Big Agnes Slater UL 2+ Review: 2×3+ Bikepacking Tent

compose Logan Watts
time Mar 26, 2015
comment 5

I definitely prefer the encapsulating bubble that a tent provides, versus the more open stylings of a tarp shelter. I like a bit of separation between myself and what crawls in the dirt. But in colder weather, even when bugs and snakes aren’t yet out in droves, a tent provides another added benefit. We decided to bring the Slater UL 2+ on our extended van tour of backpacking destinations this winter, and so far it’s been an excellent choice.

The obvious advantages of the Slater are its reasonable packed size, weight, adequate interior space, and generous vestibule. What wasn’t fully realized until this winter, is that the tent’s unique construction adds a bit of bonus R value to that of the bag/pad system. Instead of being fabricated with a large percentage of mesh, like that of several other ultralight Big Agnes tents, the tent body of the Slater series is made up of a very thin ultralight ripstop nylon, which isolates the interior from the elements, slows heat loss, and makes it somewhat of a 3+ season tent. This notable temperature difference was evident on several sub-freezing occasions when nature beckoned and I left the tent in the wee hours of the morning. The temperature variance was surprisingly dramatic at times. This also made the Pitchpine 45 degree sleeping bag tolerable below 25F.

Even with the nylon material as the tent body, the Slater UL 2+ is still a fairly minimal two-part shelter, as are it’s weight and packed size. Considering that it boasts 37 square feet of interior space, at 5×18” the Slater packs up small in comparison. Once unpacked, the Slater is fairly quick to set up. The minimal single-joint tent pole design saves space in the bag, however, unlike the freestanding setup option of the FlyCreek, it requires stakes to setup which would make it difficult to impossible to erect inside or on a concrete pad (both of those situations presented themselves in Central America and Africa). Another con is the fact that the rain fly is orange which could attract attention in situations where stealth is the word.

Pros

• Solid silnylon body adds insulation in colder weather.
• Very roomy for a 2p tent.
• Low slung design is good for wind.

Cons

• The long door area makes it impossible to open the outer door while it’s raining.
• Its somewhat difficult to get in and out of because its rather short and the door is long.
• Condensation can get pretty bad with the silnylon body in not dry climates.

• Weight 1361 grams or 3 lbs
• Packed Size 5″ x 18″
• Square footage 37 sq ft interior
• Vestibule 8 sq ft