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Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 Tent
Tester Bio:
Name: Taylor Cockrell
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Height: 6’ 0” (1.83 Meters)
Weight: 190 Pounds (86.2 Kilograms)
Email address: [email protected]
City, State, Country: Abilene, Texas, U.S.
Date: March 13, 2015
Backpacking Background: My backpacking obsession began in High Schoolafter going on a weeklong wilderness trek. Since then, I have remainedpassionate about backpacking. I like to backpack overnight when I can, simplybecause I love playing with all my gearJ Thatbeing said, my pack normally weighs in between 35 and 50 pounds. I normallybackpack in the Big Bend area or in the Rio Grande area of Northern New Mexico.I also love to camp out with family in local state parks around West Texas.
ProductInformation
Manufacturer: Big Agnes
Year of Manufacture: 2013
URL: https://www.bigagnes.com
Packed Weight: 2lb 5oz
Trail Weight: 1lb 15oz
Product Description: The Fly Creek UL2 is an ultra light, backpackingtent designed to sleep two people.
Price: $349.95
FieldInformation
Time Tested: Approximately 20 nights in this tent over the past year anda half.
Location of Test:
1. AbileneState Park (Abilene, Texas)
- WestTexas area. Flat, wooded terrain. Elevation: 1,719 ft. (524 m).
- Tested inOctober when temperature was cool during the day and cold at night. Temperaturedropped to approximately 38 degrees Fahrenheit (3.3 degrees Celcius). Noprecipitation.
2. Ruidoso,New Mexico
- CentralNew Mexico area. Mountain terrain. Elevation: 7,000 ft. (2,134 m).
- Tested inearly April. Temperature dropped to below freezing. Encountered lightprecipitation.
Review:
When looking to buy a tent there are several things that I want to knowupfront. I want to know: A) How does the tent hold up in rainy or wetconditions? B) How easy is it to set up the tent? C) Is the tent ideal forfour-season backpacking? D) Is the tent durable/will this be a good investment?
Upon testing, I was more than satisfied with 3 out of 4 of thesequestions. I spent two nights camping in Ruidoso and encountered light rainshowers both nights. Not a single drop of rain made it through the rain fly. Ihave yet to test this tent in a downpour but I would assume that it would excelin a deluge as well. It would be a good idea to use the Fly Creek UL2 footprintin downpour conditions or conditions where the ground is already soaked.
The tent is extremely easy to set up. It only took me a couple minutes.I love the single pole design of the Fly Creek UL Series. When the tent is setup, you get a better idea of how extremely light it is. When it comes time topack this tent up, you can simply pick it up by the pole and shake out the dirtand dust before breaking it down. When I tested the tent in Abilene, I campedon pretty hard ground. I had to find a rock in order to bang the stakes intothe ground. On the bright side, the stakes are extremely strong and durable andwould be able to penetrate most dirt.
This is not a four-season tent (meaning there are tents out there thatwill give you better cold-weather protection) but it doesn’t claim to be. So myonly complaint about this product is that when camping in freezing weather,don’t expect this ultra-light to be what keeps you warm. That’s what your bagis forJ
If you believe that every ounce matters (and it totally does) then theBig Agnes Fly Creek UL2 would be an excellent investment. I have probably spenta total of 20 nights in this tent over the past year and a half and it stilllooks and works like new. The zipper always seems to be the first thing on thetent to give out. This zipper construction is top notch and does not catch onany fabric.
Summary
If you love backcountry camping excursions and prefer a tent, it reallydoes not get any better than the Fly Creek UL2. It is the best price/productratio on the market in my opinion.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED