The Copper Spur series from Big Agnes has been hugely popular amongst backpackers for a numbers of years, with plenty of praise for its roomy, high-ceilinged interior, excellent feature-set and its lightweight design and packability. As of 2025, the entire line has been updated, with Big Agnes adding their newly developed HyperBead fabric technology. This, they say is 6% lighter, 25% more waterproof, and 50% stronger than traditional materials and ultimately reduces the weight of their tents while enhancing their durability and weather resistance.
The Top Line
This XL version of the two-person Copper Spur UL2 XL offers a heck of a lot of space, but without much of a weight penalty, weighing just 1.45kg altogether. That’s all thanks to the extremely high-spec materials deployed here. To me, it’s about as luxurious as a two backpacking tent can get.
Buy The Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 UL XL Tent: £599.99 at Ultralightourdoorgear.co.uk
The Context of Our Review
A confession. At the time of writing, I’ve only used this for one campout during our Outdoor 100 Test Trip in Eryri, North Wales. That being said, I really liked what I saw from this and I’ve decided it fits the bill for a month-long European backpacking trip I’ve got coming up with my partner. We want something that’s lightweight, roomy, reliable, easy to pitch on hard ground and usable with just the inner. As this ticks all those boxes, it’ll be coming with us and I’ll update this review following that month away.
Key Features
Design
This pitches inner first, meaning it can be used without the flysheet on warm and dry nights. Big Agnes do also sell a footprint that lets you pitch the tent without the inner – tarp style. It’s a freestanding tent, so it’s great for using on very hard or sandy ground.
High-Spec Materials
The materials this uses are all top notch, with a waterproof silicone and polyurethane coated flysheet and ground mat, 15D polyester mesh, DAC Featherlite NFL poles and ultralight aluminium stakes. There’s also that HyerBead fabric technology too.
Dual Porches
There’s a large porch on either side of the Copper Spur. UL2 XL Each can be propped up with tent stakes to create large awnings for sheltered space to relax and cook.
Storage
Mesh pockets are in abundance on the inside, giving loads of places to stash away gear and keep things organised.
Venting
There’s one large vent at the top of the tent which can be propped open or closed. The doors on the fly also have two-way zippers and the option to prop them up too, of course.

Pitching
I found this easy and intuitive to pitch the first time I tried it. The colour coding for the poles and pole sockets helps there – they make the process almost foolproof. I’ve also found that it’s very easy to ensure the flysheet is perfectly taut. For me, it takes about 5 minutes to have the Copper Spur up and ready to sleep in.
Buy The Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 UL XL Tent: £599.99 at Ultralightourdoorgear.co.uk