Big Agnes is a relatively young company founded in Columbia, USA in 2001. The company released the Big Agnes System Bag, a revolutionary system that combines a sleeping bag and mattress, shortly after its founding, and quickly became a hot topic in the outdoor gear world. Surrounded by the Colorado mountains, Big Agnes has consistently produced unique products in the perfect testing environment, and has now established itself as a manufacturer of lightweight tents and outdoor bedding.
we will be reviewing the Tigerwall UL2 EX , a lightweight tent developed for the Japanese market by Big Agnes
table of contents
Tigerwall UL2 EX general features
The Tigerwall UL2 EX is the Japanese version of the Tigerwall UL2 the Tigerwall UL2 's inner tent is mostly made of mesh fabric, the Japanese version, the EX, features an inner tent that eliminates mesh fabric. Its design prioritizes lightness and comfort above all else, with features like ultra-thin fabric and aluminum poles designed to maximize livability while minimizing weight. Other features include two large-opening entrances on each side, allowing two people to enter and exit without having to step over each other. This highly breathable and stress-reducing model offers exceptional comfort.
Recommended points
- Very lightweight for a two-person tent
- Entrances on both sides
- Highly breathable
- Reduces all stress from setup to living in
Points that interest me
- A little cramped for two people
- Wind resistance and durability are not expected
Main Specifications and ratings
| item | Specifications and ratings |
|---|---|
| Number of people to sleep | 1-2 people |
| color | Light Gray/Gold |
| Official minimum weight | 1060g (1190g including pegs and storage bag) |
| Actual measured weight | 1060g (1189g including pegs and storage bag) |
| Fry material | Ripstop Silnylon (water resistance 1200mm) |
| Inner material | Breathable ripstop nylon |
| Inner bottom material | Ripstop Silnylon (water resistance 1200mm) |
| Pole material | DAC Fatherlite NFL |
| size | Width 218 x Depth 132 x Height 99 cm |
| Storage size | Body: 13 x 37 cm, pole: 45 cm |
| Floor area | 2.6㎡ |
| Front room area | 0.7㎡ × 2 |
| accessories |
|
| option |
|
| Living comfort | ★★★☆☆(★★★★★ for 1 person) |
| Ease of setup and removal | ★★★★★ |
| Weather Resistant | ★★★☆☆ |
| Durability | ★★☆☆☆ |
| weight | ★★★★☆ |
| Portability | ★★★☆☆ |
| Versatility | ★★★★☆ |
| comprehensive evaluation | ★★★★☆ |
Detailed review
Packing requires some ingenuity
The storage bag is divided into three sections: for the main body, poles, and pegs, but the two sections are connected by straps, so there are actually two bags: one for the main body and poles, and one for the pegs. The main body bag has a mesh pocket where you can put the pole bags and secure them with the straps
The bag for the main body and the bag for the pole can be separated, which may be more convenient when actually packing
The actual measurements were 1060g for the main body (436g for the inner tent, 389g for the fly, and 249g for the poles), which is exactly the same as the manufacturer's published weight! The weight including the storage bag and pegs was 1189g, with the individual measurements being 1099g for the main body (436g for the tent, 389g for the fly, 249g for the poles, and 39g for the bag) and 90g for the pegs (87g: 8 x 11g pegs, 3g for the bag)
The poles are made of DAC's Fatherlite NFL, a standard for lightweight tents, and are further joined in a Y-shape to make them ultra-lightweight at just 249g. The pegs are also made by DAC and weigh just 11g each
Reduces stress during setup
It's basically a freestanding dome tent, but the poles are uniquely Y-shaped. The poles are hooked onto the poles rather than threaded through sleeves. This makes it easier to set up on windy days. Once you connect the poles to the eyelets at each apex, the poles will stand on their own
The pole connections of the inner tent are color-matched to the pole tips, making assembly intuitive and reducing stress unless you're in a situation where you lose consciousness. This kind of attention to detail is very appealing!
All that's left to do is hang the hooks on the poles and secure the horizontal poles to widen the ceiling, and the inner tent is complete. By the way, you can set it up like this without first pegging down the corners
All that's left to do is put the fly sheet on and peg it down along with the inner tent and you're done
The three ends of the fly sheet that connect to the inner tent are also color-coded, so you won't have to worry about not knowing which way to put it on
Breathability goes beyond breathability
The first distinctive feature is that there are entrances on both sides! With entrances on both sides of the long side, even if two people are staying, they are free from the hassle of having to step over each other to get out without waking the person sleeping in the back. If you leave both entrances open, the air can pass through, so it's extremely breathable, and the wind blows through like a draft in a building. The space is also sufficient for getting in and out
The straps that secure the fly and inner tent entrance are in the right places, so they won't flap around even when the air is ventilated
Since it's supposed to be a two-person tent, we were able to fit two air mattresses inside. However, it's just barely large enough for two people to sleep in. If you're someone who likes tossing and turning, or if you've been fighting, you might have to be careful about the distance between you
The side with only one pole (the foot side) has an inner tent that can be secured with a peg to expand the space. It can be used without being expanded, but the difference in space is obvious when you compare them
All rooms are a reasonable 0.7 m² in size. And because they have two entrances, they may be spacious enough for storing luggage and cooking separately
The fabric for the fly and the bottom of the inner tent is ripstop silnylon with a waterproof polyester finish with a water resistance of 1200mm. The rest of the inner tent is made of breathable ripstop nylon. The storage bag appears to be made of the same waterproof ripstop silnylon as the bottom of the inner tent. Although it is waterproof, it only has a slight sheen and looks almost the same, and is quite thin
Impressions of actually using it
Although it is said to be for two people, it is actually a bit cramped when used by two people. You can sleep in it, but with two people you have to concentrate on sleeping, which can be tiring. There is a little space at the head end, but only enough space to place small items
There are mesh pockets at the base of both entrances on the head side where you can store small items such as a smartphone (see photo below)
There is also a large mesh pocket at the top with an opening for earphone cords (see photo below). If you put a tablet in it and adjust the angle, you can lie down and watch movies, and it seems like it could be used for many purposes
The inner tent bottom is thin, and when you run your hand through it, you can clearly see the marks of your fingers. It looks like it would tear if there was a sharp stone or branch underneath. A dedicated footprint (170g) is also sold, but it's made of the same fabric as the flysheet, so it seems like it would only be a temporary solution... If you're worried, it's probably best to prepare a sturdy footprint separately
The entrance opens wide and the fly sheet can be opened wide and fastened down, so there is no need to bend over strangely when getting in or out
As for breathability, the entrance is wide, so if you leave both sides open, there is plenty of airflow, so there is no problem. Even if you close the entrance, if you leave the mesh, which takes up about one-third of the entrance, open, there will still be a fair amount of airflow. However, since there are no other vents besides this mesh, you cannot expect active ventilation, but under normal circumstances, it is sufficient
The livability is very good and quite comfortable. The horizontal poles on the ceiling create a spacious space from the base to the ceiling, so there was almost no sense of pressure or cramping. Also, the fact that both sides open is quite a big plus. Especially if you're using it alone, you'll get more than enough comfort and a sense of openness
Although the overall weight is light, there seems to be room for weight reduction in many places, such as the poles that connect vertically to the Y-shaped pole. However, the Tiger Wall UL2 EX seems to have been designed with comfort as the main focus, with parts that can be made lighter retained if it means sacrificing comfort. Even so, it seems possible to make it even lighter with some ingenuity on the part of the user
Summary: Recommended for people like this
Although the Tigerwall UL2 EX is nominally a two-person tent, a solo tent that can be used by two people . However, it has entrances on both sides, 0.7m² vestibules at both entrances, and at this weight, it's hard to find a more suitable tent for a two-person party prioritizing lightweight construction. However, as with most lightweight tents, the poles aren't particularly wind-resistant, so they need to be firmly secured with pegs or guylines. And because it's not particularly durable, it might not be suitable for those who plan to use it frequently or roughly.
For a single person, this lightweight tent is sufficient, with a spacious interior that can accommodate two air mattresses and a large entrance. It should be quite comfortable. In terms of weight alone, there are many lighter solo tents. However, considering that you'll be spending a significant amount of time inside the tent 24 hours a day, unless you're an ultra-light, stoic hiker, this reasonably lightweight and highly comfortable model may be a good choice
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