B & I got a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 - flippin amazing 3 season tent. 4lbs 12oz packed weight which includes fly/vestibule - HUGE amount of room for the weight. Tested it at home & field tested it during the crazy Mothers day weekend on Whitney. It shook a bit in the winds, but it held tight.
Big enough for three - tested on two Muir Trails so far and love that tent. In a bind, I'd take it on a solo hike (in the past, I've used a 7 pound 2-person as solo shetler, so this would be bigger and lighter!)
For a 4 season I like the Black Diamond Guidelight 4 person. With the extra vestibule it weighs in just under 7lbs. Lots of room, an area to "cook" in - not that you're supposed to do that but... Good tent held up in winds and snow. A bit of condensation if you don't open the very tops of the doors for venting. This usually isn't an issue as the vestibule shelters these areas completely.
We get the three person tents because we've found the two person tents to be a bit too tight for 2 & gear. You also have to be really good friends or at least ok with accidental spooning to use a 2 person w/ a friend.
I love a good tent =) - oh hell, I love good gear... =)
similar tent addiction here... my 4-season tent is also sized for 3 but never has seen more than two occupants. I am getting another one sized for 2 to be used on solo trips. The MHW EV3 is just a little too heavy to be carried as solo shelter:
never had any condensation on the walls, just a little on the floor (no footprint on snow). It didn't even flap in the 50mph gusts we had at night. My solo winter tent will either be an MSR Twin Sisters or a used MHW EV2, if I can get a good deal like on the above. Won't need it before October.
I have a Big Agnes Speedhouse SL1 solo 3-season as well, but that will most likely end up on ebay. Very disappointed in that tent after the Copper Spur. Should have really paid the extra for the Copper Spur UL1, but those are rarely on sale and I got the UL3 for less than you usually see the UL1 priced at.
I spent most of my life hiking with really crappy gear, such as the below pictured 1980 UL tarp bought at a building supply place:
For over 10 Muir Trails, I used a $50 used Sierra Designs Meteor Light (the only thing light about it is its impact on your wallet), so when I was finally able to afford better gear it was quite a revelation how much of a difference a good tent can make. Ebay makes it all possible - would never have bought the two fancy tents above at retail price.
