Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Tent Review

Bottom Line

The Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 is a standout shelter for solo backpackers and ultralight pairs who want one of the best backpacking tents when it comes to weight savings and comfort. When you’re splitting the weight with a partner, this model weighs just over a pound per person, but still offers a surprising amount of headroom, lots of pockets for all of your gear, and a fast and easy setup. Managing Editor, Ben Applebaum-Bauch has used this tent extensively on trails like the Continental Divide Trail and the Superior Hiking Trail, and the Tiger Wall UL2 has proven its durability in all summer conditions.

While it excels in weight and convenience, the Tiger Wall UL2 might feel a bit cramped for two hikers, especially on longer trips. If you’re hiking in a pair and prefer a bit more interior space or use wide sleeping pads, we recommend bumping up to the UL3 for increased comfort. The lack of rainfly vents in the Tiger Wall limits airflow options, making ventilation challenging in humid conditions. And, this model requires a bit more care and attention than more durable, heavyweight tents – although the weight savings is worth every penny for folks who like to move fast and light for thousands of miles.

Comfort

The Tiger Wall 2 is one of the most livable and comfy semi-freestanding tents on the market. Its long brow pole really opens up the interior space, making it feel roomier than other tents with similar dimensions, pulling the sidewalls nearly vertical. This gives the tent a spacious, open atmosphere inside, making it the perfect space for relaxing after a long day on the trail. With double doors and generous vestibules on each side, the Tiger Wall 2 provides convenient access and plenty of storage for backpacks and dirty shoes, ideal for anyone who appreciates the luxury of extra room on a longer backpacking trip. 

We’re especially big fans of the oversized gear loft pocket, located in the unused space above your legs at eye level. This is one of the largest stash pockets on any lightweight backpacking tent we’ve seen, and is great for keeping bulky essentials like hoodies and puffies off the floor. The small, but functional side pockets add even more organizational options, ensuring that your belongings are always tidy and accessible, and nice touches like a small hole in the corner of the pocket allows you to run a wire to a charger or a phone overnight. The light gray rainfly allows natural light to filter through and create a bright, inviting environment inside the tent.

We do have a few small gripes, though. Despite its spacious design, the Tiger Wall 2 can feel a bit cramped for two people compared to freestanding options. If you’re using wide sleeping pads or both partners are over six feet tall, we highly recommend sizing up to the UL3 for more livability. The UL2’s 52-inch width at the head and 42-inch width at the foot means that two regular sleeping pads will take up nearly all the floor space and leaves little room for gear or movement. The thin, light-colored rainfly is great for letting in natural light, but isn’t ideal for everyone, especially those sensitive to light from a full moon when trying to sleep. And, the zippers on the Tiger Wall are below average: they’re not as smooth as we’d like, especially on the rainfly and when wet, where they can snag easily.

Weight & Packability

If you want to lower your overall backpacking weight, whether for a quick weekend trip or a long thru-hike, the Tiger Wall 2 is one of our top picks – it’s only 2 pounds and 8 ounces. That’s crazy light for a double-wall, semi-freestanding tent. All of the Tiger Walls’ components pack down very small, so it’s no problem fitting the tent body and fly inside your backpack without taking up much space. The pole assembly’s narrow fold allows it to slide effortlessly into an exterior pocket to maximize your pack’s internal storage, and the silicone-treated nylon and polyester mesh shrink very small into the stuff sack. 

There are a few downsides worth noting, however. The semi-freestanding design is excellent to keep weight down, but can make setup on uneven terrain slightly more challenging. While the tent is compact, some ultralight backpackers might find the pole assembly a bit cumbersome if you want the absolute smallest packed size. And the tent’s weight savings come with trade-offs in durability, so you’ll have to be a bit more careful handling to avoid wear and tear on the thin materials. Still, when it comes to ultralight travel, this tent is a dream, as it combines lightweight materials with a compact design.

Weather Resistance

When it comes to battling the elements, the Tiger Wall 2 is a solid and reliable shelter for summer storms. With its fully waterproof, double-wall construction and fully sealed seams for added protection, you’ll stay dry and cozy all night long when the rain rolls in. The silicone-treated nylon rainfly provides excellent coverage and attaches to the strong but flexible aluminum poles for a stable shelter that blocks rain and wind. When the sun is blazing on long July days, the solution-dyed fabric is highly resistant to UV fading, so it can handle long-term durability in harsh sun exposure. Large door toggles make it easy to roll back the vestibule sides for airflow or wide views – and to prevent condensation – or you can open the double zippers way at the top or bottom of the doors for additional ventilation.

But, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The Tiger Wall 2’s rainfly certainly offers good protection, but there’s no denying that the thin 15-denier fabric tends to fall a bit short in prolonged exposure to wind and storms: the material sags noticeably when it becomes wet and cold. This means you’ll likely need to re-tighten the guylines a couple of times during rainstorms, strong gusts (35+ mph) and chilly evenings – to maintain a stable structure, which can be a hassle. The Tiger Wall also lacks built-in ventilation ports on the rainfly, which limits condensation control. Though its top-zipping doors with small rain-blocking hoods offer some ventilation, these aren’t effective in heavy rain.

Ease of Setup

The Tiger Wall UL2 is incredibly easy to set up – in fact, we’ve seen first-time users pitch this tent in less than three minutes. Thanks to its pre-bent poles, reflective guy lines, and an attached brow pole, the process is streamlined and easy. Color-coded pole ends and grommets make for quick assembly, and the semi-freestanding design simplifies setup. Guy lines and tensioners are pre-attached to the tent so it’s ready to set up right out of the box and hook-and-loop tabs connect the fly directly to the pole structure. During teardown, the tent is so lightweight that it’s easy to move around, shake out, and clean. The footprint (sold separately) allows you to set up the rainfly, poles, and footprint when the weather is bad, so you can get yourself and your gear out of the weather as you pitch the interior tent. Although you’ll need a few additional stakes for a complete pitch with all of the guylines, this is a minor inconvenience for a tent that combines ultralight weight with ease of use.

Despite its advantages, the semi-freestanding nature of the Tiger Wall requires at least two stakes for proper setup of the foot of the tent, which might be less convenient than a fully freestanding shelter. The need for a minimum of six stakes, and up to eleven in harsh weather, can be a hassle, particularly if you’re camping on solid rock or loose ground. Still, the fast and easy setup of this tent is one of our favorite things about it.

Durability

The Tiger Wall UL2 is strong for an ultralight tent: its silicone-treated nylon ripstop fly and tent bottom, reinforced with a 1200mm waterproof polyurethane coating, makes the tent water resistant but also durable. The construction includes quality corner buckles, zippers, and double-stitched mesh that is reliable but featherlight. And, the aluminum poles are sturdy and come with a splint for emergency repairs, though in our experience, pole breakages are very rare. 

One of our favorite things about the Tiger Wall is the tent’s solution-dyed fabric. It offers outstanding UV resistance, but this dying process vastly improves the environmental impact by reducing water and energy usage in production. The lightweight materials are complemented by the ability to easily repair minor damages with Tenacious Tape. For added protection, we highly recommend the optional footprint to extend the life of the tent floor.

The downside? The tent’s thin, 15-denier nylon floor and fly don’t stand up to heavy wear or rough handling compared to stronger, heavier tents. If you frequently camp in harsh environments or are tough on gear, this might not be the best choice for durability. It’s designed to withstand typical use – and our team at CleverHiker has put this tent through the wringer over thousands of miles and hundreds of trips – but its lightweight materials require careful handling to prevent damage. A footprint will help the tent’s durability, but this adds extra weight. That said, the Tiger Wall is well-suited for users who prioritize weight savings and handle their gear with care.

Should You Buy the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2?

The Tiger Wall 2 is perfect for solo ultralight backpackers and close pairs who prioritize a balance between weight savings and livability. It’s one of our top choices for folks who want a backcountry shelter that’s easy to pitch, has a ton of room and pockets, and offers decent weather protection without tipping the scales. The tent’s lightweight design makes it appealing for ounce counters who value convenience but don’t mind a bit of a tight squeeze when sharing the space.

However, the Tiger Wall 2 isn’t the best option for pairs of hikers who want more room or prefer a more spacious tent. The interior can feel cramped for two people, especially on longer trips where comfort becomes a priority. For more room, consider sizing up to the 3-person version – this is CleverHiker Founder Dave Collins’ favorite version for two people. It’s also not the most durable tent for taking on rough landscapes and adverse weather. For those who often camp with a partner or want a stronger tent during stormy adventures, other alternatives may be a better fit.

What Other Backpacking Tents Should You Consider?

Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3: The Big Agnes Tiger Wall is every bit as comfortable, easy to setup, and organized as the 2 person version, but it offers considerably more space. It’s a couple of inches longer and over a foot wider, so two people can spread out easier, use wide pads, and enjoy more livable space on the trail, for only about a half-pound more.

MSR Freelite 2 Review: Like the Tiger Wall, the Freelite 2 is quick to set up thanks to its semi-freestanding design, comes at a similar price point, has more floorspace, and is even a bit lighter. However, it has less headroom and fewer pockets, which might impact storage needs and overall livability when sleeping two hikers.

NEMO Hornet OSMO 3 Review: The Hornet OSMO 3 shares the same semi-freestanding design as the Tiger Wall, but this is a 3-person tent so it’s much roomier. The tradeoff is that the OSMO 3 is a bit heavier and more expensive. This model is better suited for two people who want a ton of interior space.

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 Review: The Copper Spur HV UL 2 offers a freestanding alternative with comparable pocket space, more headroom, and an even faster setup. The trade-off is that it’s a bit heavier and comes with a higher price tag.