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Having put the Large 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 damage.
I’m normally a glass-half-full type of individual. I imply, I can discover the great in most gear – even when it’s not my favorite, I nonetheless imagine each piece can serve a function. That was till I purchased the Large Agnes Tiger Wall UL2. This tent is without doubt one of the hottest selections for light-weight mountaineering and bikepacking for the time being, however truthfully? I hate it.
It seemed promising on day one
Why am I the proper individual to put in writing this evaluate?
As a result of I’ve performed the legwork (pun supposed). After researching each element to search out the right tent for my thru-hike throughout New Zealand on Te Araroa Path, I believed I’d landed a winner with the Large Agnes Tiger Wall UL2. The specs seemed nice, it had rave critiques, and the packed weight was ultimate.
In actuality, my tent desires went from Barbie’s Dreamhouse to Ken’s Mojo Dojo Casa Home actual fast, and I used to be caught residing in it for 4 lengthy months on the path.
That is removed from my first tent and I used it every 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 typically has them on sale!)
Design
The Large Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 is a two-layer, two-door tent that (regardless of its look) isn’t totally 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 properly on tenting platforms or onerous 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 material are touching
Material
Who of their proper thoughts thought white was a good suggestion for the outer layer of a tent? Large Agnes isn’t the primary firm to do that, they usually most likely gained’t be the final, however I’m a agency believer that out of doors gear must be any color however white.
White allows each little bit of sunshine, making it unimaginable to sleep beneath the total moon, and in the event you flip in your headlamp inside, you turn out to be a beacon lighting up your entire campsite for all to see; neglect about privateness.
The answer-dyed nylon ripstop outer cloth may be proof against UV fade, however white simply exhibits up each speck of filth.
To be truthful, in the event you get into hassle rescuers could have no hassle discovering you
Efficiency
Air flow
Regardless of being a double-wall design, airflow is a serious problem. The one air flow is beneath the vestibule doorways or by opening the doorways themselves – not ultimate in moist climate. I constantly 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 cloth tents, which is saying one thing! I discovered myself eager for the roof vents on my previous Large Agnes Copper Spur, a characteristic I’d by no means appreciated till I used to be left with out it.
Learn extra: Large 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 concept, 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 might’t survive common use?
Simply one of many cracked poles
Packed Dimension & Weight
I’ll give the Tiger Wall this: it packs down small. Large 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 in the event you’re utilizing the Quick Fly Setup (simply the outer and footprint), it undoubtedly ticks the ultralight field.
Consolation
Large Agnes calls this a 2P tent, however in the event you and your mountaineering 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 in the event you’re sharing, and whereas the ‘3D bin’ mezzanine pocket appears like a fantastic concept for additional storage, it sags if you load it up with any weight, shrinking your already restricted private area.
The mezzanine pocket is best in principle than utility
For a extra tangible comparability, the Large Agnes Copper Spur 2P has a head peak of 102cm and a size of 224cm, with a dome-shaped roof that gives extra vertical area. The Tiger Wall, however, solely provides you 99cm of head peak 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 properly for backpack storage.
I’d name this a 1.5P tent, at finest. This tent is best suited to a solo hiker who likes to maintain all their gear inside. When you at all times hike with a pal, you would possibly need to improve to the 3P Tiger Wall as a substitute. That model is 224cm lengthy, 168cm vast on the prime, and 152cm on the backside, with a head peak of 107cm. After all, you’re going to hold somewhat additional weight with the larger measurement, however in the event you’re splitting the packed weight, the added consolation will likely be value it.
Anybody need to bounce in right here with me?
Sustainability
The Large Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 deserves credit score for eco-friendly efforts; it makes use of solution-dyed materials that reduce down on water and power use throughout manufacturing. While Large Agnes are usually not B-Corp or fair-trade licensed, they’re making steps in the proper path.
Nonetheless, as a ‘buy once, buy right’ type 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 onerous to see as a sustainable alternative in the long term.
Guys, it’s actually coming aside on the seams
Worth
The Large Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 has an RRP of $720, however recently it’s been on sale at Wild Earth for as little as $503.96 – a good value for an ultralight tent, however possibly not as price efficient if it wants changing before anticipated.
For comparability, the Large 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 more durable in the event you’re after one thing that’ll go the space. Or, if the price range 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 completely different league by way of weight.
Learn extra: Hyperlite Unbound 2P Tent – Reviewed and Examined
Remaining 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 gained’t break the financial institution in comparison with different tents in its weight class. However truthfully, I’d reasonably carry a couple of additional grams for a tent that doesn’t really feel prefer it’s falling aside on the seams.
That mentioned, regardless of my gripes, the Tiger Wall remains to be the primary tent I attain for after I go on bikepacking journeys. It matches completely in my bike baggage, and though I’m not a fan of the tent, you’ll most likely hold seeing me use it… till it’s lastly in tatters.
