed denier fabric offers extra tear-strength and puncture resistance without adding weight
- Dry, dirt-free changing and gear storage with extended footprint creates a vestibule floor, sold separately
- Increased airflow and reduced condensation through fly vent with low vent feature on the vestibule doors for more airflow while still providing vestibule coverage
Best Lightweight Tent:
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 SD 2 Person Tent Solution Dye
Packed Weight:1.13kg
Packed Size: 14 x 46cm
Design: Semi-freestanding
Available in: 1,2 and 3 person
Features we love:
- Solution-dyed fabric is highly resistant to UV fade and drastically reduces energy consumption and water use during manufacturing, a process that is better for the environment and improves the quality of the tent fabric
- Features two doors, two vestibules with storm flaps on all vestibule zippers
- Easy and efficient setup and take down with the strong DAC Featherlite single pole system structure
- Increased airflow with low vent feature on the vestibule doors and double sliders on the vestibule zippers for venting from the top or bottom
Most Sustainable Tent:
Packed Weight: 1.93kg
Packed Size: 15 x 47cm
Design: Freestanding
Available in: 1 and 2 person
Features we love:
- Full-featured Superlight backpacking tent made using GRS certified recycled nylon, for sustainable adventuring without compromising on performance
- Two doors and two generous side vestibules provide easy egress and generous gear storage
- Single poleset featuring a swivel hub for a simple, reliable, fast-pitching design
- Pre-bent poles create extra headroom without extra weight or bulk
- Full mesh ceiling for maximum airflow and moisture management, or for stargazing on clear nights
Best Car Camping Tent:
Packed Weight: 2.24cm
Packed Size: 53 x 18cm
Design: Freestanding
Available in: 2 and 3 person
Features we love:
- Features two doors and two vestibules and storm flaps on vestibule zipper.
- Media pockets located above the sleeping area enable clean headphone cord routing from phones or other devices.
- Velcro tabs connect fly to pole structure providing perfect pitch and extra stability.
- Ready to pitch; with pre-cut guylines and tensioners attached to fly.
Best Solo Ultralight Tent
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL 1 Person Ultralight Tent
Packed Weight: 907g
Packed Size: 13 x 47cm
Design: Semi-freestanding
Available in: 1 and 2 person
Feature we love:
- Solution-dyed fabric is highly resistant to UV fade and drastically reduces energy consumption and water use during manufacturing, a process that is better for the environment and improves the quality of the tent fabric
- NEW expanded headroom and larger front entry with updated high-volume architecture and steeper walls
- Increased usable interior space without increasing weight using single-pole DAC Angle SF Hub, plus more usable volume added to the vestibule with vertical door construction
- Simplified setup with proprietary tent corner construction and unique TipLok Tent Buckle™ that combines three functions: secure pole-tip capture, rainfly attachment and tensioner, and stake-out loop
- Dual zipper, single-door with quick-stash door-keeper plus storm flaps on single vestibule door
- Easy to pitch any time of day with reflective guylines and Colour-coded webbing on tent corners
Best all rounder:
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 Person Ultralight Tent
Weight: 1.42kg
Packed Size: 50 x 15cm
Pole Structure: Freestanding
Available in: 1, 2, 3 ,4 and 5 person
Features we love:
- NEW awning-style vestibules with double-zippers provide multiple access options.
- Features two doors and two vestibules
- NEW 3-D bin ‘mezzanine’ at the foot provides elevated storage, oversized ceiling pocket at the head provides additional storage; media pockets provide cord-routing for electronics.
- Reduced condensation with dual low-vent vestibule doors and high fly vent to maximise active and passive airflow.
- Fast-fly setup available with footprint.
