Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2, Solution-Dye Fabric, Three-season, 2-person, Ultralight Tent

2024-07-03T20:00:00

Just returned from 7 days of pack rafting through Gates of the Arctic NP in the Alaskan wilderness. Tent performed well including in heavy wind where I was broadsided all night. I've used the Fly Creek 3 for years and bought this to save space and weight. Its light and compact but compared to the 3, requires additional use of guylines for stability with the single pole design. Personally I would prefer the Y pole design at the foot for ease of set up and stability (even though this would slightly increase size and weight) even though it did surprisingly well in the wind. I'm 6'4 250 so this is a 1 person tent for me, giving me a little extra room for changing and keeping important things inside the tent. Overall I was impressed by the tent, gave it 4 stars only because the single pole design is not as user friendly or quite as stable as on my beloved Fly Creek 3.

Justin

2024-04-16T20:00:00

I bought this to replace a lighter weight North Face tent that I've had forever. I have been absolutely blown away by BA's customer service with other unrelated products that I've purchased and I wanted to give one of their tents a chance. I have been very impressed so far. The tent is extremely lightweight and packs down impressively to almost nothing. It's a bit tight for two, especially if you like wider sleeping pads, but I've made it work. It's held up in rain, light snow, and moderate wind pretty well. I did have one experience where it got pancaked in an unexpected windstorm, but I didn't position it for wind nor did I guy it out. The foot end of the tent design takes a minute to get used to, especially if you're in an area where the ground is super hard and you can't drive stakes where you want them to get it set up tight. Once you get the hang of it, though, it's not an issue. Overall, I have been extremely happy with this tent and highly recommend it!

Teddy

2024-04-15T20:00:00

This is a fantastic tent. My wife and I can both squeeze in, if we're on a quick weekend trip and it's super roomy when I'm out by myself. We've had the same tent for about 8 years now. Have not had any issues aside from needing to replace the bungie inside the poles, which was really easy. We've taken this tent on lots of hiking trips in Vancouver and the AT. I'm mostly impressed with how every time it comes out of storage it hasn't degraded at all.

Ry

2024-04-03T20:00:00

It's kind of hard to complain about a tent that is this light yet this usable. But wait, I will:) I've taken this bike packing and backpacking in the Alps. There are things about this tent I would improve. Those issues become more forgivable on that first climb when you realize how light this thing really is. The two zipper system is an A+ I love the low screen that allows you to look out of the tent ( no fly) when you're lying down. Very roomy overhead I'm using a footprint from the bike packing version and it fits. Now the rub(s) listed in order of annoyance: Why god, why, the stupid plastic corner clips? Impossible to use with cold wet hands, unusable to swap to a fast fly setup; I could go on. No excuse-The tent, fly, footprint should all be grommets. Having to stake out the back sucks, for anything less than lawn perfect situations. The vestibule is pretty useless. With the fly staked out, the view out the tent is only a little sliver to the right. In the rain The fly cannot be propped open for view or convection ventilation. Opening the zipper in the slightest funnels water onto the tent interior/ ground cloth. Put a tent vent up top (like the copper spur) for convection ventilation! The tent material almost fluoresces in evening light. No concealing this tent. I have bike backpack, kayak camped extensively also with a seedhouse sl2's and a copper spur... My dream tent would be a Seedhouse SL2, made with these lighter materials and my fire mentioned perfections... But If I have to carry it on my back, this flycreek hv ul2 is still the tent I reach for!

Arturo

2024-03-23T20:00:00

Did the whole Neels gap thing, tossed the heavy for the light. Initially thought" oh this is flimsy." 1600 miles later I love my little studio apt. in the woods. Get one. I am not affiliated with BA in any way, just a fan.

Wallet

2023-09-03T20:00:00

It's so amazingly light. Great design. Perfect for backpacking with our crazy, unpredictable Alaskan weather.

Christine

2023-06-19T20:00:00

Used it for camping and it got down in the thirties and we were nice and warm inside.

Ryan

2023-05-28T20:00:00

The latest model has more room and better protection from the elements. Easy to setup and comfortable to enjoy. Still, about as light as it gets, too.

the O.

2023-05-26T20:00:00

6'2" 240lb. Used for bikepacking and hiking - lightweight, quality, thoughtful design, and handles the elements. Mostly using it solo, but the wife fits fine when she joins. It should come with the footprint ??

AK

2023-04-06T20:00:00

After retiring my Seed House after many adventures and years of use, I wanted another Seed House or something similar. Getting the Fly Creek seemed to be the best option. Being able to use the tent for the first time on a 70-mile section hike on the AT in Pennsylvania, the tent served me well in the wind and rain we got. The tent is great in many aspects as it is low weight, easy to compact, and has good inside storage options. My two undesirables of the tent are the semi free-standing design and thin floor. Relying on tent stakes to maintain the structure of the tent made it a challenge when most of the areas on the trail are rock or you end up losing your stakes (like I did, a real dumb mistake on my part). Setting up the tent took creativity but was eventually managed, just something you don't want to deal with at the end of a long day or in the rain. Using the footprint definitely helped protect the underside of the tent, but still had issues with developing a stress point on the floor from a rock. While this is a great tent, I feel it's not great for meeting my needs for the areas where I backpack. I do not see myself using the Fly Creek as my everyday tent as the Seed House was in the past.

JR

2022-08-31T20:00:00

This is my 5th tent from big agnes. Great tent, took it out for a week in the sawtooths. Got a bit of all kinds of weather. Zero issues. The fly does need to be guyed out in high wind or it will fold over. Plenty of room for one, not two. Vestibule is just big enough. Easy set up, no complaints.

NICHOLAS

2022-08-19T20:00:00

I'm using the Fly Creek 2 on the Colorado Trail, 2022. I bought it hoping for a tuff (ultralight) tent that I didn't have to worry about breaking in one of the many storms on the trail. The tent has met my every hopes. Just make sure you use the yellow velcro straps to attach to the frame otherwise the tent starts to capsize in the strong winds!

Backwards

2022-06-13T20:00:00

I LOVE this lil baby. The space was enough for me and my two 75lb fur babies and their packs. Mine fit under the vestibule. The fly is kinda loud in the wind, but using the ready to stake guylines all around makes a difference. This baby is light! What a gamechanger. I have a tent for every occasion, this is no doubt my #1 for backpacking with me and my girls (dogs).

Claire

2022-04-25T20:00:00

This is a very good tent. Some reviews of its cousin products mentioned that these tents collapse in high winds. I did not find it to be true. We camped in Southern Utah in early spring and got hit by a high wind event, with sustained winds 25-35mph and gusts up to 45mph, thunderstorms and rain. This tent had zero issues handling this weather. It stayed perfectly stable and dry. I did bring extra stakes and used every line available to secure it. The tent does NOT come with enough stakes for that, so buy extras. It can be too cozy for 2 people due to its compact size, but we managed just fine. But we are not big humans - we are both skinny and 5'5'', so YMMV. Two inflatable pads and sleeping bags fit into it. Overall, very impressed with the quality.

UtahChick

2022-02-16T19:00:00

Like product. Practiced setting up in backyard first; highly recommended Footprint?- keeps tent cleaner. Took on CT in summer. Put dogs and gear inside. Had 2 person tent for space. Allowed mutts to enter. Kept us all dry. Safer. Again, Practice first. Dogs like shelter, Decent in wind, rain. Fast set up. Both you and friends will appreciate. Count everything. Make SURE you have items! Suggest Taking photos with i phone too. Clean n Air out when home. Pricey, but buy once: take good care.

NJGB

2021-10-24T20:00:00

I will update this review after I get a chance to use this tent. I used a Fly Creek UL2 a few years ago and loved it. Now I have one of my own. My initial impressions are that the weight is spot on and incredibly light for a semi-free-standing 2-person tent. The stakes are super durable (not those crumby j hooks). I like having a light colored fly to let the sun come in on those dreary days. Stay tuned for more details next summer. I bought this just as we got our first big snow in Alaska, so I won't be using this until at least May. #sweepstakes

Colin

2021-09-04T20:00:00

I have a 5 hr old UL Fly Creek 2. It has served me VERY well in that time and was money well spent. The PU is starting to degrade (the classic locker room smell) as all these tents will in their engineered lifespan so it is soon time to replace it. The only regret I have is that in the 5 years since I purchased mine BA has redesigned this tent in critical ways I can forsee some problems so Im hesitant to buy the latest version. 1)BA removed the mid side tabs that link the mesh to the fly there by reducing interior room in an already smallish tent 2) The entry way on the fly was re shaped to permit more coverage for gear in the vestibule. Mine is a U shape. Not great for gear storage but in reality you cant hardly fit a pair of boots in the vestibule but allowed excellent access for either person for a late nite potty break. The latest slant design makes it so someone has to really bend down in the dirt to gain access and if your the far person your probably climbing over their head 2x. There are a few other items but those 2 alone are giving me pause on buying again. I run this tent with a footprint mainly in summer thru fall on wildfire assignments from NJ to Cali to Alaska then on backpack hunts when I return home in the fall til the snow forces me to switch tents. I dont think you will go wrong if you purchase this tent but its so aggravating when companies try to "fix things" in ways that actually go backwards. I imagine someone will chime in and say " it saves xx.x ounces and it all counts on the trail" but I heartily disagree when its hair splitting like that. If its that big of a deal to you leave the roll of toilet paper at home and take the fly clips and good entry door instead?..

El A.