Campman Outdoor Gear & Apparel

In an oversaturated tent market, it’s not easy to make a name for yourself. Big Agnes has managed to do exactly that and has been consistently at the forefront of the ultralight backpacking market, led by their flagship tent model, the Copper Spur HV

Since it was first introduced in 2008, the Copper Spur has seen multiple redesigns and iterations, which have helped it to stay relevant in the ever-changing world of camping tents and in the impressive line-up of Big Agnes Tents.

So what makes the Copper Spur such a modern classic? There are plenty of things to love about it, but most backpackers will agree that one of the best features of the tent is that it doesn’t force users to sacrifice comfort for weight-savings.

This year, Big Agnes gave the Copper Spur series a facelift, so naturally we needed to check one out to see what all the fuss was about.

First Look

Other than the color change, the 2020 Copper Spur appears to be much the same as the previous design. The same peak height, floor space, and dimensions keep the new model as roomy and comfortable as ever.

It’s not until you get it fully pitched, with the fly attached, that you’ll notice all of the differences. Notably, Big Agnes redesigned the spanning pole to offer additional stability, included an awning option, redesigned the tent corner attachment points, added tougher materials, and included more interior storage.

Like we said, it only looks the same.

Updated Features

Span Pole

It may not seem like much, but the small, pre-bent span pole is actually a very big upgrade. In addition to increasing the interior tent space, this pole also works to improve the overall stability and strength of the tent. Plus, it creates a slightly steeper roof angle, making it easier for the rain fly to shed water during storms.

Awning-Style Vestibule

You might be blessed with always finding the best camp spot, complete with large trees that offer plenty of shade when the sun starts shining. For the rest of us, Big Agnes added the awning-style vestibule option to the Copper Spur series.

The fly still offers full, waterproof coverage when you need it as well as a storage space for your boots and a moderately sized pack. But, for those bluebird days when you want to cook breakfast without getting your tan on, they added a second vestibule zipper, which allows the fly to open up, creating a small awning when combined with your trekking poles or the Big Agnes Tent Accessory Poles.

While the extra shade is nice, the awning is really only as tall as your tent. This means it’s a useful feature, but taller folks might find themselves feeling a bit cramped underneath the awning.

TipLok Tent Buckle™

Other than being a mouthful to say, the TipLok Tent Buckle is one of the biggest changes to the new Copper Spur. Basically, Big Agnes redesigned the attachment points at each corner to make your tent setup easier than ever before.

First, they included a small plastic pole-tip capture. This piece anchors the pole tip securely in place, and holds it in place during set-up, which is especially handy when pitching the tent by yourself.

Next, they attached the rainfly buckle and tensioner to the pole-tip capture. This new single-piece design equalizes the force between attachment points, making for a more stable structure.

Finally, they added in a lightweight stake-out loop, for a 3-in-1 construction that simplifies your setup.

In our testing, we found that this was the most noticeable upgrade to the tent. It makes for painless setup, especially when rolling solo, and it’s very intuitive to use.

That said, we also have durability concerns about moving from a metal grommet to a plastic pole-tip capture. Since it’s a critical component to both the rain fly and the tent itself, damaging one has the potential to take your shelter out of commission. Frankly, we’re kind of torn on this one, as it’s definitely a functional upgrade, but it’s almost certainly more fragile than the traditional metal grommet.

Materials

Even with Big Agnes Tents, durability is a concern when you want to go ultralight, because, generally speaking, lighter weight fabrics are more prone to ripping and tearing.

Big Agnes took a smarter approach to this issue by moving from a standard nylon ripstop material to a double ripstop mixed denier nylon for the floor, fly, and tent body.

In case you haven’t been keeping up with the latest trends in tent fabrics, here’s the bottom line; the new material is more resistant to punctures and has a higher tear-strength, yet weighs the same as the material used for previous models. That’s possible because the extra strength comes from the way this fabric is woven, rather than how thick it is. So while you’re still getting a very lightweight tent, you’re now less likely to find yourself trying to patch your tent in the middle of a downpour.

What We Like

• Awning-Style Vestibule - We can’t count the number of times we thought we found the perfect campsite in the middle of the night, only to wake up and find that there’s no shade anywhere. This optional awning is something that can and will come in handy. Plus, it’ll make you more likely to carry trekking poles, which will save your knees some grief along the way.
• Tougher Fabrics - We always get excited about higher tear-resistance at the same material weight. That goes double for a backpacking tent.
• Same Price - Normally, a redesign that adds this much to the tent would also mean bumping up the price tag. However, Big Agnes kept the price the same as before, meaning you get a better tent without breaking the bank.

What We Don’t Like

• Accessories - The new TipLok Buckle does create one problem for users of the current Copper Spur; all of the old external accessories are no longer compatible with the tent. This means that your old Copper Hotel Rainfly and footprint will need to be replaced if you want to upgrade to the new model.

Since it is an ultralight tent, we recommend pairing it with a footprint to increase the lifespan and longevity of your tent floor. For those needing additional dry storage space beyond what the included rainfly offers, keep in mind that you can also get the Copper Hotel Rainfly, which adds 18 ft2 of vestibule space, but it is only compatible with the Copper Spur HV UL2 or Copper Spur HV UL3.

• Plastic Pole-Tip Capture - Replacing the old metal grommet with the plastic, keyed buckle in the TipLok definitely makes the new Copper Spur easier to use. However, experience has taught us that molded plastic components break more easily, and are harder to fix in the field, than tried-and-true grommets. You’ll want to be careful to avoid stepping on these while you’re setting up camp.

Conclusion

The upgrades to the Copper Spur HV Series tack on a lot of additional value without adding to the overall price of the tent itself, helping to keep the Copper Spur at the forefront of our favorite Big Agnes Tents.

The added storage space, awning-style vestibule, new materials, and redesigned tent corner construction all are valuable and well executed additions that set the Copper Spur HV apart in the world of ultralight backpacking tents, especially when compared to the other class leaders like the NEMO Dagger, MSR Hubba Hubba, and NEMO Dragonfly.

About Campman

Campman is an outdoor retail store located in Salt Lake City, Utah, that specializes in gear and equipment for camping, skiing, backpacking, climbing, and everything in between. We understand that the difference between a bad memory and the adventure of a lifetime can come down to the gear you take with you when you head outdoors, and we want our customers to have the best experiences possible. When it comes to getting outside, we get it, and we’ll get you the gear you need to get there.

Questions? Feel free to contact us by phone at (801) 999-8117 or by email at sales@campman.com.