When I was researching both products earlier this year I didn’t see many people using them so I figured I’d add some input after a season.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV2 Expedition
Pro:
-extremely stable in the wind
-same exact dimensions of the beloved Copper Spur HV2 UL, it was tight but definitely livable with two adults
-huge burly stakes that DO NOT struggle for purchase in looser material
-beefed up poles from the regular Copper Spur which will break under heavy winds up here
-surprisingly very little condensation when vented properly
-warmest tent I've ever slept in when it's all zipped up
-easy color coded setup
-this is a capable tent for any season in AK
Con:
-it's heavy with a trail weight of 4 lbs 10 oz
-the roof vent faces the same side/direction that the doors are meant to open. It catches wind really bad when you open the doors.
-the doors can't be staked on either side without the zipper catching material, you can only stake on one side for smooth zipper operation. This ties into my complaint above.
-if they made the vestibules slightly larger it would make the tent that much better
Conclusion:
I'm typically a Hillegberg guy but I'll be keeping this tent around for years to come. It's not a tent for the ounce counters out there but I'm not that guy. After coming back to camp only to find my lightweight tent folded like a taco and laying in a creek bottom, I pack burly tents. With burly tents I can pitch in far more places without worry of changing conditions. This tent will handle everything but incompetence.
North Face Hyper Cat 20*
Pro:
-synthetic
-even in long length, it only weighs 2 lbs 1 oz
-it's warm when used properly....see below
-moves condensation amazingly well
-my pillow stays inside the mummy hood, no pillow rage
Con:
-if you roll over WITH the bag instead of IN the bag, there is no insulation on the bottom side and you are now laying on your only layer of insulation
-it's TIGHT for a 6'2" 210 lbs person
-not a fault of the bag really but I'm not sold on center zip, maybe if the zipper went lower I'd like it better
Conslusion:
Not a tremendous amount to say about a sleeping bag but here's my $0.02. This isn't a viable winter option but for early season hunts, I'll keep this bag around. I only ever got cold when I rolled over with the bag which put my insulation under me. When used properly I was plenty warm below freezing during the night. Each evening, I drug the bag out of the tent and glassed in it after the sun went down. It pulled moisture out of the tundra and wetted the outer material each time, however by morning the bag was dry each day. Super impressed with how well it moved moisture.
Other Notes
If you're wondering I use a Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow and Thermarest Neoair Xlite for a pad. All total my sleep system is a little less than 7-1/2 lbs which is perfectly acceptable to me. The tyvek tarp is 6'x8' and weighs less than 1 lb with small DAC stakes, I never leave home or camp without it.
Our typical arrangement on hunts.
The roof vent works really well to catch a breeze.
When pitched like this, vent pointing towards prevailing wind, doors staked to block prevailing wind, the zippers bind in the rainfly every single time. It's not practical to use them this way.
I really like the way the guyout lines pull from two different spots.
Couple other pics for good measure.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV2 Expedition
Pro:
-extremely stable in the wind
-same exact dimensions of the beloved Copper Spur HV2 UL, it was tight but definitely livable with two adults
-huge burly stakes that DO NOT struggle for purchase in looser material
-beefed up poles from the regular Copper Spur which will break under heavy winds up here
-surprisingly very little condensation when vented properly
-warmest tent I've ever slept in when it's all zipped up
-easy color coded setup
-this is a capable tent for any season in AK
Con:
-it's heavy with a trail weight of 4 lbs 10 oz
-the roof vent faces the same side/direction that the doors are meant to open. It catches wind really bad when you open the doors.
-the doors can't be staked on either side without the zipper catching material, you can only stake on one side for smooth zipper operation. This ties into my complaint above.
-if they made the vestibules slightly larger it would make the tent that much better
Conclusion:
I'm typically a Hillegberg guy but I'll be keeping this tent around for years to come. It's not a tent for the ounce counters out there but I'm not that guy. After coming back to camp only to find my lightweight tent folded like a taco and laying in a creek bottom, I pack burly tents. With burly tents I can pitch in far more places without worry of changing conditions. This tent will handle everything but incompetence.
North Face Hyper Cat 20*
Pro:
-synthetic
-even in long length, it only weighs 2 lbs 1 oz
-it's warm when used properly....see below
-moves condensation amazingly well
-my pillow stays inside the mummy hood, no pillow rage
Con:
-if you roll over WITH the bag instead of IN the bag, there is no insulation on the bottom side and you are now laying on your only layer of insulation
-it's TIGHT for a 6'2" 210 lbs person
-not a fault of the bag really but I'm not sold on center zip, maybe if the zipper went lower I'd like it better
Conslusion:
Not a tremendous amount to say about a sleeping bag but here's my $0.02. This isn't a viable winter option but for early season hunts, I'll keep this bag around. I only ever got cold when I rolled over with the bag which put my insulation under me. When used properly I was plenty warm below freezing during the night. Each evening, I drug the bag out of the tent and glassed in it after the sun went down. It pulled moisture out of the tundra and wetted the outer material each time, however by morning the bag was dry each day. Super impressed with how well it moved moisture.
Other Notes
If you're wondering I use a Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow and Thermarest Neoair Xlite for a pad. All total my sleep system is a little less than 7-1/2 lbs which is perfectly acceptable to me. The tyvek tarp is 6'x8' and weighs less than 1 lb with small DAC stakes, I never leave home or camp without it.
Our typical arrangement on hunts.
The roof vent works really well to catch a breeze.
When pitched like this, vent pointing towards prevailing wind, doors staked to block prevailing wind, the zippers bind in the rainfly every single time. It's not practical to use them this way.
I really like the way the guyout lines pull from two different spots.
Couple other pics for good measure.
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