The BEST Freestanding Tents For Backpacking and Camping! Telos TR2 vs Copper Spur HV UL2!

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[@kristymoore7052]

I LOVE my copper spur. The storage is incredible and though I don’t used the awning as intended much, I have. I generally unzip both sides for the awning and the stuff it all up above the mesh. Easy peasey.

[@ZachBrimhall]

Picked up a Copper Spur HV UL2 last year, perfect tent. Only thing, I wish the tent floor was square to accommodate two 25" wide pads. Other than that, it's perfect.

[@scuba5k]

Hell yeah, I’m done with 20” pads. 2022 Tensor regular wide is what I love.

[@BigDawgCAM]

Does it accommodate two mummy-style 25 inch pads?

[@lazyrider9847]

I just bought the Big Agnes Copper Spur 2-person. It's plenty of room for me and my gear. Mine came with a small hole in the mesh. I contacted Big Agnes, asking for some mesh repair tape, so I didn't have to send it in. They told me to take it to REI, where I bought it. I ordered the tent online, so I'd either have to take a long drive, or mail it in, both costing me time and money. This is a manufacturing defect from Big Agnes. REI just sold the tent (it was still factory new). So much for the vaunted Big Agnes customer service. I repaired the hole with some ripstop tape that I already had. Not as nice looking as mesh tape, but it will do.

[@zachcherry8221]

The TR2 does have a gear loft you can buy separate for $20 (I’d agree for $559 it should come with it). Great tent and I’m loving it so far. The ventilation here in balmy Tennessee is essential!

[@BackcountryExposure]

For the few cents to a dollar in material cost, it could easily be added to the tent while keeping the price the same.

[@tshddx]

Don't you also have to buy the Copper Spur gear lofts separately, also for around $20? That's what it looks like on the product pages I'm seeing now.

[@azclaimjumper]

Very nice comparison video. I, personally would have preferred seeing the tents during a rain storm & with some strong gusty winds. I think we all want a shelter that does, in fact, provide shelter from the storm. I do wish you'd consider including some mention/dialog with any tent about the floor material. I think we all "expect" the floor be thick/strong enough to provide a long lasting barrier from direct contact with ground. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada

[@antduke2361]

I wouldn't trust the Copper Spur in heavy wind or storms I have one and even costal camping in the UK here it seems on the verge of collapse with moderate constant winds. It's great for sheltered camps but certainly no high altitude or exposed tent. The MSR Hubba us better due to much better placed guy out points for wind resistance.

[@azclaimjumper]

@@antduke2361 Hilleberg Enan, in dark green is my tent, easy peasy to pitch by myself even in strong gusty winds. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada U.S.A.

[@antduke2361]

@@azclaimjumper I have just bought the new Durston X Mid solid I was lucky enough to get one on the last order this week.

[@azclaimjumper]

@@antduke2361 I don't hike with Trekking Poles, but that's just MEeee.

[@undefeatedgaul3201]

That would involve having half an idea wtf you’re talking about which this jabroni doesn’t

[@commentsonthetube14]

Leaving another comment for another point. If you're going as a couple, big agnes and exped (maybe others, not sure) both sell tapered 2 person pads that take up the whole tent floor in these tapered 2p tents. Very worth it if you go couples camping a lot. They eliminate that annoying gap between pads and make the whole tent warmer since they cover the whole floor. Feels roomier than 2x25" pads even though it's not.

[@InOurElement]

That is why we will stay with our durston 2p. A full 50" wide and accommodates our 2, 25" sea to summit pads perfectly. Also still has room at the head and foot area for storage. Oh, did mention, it's 300.00

[@jonsanford2515]

I have a Durston 1p. The tents are great if you can get one. I lucked out and bought mine right before they became nearly impossible to buy. It sounds like they expect to have their supply issues resolved this Fall.

[@Packsalot]

Great job on the comparison and the explaining the features. I have the CS UL3 and absolutely love it for 1 and/or 2 person trips. I love the extra room and the features. However, I don't think I could drop another $400 on the UL2 though, just to save a pound or so. Maybe when the one I have fails but it is holding up well so far. Great product. Take care, Devin. Have a great day.

[@rebeccasys]

I've heard Hilleberg tents talk about not putting storage on the tent because the weight of items weighs down the tent in ways it wasn't designed to be weighted - especially under heavy weather conditions. If you really want your tent to last a lifetime, they say very little storage is the best way to go apparently.

[@livinlarge1247]

Like the short pole bikepack tents that really fit in ones "backpack". The Nemo & BA are nice. The BA has more tie outs & storage, Nemo is warmer & a stronger floor but gets frost.

[@ToxicGamer86454]

Just wanted to add something about customer service. I have a Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL Bikepack. The first time I used it I demolished the zipper. I’m not sure if it was me or a defect in the zipper. I called Big Agnes and told them what happened. They asked for pictures and I sent pictures. They approved a repair. I’m not sure if they repaired it or sent a new one but it was excellent condition when I got it back. They also paid shipping both ways. Ok, I’m fairly certain they paid shipping both way. I can’t remember precisely.

[@camping-k]

2인용 텐트가 앞뒤 문이 열려 개방감이 좋을것같아요. 영상 잘봤어요^^

[@maximusjoseppi5904]

I had a telos.. the design causes serious condensation issues in the rain which builds up on the roof and simply falls straight on you due to the flat roof just causing it to pool. I made a video on it.

[@BackcountryExposure]

I'll have to take a look at that. Thanks!

[@tonybarnhill808]

I have the UL2 and in high winds, the small velcro is not enough to keep the top flap closed. I had use a safety pin because water was blowing in.

[@JarradShaw]

These are the two tents that I struggle as to which I would like to buy. Glad you did this comparison.

[@maximusjoseppi5904]

Telos is bad in weather, def go copper

[@thecappy]

I have the bike packing version of the CS. Great on bicycle and motorcycle.

[@garrycollins3415]

I loved my Copper Spur. I didn't consider the pitch mode as a gimmick. A number of trips I could sit under the porch in my chair zero during a light rain and chill. I also found the adjustable fly clips handled the rain stretch. Great video. I need to buy a new tent since my Copper Spur blew away (literally, it blew away never to be seen again). This video gives me food for thought.

[@samgonzalez9845]

Was your copper spur not staked down?

[@garrycollins3415]

@@samgonzalez9845 it was but it was empty, drying out in the yard. A freak storm popped up and took it, ripped out 6 stakes and carried it away. Hours and miles later there was no sign of it.

[@samgonzalez9845]

@@garrycollins3415 dang thats wild. Did you replace it? Also, when putting the rainfly on your copper spur, would you use the velcro pieces to affix the fly to the poles, or just use the pole-grommets and stake it down? The velcro attachments seem like they would be a hassle to manipulate when putting the fly on.

[@garrycollins3415]

@@samgonzalez9845 just saw this. I used those Velcro tabs to the poles only if big winds were coming. Otherwise I put the poles in the footprint grommets, hung the fly over and clipped on the footprint then hung the inside netting if I didn't do that first. I now have a Durstan Xmid 1P and an Outdoor Vitals Fortius 2P which I'm going to sell to buy an Xmid 2P.

[@livinlarge1247]

Staff at Backcountry & Steep Cheap is awesome. I have to get out there to Utah & visit. The list is building. I currently have the 1p Copper Spur & deciding to keep or go to the 3 legged design like the Tiger Wall.

[@joker2100]

TR2 needs a more durable floor, higher hydrostatic fabrics, a rectangular footprint to have both people facing the same direction (useful for when pitched on a slope to prevent blood pooling in the head), and have the highest point be in the middle to prevent water pooling in between the two points of the crossbar and dripping down inside. Those are the downfalls of the tent that I’ve seen from other reviews. Otherwise, I like the ideas Sea to Summit is putting out for their first freestanding tent.

[@StevieDahlen]

Have the Copper Spur UL1. Absolutely love it

[@wad6216]

me too just bought an old model BA copper spur HV2 so guess I will self the one person

[@MegaMastiffman]

If the Sea to summit comes down in price I would check it out I personally like earth tone colors not really digging the grey, but I really like the design a lot like a lot and future gens will get better

[@IanStotesbury]

Sea to Summit storage pocket is an add on.

[@thomasstolzenburg9247]

If i see this correctly, then, if you want to set it up free standing, then you have to setup the inner first and then the outer over it... which is a no-go in bad weather. To me, free standing and being able to setup inner and outer together is a must for any tent to be used in bad weather... and there are not many which tick that practically all important box... if you then also want ieight weight the choice is less than a handful... the only I know of is the terra nova southern cross ul 1, coz the famous Hilliberg is way heavier (coz it's almost bomb proof even in bad weather)... no easy choice to make... thanks anyways!

[@kevinharding1181]

You could flash metric sizes/weights up on screen mate. This is what the rest of the world outside the USA uses and understands (I'm sure, like me, you have a lot of overseas subscribers and it would just make life a little easier for us)😉

[@BigDawgCAM]

Also check out the Nemo Dragonfly 2P as well! It’s another strong competitor

[@BackcountryExposure]

I've recently got the Dagger OSMO that I will be testing and comparing as well. Another solid option.

[@BigDawgCAM]

@@BackcountryExposure Can't wait to hear your review! Just waiting until they are in stock to purchase one

[@BigDawgCAM]

Just wish they weren’t made of silnylon! Hope everyone goes the way of Nemo to add silpoly blends into their tents

[@hoser7706]

Great review! MSR Freelite (new style and old) is symmetrical so 50” wide at both ends. Seems most MSR tents are summetrical

[@DaveOffGrid]

Nice versus video! I'm having a hard time making the price point worth it on these tents. Is there anything about either of them that make them worth the price tag versus options that are around half the price and about the same weight? For $500 you're only $50 shy of a Zpacks tent at a quarter of the weight. Does the telos have the porch mode? For me there's nothing that stands out that would make over 4lbs and $500 justified. Great broll and filming style as always Devin!

[@blop507]

How do you feel about the Nemo Dagger Osmo? It's definitely heavier but it's cheaper, had a polyester/ nylon blend to combat sagging, and had a rectangular footprint so you can fit two 25" pads.

[@americafirst5453]

I love the sea to summit telos tr2 I was lucky and got it on sale for $375.

[@Canadian_Craftsman]

I agree that stupid narrow foot area drives me away from ALLOT of good options I really like the porch mode on the Sea 2 Summit but not the price 😉 hahaha😁✌️💚

[@DMSAdventures]

Hey love the multiple camera angles! I know its a fair amount more work but the result is great. Two solid tents but YES, why won't they give us the full 50" at the bottom.... or at least the option. i love gear lofts and being able to keep things up and organized. Our Trekker 3 has 2 small pockets and they are ALWAYS overflowing with stuff!

[@erict5878]

Great comparison of the two. I've had my eye on the Copper spur but I do have a few questions about the two. First, like you, I love the room of a 2 person tent as I usually hike alone and like the pockets for stuff to keep it off the floor. I am 5'10 but also am 73 so getting in and out I need more room so a wider/taller door is preferred. Which one do you find easier to enter and exit with the vestibule half open. Also which one has the more sturdy floor? I like the higher bathtub of the STS tent but I am hearing on some of the high end UL tents the floors are not that reliable...thus extra weight is carried with a footprint or ground cover.

[@bewhiskeredjuarez6851]

Take less gear and you won't need the pockets in your tent LOL. Thanks for the video awesome as always 👍

[@BackcountryExposure]

Ha! Bring the tent only and you're good to go. :)

[@GIRLplusDOGAdventures]

I still need to check out the TR2. Was this the first time you did the video with the 2 different camera angles? I definitely noticed, but it does add great variety to the talking shots. B-roll was great as usual.

[@livinlarge1247]

I went in the side without the fly cannopy on the BA.

[@livinlarge1247]

Which takes more wind? The BA CS I got had lots of tie downs. Wish its vestibule had an extra like Nemo DF. Sea to Sum Vestibule looks big.

[@newplanet7]

Great video! Another thing that matters to me is packability size for in the pack. Do you tend to keep the poles on the outside of the pack and just stuff the tent in a stuff sack? I want a freestanding tent, but the smaller packability of trekking pole tents is inviting.

[@dustinthomson110]

Check out the Mountain Hardwear Aspect 2 for a freestanding option. Tough floor that doesnt necessarily need a footprint, great warranty and large vestibules. Oh did i mention its 50" wide and 88" long with no taper? It is a couple of ounces heavier but without a need for a footprint its a wash in my mind.

[@Dadstrails]

I was personally torn between the sea to summit and aspect 2. How is the ventilation with the Aspect 2?

[@dustinthomson110]

It's good, the double wall helps but the fly will sag when it gets wet and you will have to retension, as with any silnylon tent.

[@agunslinger9349]

How does Slingfin Portal never get any KZbin voice time? Only hear about it on well respected forums?

[@Zhy151Tex]

A lot of y’all big channel guys ignore the Nemo Dagger 2p a lot. I don’t see any “big” outdoor channel even talking about it. It’s what you’re wanting with it being 50 inches wide at the head and foot end.

[@BackcountryExposure]

I’ve got one now and have shared a video or two on it.

[@Northern_Rockhopper]

I love tents

[@commentsonthetube14]

Sea to summit sells a gear loft for the telos tents (just installed it in my TR3). Seems to work pretty well! Though I wish they had built it in or included it. Side note, I really like the TR3. I'm about 6'4" so the TR2 is a little short for me. The TR3 is 90 inches long. But what I hadn't realized is you get an extra 10 inches of vertical space in the TR3 too! This makes a big difference for me when getting in/out of the tent. I can kind of squat/walk instead of crawl out. It also fits my exped megamat, so it has become my road tripping tent. Though if I am gonna be at the same site for a few days or am spending all day there vs just spending the night, I'd prefer some silly tent like the REI kingdom 6. But this is a great middle ground. Big enough to be very comfortable, but small enough to set up/take down quickly and not take up a ton of car space. At around 5lb it's heavy for a backpacking tent, but when I split the weight with another person, I think it's pretty worth it for all the space we get! Planning on bringing it for a boat-in backpacking trip with my fiance in a month or so. Would not bother with this tent if it was just me though.

[@Taffer-bx7uc]

I have a problem with the footprint for the Copper Spur matching up on the UL1.

[@supercalifra16ocious]

Are you able to see the stars in the sky through the net when you're sleeping only in the interior?

[@eddy-westside]

Hello! Are the bikepacking versions of these tents the same but with shorter poles, or are there other differences?

[@erict5878]

Also, which one has the most head room?

[@lonetreeoutdoors]

Great review video! The Nemo Dagger has a true 50 inch wide floor at the head and foot. It comes in at 54 oz and a similar price point as these two tents.

[@BackcountryExposure]

I’ve got a comparison of the Dagger OSMO and the Hubba Hubba coming soon.

[@lonetreeoutdoors]

​@@BackcountryExposure Sounds Awesome!

[@livinlarge1247]

Did your BA CS have velcro tabs on both ends of its fly or just the head end? I feel like the fly on mine only velcroed to the poles on one end.

[@flybyguy1450]

Do they both have the ability to be pitched fly first?

[@bradwjensen]

I would choose the Big Agnes but I ABSOLUTELY HATE their LACK of VENTILATION or to fix the issue. You get all kinds of condensation in these tents at night, especially with two people inside, and then if your down bag or quilt or ANYTHING touches the inside of the tiny-spaced tent walls then your stuff is soaked. I also hate the taper to the floor sizes (a 2 person it basically a roomy 1 person tent and a 3 person tent it basically a roomy 2 person tent.) I don't understand vestibules in the rain.. Rain splashed up underneath and gets your stuff wet (so I keep my stuff IN the tent with limited space.) The rain fly never really covers the tent that well on these types of tents either. Rain splashes up underneath.

[@freeforester1717]

The Naturehike Mongar 2 represents a far better value free standing shelter, it’s by no means clear where the other $300 plus lies in the big name competitors.

[@mrmods7912]

The Mongar has too much mesh and the door and zips are a joke!, just like all naturehike tents!

[@freeforester1717]

@@mrmods7912 a four season inner can be readily bought and installed as may be felt desireable, good ventilation prevents condensation; the zips are fine when used properly, as is the case with most zips.

[@Em_Dee_Aitch]

What the heck is a line lock? I’ve never even seen a tent with adjustments at the stakes. Only on the rain fly.

[@hogey74]

OK Australian here who owns and loves two StS comfort plus dual layer hiking mattresses. And hello from our national day for reflecting on war etc. This year, more than any before, I walked away wondering if the regular... everyone... who dealt with previous wars would feel like the peace they created was worth it. I am not picking on anyone in particular but I have a deep fear that these top shelf items are massively overpriced. That fear could only be eased by an honest breakdown of the costs, but thanks to the current environment I am sure there are many reasons that won't be happening. Beyond the true production, distribution costs and reasonable time/effort/IP kick back to whoever RnD'd them, I reckon we'd all love to know. Seeing how much you get for 1/4 to 1/2 of the price from the same factories via ali express... hmmm Anyway, I finally saw a BA tent IRL at Byron Bluesfest. It was the 4p version on this Copper Spur with a few years of use. The owner was happy with it and it looked sweet. But for $1K AUD, I drove home wondering who was getting what.

[@justinkeckhaver8199]

BA all day.

[@blop507]

Which hoodie are you wearing?

[@BackcountryExposure]

Arcteryx Atom SL

[@blop507]

@@BackcountryExposure sweet, thank you!

[@Northern_Rockhopper]

I don’t like how the sea to summit has its name plastered all over it.

[@peterpenner7838]

Slingfin is better.

[@CanadianSkylights]

How much did Sea to Summit pay creators. This is nowhere near a popular tent and it's brand new. But everyone is blowing it up as if it's a standard option lol

[@BackcountryExposure]

Sea To Summit had zero involvement in this video. These tents have been on the market for over a year at this point and I believe quickly became popular because they are a great design.

[@Em_Dee_Aitch]

These are the best 2 options in their category.

[@kztrekz3329]

Nice revue. But I couldn't give 2 shits about sustainably.

[@BackcountryExposure]

That’s cool, you do you. A lot of people do care about it though. Thanks!

[@ewi57ty]

Overpriced tents. Not very strong against strong wind. Sierra Design Meteor 3000 its much better design and much stronger. 2 entrance and two vestibules with a shape allowed to fit 2 mats or one 120cm wide. Price ? 230£ half the cost of this overpriced crap.

[@mrmods7912]

I completely concur!