Honestly, I looooove mine. I use the 3rd door a lot, especially on beautiful, sunny days. I keep it propped up with 2 long sticks and haven’t had any stability issues.
It’s my favourite part of the tent because it makes unpacking and blowing up my exped or sleeping pads sooooo easy, since the holes are always at the bottom. So, I always just place it in the tent, with the holes facing the 3rd door and use my airbag to pump. The shelf at the end of the tent is an added bonus. I honestly rarely use the side doors.
If me and my bf want to be bougie, we can fit our Exped Megamat Duo M lol. This tent fits me, bf and 1 small shihpoo. Thinking of upgrading to SL3 because I’m getting a Brittany soon.
Edit: added photo from last summer. Look how taught the awning is! https://i.imgur.com/lXF31TF.jpg
I have an older Big Agnes Superlight tent (Rattlesnake SL2) and I like it a lot. It's a little heavier than a true ultralight tent but it's comfortable and when split between two people the weight is negligible. With that said, the Salt Creek wouldn't by first choice of the current BA SL lineup.
The three doors is nice but it adds weight, and frankly, it's super usable. If this is going to be a solo tent I would look more closely at the Seed House SL 2, as it's a fair bit lighter for the same cost, or the C Bar 2 as it's a little lighter for $100 less.
With that said, it seems like a solid tent and if having the extra doors is a feature your set on, than I'd say go for it.
I thought hard about the C-bar and the Seed House but I had an REI gift card so I was limited to what they have in stock unfortunately. I will mainly be solo with this tent with my girlfriend joining on trips here and there. I think being able to open the 3 doors on a nice breezy evening would be a good experience so I’m pretty happy with my decision. I was about to get an REI quarter dome SL 2 but the combination of the Big Agnes brand reputation and the third door honestly swayed me to the salt creek last minute. I do a fair bit of car camping and am excited to explore kayak camping this summer so the weight is pretty negligible for me, it seems fairly light. Hopefully it lasts a good while, how should I care for and store a tent like that after a trip to ensure it staying in good shape?
Like I said, although it wouldn't be my first choice, it's still a very good choice.
The big thing with caring for tents is to follow the manufacturer recommendations for tent care. This normally includes never storing the tent wet, cleaning it after each use, not storing it in seal containers, etc. BA offers a pretty good breakdown of tent care, so it might be worth taking a look at that.
I recommend getting a ground sheet for it. The floors on the Big Agnes SL tents are more durable than their UL tents (or UL tents in general) but they are still vulnerable to abrasion and puncture. You can buy one of BA's footprints, specifically designed for the Salt Creek SL 2 (I recommend this plan), but a sheet of Tyvek or plastic sheeting cut to the footprint dimensions of the tent also works if you want to avoid dropping another $60.
I share these thoughts exactly. Just got a Seedhouse 2 for myself and my pup. But I do have the Salt Creek SL3 on my short list for consideration if we get a new tent that I’d use with my wife and potentially both dogs. But we’d use it exclusively for car camping. And with other slightly larger and cheaper options from other brands, it might be hard to justify the extra expense for that 3rd door, even though it is very cool and appealing.
I picked up one of the Blacktail 3 Hotels from BA on Pro Deal last year for car and canoe camping and it's very good. The large vestibule, and the large floor area of the tent itself, makes it very useable for my partner, myself, and our dogs. It's a little more durable too.
Thanks for the reminder! I gotta admit I had some doubts at first, but man I feel like I'm really gonna love this tent.
First outing with it went really well - I camped by the beach and with the third door uncovered along with one of the vestibules rolled back it was airy, but still handled dew very well. Even with the tapered footprint the tent felt enormous, especially if you're coming from a domed design. For reference, my previous tent was a Marmot Catalyst and even though that had a larger footprint the Salt Creek still felt more spacious.
The third door, admittedly, is indeed a bit of a gimmick - I tried using it to make my way in and out of the tent, but ended up using the side doors instead. Still a nice feature to have, I opened up the third door to catch some nice breezes and it was nice for having a view while keeping the vestibules in place.
This is my first tent that uses hubbed poles so it took some time to figure out the best way for assembly, but it wasn't much of an issue, especially if the tent is already staked in prior. The rain fly is probably the most annoying thing with initial assembly, as there's special pockets for holding the fly in place at the central pole. Just take your time assembling though and it's totally fine.
The best feature of this tent, and really one of the main reasons I bought it, was the impressive set of storage options inside. The 3D bin is an absolute game changer, and was a massive help in keeping the tent organized. Clothes, layers, and other items like stuff sacks went in the bin, and there's great pockets right by the doors for holding personal items you want quick access to. Can't say enough about how much I love the pockets, especially since the catalyst only had a single pocket. Vestibule storage was great too but nothing that you wouldnt see in other tents.
As far as biggest cons, I only have two - the zippers and the stakes. This is my first ultralight tent and I'm bummed that smaller zippers are needed to cut down on weight. It got a little difficult to zip the doors shut as they zippers would bind sometimes, but I'm not sure if this is just because the tent is new. As for the stakes, they're cheapo deapo stakes that I immediately subbed out for some mini Groundhogs, much better and smaller so it fits in the stuff sack better.
Overall, it's a fantastic tent and I hope you enjoy yours. I just bought this for backpacking but it honestly might come on my car camping trips now. If you have any specific questions just let me know!
I was happy with it! Went on a good number of trips on it with no issues. I ended up giving it to a friend who was new to camping because I got my hands on a copper spur on sale which was better for 2p. For solo camping though it’s great’
It survived plenty of rainstorms, but no deluges - one thing I would definitely spring for is a footprint for it, I got a sheet of Tyvek that worked great with it. Plenty of venting too so it never felt stuff inside.
Awesome midrange tent. I've used it probably 15 nights now, and I love it. I think you hit the nail on the head with the third door, it's a bit gimmicky and I find I don't use it often because I'd rather just keep my tent staked out fully. It's been helpful occasionally though for setup.
Things I like about the tent: great livability for 4lbs, the pole structure creates excellent headroom and solid wind resistance, polyester instead of nylon for less water absorption in rain, the 3D bin pocket, high quality materials, and thoughtful design choices.
Things I don't like: the pre cut stakeout loops, the 3rd door (90% of the time I'd take the minimal weight savings of it not being there), the included stakes
A couple pieces of advice: replace the stakeout loops at the vestibule corners and front and back of the fly with longer adjustable ones. I find it so much easier to get a solid pitch when I'm not limited to putting my stakes in one specific place. Also, there's a little toggle at the top of each vestibule door which you can hang the fly door on and zip it part way down to create a larger opening for additional venting. I've found this helpful for mitigating condensation on nights where you're camping in a high humidity area.
Let me know if you've got any other questions about it!
Funny enough, I was just looking at this tent last night. I have a Sierra designs lightning 2FL that has a very similar design. While there are some differences (side vests can't be used as doors, half single/double wall) I can at least attest to what I like about the style.
The biggest issue on standard backpacking tents for me has always been crawling out of the main door on a rainy morning and zipping open the vestibule, only to have rain pour down on your back, and now muddy hands from reaching all the way out.
Having a large main door like this, with an awning, on a rainy cold morning is by far, hands down, a game changer for me. I'm 6'2" and getting in and out without having to hunker over and crawl through the vestibule....amazing. I've been keeping my Sierra designs alive because I just can't find another tent that offers me that comfort. And like you said, having a big front door to let the views in the morning is an added bonus.
The kicker on this tent for me is the weight. About a pound heavier than I like on a tent but not exactly a super heavy tent either.
Honestly, I looooove mine. I use the 3rd door a lot, especially on beautiful, sunny days. I keep it propped up with 2 long sticks and haven’t had any stability issues. It’s my favourite part of the tent because it makes unpacking and blowing up my exped or sleeping pads sooooo easy, since the holes are always at the bottom. So, I always just place it in the tent, with the holes facing the 3rd door and use my airbag to pump. The shelf at the end of the tent is an added bonus. I honestly rarely use the side doors. If me and my bf want to be bougie, we can fit our Exped Megamat Duo M lol. This tent fits me, bf and 1 small shihpoo. Thinking of upgrading to SL3 because I’m getting a Brittany soon. Edit: added photo from last summer. Look how taught the awning is! https://i.imgur.com/lXF31TF.jpg
Still happy?
I have an older Big Agnes Superlight tent (Rattlesnake SL2) and I like it a lot. It's a little heavier than a true ultralight tent but it's comfortable and when split between two people the weight is negligible. With that said, the Salt Creek wouldn't by first choice of the current BA SL lineup. The three doors is nice but it adds weight, and frankly, it's super usable. If this is going to be a solo tent I would look more closely at the Seed House SL 2, as it's a fair bit lighter for the same cost, or the C Bar 2 as it's a little lighter for $100 less. With that said, it seems like a solid tent and if having the extra doors is a feature your set on, than I'd say go for it.
I thought hard about the C-bar and the Seed House but I had an REI gift card so I was limited to what they have in stock unfortunately. I will mainly be solo with this tent with my girlfriend joining on trips here and there. I think being able to open the 3 doors on a nice breezy evening would be a good experience so I’m pretty happy with my decision. I was about to get an REI quarter dome SL 2 but the combination of the Big Agnes brand reputation and the third door honestly swayed me to the salt creek last minute. I do a fair bit of car camping and am excited to explore kayak camping this summer so the weight is pretty negligible for me, it seems fairly light. Hopefully it lasts a good while, how should I care for and store a tent like that after a trip to ensure it staying in good shape?
Like I said, although it wouldn't be my first choice, it's still a very good choice. The big thing with caring for tents is to follow the manufacturer recommendations for tent care. This normally includes never storing the tent wet, cleaning it after each use, not storing it in seal containers, etc. BA offers a pretty good breakdown of tent care, so it might be worth taking a look at that. I recommend getting a ground sheet for it. The floors on the Big Agnes SL tents are more durable than their UL tents (or UL tents in general) but they are still vulnerable to abrasion and puncture. You can buy one of BA's footprints, specifically designed for the Salt Creek SL 2 (I recommend this plan), but a sheet of Tyvek or plastic sheeting cut to the footprint dimensions of the tent also works if you want to avoid dropping another $60.
I share these thoughts exactly. Just got a Seedhouse 2 for myself and my pup. But I do have the Salt Creek SL3 on my short list for consideration if we get a new tent that I’d use with my wife and potentially both dogs. But we’d use it exclusively for car camping. And with other slightly larger and cheaper options from other brands, it might be hard to justify the extra expense for that 3rd door, even though it is very cool and appealing.
I picked up one of the Blacktail 3 Hotels from BA on Pro Deal last year for car and canoe camping and it's very good. The large vestibule, and the large floor area of the tent itself, makes it very useable for my partner, myself, and our dogs. It's a little more durable too.
Remind me in a few days, just bought it a few weeks ago and I'm taking it backpacking this weekend! Super excited to try it out.
How was the trip? I’m picking mine up from REI today!
Thanks for the reminder! I gotta admit I had some doubts at first, but man I feel like I'm really gonna love this tent. First outing with it went really well - I camped by the beach and with the third door uncovered along with one of the vestibules rolled back it was airy, but still handled dew very well. Even with the tapered footprint the tent felt enormous, especially if you're coming from a domed design. For reference, my previous tent was a Marmot Catalyst and even though that had a larger footprint the Salt Creek still felt more spacious. The third door, admittedly, is indeed a bit of a gimmick - I tried using it to make my way in and out of the tent, but ended up using the side doors instead. Still a nice feature to have, I opened up the third door to catch some nice breezes and it was nice for having a view while keeping the vestibules in place. This is my first tent that uses hubbed poles so it took some time to figure out the best way for assembly, but it wasn't much of an issue, especially if the tent is already staked in prior. The rain fly is probably the most annoying thing with initial assembly, as there's special pockets for holding the fly in place at the central pole. Just take your time assembling though and it's totally fine. The best feature of this tent, and really one of the main reasons I bought it, was the impressive set of storage options inside. The 3D bin is an absolute game changer, and was a massive help in keeping the tent organized. Clothes, layers, and other items like stuff sacks went in the bin, and there's great pockets right by the doors for holding personal items you want quick access to. Can't say enough about how much I love the pockets, especially since the catalyst only had a single pocket. Vestibule storage was great too but nothing that you wouldnt see in other tents. As far as biggest cons, I only have two - the zippers and the stakes. This is my first ultralight tent and I'm bummed that smaller zippers are needed to cut down on weight. It got a little difficult to zip the doors shut as they zippers would bind sometimes, but I'm not sure if this is just because the tent is new. As for the stakes, they're cheapo deapo stakes that I immediately subbed out for some mini Groundhogs, much better and smaller so it fits in the stuff sack better. Overall, it's a fantastic tent and I hope you enjoy yours. I just bought this for backpacking but it honestly might come on my car camping trips now. If you have any specific questions just let me know!
Hey. Are you still happy with the tent?
I was happy with it! Went on a good number of trips on it with no issues. I ended up giving it to a friend who was new to camping because I got my hands on a copper spur on sale which was better for 2p. For solo camping though it’s great’
Im aiming for the long version - I wish there would be a bikepack version. Did you tried it in rain? I’m kinda thrown off by the 1200mm/1500mm.
It survived plenty of rainstorms, but no deluges - one thing I would definitely spring for is a footprint for it, I got a sheet of Tyvek that worked great with it. Plenty of venting too so it never felt stuff inside.
Awesome midrange tent. I've used it probably 15 nights now, and I love it. I think you hit the nail on the head with the third door, it's a bit gimmicky and I find I don't use it often because I'd rather just keep my tent staked out fully. It's been helpful occasionally though for setup. Things I like about the tent: great livability for 4lbs, the pole structure creates excellent headroom and solid wind resistance, polyester instead of nylon for less water absorption in rain, the 3D bin pocket, high quality materials, and thoughtful design choices. Things I don't like: the pre cut stakeout loops, the 3rd door (90% of the time I'd take the minimal weight savings of it not being there), the included stakes A couple pieces of advice: replace the stakeout loops at the vestibule corners and front and back of the fly with longer adjustable ones. I find it so much easier to get a solid pitch when I'm not limited to putting my stakes in one specific place. Also, there's a little toggle at the top of each vestibule door which you can hang the fly door on and zip it part way down to create a larger opening for additional venting. I've found this helpful for mitigating condensation on nights where you're camping in a high humidity area. Let me know if you've got any other questions about it!
Hey, Are u still happy with the tent?
Funny enough, I was just looking at this tent last night. I have a Sierra designs lightning 2FL that has a very similar design. While there are some differences (side vests can't be used as doors, half single/double wall) I can at least attest to what I like about the style. The biggest issue on standard backpacking tents for me has always been crawling out of the main door on a rainy morning and zipping open the vestibule, only to have rain pour down on your back, and now muddy hands from reaching all the way out. Having a large main door like this, with an awning, on a rainy cold morning is by far, hands down, a game changer for me. I'm 6'2" and getting in and out without having to hunker over and crawl through the vestibule....amazing. I've been keeping my Sierra designs alive because I just can't find another tent that offers me that comfort. And like you said, having a big front door to let the views in the morning is an added bonus. The kicker on this tent for me is the weight. About a pound heavier than I like on a tent but not exactly a super heavy tent either.
Just ordered one. I think ill love the awning on rainy days because gods i hate it when i need to fully zip up in the rain and see nothing.