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Having put the Massive Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 by means of 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 form of particular person. I imply, I can discover the great in most gear – even when it’s not my favorite, I nonetheless consider every bit can serve a objective. That was till I purchased the Massive Agnes Tiger Wall UL2. This tent is without doubt one of the hottest decisions for light-weight mountaineering and bikepacking in the intervening time, however truthfully? I hate it.
It regarded promising on day one
Why am I the precise particular person to jot down this evaluate?
As a result of I’ve executed 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 assumed I’d landed a winner with the Massive Agnes Tiger Wall UL2. The specs regarded nice, it had rave evaluations, and the packed weight was ultimate.
In actuality, my tent goals 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 each 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 Massive Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 is a two-layer, two-door tent that (regardless of its look) just isn’t absolutely 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 effectively on tenting platforms or arduous 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 means of when it rains.
The nook on the again doesn’t have each strains 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? Massive 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 outside gear ought to be any color however white.
White allows each little bit of sunshine, making it unattainable to sleep beneath the complete moon, and when you flip in your headlamp inside, you change into a beacon lighting up your complete campsite for all to see; neglect about privateness.
The answer-dyed nylon ripstop outer material may be proof against UV fade, however white simply reveals up each speck of dust.
To be honest, when 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 awoke 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 material tents, which is saying one thing! I discovered myself eager for the roof vents on my outdated Massive Agnes Copper Spur, a function I’d by no means appreciated till I used to be left with out it.
Learn extra: Massive 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, nevertheless it sacrifices sturdiness. A number of of my poles cracked throughout the first couple of days of use. And the TipLok Tent Buckle system, which mixes pole-tip seize, rainfly attachment, and tensioner, appeared like an excellent thought, nevertheless it didn’t final any longer than the poles.
Certain, the tent’s a breeze to arrange, however what good is that if it could’t survive common use?
Simply one of many cracked poles
Packed Dimension & Weight
I’ll give the Tiger Wall this: it packs down small. Massive 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 – excellent for my bikepacking handlebar bag.
With a path weight of 992g, or 765g when you’re utilizing the Quick Fly Setup (simply the outer and footprint), it undoubtedly ticks the ultralight field.
Consolation
Massive Agnes calls this a 2P tent, however when you and your mountaineering associate are over 178cm tall, like my associate and I, put together to really feel cramped. We each use extensive sleeping mats, and on this tent, it was a squeeze to put them aspect by aspect.
There’s barely any room for further gear inside when you’re sharing, and whereas the ‘3D bin’ mezzanine pocket appears like a fantastic thought for further storage, it sags if you load it up with any weight, shrinking your already restricted private house.
The mezzanine pocket is best in idea than utility
For a extra tangible comparability, the Massive Agnes Copper Spur 2P has a head top of 102cm and a size of 224cm, with a dome-shaped roof that gives extra vertical house. The Tiger Wall, however, solely provides you 99cm of head top 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 effectively for backpack storage.
I’d name this a 1.5P tent, at greatest. This tent is best suited to a solo hiker who likes to maintain all their gear inside. For those who at all times hike with a good friend, you may wish to improve to the 3P Tiger Wall as an alternative. That model is 224cm lengthy, 168cm extensive on the prime, and 152cm on the backside, with a head top of 107cm. In fact, you’re going to hold a little bit further weight with the larger measurement, however when you’re splitting the packed weight, the added consolation might be price it.
Anybody wish to soar in right here with me?
Sustainability
The Massive Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 deserves credit score for eco-friendly efforts; it makes use of solution-dyed materials that minimize down on water and power use throughout manufacturing. While Massive Agnes should not B-Corp or fair-trade licensed, they’re making steps in the precise course.
Nevertheless, as a ‘buy once, buy right’ form 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 arduous to see as a sustainable selection in the long term.
Guys, it’s actually coming aside on the seams
Worth
The Massive Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 has an RRP of $720, however currently it’s been on sale at Wild Earth for as little as $503.96 – a good value for an ultralight tent, however perhaps not as value efficient if it wants changing before anticipated.
For comparability, the Massive 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 harder when you’re after one thing that’ll go the space. Or, if the finances isn’t a difficulty, the Hyperlite Unbound 2P at $1,299.95 is extra spacious and extra sturdy, to not point out it’s in a complete totally different league when it comes to 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 slightly carry just a few further 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 continues to be the primary tent I attain for after I go on bikepacking journeys. It matches completely in my bike luggage, and although I’m not a fan of the tent, you’ll most likely maintain seeing me use it… till it’s lastly in tatters.
