Big Agnes’s two most popular ultralight two-person tents. The Copper Spur is the roomier, fully freestanding one, and the Tiger Wall shaves weight and cost by going semi-freestanding.
| Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 | Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 74 | 77✓ |
| Sleeps | 2 person | 2 person |
| Min. trail weight | 42.0 oz | 35.0 oz✓ |
| Weight per person | 21.0 oz | 17.5 oz✓ |
| Floor area | 29 sq ft✓ | 28 sq ft |
| Area per person | 14.5 sq ft✓ | 14 sq ft |
| Space-to-weight | 11.0 /lb | 12.8 /lb✓ |
| Peak height | 40 in✓ | 39 in |
| Doors | 2 | 2 |
| Price | $600 | $500✓ |
| Type | Ultralight | Ultralight |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Copper Spur UL2 in blue, Tiger Wall UL2 in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. Every headline number is per person, so different capacities compare fairly. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full tent comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
Both are excellent double-wall ultralight tents from the same brand, so the split is about livability versus weight and price. The Copper Spur HV UL2 is fully freestanding with steep, high walls, so it pitches anywhere, feels roomier inside, and is the more comfortable place to wait out a storm. The Tiger Wall UL2 trims material and cost by going semi-freestanding (its foot end needs a couple of stakes), which makes it lighter and cheaper while keeping the same two-door, two-vestibule layout.
On the specs, the Copper Spur runs heavier and pricier but gives you a little more floor and a taller peak, the high-volume geometry it is named for. The Tiger Wall is lighter and cheaper, with nearly the same footprint. Both are freestanding enough to be easy to live with, both have dual doors, and both use the same quality poles and fabrics.
Pick the Copper Spur if interior comfort and true freestanding convenience matter most, and you will trade weight and money for headroom and a tent that stands on any surface. Pick the Tiger Wall if you want most of that livability at a lower weight and price, and you do not mind staking out the foot. For general backpacking the Tiger Wall is the value pick; for maximum comfort the Copper Spur earns its premium.
Mainly freestanding versus semi-freestanding. The Copper Spur HV UL2 is fully freestanding with steeper, higher walls for more room, while the Tiger Wall UL2 saves weight and money by going semi-freestanding, so its foot end must be staked out. Both are double-wall, two-door ultralight tents.
The Tiger Wall UL2. By dropping to a semi-freestanding design with less pole and fabric, it comes in several ounces under the Copper Spur HV UL2, and it costs less too. The trade is a touch less interior volume and the need to stake the foot for a proper pitch.
If interior comfort is a priority, yes. Its high-volume walls and full freestanding pitch make it roomier and easier to set up on any surface, which pays off on longer trips and in bad weather. If you would rather save weight and cash, the Tiger Wall gives up little for the savings.