BWCA Copper Spur tent Boundary Waters Gear Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Gear Forum
      Copper Spur tent     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

07/31/2022 09:02PM  
I have a tent question. My old North Face Rock 22 is no longer really waterproof- seams are failing and it's pretty heavy anyway, doesn't have the greatest ventilation.
I have a copper Spur UL 2 person tent that I take backpacking, and I love it. I'm trying to imagine it holding up to the rigors of BWCA travel, though. The floor seems so thin! I assume I would need to use a footprint of some kind- tyvek or an emergency blanket or something.
I have never had it in a real downpour, where you wake up to a lake under your tent, but not in it ideally! Do you think it's up to it? Anybody else have this tent and have field tested it more than I have?
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
YetiJedi
distinguished member(1449)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/31/2022 09:34PM  
The copper spur is a very popular BWCA tent and I'm sure it would serve you well. I have an MSR hubba hubba for 2 people which is similar. I use a thicker black plastic bag for a ground cloth. On this last trip, it rained hard and there was an inch of water under the tent. The plastic sheet protects the tent from the rocks and sticks but the floor of the tent held up to the standing water. I do use seam sealer on the corners to help.

I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice from actual Copper Spur bwca-users...it's a popular and well-liked tent.
 
07/31/2022 10:36PM  
I have used a Copper Spur UL2 in Quetico for many years now. It has held up well. I use a Cooper Spur UP2 FOOTPRINT to protect the floor. It’s light and very good at protecting the floor against punctures and abrasion.

The UL2 Footprint is pretty expensive, but I feel it’s a necessity.

 
NoFishNoDinner
member (22)member
  
07/31/2022 10:52PM  
I’ve used this tent for 3 years now and it’s held up well in heavy rain. The size/weight is a huge plus for me. As you likely know, durability is not the strength of this model. You definitely need a footprint and to be careful where you setup. I don’t have any tears, but carry gear tape just in case.
 
08/01/2022 07:35AM  
For 6-7 years I used a Copper Spur UL3 in the BWCA/Q w footprint from an older tent, initially used a piece of poly cut from a large yard leaf bag. It’s held up well.
 
donr
senior member (83)senior membersenior member
  
08/01/2022 08:12AM  
I have 3 different sizes of this tent and have used them for years in Woodland Caribou and Wabakimi. Absolutely no complaints, but will second the necessity of using a footprint. Great tent!
 
08/01/2022 08:56AM  
I have used a CS 2 + footprint in the BW/Quetico for a good 10 years with no issues. Wonderful tent for those areas.
 
08/01/2022 11:55AM  
Have used this tent for 10 years and it is still holding up well. Great lightweight tent for the BWCA. Stands up to high winds and rain. Whether or not you wake up in a lake depends more on tent pad selection than the tent itself.

Don't buy the overpriced Big Agnes footprint. Get tyvek or thick plastic instead. Or, if you are feeling really ultralight, use a sheet of window insulation film.
 
SouthernKevlar
senior member (81)senior membersenior member
  
08/01/2022 05:40PM  
Another good source for a ground cloth is your your local hardware store. Painter's drop cloth can be had in a variety of thickness and the 9x12 size can be used for a couple of tents. The thicker ones hold up and protect the tent floor quiet well.
I picked up a Mountain Hardwear Aspect 2 this year and used a 2 mil drop cloth under it during a big storm in the Adirondacks this June. It did just fine.
 
mgraber
distinguished member(1486)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/02/2022 04:33PM  
We have both a BA CS UL4, as well as a BA CS HV UL2 and can vouch for their durability and quality. They are also very light. I HIGHLY recommend a Tyvek ground cloth as they are both light and tough. Plastic does NOT compare in weight or durability and the manufacturer ground cloths are grossly overpriced.
 
Finnboy
distinguished member (160)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/03/2022 05:09PM  
mgraber: "We have both a BA CS UL4, as well as a BA CS HV UL2 and can vouch for their durability and quality. They are also very light. I HIGHLY recommend a Tyvek ground cloth as they are both light and tough. Plastic does NOT compare in weight or durability and the manufacturer ground cloths are grossly overpriced."


Tyvek ground cloth +1
 
08/03/2022 07:38PM  
Check EBay for Tyvek ground cloth by tent model. Run it through a wash cycle to quiet the crinkle.
 
Savage Voyageur
distinguished member(14416)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished membermaster membermaster member
  
08/03/2022 08:37PM  
I’ve used footprints for my tent for a long time now. It really helps with protecting the bottom of the tent from rocks and roots. If you don't want an expensive per made one, just get some tyvek or an old tarp, or a new plastic tarp and make one. You need something on the bottom to keep it waterproof. Your tent will be of no use if it has holes in the bottom.
 
RunningFox
distinguished member (230)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/03/2022 10:27PM  
For the past 7 years I’ve used a space blanket for my ground cloth. It has worked great thus far.
 
snakeybird
member (34)member
  
08/04/2022 12:55PM  
I have a Copper Spur UL1 tent. It survived a major thunderstorm in North Dakota unscathed and dry. And as the wind switched direction from when I pitched the tent, it was being battered broadside. My friend's tent suffered bent poles in this storm. I have no complaints with the tent and have been using it since 2013.
 
08/04/2022 01:18PM  
Use it! I have owned a few CS in a few sizes, only reason I sold them was my purchase of a BS Chinook solo. If your worried about the floor make a footprint, Ebay Tyvek Footprint Kit.

butthead
 
08/04/2022 05:51PM  
We replaced an aging Sierra Designs with a BA Copper Spur UL3 that has served us well on several canoe trips. We did get the footprint with the tent, and agree that the floor material seems thin, but no issues to date.

TZ
 
pswith5
distinguished member(3687)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/04/2022 07:12PM  
I have a guy about a mile down the road that I have gotten tyvek footprints from for several of my tents. Charges 20 bucks. Dwgirl are you in the metro area of mpls/st paul?
 
08/04/2022 07:28PM  
pswith5: "I have a guy about a mile down the road that I have gotten tyvek footprints from for several of my tents. Charges 20 bucks. Dwgirl are you in the metro area of mpls/st paul?"


Up in Duluth, but could make it down there at some point.
 
Finnboy
distinguished member (160)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/05/2022 07:18PM  
If you’re in Ely ever let me know.
 
pmora
member (7)member
  
08/08/2022 09:15AM  
I use a piece of Tyvek as a ground cloth with my Copper Spur with adhesive grommets in the corners. It works wonders as a ground cloth, and also a rain cover in a pinch. Very cheap and effective.
 
StLouisPaddler
senior member (77)senior membersenior member
  
08/08/2022 08:15PM  
Given the above comments it feels like piling on at this point, but I’ve used my Copper Spur in the Q with the BA footprint and it held up just fine, including during some pretty good rain. I did, however, swap out the BA tent stakes for groundhog stakes.
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Gear Sponsor:
Fishell Paddles