Here is how these two tents compare on the numbers. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 | REI Co-op Flash Air 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 80✓ | 78 |
| Capacity | 2 | 2 |
| Packed weight | 30.0 oz✓ | 38.5 oz |
| Floor area | 28 sq ft | 28.7 sq ft✓ |
| Space-to-weight | 14.9 /lb✓ | 11.9 /lb |
| Peak height | 42 in | 46.9 in✓ |
| Doors | 1 | 2✓ |
| Vestibules | 1 | 1 |
| Price | $450 | $429✓ |
| Type | Ultralight | Ultralight |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Fly Creek HV UL2 in blue, Flash Air 2 in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full tent comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
The Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 against the REI Co-op Flash Air 2 is a study in priorities. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Fly Creek HV UL2 is 9 oz lighter and better space-to-weight. The Flash Air 2 is more floor area (28.7 vs 28 sq ft), taller (46.9 vs 42 in peak), and more doors (2 vs 1). Their GearScores land within a couple of points (80 vs 78), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Fly Creek HV UL2 if you care most about low weight and space-to-weight, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Flash Air 2 if floor space and headroom matter more to you, or you are focused on comfort and room to move.
The Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2. It is 9 oz lighter than the Flash Air 2.
The REI Co-op Flash Air 2. It is more floor area (28.7 vs 28 sq ft) than the Fly Creek HV UL2.
They are nearly tied at 80 and 78 on the default algorithm, so re-weight the score to your own priorities to break the tie.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Fly Creek HV UL2 for low weight, or the Flash Air 2 for floor space. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.