Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2
Just over two pounds for a two-person tent was remarkable in 2010 and is still respectable now. Big Agnes has kept the Fly Creek line going, revised several times.
What it is genuinely good at: being very light for a freestanding-ish double-wall tent. If you are counting grams on a long trail and still want a proper fly and inner rather than a tarp, this is the category and Fly Creek helped define it.
The compromises, which the original review underplayed:
- One door, at the foot end. Two people share it, which means climbing over each other. This is the single thing people dislike after a week.
- Steeply sloping walls. Two litres of interior volume looks the same on paper and feels very different; sitting up is a head-against-the-fabric business.
- A small vestibule, which two packs do not fit into.
So who should buy it: one person who wants space, or two people who are walking a long way and have agreed in advance that it will be cramped. The UL2 as a solo tent is genuinely lovely.
What has improved since: the whole ultralight category. There are now tents at similar weights with two doors and better head room, and trekking-pole shelters go lighter still. If weight is the priority, shop the segment rather than the model.
Care note for any silnylon tent: pitch it taut, dry it fully before storing, and check the seams before a trip rather than during one.
Part of the guide to tents and shelter.