Gear Review: Fly Creek UL1 Tent by Big Agnes

I review and field test the Fly Creek UL1 tent made by Big Agnes (http://www.bigagnes.com/). I couldn't find a review of this tent before I bought it, so I made this video for the next guy.

Sorry the sound is low. Please turn up your volume.

I don't know who Big Agnes is, but I wonder if she can fit in this tent?

UPDATE: June 2009. I have spent over ten nights on the trail in this tent now and my initial durability worries are fading somewhat. This amazing material actually is quite tough despite it's thinness.

UPDATE: July 2009. The tent survived another six nights without any signs of wear. I was on the PCT in Oregon this time. The mosquitoes were horrible in some areas and I pitied my buddies who got eaten alive under their tarps.

UPDATE: June 2010. I just hiked the Lost Coast with this tent again. it is still in perfect condition. One night I pitched it on sharp rocks in very windy conditions. I had to place boulders on top of the tent stakes. To my surprise it held up without a scratch. This little guy is tougher than I expected.

http://jessewright.com

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• gear
• review
• fly
• creek
• tent
• field
• test
• backpacking
• ultralight
• lightweight
• hiking
• camping
• big
• agnes

[SystematicRap]

Thanks for the review! Question to everyone who has owned this and neversat : would a 6'2 person's head or feet be touching or super close to the walls of the tent?

Thanks!

[neversat]

@SystematicRap Yes, it would be a tight fit. I'm 5' 10" and fit, but without much room to spare.

[tritan1]

so what do you think of this tent now? would you change to something different if you had the funds?

[neversat]

@tritan1 I would buy this tent again. It was expensive, but is exactly what I was looking for, a very lightweight, bugproof, just-big-enough shelter for one average sized, non-claustrophobic person. It has proven to be quite tough.

[bedarda]

After almost a year.. my Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 from HumbleOutdoors ($267 w/free Footprint)... has been on 6 outings. I had reservations at first, thinking that the light weight material would not hold up. But I have been proved wrong, last night I woke to a coating of ice on the tent. Solid performer.

[neversat]

@bedarda I'm with you 100%. I was initially concerned about durability, but my Flycreek UL1 is still in perfect condition. I've used it in the rain on several occasions and always stayed dry and the thin material held up great even when pitching it on sharp rocks.

[neversat]

I love tarps too, but they don't do a damn thing to protect you from mosquitoes. I got eaten alive last summer with my tarp.

[740andrew]

just got mine for 160 off of fleabay, love it

[MrFunkygibbons]

@SystematicRap

i'm 6'2 and i fit fine. don't expect to do jumping jacks in it though.

[sdkkrew]

@SystematicRap im 6'1 and i have the fly creek ul2. I fit fine and if im at an angle in the tent i have 5-8 inches of spare room. You should pick up the ul2 that was almost no more then the ul1 and youll have all the room you need.

[tidejp]

I agree about the price... but it seems all the ul equipment is moving towards the "less is more", less material, more price.

[swmsalem]

Nice review... so I got one myself, spent 3 days in Oregon's Mt. Jefferson Wilderness area with rain, hail, wind, snow mix and it worked perfectly. I found for me anyway that staking out the foot end corners of the rain fly separate from the tent corners improved airflow quite a bit . Fully staked out and tight this tent is tougher then it looks.

[djkenny]

seeing I can get a half down 2 REI tent, granted it is 5 LBS... for about $139 on sale... I cannot get myself to drop this kind of cash. Just can't. I will find a way to deal with the extra weight on my bike tour I guess. Over $250 seems way too much. I might pay $250 for a 2 person one that includes the ground cover.

[djkenny]

I want one for bike camping, I am concerned even the 2 model will not fit my bike and panniers.

[BrokenAeroVT]

I like to use a thick style emergency blanket cut to size for a footprint, reflective side up to return radiant energy to the tent.