The Big Agnes Blacktail 2 is a fantastic three-season, freestanding backpacking tent. It's light enough for backcountry adventures and tough enough for front-country camping. Ideal for backpackers, this 2-person tent offers a super comfy space after a long day on the trail. It has spacious sleeping areas with easy access via two side-entry doors and vestibules, allowing for quiet comings and goings in the early morning. Key features include being suitable for both backcountry and front-country use, two doors and vestibules, storm flaps on vestibule zippers, a symmetrical pole structure with pre-bent poles for more headroom, dual-zipper doors that close smoothly and have a modern look, a quick stash door keeper, media pockets for clean earbud-cord routing, two fly vents for better air flow and less condensation, low vents on vestibule doors, pre-cut guylines and tensioners on the fly, reflective guy lines and webbing on tent corners, and multiple interior loops for gear. The specs are as follows: Trail Weight - 2.04kg, Total Weight - 2.24kg, Packed Size - 53 x 18cm, Floor Area - 3.1m², Vestibule Area - 0.8m² + 0.8m², Head Height - 107cm, Fast Fly / Shelter Mode Weight - 1.53kg, Footprint Weight - 227g. The fly and floor are made of polyester with a 1500mm waterproof polyurethane coating. The tent body is a combination of breathable polyester and polyester mesh, with all seams taped. It comes with a lightweight aluminum pole system, plastic clips, 4 interior mesh pockets, 2 media pockets, 8 lightweight aluminum hook stakes, and gear loft loops. A separate Big Agnes footprint is recommended to extend the tent floor's life, and it fits the Square gear loft (sold separately).
Using the Big Agnes Blacktail 2 Tent is quite straightforward. First, find a flat area for pitching. If you have the optional footprint, lay it down first. Then, unfold the tent and attach the pre-cut guylines and tensioners to the fly. Set up the lightweight aluminum pole system with the prebends and use the plastic clips to attach the tent body to the pole frame. You can choose the fast fly setup for a quicker pitch. When entering and exiting the tent, use the dual-zipper doors. You can use just one zipper for a quick reach-through. Keep in mind that the tent is designed for three seasons, so it might not be suitable for extreme winter conditions. To maintain the tent, always dry it thoroughly before storing it. If it gets dirty, gently clean it with mild soap and water. The waterproof coating on the fly and floor might wear off over time, so you can reapply a waterproofing spray if needed. It's also a good idea to use the recommended Big Agnes footprint to protect the tent floor and extend its lifespan. And don't forget to check the guy lines and stakes regularly to ensure they are in good condition.
