Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2 Platinum review: A sub-1kg backpacking tent built for fast and light summer adventures

Big Agnes is a huge brand Stateside, offering a comprehensive range of camping kit from tents to camping mats and quilts to rucksacks. However, the brand is rarely seen in the UK, but there’s plenty of kit for us to get excited about.

I’ve been testing the Tiger Wall 2 Platinum for the past few months in a range of conditions, from the warm nights of the Danish countryside to the downright soggy fells of the Lake District.

Big Agnes says this tent is lighter than ultralight, which will cause some ears to prick up, especially amongst the titanium fork-wielding ultralight community, but is it any good for those of us who don't mind carrying a few grams for some added protection from the elements?

Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2 Platinum review

Price and availability

The Tiger Wall 2 Platinum costs £749 / €800 / $649 and is available from Big Agnes.

Design and materials

Big Agnes says the Tiger Wall 2 Platinum is a ‘lighter than ultralight’ tent, which is indeed a very lofty claim that is fortunately backed up by some seriously impressive figures.

The tent weighs a scant 992g, putting it firmly in ultralight territory. For context, my go-to tent for use in the mountains is the MSR Access 2, which tips the scales at 1.86kg, almost double the weight of the Big Agnes.

The MSR is a 4-season tent designed to withstand serious conditions, but there have been times at summer camps when it’s been overkill, and I would’ve chosen the Big Agnes if I'd known conditions were going to be mild and calm.

Big Agnes has managed to keep the weight down by using super-lightweight fabrics, notably the 7D nylon ripstop that forms the tent's body.

Most tents use a 15-30D weight material for the body, so by using such a lightweight material, Big Agnes has managed to cut a serious amount of weight.

Elsewhere, the rainfly and floor are made from a proprietary HyperBead fabric that offers a hydrostatic head of 1500mm and is produced without PFAS chemicals.

Big Agnes says that its HyperBead technology makes the fabric 6% lighter, 50% stronger, and 25% more waterproof than traditional tent fabrics. Critically, it also doesn't stretch when wet, which is often what makes even the best-pitched tents flap in the wind, leading to sleepless nights.

1500HH is not particularly waterproof compared to tents designed for inclement weather, but it kept me dry during some sharp summer downpours. I wouldn't rate the chances of staying dry as very high if it poured all night, but for a summer tent, it performed well.

The outer fabric is coated with what feels like a silicone treatment to aid water beading, which made it a little sticky when unpacked after being put away wet. The first time, I thought I was going to tear the fabric, but no damage occurred.

Poles are provided by DAC and are the Featherlight NFL variety. They felt sturdy and assembled easily; repair sections are included with the tent, should any become damaged.

Performance

The tent's packed size is impressive, measuring 46cm x 13cm. I found it possible to pack smaller by separating the poles into inner and outer sections, and managed to cram it into a 35L pack with a lightweight sleeping bag and pad.

Pitching the Tiger Wall 2 Platinum was very straightforward; I didn't have to consult the instructions, which is always a good indicator of how intuitive a tent is to pitch.

This model requires the inner to be pitched first, with the corners pegged out, and then the poles attach to the corners. The single pole is asymmetric, but colour-coded tags on the corners make it almost impossible to get mixed up. The inner is then clipped onto the pole to provide a fairly sturdy yet very lightweight summer tent.

For more protection and privacy, the outer clips into the corners of the inner and can then be pegged out with the included 6” Dirt Dagger stakes. With a bit of practice, the tent can be reliably pitched in just a few minutes.

My one irritation is the lack of provided guy lines. Big Ages provide 2 as standard, which is plenty in calm, windless conditions, but I found myself having to untie and reattach them around the tent when the wind picked up. 2 more lines surely wouldn’t have been a crippling extra expense?

Once pitched, the Tiger Wall 2 Platinum has 2 small vestibules, a 219x132 floor area, and a head height of 99cm. It’s plenty spacious for a single occupant, but would be very snug for 2. As the tent is so light, I see no reason not to buy the 3-person version for 2 occupants. It’s only an additional 200 grams for heaps of extra space.

I did notice that in the summer months, when the nights are short and the days stretch out, the very thin outer did very little to keep the sunlight out, meaning an eyemask is pretty critical unless you like waking with the sun!

Verdict

The Tiger Wall 2 Platinum is a standout tent for its weight and price, and one I’d happily reach for on summer trips where conditions are expected to be settled. Despite its featherweight design, it handled occasional wind and rain well, while impressing with its compact pack size and generous interior space. In the UK, it’s best suited to carefully chosen forecasts, but when the weather aligns, it’s a joy to use.

Also Consider

The MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2-Person Tent is a superb, all-around, three-season option that balances lightweight performance with roomy interior and weather protection. Its spacious vestibules, excellent ventilation and quality build make it a strong choice for more varied UK conditions.

The North Face Trail Lite 2-Person Tent offers generous space, solid weather resistance and easy pitching, with features like clever storage and durable fabrics. It isn’t as ultralight as the Tiger Wall, but it delivers greater comfort and protection for regular backpacking adventures.