Big Agnes Tent Range Explained - Part 2 - Blacktail, Salt Creek and Seedhouse
Posted by Mark Richardson on Jul 01, 2022
SEEDHOUSE Series
The Seedhouse tents are fully freestanding and use a cross pole to improve the head height where you need it most. With a pole hub at either end they are very stable in the wind and we love the backpacker friendly features like the rear storage and side zip access so you can store gear outside but still keep it accessible.
Seedhouse
A key choice when choosing a backpacking tent is the entrance-way, the Seedhouse tents have a front entry which can be restrictive on solo tents which tent to be narrow. Its a personal choice however.
We like the Seedhouse design because its very stable and offers good head height, and its free-standing so you can move it about your campsite till you find the best flat bit.
SALT CREEK Series
The standout feature of the Salt Creek tents is their dual entrances, this offers superb flexibility for a backpacking tent and is especially suited to camping in hot climates where shade and ventilation are key to a happy camp life.
Salt Creek
The Salt Creek tents are extremely flexible and we think they are best suited to backpacking in warmer climates. Of course you can use them in wetter weather but the benefits of the extra entrance and sunshade are not as valuable as when the sun's shining and its hot.
The pole architecture is fully freestanding and should keep the tent shape in windy conditions when fully staked out.
BLACKTAIL Series
Blacktail tents have a bit more floorspace and generous head height compared to other tents in the Big Agnes range, the fabrics are also heavier resulting in a longer life of the tent, so there's a weight penalty but you are getting more space and durability.
Blacktail
Big Agnes tents are pretty much state of the art for ultralight tents but they also make tents using more common materials - still to a high standard, and still with impressive designs, the Blacktail tents fall into this latter category.
Blacktail Hotel
The Blacktail Hotel tents have the same size inner tent as the standard Blacktails but have an extended vestibule on one side for additional storage or living area. There's still the standard vestibule on the other side too.
Blacktail Hotel Bikepack
The basic tent is the same as the Blacktail Hotel but it has been enhanced with bikepacking features, such as shorter packed poles, additional storage options and a tough stuffbag with frame/handlebar mounts.
Here we look at the differences in the ranges between the Blacktail, Salt Creek and Seedhouse tents from Big Agnes