The Best Deals on Camping, Backpacking and Outdoor Gear [May 2025]
What’s better than a roomy two-person tent when spending a few nights in the outdoors? A three-person tent, of course! They offer more room for duos, plenty of space for ultra plush double sleeping mattress and bag setups, are a mansion for single campers (whether or not you’re bringing your dog), and offer way more livable space for changing, lounging, or waiting out inclement weather. We recently tested two solid 3-person tents on a 10-day road trip to Utah’s national parks and compare them both here and now in this REI Half Dome vs Big Agnes Copper Spur tent comparison.
REI Half Dome vs Big Agnes Copper Spur: 3 Person Tents
REI Co-op Half Dome 3: The Durable Budget-Conscious Option
The Classic REI Co-op Half Dome Tent just got a long-awaited update, complete with a few design tweaks to better suit campers. It’s an excellent, more budget-friendly option for duos who would benefit from a bit more space to stretch out or threesomes who don’t mind a cozy night.
Features
- Attached (and removable) clip-in footprint
- Plenty of storage pockets and gear loops inside
- Updated pole structure provides increased shoulder and head room around the perimeter
- Setup is easy with color-coded poles and an updated hub design
- Dual doors offer entry and exit on both sides
- Sidewalls have an increased height from previous version
- More durable than the previous version
- Fly can be rolled back for half coverage
- Upper and lower vents
- Two spacious vestibules
- Freestanding tent
- PFAS-free DWR treated plus fully seam taped
- Also a Half Dome 2, 2 Plus and 3 Plus
- Price: $399
Packability + Size
- Packed Size: 27 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches
- Floor area: 43.7 square feet (90 x 70 inches)
- Head Height: 44 inches
- Weight: 7 lbs 2.5 oz
- Vestibule: 9.4 + 9.4 square feet
The Half Dome isn’t exactly designed to be a backpacking tent. It’s a bit hefty for the purpose. That said, if you don’t mind carrying a little extra weight or prefer a solid tent that does double-duty as a comfortable camping tent, then more power to ya. As an ultralighter, I wouldn’t dream of carrying this much weight into the backcountry. But as a camping tent? The weight isn’t an issue and I’d rather pack a slightly bulkier tent for the increased living space and headroom.
Sustainability
The new REI Half Dome 3 is made with nylon mesh that is solution-dyed, which supports reduced water and energy use compared with a conventional dyeing process, REI is Climate Neutral Certified, and the tent is PFAS-free.
Overall Thoughts
We loved how spacious The REI Co-op Half Dome 3 was on a recent multi-day camping trip. It was easy to setup and tear down, a blessing considering we did so every other day. It also offered plenty of room in the vestibules to store things like duffles or backpacks, hiking shoes and so much more. Plus, even with a queen-size self-inflating mattress inside there was plenty of room for extra clothes, water bottles, snack, etc.
There was always somewhere to stash small items inside the tent thanks to plenty of pockets. We especially loved the semi-opaque white gear lofts at the top of the tent that acted like light diffusers when we slipped headlamps inside. But there are also mesh pockets on the sides that are easily reachable from a sleeping position for keeping your phone, a backup battery, glasses, you name it. We never felt short on organization.
When it came to entry and exit, the doors did feel a bit cramped. While they were tall enough to feel comfortable, the zipper didn’t extend as far to the sides and around the top as we like, so they felt less wide open than on other tents. Not a deal breaker, but something to consider, especially if you’re a larger person.
We did really dig the option to roll back one or both sides of the fly, though. Sure, you could just take it off completely in nice weather, but it’s sometimes nice to have some privacy on at least one side of the tent or be able to unfurl the fly if the weather turns in the middle of the night (though you will have to get at least partially out of the tent to do so).
That said, the tie-backs were less than ideal. We find too many tent manufacturers make tie back loops barely big enough for the toggles supposed to go through them, which makes them finicky and annoying at best and unusable at worst (like when you have gloves on).
In high wind, the exterior fabric was noisy and snapped and rubbed loudly when we were trying to sleep, but it is thicker and feels more durable compared to the Copper Spur, which may mean it will stand up to scrapes and punctures better over time.
The whole package is also larger and heavier than the Big Agnes. If you’re car camping, that may nt be an issue. But if you want the Half Dome to do double duty as a backpacking tent or you’re often short on storage space in your car or camper, it’s worth considering.
Otherwise, it’s a solid tent with useful features, is easy to pitch, and should last for many seasons to come.
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3: The Camping/Backpacking Crossover
We’ve always been big fans of Big Agnes because not only do they make excellent lightweight tents, but they prioritize sustainability and put in some real effort to develop new materials that require fewer chemicals, less water, and stand up better to the elements. The Copper Spur is no exception and makes an excellent roomy option for duos camping within walking distance of their car.
Features
- Waterproof by design (HyperBead™ fabric is 6% lighter, 25% more waterproof and 50% stronger than traditional fabrics, without added water repellent chemicals)
- EZ Pack Stuff Sack
- Freestanding architecture
- Dual-door design with a spacious vestibule on both sides of the tent
- Awning-style doors that can be erected with trekking poles
- Lots of pockets, including oversized 3D bin pocket provides
- Upper and lower fly vents
- Easy setup with color-coded poles
- Additional gear lofts and accessories available
- Reflective guylines and reflective webbing
- There’s also a 1, 2, 2XL, 3XL, 4 and 5-person Copper Spur available
- Can also be setup with just the fly in Shelter mode (best done with the compatible footprint)
- Price: $599
Packability
- Packed Size: 21 x 5 x 5 inches
- Floor area: 41 square feet (90 x 70″ at the head, 90 x 62″ at the feet)
- Head Height: 43 inches
- Weight: 3 lbs 13 oz
- Vestibule: 9 + 9 square feet
While significantly lighter and smaller (packed down) than the REI Half Dome, we still think the Copper Spur is better suited for camping than backpacking, though less than 4 lbs isn’t bad, especially if you split up tent parts between several people when hiking. Especially if you’re planning to hike into the backcountry and set up a base camp from which to explore for a few days. There are certainly more lightweight options, but they’re not usually as versatile. Do take note that like with most Big Agnes tents, this one tapers at the feet, so there’s slightly less square footage, but more importantly, if you’re squeezing in three people mummy pads (as opposed to rectangular ones) are all but required.
Sustainability
The newly update line of Copper Spur tents is made of Big Agnes’ patented Hyperbead Technology. The innovative fabric was designed from the ground up to be strong and waterproof indefinitely and as-is, meaning it will never need re-waterproofed and requires fewer chemicals to treat and re-treat the fabric. It’s also PFAS free and solution dyed to save water. Seam tape is VOC- and PVC-free.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, we’re big fans of Big Agnes tents and always have been (we reviewed both the 2p Tiger Wall and 2p Fly Creek years ago). And the new Copper Spur 3 is no exception. It’s thoughtfully designed, lightweight, usable and functional. And the spacious 3-person version is a new favorite for car camping.
Inside, there was plenty of room for a queen-size self-inflating sleeping pad and double bag plus a bunch of camping gear, including duffel bags, packs, shoes and extra blankets for chilly nights. There was ample space on the sides, at our head and feet for water bottles and other gear and even more in the vestibules if we wanted to leave bulky items outside the tent but still keep them protected from rain.
Pockets were abundant, too, so we were never short on a place to stash cell phones, first aid kits, headlamps and other gear. One favorite was the long drop pocket that spanned one end of the ceiling and turned out to be an excellent place to toss a book or soggy socks that needed to dry out.
The doors were plenty big and easy to access, offering a wide open space to crawl in and out of the tent. Access was made even easier when the multi-functional vestibule door was unzipped on both sides and propped up with trekking poles to provide not only unobstructed access, but shade or cover from light rain when sitting in the tent. Love. Bonus: The fly can be removed from the body completely for unobstructed views on clear nights OR pitched on it’s own as an ultralight cover (a compatible footprint allows it to be staked down for security).
Speaking of doors and vestibules, the tie-backs were tight and finicky, which made securing doors time consuming and nearly impossible with gloves on.
As for the fabric, it does feel more delicate than durable, and we’ve certainly had to patch holes over the years in the floors of other Big Agnes tents we’ve owned, but repair tape is inexpensive and we feel it’s a small price to pay for the comfort and weight savings these tents offer. Plus, this new fabric is more durable than previous designs, so should last longer, though we bring a footprint more often with Big Agnes tents than some others we own. The material wasn’t silent, per se, it was quieter than the Half Dome on windy nights.
Finally, we loved how small and light the tent stakes are, but tent guy lines didn’t feel as locked into the small notches (though a line never did pop off in the wind). We did tear a few line loops when pulling stakes out of the ground, though, so those aren’t as robust.
Just the same, it’s a sustainably designed, lightweight tent that will appeal to not only campers, but backpackers, too.
Bottom Line: REI Half Dome vs Big Agnes Copper Spur
So which 3-person tent takes the gold in a comparison between REI vs Big Agnes? While both are excellent options for duos looking for a little extra space when camping, in our opinion, the Big Agnes provides a superior combination of space, functionality, versatility and sustainability. But it comes at a price. So which tent you choose will largely depend on your needs and preferences (and budget).
The REI Half Dome will appeal more to those on a budget since it’s about $200 less than the Big Agnes Copper Spur. But don’t worry, you’ll still get plenty of bang for your buck thanks to a similar amount of livable space, an easy pitch, plenty of accessible pockets, and an imminently usable and comfortable design (thanks especially to the roll-back fly).
The Big Agnes Copper Spur will appeal more to experienced campers who want something lighter weight, with plenty of livable space (inside AND out thanks to the vestibules doors that prop up into shade awnings), and perfectly dialed-in details like large doors and ultralight stakes. It is more expensive, but more sustainably designed, too, which should come with increased longevity and less regular cleaning.
Whatever you choose, enjoy a little extra space on your next adventure and wander on.
