The Top 5 Reasons I Love My Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent

I like to give my tent a real workout the first time I take it out, but old lady nature really helped me out on my first trip with my Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3. We were expecting rain during our first night out with the UL3, but the hail storm came as a complete suprise.

Enough large hail fell that night that it looked like snow in places the next morning, but we spent a safe and dry night if not a particularly quiet one. Although the intenstiy and size of the hail storm had me worried, a close inspection of the tent did not reveal a single mar. I have to admit I was impressed!

With this in mind I give the tough materials and well sealed seams top billing on my 5 reasons list:

1. The tough materials and sealed seams kept us safe and dry during a hail storm
- Fly and floor is made of ultralight silicone treated nylon rip-stop with 200mm waterproof polyurethane coating
- All seams are taped with waterproof, solvent-free polyurethane tape with no PVC or VOC's
2. The tent is easy to put up or take down -- you can even unclip the twist clips with one hand when breaking down
3. You have the choice of setting up the tent freestanding or using any subset of the ten superlight J stakes -- the many different staking configurations allow you to set up the tent on an irregular site
4. Matched tent footprint is included - I highly recommend using the footprint to lengthen the life of the tent as well as giving you a fast fly option when you just need a quick sleep so you can get back on the trail
5. You may know that I am over 6'2" tall, and that my pup and I both weigh in at 200+ pounds, but the UL3 has room for us both with space left over for my girlfriend:
- Trail Weight 4lb 3oz, Packed Weight 4lb 12oz, footprint Weight 6oz, Fast Fly Weight 3lb 4oz, Packed Size 7" x 22" Floor Area 44sq ft, Vestibule Area 18sq ft, Head Height 44"

I bought this tent in 2008 right after it received an Editor's Choice award from Backpacker Magizine. We have taken good care of it, and it is still going strong after over one hundred set-ups. Although it is a three season tent, staking it substantially will ensure that it can withstand some serious storms. It hasn't let me down yet.

If you need a three-person tent that is lightweight and roomy, I recommend you give the Copper Spur UL3 a try.