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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Big Agnes Diversion Insulated Air Core....(the green one)

It continues to surprise me just how few of my outdoorsy friends have even heard of the Big Agnes air core sleeping pads. It is hands-down the most comfortable camping mattress I've ever slept on: better than even the 4" Paco Pads typical on rafting trips. And on top of the superior comfort, the BA pads pack down smaller than anything else out there. Rolled up, it's about the size of a bivy sack. They've taken the bulky foam out of conventional camping air mattresses to significantly reduce weight and bulk.



The lack of foam comes with two compromises. The first is warmth - foam is great insulation from body heat conducting into the cold ground. Big Agnes stuffs the pads with synthetic insulation to help, but the reality is that these fibers aren't resilient enough to withstand pad abuse. After about 50 or so cycles of packing and inflating, the insulation doesn't do much but clump up.

The other drawback is that foam self-inflates (at least for a while). With the Air Core you're stuck inflating it by mouth. It's really a small annoyance and takes just a couple minutes to take care of. The extra two minutes each night to make the bed is well-worth the comfort of a good night's sleep.



I think this is going to be the new hot thing in sleeping pads. Get one for yourself or as a gift and lead the trend. Your back will thank you later.

See our sleeping pad selection!

Reviewed by: Dan Thurber