Big Agnes is well-known for their lightweight, high-quality backpacking tents, especially the Tiger Wall UL2 Solution Dye. How I came to call it my own, however, was strictly chance. A friend knew I was looking for a two-person backpacking tent and recommended the Tiger Wall UL2 Solution Dye. When I looked it up online, there just so happened to be a sale. It must be destiny, I thought, and bought it on the spot. I’ve yet to regret it. Read below to see why I love it or visit Big Agnes to see their full specs.
Overview specs
Seasons: 3-Season
Sleeping Capacity: 2 Person
Floor Dimensions: 86 x 52/42 (head/foot) in / 218 x 132/106 cm
Peak Height: 39 in / 99 cm
Vestibule Area: 8+8 ft / 2.4+2.4 m
Pack Size: 5.5 in x 18 in / 14 x 46 cm
Pack Weight: 2lb 8oz / 1.13kg
Trail Weight: 2lb 3oz / 992g
Minimalist Setup Weight: 1lb 11oz / 765g
The test
Three days in my backyard in chilly November and an overnight backpacking trip in the Seneca Creek backcountry in hot July.
The backyard test
If you’ve read some of my other tent reviews, you know I always set up in my backyard before taking the tent on an actual trip. This was no different with this tent! My sister and I popped it up in my yard for the first time last fall when I first purchased it. The temperature got down into the 20s that night and we ended up with a light dusting of snow. The Tiger Wall did fantastic, and we didn’t have an issue with coldness, snow drifting in, or any leaks.
The backpacking trip to Spruce Knob and the Seneca Creek backcountry
Some plans got derailed over the summer, and so it took a bit before I could go out on an official trip with the Tiger Wall. I took it down for a weekend backpacking trip at Spruce Knob, West Virginia. I used it as a one-person tent even though it’s technically rated for two. My friends and I found a delightful spot next to Seneca Creek and tucked away early for the night. The weather was perfect, with only a slight shower as we turned in. My Tiger Wall stood sturdy for me, and I didn’t feel a drop of rain. The tent dried off quickly during the night and was fully dry and ready to be packed up in the morning.
The full Tiger Wall UL2 Solution Dye backpacking tent review
Set up and tear down
Big Agnes tents are many things: lightweight, durable, and well-loved. They are also very easy to set up and tear down. The Tiger Wall is no exception. There’s only one pole to keep track of, making it extremely easy to set up. This pole builds out into a “T,” with a cross pole to help hold the roof out.
You know that annoying problem where you’re staring at a pile of fabric, trying to figure out what part is the head and what part goes with the foot? The Tiger Wall doesn’t have that issue. Instead, everything is color-coordinated! All things related to the footer of the tent—the pole, the tent strap, the rain fly—is yellow. Poles and straps related to the front of the tent are white or silver.
I easily set the tent up by myself and it was a quick teardown the next morning as well. Additionally, the fast fly process (while not tested out by me) looks to be extremely quick and easy as well.
Construction
Due to Big Agnes’ Solution Dye process, the Tiger Wall is resistant to UV fading and, Big Agnes suggests, higher quality. (Learn more about the Solution Dye process below.) The tent fly and floor is a water-repellent silicone-treated nylon ripstop. The tent body is breathable ripstop nylon and polyester mesh. Additionally, there are nine lightweight stakes included.
When going on longer hikes (such as a thru-hike) or during continuous use, Big Agnes suggests hikers use a product like Nikwax Solarproof to maintain waterproofing and UV resistance.
Comfort
My favorite thing about the Tiger Wall is its huge vestibules. Some vestibules barely give you room to finagle your backpack underneath—but not the Tiger Wall. They measure out at 8ft squared off of either door, which gives you plenty of room for your backpack, your boots, and any other gear tuck under there. The tent itself is small, which doesn’t give you much room to bring things in. Even in the snow, however, I never had an issue with anything getting wet.
When you have two people side-by-side in the tent, it can get tight, as backpacking tents do. However, the peak of the Tiger Wall is held high, and the wider “head” or “shoulders” of the tent allows both me and my sister to sit up at the same time without feeling like we were being pushed into each other. The tapered feet enable you to cut out that extra weight without feeling claustrophobic.
Additionally, the Tiger Wall has ample pockets. There are small pockets in the corner by each person’s head for any small items you’d like to keep close: watch, headlamp, pocket knife, etc. Above, at the head, is a media holder, the perfect size for a cell phone with easy access for headphones. And then, there is a large mesh pocket as wide as the ceiling that can hold (as I discovered) quite a bit. I had a notebook, dirty clothes that needed to dry out, battery pack, and a few other odds and ends up there and it still could have held more.
Packability
The Tiger Wall is large enough to be a 2-person but light enough to carry as a single-person tent. Moreover, the thin fabric can pack tight, making it easy to tuck in my backpack without much hassle. If you want to cut the weight down even further, it’s set up for “Fast Fly” so you can take only the poles, ground tarp, and rain fly, bringing your total weight down to 1lb 11oz.
Common questions about the Tiger Wall UL2 Solution Dye backpacking tent
What is Big Agnes’ “solution dye” and why does it make the tent environmentally friendly?
Solution dye is a process by which Big Agnes treats some of their tents. According to Big Agnes, solution-dyed fabric has:
- 50% reduction in water needed
- 80% reduction in energy required
- 80% less chemicals
This process makes them resistant to UV fading and improves the quality of the tent—all while being better for the environment!
What is Big Agnes’ tent warranty?
All Big Agnes products include a Limited Warranty against manufacturing or material defect. They don’t, however, warranty products damaged from “normal wear and tear, alteration made by owner, misuse, accidents or damages caused by uses other than intended.”
See what’s included in the warranty here.
Overall sentiment: The Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Solution Dye as a backpacking tent or camping tent
The Tiger Wall is one of my favorite tents. You get what you pay for, and though it’s a bit pricey, it’s well worth it. The lightweight or ultralight aspect of it, combined with its durability, practicality, and environmentally friendly manufacturing, means it’s going to be my go-to tent for a long time.
Ready to check the Tiger Wall out for yourself?
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