Space and weight are critical considerations for bikepacking, especially when choosing between comfort and minimizing your load. Tents and sleeping bags often constitute a significant portion of a cyclist’s pack, demanding careful selection. For riders aiming for ultralight setups without sacrificing essential comfort, understanding the best options available is crucial. This article explores some top-tier tents and down sleeping bags ideal for bikepacking, drawing insights from gear reviews and expert opinions to guide your choices for your next adventure on two wheels.
Author Photo
By Logan
PUBLISHED Oct 24, 2013
Tents for Bike Touring and Bikepacking
For bikepacking, the ideal tent balances space, weight, and durability. When embarking on tours lasting several months, a reliable and spacious tent becomes indispensable. While some couples might manage with smaller two-person tents, upgrading to a three-person tent often provides the necessary room for gear storage and personal space, particularly in warmer climates. Here’s a comparison of three tents suitable for bike touring and bikepacking, helping you decide which might be the best fit for your needs.
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3: Spacious Comfort for Longer Bike Tours
Weight: 2,128 grams (4.69 lbs) / Packed Size: 7″ x 22″ / Interior Area: 44 sq ft / Vestibule Area: 9 sq ft
The Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 is a popular choice among bike tourists, known for its generous interior space while maintaining a lightweight design. As the most spacious three-person tent in Big Agnes’ ultralight series, it offers ample room for two people and their gear. A standout feature is its dual-door and vestibule design, allowing each person convenient access and personal storage space – a significant benefit during extended trips.
Bike Touring Tent – Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3
Despite its ultralight materials, the Copper Spur has proven to be robust, having withstood tours through Mexico and Central America. However, its bulk might be a concern for minimalist bikepacking setups where every inch of space counts. The packed size may be less ideal for stuffing into smaller bikepacking bags.
Bike Touring Tent – Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3
Entry and exit through the doors can be a bit cumbersome due to their shallow design and the vestibules, but this is a common compromise in ultralight tents. For fully loaded tours where space is less critical than comfort, the Copper Spur UL3 remains an excellent option.
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3
Bike Touring Tents – Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3, Fly Creek UL3, Slater UL2+
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL3: Lightweight Tent for Adventure Cycling
Weight: 1662 grams (3.66 lbs) / Packed Size: 6″ x 19″ / Interior Area: 39 sq ft / Vestibule Area: 12.5 sq ft
The Big Agnes Fly Creek UL3 strikes a balance between weight and space, making it a strong contender for lightweight adventure cycling. It offers a spacious layout with steep sidewalls and a front door design that enhances the usable interior volume. Notably, the Fly Creek UL3 boasts a larger vestibule than the combined vestibule space of the Copper Spur, providing ample room for gear storage.
Bike Touring Tent – Fly Creek UL3
A key feature of the Fly Creek is its inner clip system that tension the rainfly, ensuring a taut pitch and optimal separation between the fly and tent body. This design minimizes the risk of the fly touching the mesh and causing water to seep inside during rain, a problem sometimes encountered with the Copper Spur.
Bike Touring Tent – Fly Creek UL3
The rainfly’s neutral color is another advantage, blending well into natural surroundings for discreet camping. While it includes some orange trim, it is less conspicuous than brighter options, making it suitable for stealth camping.
Bike Touring Tent – Fly Creek UL3
Bike Touring Tent – Fy Creek UL3
Bike Touring Tent – Fy Creek UL3 and Slater UL2+
Big Agnes Slater UL2+: Minimalist Shelter for Bikepacking
Weight: 1361 grams (3 lbs) / Packed Size: 5″ x 18″ / Interior Area: 37 sq ft / Vestibule Area: 8 sq ft
For bikepackers prioritizing minimal weight and pack size, the Big Agnes Slater UL2+ is an excellent choice, especially for shorter trips. It’s designed to be as lightweight as possible while still offering full tent functionality. While a tarp or fast-fly setup might suffice in favorable conditions, the Slater UL2+ provides essential protection from bugs and rain, making it a reliable shelter.
Bikepacking gear – Big Agnes Slater UL 2+
However, the Slater UL2+ is more restrictive in space due to its low sidewalls, which might become less comfortable over extended periods. It also requires stakes for setup, which could be inconvenient in situations where staking is not possible, such as indoors or on concrete. The bright orange rainfly might also be less ideal for wild camping where discretion is preferred.
Bikepacking gear – Big Agnes Slater UL2+
A notable advantage of the Slater UL line is the use of thin ripstop nylon instead of extensive mesh in the tent body. This design enhances warmth, making it closer to a 3+ season tent and adding a degree of durability. Its small packed size and reasonable interior space make it highly practical for minimalist adventures.
Bikepacking gear – Big Agnes Slater UL2+
Bikepacking gear – Big Agnes Slater UL2+
Bikepacking gear – Big Agnes Slater UL2+
Bike Touring Tent – Fy Creek UL3 and Slater UL2+
Big Agnes Tent Stakes
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags for Bikepacking and Bike Touring
Choosing the right sleeping bag is essential for comfortable bikepacking, especially when aiming for lightweight gear. Down sleeping bags are favored for their superior warmth-to-weight ratio and compressibility. Here are two ultralight down sleeping bags from Big Agnes, ideal for bikepacking and bike touring in different temperature ranges.
Big Agnes Pitchpine UL 45: Summer and Warm Weather Bag
Temperature Rating: 45 degrees / Weight: 567 grams (20 oz) / Packed Size: 6″ x 15″ / Length: 78″ (model)
The Big Agnes Pitchpine UL 45 is designed for warm weather conditions, offering an incredibly lightweight and compact sleeping solution. Weighing just 20oz (567 grams), it’s perfect for summer bikepacking or touring in milder climates. Its design omits bottom insulation, relying on the R-value of your sleeping pad for ground insulation, which significantly reduces weight and bulk.
Bikepacking gear – Big Agnes Pitchpine SL 40
The Pitchpine features a generous 72.5″ shoulder girth, providing a non-restrictive fit, unlike typical mummy bags. It also includes a sleeve on the bottom to secure a 20″ wide sleeping pad, preventing it from slipping during the night. As a warm-weather bag, it lacks a hood, further reducing weight and bulk.
Bikepacking gear – Big Agnes Pitchpine SL 40
Ideal for temperatures between 40-80 degrees Fahrenheit, the Pitchpine is versatile for three-season use in moderate climates. While it may become slightly sticky in high humidity, and not warm enough for freezing temperatures, its lightweight and compact nature make it an excellent choice for most bikepacking adventures where warmth is not the primary concern.
Bikepacking gear – Big Agnes Pitchpine SL 40
Bike Touring Sleeping Bag – Big Agnes
Big Agnes Lost Lake SL 30: Versatile Three-Season Down Bag
Temperature Rating: 30 degrees / Weight: 850 grams (30 oz) / Packed Size: 6″ x 15″ / Length: 72″ (model)
The Big Agnes Lost Lake SL 30 offers a balance of warmth and weight, suitable for three-season bikepacking. Weighing around 30oz (850g) for the 6′ model, it incorporates features that enhance comfort and performance in cooler conditions. It features a full-length #8 zipper for ventilation in warmer weather and utilizes Big Agnes’ DownTek™ water-repellent down to maintain insulation in damp conditions.
Bike Touring Sleeping Bag – Big Agnes Lost Lake 30
The Lost Lake SL 30 is well-baffled to ensure consistent warmth distribution from head to toe. It has proven effective in near-freezing temperatures, keeping users warm and comfortable. Its design and features make it a reliable choice for bikepackers needing a versatile bag for varied conditions.
Bike Touring Sleeping Bag – Big Agnes Lost Lake 30
While its packed size is slightly larger than the Pitchpine, it remains compact enough for fork-mounted cages and bikepacking setups. The Lost Lake SL 30 is an excellent option for those seeking a bit more warmth without a significant weight penalty, making it suitable for spring, summer, and fall bikepacking adventures.
Bike Touring Sleeping Bag – Big Agnes Lost Lake 30
Bike Touring Sleeping Bag – Big Agnes Lost Lake 30
Choosing the right down sleeping bag and tent is crucial for enjoying your bikepacking adventures. Whether you prioritize ultralight packing for challenging terrains or spacious comfort for longer tours, understanding the features and benefits of each gear option will help you make informed decisions and enhance your experience on the Best Down Bikes and trails.
FILED IN (CATEGORIES & TAGS)
[
