For tents, Big Agnes updates their Copper Spur HV UL2, adds the new Copper Spur HV UL and Fly Creek HV UL bikepack tents, slims the Everest ready Battle Mountain, adds the new roomy Blacktail Hotel and pricepoint Salt Creek SL. For sleeping bags, the new Torchlight 20 offers full-length expandable panels for comfort.
Copper Spur HV UL2
For the next season, Big Agnes is updating their Copper Spur HV UL2 tent with an extra zipper system that will offer a canopy/tarp set up that integrates with your trekking poles. You can also roll the door up out of the way for better venting and viewing if desired. Also, they’ve added larger gear lofts for more storage space and switched to less stretchy nylon, which should make a difference when the tent gets damp.
The new pole grommet design has a locking mechanism, so once you insert the tent pole into the grommet, the tip of the pole stays put and won’t pop out when you’re on the other end inserting the next one. I have had that happen so many times when you’re trying to set up a tent by yourself, and this small innovation will take out a lot of frustration while erecting a tent.
Copper Spur HV UL1/UL2 Bikepack
Three Season, Free Standing, Ultralight Bikepacking Tents
From their award-winning, best-selling line of Copper Spur HV UL tents comes a solo bikepacking tent designed for on and off-road, two-wheeled travel. The pole segments have been shortened for optimal handlebar, pannier, and saddlebag storage. The burly compression stuff sack with a daisy chain makes storing these tents anywhere, a cinch. Enjoy the comforts of extras like an oversized storage pocket, webbing for dry helmet storage, and all the other features that make two-door Copper Spur HV UL tents the bomb. MSRP UL1 $399.95 and UL2 $469.95
Fly Creek HV UL1/UL2 Bikepack
Three Season, Free Standing, Ultralight Bikepacking Tents
From their award-winning, best-selling line of Fly Creek HV UL tents comes a solo bikepacking tent designed for on and off-road, two-wheeled travel. The pole segments have been shortened for optimal handlebar, pannier, and saddlebag storage. The burly compression stuff sack with a daisy chain makes storing these tents anywhere, a cinch. Enjoy the comforts of extras like an oversized storage pocket, webbing for dry helmet storage, and all the other features that make Fly Creek HV UL tents the bomb. MSRP UL1 $359.95 and UL2 $379.95
Battle Mountain 2
Four seasons, free-standing, mountaineering shelters
The Battle Mountain is a spacious, four-season, lightweight mountaineering tent that offers full protection in the harshest of backcountry and high-alpine conditions, and this year they slimmed it down slightly. The golden yellow color of the Battle Mountain was requested by Chhiring Dorje Sherpa, a Big Agnes Ambassador, and friend who has summited Mount Everest 16 times, to honor the Tibetan Buddhism goddess of prosperity and good fortune, Miyo Losangma.
Blacktail Hotel
The three-season, free-standing, backpacking tent offers a spacious extended vestibule, and it comes in 2 and 3 person versions. It’s light enough for the backcountry and strong enough for the front country, the Blacktail Hotel gives you, your gear, or your dog a little more space.
Salt Creek SL2/SL3
The Salt Creek SL2 offers a great price point for a light backpacking tent, and it’s fully featured and comes with a useful third door that provides a canopy/tarp set up by utilizing your trekking poles. Once all the doors are opened up on the rainfly, you’ll get excellent ventilation and viewing. Also comes in an SL3 3-person version.
Torchlight 20
The 600-fill-power down Torchlight 20 is an extremely versatile sleeping bag and offers expandable panels on each side that run the entire length of the bag. So you could open up just the foot section, or maybe you want more room around the shoulders. The zipped panel design offers everything from a semi-rectangular bag for mild temperatures or a tighter mummy bag when it gets chilly out. MSRP $469
It also comes in an ultralight version, the Torchlight UL for $629.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi there,
I am in the UK and wanted to get the Copper Spur 2 Hotel but didn’t like the orange as I want to stealth camp. I’ve just seen the Blacktail hotel above in green and this looks perfect. How do they compare? (specs and prices etc) Is it new for 2020?
Thanks
Julian
Julian,
The Copper Hotel HV UL2 is a more upscale tent (US MSRP $550), with additional features and lightweight materials, while the Blacktail 2 is more of an entry-level ($240). I haven’t used either of those tents, though I am currently testing the Copper Spur HV UL2 Bikepack, which is pretty close to the Copper Hotel, though without the massive vestibule. I really like that tent, and it has more subdued colors.
. The other new tents for this season are the Copper Spur HV UL mtnGLO and Copper Spur HV UL, both of which have calmer color schemes.
Regards,
Brian – Publisher