The Copper Spur HV UL2 has spent years as the default answer to 'which backpacking tent should I buy,' and the reasons hold up. At 2 pounds 12 ounces trail weight it is light enough that you stop thinking about it, yet it stays fully freestanding with two doors, two vestibules, and a high-volume hub pole design that pulls the walls outward for real sitting-up room — livability that semi-freestanding rivals at this weight cannot match. Setup is fast and intuitive, and the awning-mode vestibules are a genuinely useful touch in camp. The honest caveats: ultralight means fragile, and the thin ripstop nylon floor and fly demand a footprint and some care around granite and thorns. The tapered floor narrows at the feet, so two standard 25-inch pads touch, and at around 525 to 550 dollars it is a serious investment for 29 square feet. The MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2 is tougher and steadier in wind for similar money, but it gives back 11 ounces. For most backpackers counting grams without wanting single-wall compromises, the Copper Spur remains the benchmark the category is measured against.
2 lb 12 oz trail weight with fully freestanding pitch
Two doors and two vestibules at a class-leading weight
High-volume pole architecture gives real sitting room
Fast, intuitive setup
Thin fabrics need careful site selection and a footprint