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Having put the Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 by its paces on the Te Araroa Path, thru-hiker Kate is able to ship her trustworthy opinion on this highly-touted ultralight tent. Brace your self: the reality could harm.
I’m normally a glass-half-full form of individual. I imply, I can discover the nice in most gear – even when it’s not my favorite, I nonetheless consider each piece can serve a function. That was till I purchased the Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL2. This tent is among the hottest selections for light-weight mountain climbing and bikepacking in the intervening time, however actually? I hate it.
It appeared promising on day one
Why am I the appropriate individual to write down this evaluate?
As a result of I’ve executed the legwork (pun meant). After researching each element to search out the right tent for my thru-hike throughout New Zealand on Te Araroa Path, I assumed I’d landed a winner with the Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL2. The specs appeared nice, it had rave evaluations, and the packed weight was preferrred.
In actuality, my tent goals went from Barbie’s Dreamhouse to Ken’s Mojo Dojo Casa Home actual fast, and I used to be caught dwelling in it for 4 lengthy months on the path.
That is removed from my first tent and I used it each day for 4 months
Fast Specs
Weight: 992g (path weight)
Dimensions: 218cm (L), 132cm (W), 99cm (H)
Capability: 2-person
Season: 3-season
RRP: $720.00 (However Wild Earth usually has them on sale!)
Design
The Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 is a two-layer, two-door tent that (regardless of its look) just isn’t absolutely freestanding. My first gripe: the 2 corners on the foot require pegs for construction, making the tent semi-freestanding.
This design flaw doesn’t work nicely on tenting platforms or arduous floor the place pegging is hard. Even worse, the 2 layers of the tent (mesh inside and nylon outer) on the ft want two pegs in every nook to maintain them separated; in any other case, they contact, and water can seep by when it rains.
The nook on the again doesn’t have each traces pegged so each layers of cloth are touching
Material
Who of their proper thoughts thought white was a good suggestion for the outer layer of a tent? Huge Agnes isn’t the primary firm to do that, and so they in all probability received’t be the final, however I’m a agency believer that outside gear ought to be any color however white.
White allows each little bit of sunshine, making it unimaginable to sleep below the complete moon, and should you flip in your headlamp inside, you develop into a beacon lighting up your complete campsite for all to see; neglect about privateness.
The answer-dyed nylon ripstop outer material is likely to be immune to UV fade, however white simply reveals up each speck of grime.
To be truthful, should you get into hassle rescuers can have no hassle discovering you
Efficiency
Air flow
Regardless of being a double-wall design, airflow is a serious concern. The one air flow is below the vestibule doorways or by opening the doorways themselves – not preferrred in moist climate. I persistently awakened with condensation, leaving me lugging round a moist tent for the remainder of the day.
Heck, I had extra condensation inside this tent than others utilizing Dyneema material tents, which is saying one thing! I discovered myself eager for the roof vents on my outdated Huge Agnes Copper Spur, a function I’d by no means appreciated till I used to be left with out it.
Learn extra: Huge Agnes Copper Spur HV Ultralight 3P 3-Season Tent – Reviewed & Examined
Sturdiness
Then there’s sturdiness – or, extra precisely, the shortage of it. The DAC Featherlite NFL pole system cuts down on weight, however it sacrifices sturdiness. A number of of my poles cracked inside the first couple of days of use. And the TipLok Tent Buckle system, which mixes pole-tip seize, rainfly attachment, and tensioner, appeared like a superb thought, however it didn’t final any longer than the poles.
Certain, the tent’s a breeze to arrange, however what good is that if it could possibly’t survive common use?
Simply one of many cracked poles
Packed Dimension & Weight
I’ll give the Tiger Wall this: it packs down small. Huge Agnes says it packs to 14 x 46cm, however I can stuff it into an XS Sea to Summit compression bag, making it even smaller – good for my bikepacking handlebar bag.
With a path weight of 992g, or 765g should you’re utilizing the Quick Fly Setup (simply the outer and footprint), it positively ticks the ultralight field.
Consolation
Huge Agnes calls this a 2P tent, however should you and your mountain climbing associate are over 178cm tall, like my associate and I, put together to really feel cramped. We each use vast sleeping mats, and on this tent, it was a squeeze to put them aspect by aspect.
There’s barely any room for additional gear inside should you’re sharing, and whereas the ‘3D bin’ mezzanine pocket seems like an awesome thought for additional storage, it sags whenever you load it up with any weight, shrinking your already restricted private area.
The mezzanine pocket is best in concept than utility
For a extra tangible comparability, the Huge Agnes Copper Spur 2P has a head top of 102cm and a size of 224cm, with a dome-shaped roof that gives extra vertical area. The Tiger Wall, alternatively, solely offers you 99cm of head top and a shorter 218cm size, with a sloping roof that dramatically tapers towards your ft. The vestibules are additionally smaller – 66cm versus the Copper Spur’s 71cm – although they nonetheless work nicely for backpack storage.
I’d name this a 1.5P tent, at greatest. This tent is best suited to a solo hiker who likes to maintain all their gear inside. Should you at all times hike with a pal, you may wish to improve to the 3P Tiger Wall as a substitute. That model is 224cm lengthy, 168cm vast on the high, and 152cm on the backside, with a head top of 107cm. After all, you’re going to hold slightly additional weight with the larger measurement, however should you’re splitting the packed weight, the added consolation shall be value it.
Anybody wish to bounce in right here with me?
Sustainability
The Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 deserves credit score for eco-friendly efforts; it makes use of solution-dyed materials that minimize down on water and vitality use throughout manufacturing. While Huge Agnes usually are not B-Corp or fair-trade licensed, they’re making steps in the appropriate course.
Nevertheless, as a ‘buy once, buy right’ form of woman, I discover the sturdiness disappointing. True sustainability means making merchandise that final, and whereas the eco-conscious design is appreciated, the Tiger Wall’s restricted lifespan makes it arduous to see as a sustainable alternative in the long term.
Guys, it’s actually coming aside on the seams
Value
The Huge Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 has an RRP of $720, however currently it’s been on sale at Wild Earth for as little as $503.96 – an honest value for an ultralight tent, however perhaps not as price efficient if it wants changing ahead of anticipated.
For comparability, the Huge Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 has an RRP of $880 ($615.96 at Wild Earth final time I checked!), and whereas it’s a tad heavier, it’s constructed harder should you’re after one thing that’ll go the space. Or, if the funds isn’t a problem, the Hyperlite Unbound 2P at $1,299.95 is extra spacious and extra sturdy, to not point out it’s in a complete totally different league by way of weight.
Learn extra: Hyperlite Unbound 2P Tent – Reviewed and Examined
Last Ideas
On the finish of the day, I do know a few of you (like me) are chasing that ultralight dream. The Tiger Wall UL2 is light-weight, packs down small, and received’t break the financial institution in comparison with different tents in its weight class. However actually, I’d moderately carry a couple of additional grams for a tent that doesn’t really feel prefer it’s falling aside on the seams.
That stated, regardless of my gripes, the Tiger Wall continues to be the primary tent I attain for once I go on bikepacking journeys. It matches completely in my bike luggage, and though I’m not a fan of the tent, you’ll in all probability hold seeing me use it… till it’s lastly in tatters.
