Gear Review
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 Tent 1-Person 3-Season
BA missed the boat.
By Robert_W
Ranked #665 - Tents
May 21, 2009
I'm an outfitter in MT and have spent many nights in the wilderness. Needed to find a new solo tent for the high country. Used this tent one night and that was enough. Super light weight and extremely thin but seemingly tough enough material. Seems and stitching seem sound. Other than that I found it to be a poor design. Had a storm blow in and drop the snow level to my elevation and it rained, sleeted and blew all night. Temps about 35 degrees F.
It is not free standing and I found it impossible, either setting it up at home in good weather or especially after 8 miles and 4000 or so vertical feet in the cold, to guy wire it out correctly. Even with all the stakes.
Though the specs read that it should be able to fit the Big Agnes Park long series bags, it does not. There is no way to fit one and not have your feet rub against the lower end, which inevitably led to the lower end of my bag picking up a lot of moisture from the walls. I find it hard to believe that any normal sized human in any bag could not end up rubbing the walls. This thing is REAL small inside. I'm 6'1” and 225 lbs. Forget about sitting up.
Cold air also blows in on your head as there is no wall by your head, just mesh. Then every time you need get in and out of the fly water pours in all over your head as there is no way to open it up without that occurring because of the angle of the tiny vestibule. No way I was fitting my Gregory Baltoro 70 Lg, 4638 cu/inches in it either. Just enough room for shoes and maybe a very small pack and water bottle.
I like Big Agnes products, but this one missed the boat. I'll be getting a Copper Spur UL2 instead. Same material but big enough not to rub against. And room to store my pack. I'm willing to give up a bit of weight for comfort. The Fly Creek is maybe a fair weather small person no rain tent at best.
View Details: Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 Tent 1-Person 3-Season
Helpful Votes: 3 Yes
Tech Specs:
- Material:
- [fly] SilNylon; [floor] nylon
- Freestanding:
- yes
- Doors:
- 1
- Poles:
- 2
- Pole Material:
- DAC aluminum
- Pole Attachment:
- clip
- Floor Space:
- 22 sq ft
- Floor Dimensions:
- 86x42 in
- Interior Height:
- 38 in
- Vestibule Space:
- 5.5 sq ft
- Packed Size:
- 19x5 in
- Seams:
- sealed
- Ventilation:
- mesh walls
- Fast-pitch Option:
- n/a
- Trail Weight:
- 2 lb 3 oz
- Manufacturer Warranty:
- 1 year
Change me.
6 Comments Last Reply: August 5, 2010 By: Mike Throgmartin
It is a shame that someone who has no idea what they are talking about can leave a review like this. Big Agnes makes quality products and this is a good tent. Too bad someone will look at the overall rating and maybe take a pass on it because of 3 average stars.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Outfitter dude's bad review of this tent is everywhere. I own the tent and really love it. Of course I understand its limitations--but a double wall tent with a rocking design (interior netting hangs down from center pole and fly guys away from netting so that the fly and netting don't interact even when it's raining) that works in so many ways for just barely over two pounds...very cool.
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
Wow, you're an outfitter? You couldn't outfit yourself with the proper tent! What shop do you work at? The one that recommends 35 degree bags for denali treks?
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Are you kidding me? You are an outfitter and you had trouble setting this tent up? There are so many things just wrong about this review... Let me show you. 1. Snow falls when it's a little colder than just 35 degrees. You're thinking of another mysterious type of moisture called rain. I'm sure in your many nights spent out of doors you've experienced this liquid. 2. As a refresher for you Mr. Outfitter, non-freestanding tents in order for them to stand rely solely upon the stakes. This tent stands on its own, but in order to have maximum space by your feet, you must stake it out...just like the Seedhouse SL1 (This tent's predecessor; notice the similarity in design?). 3. Let's not generalize normal sized humans as 6'1" 225lbs (your size). The average American male stands at 5'10" and weighs 175lbs. So when 38" of headroom isn't enough to sit-up, you've either got one of the worlds longest upper torsos or you need to quit kneeling and calling it sitting up. 4. Here's a suggestion when opening your vestibule on this tent: slap the fabric near the top of the vestibule firmly enough to loosen the water particles and zip from the bottom to the top and roll the vestibule away from you as to avoid any water dropping in your tent. This is common sense to nearly everyone who owns a tent with this design, especially any 'outfitter' that owns a tent of this design. 5. Vestibules, such as this kind, have the ability to be staked out further above the ground to increase ventilation or closer to the ground to quell any wind gusts. If you get so tired you can't stake out your vestibule properly from an 8 mile, 4,000 vertical foot hike, you don't need to own a tent of this stature in the first place. Stick to Kelty or Coleman and use pull-off camping grounds in your nearest KOA. 6. You buy a hyper-light tent but you use a 70 liter backpack for an overnight camping trip and then cry about it not fitting in your tent that's been produced for ultralight endeavors? Are you serious? If you say you are an outfitter, which is very hard for me to believe, you better get your facts straight when you review on this website. The brilliant people at Big Agnes have been able to shave 12 ounces from a design that has won numerous awards for being the lightest in class. The fact that their sweat and blood has been disgraced by your unqualified review justifies fully my verbally tearing your ass. I do not find it a fun time writing this nor ever wish to write another caustic and hateful tirade on anyone's review, but this is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read. If any one of the engineers at Big Agnes had read your review, I'm sure they could not believe that their hard work had paid off in such a negative and ignorant rant, on both our parts. But, and this is to Big Agnes, if I've said all the things that you wanted to say to this guy, I'll take a Fly Creek UL2 lol. Cheers to all who read this and have at least a laugh that I've spent all this time on something that may not even matter.
Helpful Votes: 16 Yes
Bobby, if you think it's impossible to set up a "FREESTANDING" tent, you might want to seriously consider another line of work! Remind me to never use a Montana outfitter, as if I would anyway.
Helpful Votes: 5 Yes
It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out this tent was not made for above treeline, or anyware you are going to get heavy snow. Same with, carrying huge packs, and big guys. This is an ultra light tent, for ultra light people. This tent rocks. 5'8 ultralight hardcore, 3 season. Like all ultralight packing, use your brain first.
Helpful Votes: 29 Yes