Big Agnes Emerald Mountain SL3 Super Light Tent: 3-Person 3-Season - 2007 BCS

So I have been comparing two different BA tents. One the BA Emerald Mt and the other the Copper Spur. I am looking for a good 3 season tent to go onto the AT (mid March south-north). I find that I am more inclined towards the no-see-um factor of the Emerald, but I am worried about weight, weather, wind etc. I feel like the Copper spur might have more to offer in the practicality department, but not gonna lie it is a bit, well out of my price range so I need to know if the difference is really worth the extra money. Thanks for your replies :)

This tent is huge, very dry, lightweight for its size. Great on bad weather trips and great weather trips!!!

I hike with my 3 year old and got the Emerald Mountain 3 a couple months back. I am very pleased with its size, ease of set up, and a special use of the pentagon shaped footprint. On the second trip out I found myself packing the footprint in the front pocket of my pack for use as a lunch, napping and dinner tarp. 6 stakes, 3 lines and a single hiking pole go up in less than 5 minutes, come down in the same and povide exceptional protection from wind and light rain. I stake the the vestibule point down first, then the adjacent points slightly in and forward of a normal tent strike. I stake the opposite grommets loosly with guys and then raise the center between them to about 50 inches with the foam handle of a hiking pole. A few quick adjustments and the short sides lay tight against the ground while the whole pitch is taught. My son naps back in the sheltered corner on his pad and I can sit out of the sun and rain and read or nap myself. I plan to use the same set up on our upcoming day hike. At 11 oz plus a few lines, its a pretty good set up. I appreciate multi-purpose gear.

I've got nothing but good things to say about this tent. I've taken it out on several trips but i think the biggest test was last year around new years. Winds in excess of 30 miles per hour, with this thing guyed out it's bomb shelter. I've only used it with one other person, so i've never filled to capacity, however quite obvious even with 3 people, you're not going to be on top of each other. The footprint adds another pound or so, but between two people, and especially three; you're gonna be fine. I don't mind the extra pound (especially split between 2-3 people) over the Copper Spur because the fabric is more durable. Good job BA.

very big, huge vesibule space, has a lifetime warrenty, packs up small for it's size, and it is free standing.

bad parts, it weighs alot, and the prices, buy otherwise great!!!!!!!

Used this for the first time last week; we were camped around 10,600' just below treeline. Held up to sustained 20+mph winds and rain, and everything inside the tent/vestibules stayed dry. Also, no condensation on the inside which was nice, but I did use the guy lines to make it extra taut.

Tent is very roomy on the inside, plenty of space for the wife, me, our 80lb dog and some gear.

I bought it to ease my girlfriend into summer backpacking (my usual tent is a tiny GoLite Trig). We got the 3-man version of the Emerald Mountain for the extra room and weren't sorry. There is plenty of room for 2 people, bags, pads, and packs if you want them. The vestibules are big enough to cook in and easily hold packs and wet boots. The walls are steep and the headroom generous.

We use it for car camping and weekend backpacking in all climates and seasons. We've had it flyless on balmy summer nights in Moab, blasted by serious wind storms on the rim of the Grand Canyon, and pitched in a freezing autumn rainstorm at treeline in the Rockies. It was especially great in the rain as we could pitch the fly and floor and use the space to make hot drinks and change into dry clothes before pitching the body inside it.

It packs a little heavy for two, but it parts out easily and sets up quickly. Highly recommended for short, comfortable backpacking trips, and fully a three season tent.

Set-up=Super easy! First use in field I had 60lbs of gear in it. No wind, no weather so I thought no stakes needed...oops. Left the area for a few hours while a storm came out of no where with torrential rain and 60 mph winds. Came back to find tent down the hill about 30 yards from where I set it up and laying UPSIDE DOWN with gear scattered down to where the tent laid. Zipper partially open so I feared the worst for my gear. COMPLETELY DRY GEAR!!! Even downpour and upside down... not a drop of water got inside!!! I was super relieved and can't say enough good things. I'm 6'3" 200lbs and wouldn't say it's a 3 person... 2 guys is plenty cozy with the gear. Super compact, easiest set-up of any tent I've owned and extremely light wt. AMAZING TENT!

Packaged weight: 5lbs-13oz
Fly, Mesh, poles: 5lbs-4oz
Stakes in sack with splint: 5oz
Inside demensions: 86"x65"
Inside Area: 38.82 sqft

We have two medium size dogs and this tent is a little tight with the two of us and the dogs, but ok. A couple of things caused me to rate it as average. One, I can never get a taut pitch. The doors are nothing special. Their design is just not to my liking. (the REI Quarter DOME T3 Plus has doors with a mesh pouch to store them out of the way and their shape makes entry/exit easier.. nice). Last, even though this tent has a cross pole that goes all the way to the ground (which I thought would make this tent solid), I have to guy this tent out on the corners to withstand moderate winds when I'm above tree line. I own and use the Copper Spur UL tents also. I much prefer their design over the Emerald Mountain. If you need the option of a very large add-on vestibule, however, then the Emerald Mountain is for you! BA tent construction quality is always top notch.

I used this tent last summer for a week-long backpacking trip with two friends. We were looking for a tent that could genuinely fit 3 of us (all pretty tall), and this one definitely worked well without feeling like we were overlapping when we slept. The tent sets up easily (a practice set up before I left helped). The two vestibules were great and provided enough room to store poles and packs and protect them from salt-seeking deer. It is a very light tent - definitely lighter than the 2 person tent I usually take backpacking.

It rained almost every night of our trip and was generally damp enough that there was condensation on the tent every morning, but during the day we spread out the tent to dry whenever we had a chance and it was dry in no time. The tent did get a little chewed by a marmot, but this is more a reflection of the marmot's tastes than the tent's quality, and the small pieces of duct tape on the screen are a memento of a fantastic trip. Highly recommended - a very good deal for the price!

When I first climbed into a Big Agnes Emerald Mountain SL3 I was amazed at how big and spacious it was. Most backpacking tents are small on size to keep down weight but Big Agnes has managed to keep the weight down (for a 3 person tent) and create space big enough for 3 people, plus with the use of both vestibules you can keep all your gear out of the open. I've yet to try and cook under the larger vestibule but with care I think it can be done on those rainy days.

this tent is decently lightweight for its size, easy to set up and has a nice vestibule space. everything is color coordinated so throwing on the fly is super easy. just match up the buckles (green or black). Its about a 3-5 min set up after doing it once. slept 2 adults and one big dog(70lbs)very comfortably. could have easily fit one more reg size person or big dog.