Big Agnes Seedhouse 2

I love talking about tents.

Tents make me feel excited.

Though I rarely use them (only when it's absolutely necessary, per mosquitoes/inclement weather), I am very picky about design and little details.

Big Agnes is innovating! Seriously - pole design, weights, colors. This is apparent just by looking at their quality catalog and comparing internal measurements with other companies. Their designs give most of their two-three person tents a little bit of a space advantage, both in vestibules and headroom. Even better, their pole/fly designs are bomber!

The Seedhouse Two is Big Agnes's most affordable 2p tent. It weighs in at 3 pounds 12 oz, without a footprint. Big Agnes also makes a Seedhouse SL2 (superlight) version. I considered it, but realized that to make it sufficiently durable for my use I would have to buy the footprint. Besides setting me back an extra 40-60 dollars, it also would have increased the weight to the point of ounce crunching between the 2 and SL2. It turned out to be more worth it to go for the more affordable, slightly heavier model, without a footprint.

Pros: Light, easy to pack. Comes with an awesome stuffsack/pole bag combo that hold up really well. Big Agnes factory ties all cord accessories with bowline knots (which is minor, though really cool). Holds up to wind/rain/hail very well - even mostly sideways stuff. Extremely breathable design! Even after hours of rain. The poles are bomber, and flex easily - I wasn't worried about breaking/bending at all.

Cons: Kinda cramped for two people. The black mesh is really lightweight, so just be careful. There aren't too many cons with this tent. Their heavier/more expensive tents have cross poles that dramatically increase headroom side-to-side, so if this is an issue for you, consider the Emerald Mountain SL2 or the Copper Spur. Folks over 6'2" are going to feel cramped in this tent!

I took the Seedhouse 2 for a demo run in the Trinity Alps Wilderness this past week, and was very impressed with the tent's durability, ease of carrying (3 pounds really isn't that bad), and the design of the fly/body. It took hard rain and hail with ease, and if you pack the poles separately in your pack, the fly and body can be crammed in just about anywhere in your pack.


I was able to fit myself as well as all my gear, pack, shoes, etc into the tent, and sleep comfortably.

Overall, I really recommend this tent to backpackers and the lightweight crowd. It is an affordable, two-person backpacking tent that is very lightweight, yet it doesn't break your bank account. Add a footprint if you're concerned about the floor, though I felt confident without one - and the weight is kept to a minimum this way. The tent can also be pitched fast-fly style, without the tent body. Depends on the bug situation where you're venturing!

Keep it up BA - you guys are doing a great job.


Measurements
28 square feet of floor area
8 square feet of vest. area
38" head height
7"x18" packed
$219.95


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