Big Agnes Slater UL3+ Tent Review
Amazing features for the weight: Even tall folks can stretch out in this 96-inch-long dome (the longest in our test), and the giant vestibule offers welcome shelter in prolonged storms.
Brand: Big Agnes
Model: Slater UL3+
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Why we like it Amazing features for the weight: Even tall folks can stretch out in this 96-inch-long dome (the longest in our test), and the giant vestibule offers welcome shelter in prolonged storms.
Livability When three hikers share a tent in extended wet weather, a large vestibule provides critical space to cook, store wet gear, and maintain sanity. The freestanding Slater’s 23-square-foot covered porch was a godsend for testers, who also used it for card games and dog drying. A second door (with 9-square-foot vestibule) makes egress convenient for all occupants, and the 47-square-foot floor delivers beaucoup space for sleeping (one 6-footer even dozed with his arms stretched above his head). Headroom, however, is merely adequate, as the 42-inch peak slopes toward the foot. Bonus: Five mesh pockets sort everyone’s gadgets.
warmth Limited mesh makes this three-season tent warmer than average, which campers appreciated on 35°F nights in Pennsylvania’s Alleghenys.
Protection “Ample guyout points stabilize the large vestibules and kept them quiet in 20-mph winds,” reported one tester after a weekend on Lake Erie.
Bummer The side vestibule’s zipper sits so far from the door that sub-6-footers couldn’t reach it from inside.
$550; 4 lbs. 13 oz.; bigagnes.com