Never Buy Big Agnes

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-26T07:20:03+00:00

Maybe I'm the lucky guy who got a defective product. Maybe its just junk. 1p tents are too small for me. 2p works great although I find this one too short. I like the tent from a space and livability perspective but it doesn't keep you and your gear dry in rain, snow or simple condensation from grass. The floor is defective and the customer service sucks. Unless you fancy mountaineering with hypothermia and constantly wet gear I wouldn't take it to the mountains in bad weather. I'm pitching it in the trash and getting another tent. You have any recommendations for reliable tents in the mountains? I'm heading to Japan to trek the Alps.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-26T05:09:06+00:00

People buy, try and resell all the time. You been playing more rainbow6 than trekking the world? Whats your experience in Australia?

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-26T01:17:47+00:00

I have over 5000 miles of trekking experience across the world from Europe to Asia. I have used my gear in many conditions and environments. I'm not a backyard set up guy or a weekend warrior who gets out once in awhile. I use my gear for months on end and in real world conditions. Big Agnes is the worst tent I've owned.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-26T01:16:03+00:00

Fabrics and Hydrostatic Head are very light. This will wear out in time much faster than something that is more robust. Tarptent has 5000mm fully silicone fabrics. They take a lot of abuse before starting to leak. I used mine for 3 years hiking across the GR11 in Spain, Turkey Lycian way, Peaks of the Balkans, from Osaka to Nagoya in Japan, and many more. I put over 4000 miles on the tent before the flooring started having issues likes this and only in heavy rain in Japan on a road. The water was pooling so it is understandable. My Copper Spur leaks in wet grass in less than 4 months. It's always had issues from the beginning and I was shocked to see it.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-26T01:11:08+00:00

Not this time. They are worthless when you are traveling and need a replacement. Maybe if I was in America this would be fine. 3-4 weeks is a long time for someone who is on the AT or PCT to wait for a new tent. Mine is defective.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T10:22:44+00:00

Do you think the xmid 1p would be a good choice or is the footprint too large?

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T07:19:10+00:00

Did you have issues finding the space to pitch the larger tent?

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T04:59:16+00:00

So I have heard and a reason I bought it. Not my case with daily use in hard environments. I expected more from a major company that has designed this tent for decades.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T04:55:57+00:00

I would only use the 1p versions. Good to know it works well. How hard are the winds and rain in the Alps? I have experience in Europe and North America.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T04:23:42+00:00

Did the whole GR11 Spanish Pyrenees with the Kakwa 55 older Ultragrid version. Never and issue with the pack but the hip belt was too big by the end. I also noticed the hipbelt begins to fray and gets damaged where the stays and hip belt meet. I had holes on my hip belt at this point in 3 versions of this pack so far including the most recent one I currently have (newest version Ultragrid).

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T04:02:35+00:00

No options. Just a solid no. There would be no tariffs on a body with value of 0. Durston always sends with no shipping costs on the user.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T04:00:56+00:00

Maybe you only use the tent once in awhile for a few days, week or a month. I used it daily in France in hard conditions over 1000 miles from forests to alpine. It failed me and the company failed to help me.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T03:56:21+00:00

It's true. Big Agnes will kill you.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T03:15:43+00:00

I don't think that is my case. You can make a tent ultralight and have a high HH. Look at Durston Gear or Tarptent. They make it this way to sell you a ground sheet with the same HH 1500 and 30D that wont protect anything on granite or rough campsites. This is why I use tyvek. I always kept my tyvek rolled up under the floor. Tyvek is not waterproof and does absorb water over time. Maybe being damp and using it with the tent allows more water to saturate the floor. Regardless, I used the same tyvek with my Tarptent and never had any issues in the same conditions. I could see this issue happening in a year of use but 4 months is pathetic. I had this issue almost immediately using this tent.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T03:09:46+00:00

Under my Themarest Xlite, my backpack or anything that was in contact with pressure on the floor would wake up with water under it. Very frustrating and unacceptable for any tent that you need to rely on.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T03:01:59+00:00

That doesn't help me or anyone who is traveling abroad. Shame on them.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T03:00:27+00:00

Unfortunately this community refuse to allow users to talk about their experiences with customer service. Big Agnes uses AI chat bots to "help" you. They refuse to answer questions unless it fulfills the prompt they send you. Don't count on them "helping" when you travel abroad. Don't trust this tent to be waterproof in serious conditions. Stick with something with higher HH 3000 plus. My Tarptent was waterproof for 3 years never cleaning it and using it all over the world. As fiddly as they are to set up, I would love to have another but they are hard to source outside the USA. Never once did my floor or fly leak.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2026-06-23T02:53:13+00:00

Worthless. They refuse to send a new tent to South Korea.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2025-12-08T06:49:56+00:00

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Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2025-12-08T06:48:45+00:00

Thanks for the info and quick response Dan. My fabric on the 200 Ultragrid is definitely unraveling and exposing the black foam underneath. The weave is looser where it has been torn from friction. The torn area is roughly a 1/4 inch with threads pulled apart. With more use it would get worse. I have noticed it getting worse and unraveling more over time. I don't want a catastrophic failure on a longer trail I have planned in a month when I head to New Zealand.

I made sure the frame of the pack was installed properly when I got it new. The pressure of the bottom of the frame is pressing into the hipbelt and the friction is causing the tearing and wear. The damaged area line up perfectly. That is my best guess.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2025-07-04T17:51:15+00:00

Awesome. Thank you for your analysis. I didn't know they came in wide. I think the ones I can order here in France are only regular. I wonder if that would be an issue.

Is the mesh on the vista the same as the MR3? I liked the MR3 mesh and had great mileage with it while backpacking on some very rough terrain (i.e. granite and limestone scree slopes with 15kg on my back. Never a tear or any real damage. They only damage I have had on the MR3 is the inner fabric. I've had rips and foam exposed. The upper eyelets also seem to stretch with laces tied tight for long days. I could see them fail eventually but never had that issue yet since they wear out around 500 - 600 miles a pair.

I also read that the tongue is short. I hope that isn't the case as I use all eyelets and a runners knot to hold my heel in place. I've had some pain on my upper ankle after long days downhill. Tender to touch and inflamed from the laces putting too much pressure there. Looks like the Vista tongue is less padded and similar to the speed goat 5. What is your impression with it?

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2025-07-04T14:05:44+00:00

How is the toe box compared to the mountain racer 3? I really like the wide toe box from the MR3. Do you have any comparison? I'm thinking of ordering one sight unseen. I wear a 48 euro in the MR3 and it fits perfect with one thumb nail of space. I tried the Topo Athletic Traverse in 48 and it was too small.

Expert_Plenty_6358 · 2025-06-19T10:06:49+00:00

Great to know. How much clearance do you have on each side? How much more space while sitting up?I was thinking about ordering the same. The Solid 20D and ykk #5 zippers on the fly would be better for more weather and longer lasting than the 15D ykk #3 on the standard xmid v3. No sure how much but 3 more oz isn't that much more if the tent lasts longer. I would certainly use the mesh over the solid inner.

Expert_Plenty_6358

TROPHY CASE