I took the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 XL into the woods, and its off-ground storage was a revelation

Big Agnes is a household brand in the US but only recently made its way across the pond. The outdoor manufacturer produces all sorts of outdoor gear but is particularly famous for its ultralight tents, sleeping bags, and mats. The brand recently introduced a new material innovation called Hyperbead, which is now featured in many of its ultralight tents, such as the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 XL, which I’ll be reviewing here.

The Copper Spur UL3 XL is the larger version of the standard three-person Copper Spur backpacking tent. It offers a more rectangular (non-tapered) shape and more headroom. And it does it all without adding any bulk (at least, not too much), keeping the weight of a spacious three-person tent just over 1.5kg.

It still isn’t quite camping season in the UK, but a little drop in temperature won’t stop me from spending quality nights under the stars, so on a cold but dry and sunny day, I decided to test the Copper Spur UL3 XL in a nearby wooded campsite. I was thoroughly impressed with how easily the tent went up and how spacious it was, not to mention the lightness, which is incredible for such a large tent.

It’s a premium tent for a premium price, which might deter some campers, but if you have the means, the Copper Spur UL3 XL is sound investment, especially because Hyperbead makes the tent more durable and water-repellent as ever. Time to replace the top spot in T3’s best backpacking tent guide? Maybe…

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 XL review

Price and availability

Big Agnes announced its Hyperbead range in early 2025, and the Copper Spur UL3 XL is available now at Big Agnes US for a recommended retail price of $629.95 (approx. £485.29/ AU$994.24). You can browse all Hyperbead tents here.

I checked UK availability, and it seems the actual retail price of the Copper Spur UL3 XL is higher in the country, with most retailers selling the shelter for around £700 – ouch. It seems to retail for around €750 in the EU, which is more in line with the UK instead of the US retail price.

Specifications

• Sleeps: 3
• Total Weight: 1.83kg/ 64.6 oz
• Fast Fly / Shelter Mode Weight: 1.34kg/ 47.3 oz
• Packed Size: 56 x 17cm/ 22.05 × 6.69 in
• Dimensions: 96” x 72” x 43”/ 244 × 183 × 109 cm

Design and materials

The Copper Spur UL3 XL is a large 3-person backpacking tent with a considerable floor area and a good maximum height. The updated version’s standout feature is the Hyperbead fabric, which, according to the brand, is 6% lighter, 25% more waterproof, and 50% stronger than traditional fabrics (we can assume they mean the silicone-treated ripstop nylon Big Agnes used before).

Hyperbead has no added water-repellent chemicals and is soft and thin, almost silk-like; the material almost unfolds itself when you get it out of the stuff sack. The bulk of the weight isn’t the fabric but rather the zippers, which almost feel comically bulky compared to the Hyperbead fabric. They are snag-free, though, and also help keep moisture out of the tent.

The larger XL version I tested has a rectangular, non-tapered shape and a high volume, making the inside of the tent super spacious for two and not unbearably uncomfortable for three. The shape and space reminded me of The North Face Homestead Domey 3-Person Tent, which is a brilliant tent I still use to this day, thanks to its ultra-comfortable living area.

Unline the TNF tent, Big Agnes’ backpacking shelter has two considerably large vestibules, allowing you to store your bags, hiking boots/ walking shoes, and other bits and bobs outside the sleeping quarters. I could certainly fit a small duffel bag in there, as well as an assortment of water bottles, footwear, and more.

The doors are a good size, and there are two of them, which is better. They not only allow you to enter and exit the tent easily but also keep the living quarters aerated. Better still, the flysheet has a two-way zipper, making it easier to open only sections of the door for improved privacy. The zippers are said to be the snag-free variety, and I found this true.

The doors on the flysheet can also be used to provide awning-style coverage. You can either use trekking poles or the provided extra guylines to stake out the door. Admittedly, this feature is best suited for windless and warm days, of which there aren’t many in the UK; however, you can also use the sheltered area for sitting if you have a small enough camping chair (think Helinox Chair Zero or one of the Crazy Creek models).

Speaking of guylines, the ones supplied with the tent are pre-cut and reflective, which makes it easier not to trip over them when you’re stumbling back to your shelter after a night-time toilet session with a head torch on (or standard torch in your hand; whichever you prefer). The webbing is also reflective, almost illuminating the Big Agnes shelter at night (admittedly, it is not the best tent for blending in with nature).

Off-ground storage is another strong suit of the Copper Spur UL3 XL. The tent features an oversized, 3D bin pocket for your dawn jackets, smaller packs and helmets, as well as smaller mesh pockets littered around the interior. There is a generous-sized one opposite the oversized pocket, which is adorned with two smaller, triangle-shaped pockets on either side. You’ll also find two flat pockets at the bottom near the doors, which fit iPads (tried and tested). The tent is also equipped with various hoops on the ceiling for camping lanterns and other smaller accessories.

Setting up

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The Copper Spur UL3 XL comes in what Big Agnes calls an EZ Pack Stuff Sack, featuring a large length-wise opening and compression closure. The stuff sack is a bit longer (due to the poles), which might make it harder to fit into a smaller hiking backpack. However, considering it’s a three-person tent, if you divide the poles, sheets, and tent between three people, neither needs to carry more than 500 grams’ worth of tent material.

Unpacking the tent is easy, and so is setting up. It can stand on its own without guylines (in a windless environment, mind you). The cross-pole setup helps put up the Copper Spur UL3 XL in a matter of minutes. All you have to do is lay out the tent, pop the pole together (the two poles are conveniently pre-attached at the top), insert the colour-coded ends of them into the pole-tip capture loops, clip the top onto the poles, and you’re good to go.

A smaller third pole helps create a wider roof for the tent and keeps the flysheet away from the mesh interior, which helps prevent condensation inside the tent. The flysheet goes over just as quickly. I found the 6” Dirt Dagger UL Stakes (of which eight are included in the pack) a bit on the small side, which I’m sure helps keep the overall weight down. I would have preferred a hooked design, though, instead of that small dent on the ends of the stakes to prevent the guylines from slipping off.

Performance

It’s hard to fault the Copper Spur UL3 XL in any way. I initially tested it on a windless, cold, but sunny day, which even I admit isn’t the most challenging environment for a tent. But again, who likes camping in the pouring rain? Exactly. Me. Anyhow, even though I’m yet to put the shelter through the wringer, what I’ve seen so far has impressed me thoroughly.

The Copper Spur UL3 XL goes up in under 5 minutes (staking it out, putting the flysheet over, etc.) and can even be used without the guylines. I must confess, even though I haven’t tried it in torrential weather yet, I staked the corners off anyway because I’m old-fashioned like that. That said, the shelter seems to stand perfectly without any guyline support, which is excellent news to those who like to faff around with the setup as little as possible.

I’m 6’0” (184cm) and had no issues getting in and out of the tent using the large doors. The double door/vestibule setup was perfect for my wife and me, allowing both of us to have our separate storage areas and exits. The floor area is spacious for two campers, and, as always, there is just about enough room for three camping mats (and sleeping lightweight bags) if you’re not keen on doing much else but sleeping in the tent.

Of course, you can use trekking poles to open those doors into awnings, allowing two campers to sit in peace on either side of the tent. I haven’t tried this function yet, but it certainly looks doable, looking at the shape of the doors and the buckles. The only caveat is that there are only two doors, so there isn’t really enough room for three campers to sit under the awnings, further reinforcing the two-people utility of the Copper Spur UL3 XL.

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I love the storage options in the tent. Pockets and hooks are littered everywhere inside the shelter, making it possible to store all your bulky layers away from the ground. I wish the strip in the middle of the oversized pocket was adjustable, but that’s a small nitpick about an otherwise excellent storage system.

Another feature I appreciated was how the internal mesh tent is kept away from the flysheet, reducing condensation significantly. A high vent at the top of the flysheet and low vents under the vestibule doors also help circulate the air between the two layers, further reducing moisture buildup. Of course, there will be some condensation, but the two of us certainly didn’t get the Copper Spur UL3 XL soaking wet with our breathing.

The tent has a built-in ground sheet, but the footprint is sold separately, which is a bit of a shame (although not unheard of) – I would expect to see it included for this price. That said, the groundsheet did a fine job keeping water out of the tent; neither the camping mats nor the sleeping bags got wet during the night.

Verdict

Big Agnes’ Copper Spur range has been the brand’s most popular ultralight backpacking tent since its launch in 2008, and the Copper Spur UL3 XL is a good example of what makes the franchise sought-after. It’s light, spacious, easy to put up and break down, has ample storage and feels durable, too. I like a spacious backpacking tent, and Big Agnes’ shelter is probably the best three-people ultra-lightweight tent I tested so far.

The stakes could be larger, and I would expect some extras (e.g. footprint) to be included for the price, but otherwise, I’d 100 per cent recommend the Copper Spur UL3 XL for any camper who prefers some space inside the tent but also like to keep their backpack light enough for all-day hikes. I appreciate you need to be a dedicated camper to shell out this much money for a tent, but trust me when I say you’ll get your money’s worth.

As you can probably tell, the Copper Spur UL3 XL tent is hard – if not impossible – not to be excited about. It’s a brilliant option for anyone seeking a no-compromise shelter for backpacking adventures.