Are the lightweight Big Agnes tents waterproof enough for the UK?

The Big Agnes Copper Spur and Tiger Wall look like great tents for a hike/bike and camp, especially if you are tall like myself. However the specs give both the ground and fly sheet only 1200mm HH, which is considerably lower than the lowest that I’ve used before. I’ve also seen some reviews which describe the floor as more of a ‘resistant barrier’ that will let water thru eventually rather than a complete defence against moisture. Is this how they manage to make their tents at such an enticing price point?!

Just get yourself an alpkit ordos. Same weight, totally waterproof, half the price. Job jobbed. Seriously they’re great tents. Not sure if you need headroom or length being tall. But they’re plenty long enough and not unacceptably low.

Just get yourself an alpkit ordos

Too short for me I’m afraid!

We’ve got the 2 person bikepacking version of the copper spur and it’s great. Spacious, lots of handy features and two doors/porches is really handy. We tend to use it with a foot print. Can’t say I’ve ever noticed issues with waterproofness and have been away in some reasonably poor weather (on the Scottish meteorological scale).

Let me know if you’ve any specific queries and I’ll help if I can!

We’ve got the 2 person bikepacking version of the copper spur and it’s grea

This is the one I’m looking at, I’d prob also use a footprint. Does it work ok for things like camping on snow or wet ground?

Can’t say I’ve ever noticed issues with waterproofness and have been away in some reasonably poor weather (on the Scottish meteorological scale).

This is very reassuring!!

I used the one person version of the Copper Spur HV UL1 in new zealand in 2020, it stood upto to the windiest conditions I’ve ever encountered (on the top of the Remutukas) and several nights of heavy rain along the coast, was very impressed overall, well worth the investment

also should say that at 6ft 4 it was just about big enough to be comfortable, in hindsight I should have bought the 2 person version and sucked up the slight extra weight

the short poles are a major plus for carrying on the bike as well

That’s great info, thanks! I’m also 6’4″, and it’s the 2 person one I’m looking at (there’ll be two people sleeping in it too!

Great to hear it did well in high winds and rain!

I’ve been using a copper spur 2 platinum for three years now.
Can’t fault it really, it’s a great bit of kit.
I’ve used it, with a footprint, in plenty wet weather and never had a drop come into the tent. Never anything really biblical, but wet enough, and once in light snow.
I love the roominess in it.

Used ours a few times over the last year. Fantastic pack size, no issues with waterproofing but we use a footprint. Material is very thin and a lot of mesh meaning it is much colder than other tents we have used (Terra Nova) which is a minor issue in the late autumn/early spring.

I’ve a Seedhouse SL2 which is my second. The first having succumbed to tape delamination at ~10 years.

Bike and backpacked in the UK and other Countries 1 and 2 up with no wetting issues. They’re a bit chillier than non mesh tents in winter but that’s true of all the US mesh inner type tents.

Big Agnes warranted the first one no problem which is brilliant service as it was well out of the warranty period.

Obviously better to not need the warranty and I do have/have had other tents that have survived for longer without issue.

@bedmaker whats the difference between the UL and the platinum? Apart from 250g and £100? I see that the Platimum has more mesh and no awning, is that the main thing? I don’t mind plenty of mesh as it helps reduce condensation, but I was wondering if those awnings might be useful when prepping food on a rainy eve or morning!

Tell you what the packed size on that platinum looks tiny!