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The new Big Agnes Copper Spur Bikepack tent has all the key features that define a bikepacking tent, i.e. short pole length and an ability to attach the tent to the bike, whilst performing well in the environment it is intended. It has many additional features that make life on two wheels even more enjoyable!

I used the 2-person version of this tent from mid-summer through to autumn for local overnight trips in the North York Moors, a C2C route from Workington to Sunderland with a wild camp high on the Pennines and a 2-week, wet and windy tour of northern France.

This new version of the Copper Spur UL Bikepack tent has 2 significant differences to its predecessor. The flysheet and floor are now made from the new HyperBead™ fabric which is 6% lighter, 25% more waterproof and 50% stronger. It is also dimensionally stable making it less susceptible to stretch when wet. Secondly the redesigned waterproof storage bag accommodates the whole tent and is attached using the integrated Big Hitch straps.

The flysheet is a 15D nylon ripstop with a 1500mm hydrostatic head waterproof rating. I experienced some pretty inclement weather on my trips with biblical downpours and prolonged periods of drizzle and the waterproofing performed well. There was some slight pooling on the top triangle during heavy rain but this did not penetrate the fabric and dissipated with a quick shake of the tent.

The cut of the flysheet is slightly raised making the tent well ventilated, and moisture management not an issue. It has additional daisy chains along the external roof seam for drying items, weather permitting! Two sizeable vestibules provide ample space for storage of panniers and bike bags yet still enough room to enter and exit the tent. The side doors are zipped at both sides creating an extended canopy. This proved invaluable as a shelter and a dry place to sit and cook, but you will require additional pegs for this and something to use as a prop.

The inner tent has a breathable 15D nylon Hyperbead™ groundsheet, with a 20D solution dyed ripstop grid fabric mid band, providing some draught protection, and 15D polyester mesh on the upper half. The floor of the tent tapers, so check the dimensions will work for your setup. The narrow end of the 2-person tent measures 107cm wide, perfect for regular sized mats or for single person use. However, on the two-week trip for 2 people, a larger 3 person would have suited us better, as it would have accommodated our wider sleeping mats and the slightly larger pack dimensions and additional 300g would not make a significant difference to the rolling weight. The wide cross bar created good sitting space, side by side and the 102cm height was fine for us. Big Agnes’ specification showed the sleep orientation as top to tail, but we had space for same direction sleeping. Daisy chain loops on the outside of the upper mesh (under the cross bar) provided a great drying space, even when it was raining, there is sufficient space and airflow under the flysheet to dry items. There are large storage pockets across both ends, large enough for helmet storage, plus smaller pockets on the corners for accessories. The wide doors on both sides are operated with 2 zips that join at the corners making for easy access.

The DAC Featherlite NSL poles with ShortStik technology are about 10cm shorter than traditional poles, and the tent is pegged out with Big Agnes Dirt Dagger™ UL Stakes. Guy ropes are already attached and 2 additional ones included to use the porch in a canopy style.

The tent is freestanding and pitches quickly. The poles attach to the inner tent with a single hand, easy to use clips. The crossbar sits over the top of the main pole configuration and attaches to the inner with a moulded ‘cross pole socket’. The flysheet is deployed over the top and attaches to the poles with Velcro at the guy points for stability in windy conditions and then the colour coded buckles are clipped together at the corners securing the fly to the inner. Vestibules are then extended and guy ropes pegged. The process is swift and even when it was raining it was watertight within a few minutes — a quick wipe out with a microfibre cloth removed unwanted dampness.

I attached the waterproof, robust storage bag directly onto a handlebar cage to extend the tent beyond my cables on a flat bar gravel bike. The straps provided were too broad to fit the slots on my cage, so I did need to use an alternative. On a drop/flared bar bike, the tent can be attached directly to the bars as brake and gear cables are orientated forwards and not inbound, so won’t be affected by the pack. The tent can also fit in a panier or fork cage or on a rear pack… there are endless options depending upon your setup.

The short pole length and compact pack size don’t restrict this to just bikepacking. It is lightweight, weighing from 1kg for the 1-person to 1.6kg for the 3-person, so equally suited for backpacking too as it can sit crossways within a rucksack. So, if you are looking for a versatile 3 season tent that will work for all your adventures, this ticks a lot of boxes.

Lois Fife
Lois is a keen cyclist and is always plotting a route… either for her next trip or looking for a different way to commute to work! She is regularly seen heading for the hills on a packed-up bike, be it for a quick overnight wild camp, or a longer multi-day adventure. She is currently plotting her route to walk the TGO across Scotland. She is a British Cycling level 2 leader and has been involved with MTB Guisborough encouraging the next generation of mountain bikers. Lois joined Ultralight Outdoor Gear in 2021 and is part of the Customer Service Team. She is always keen to get her hands on new kit to try in the field and share her findings on the website. Read more from Lois Fife