The Big Agnes Spicer Peak 4 Tent is a reliable dome-style shelter supported by aluminum poles and protected with a full coverage fly that creates two useful vestibules.
Key features & benefits
- Dome type.
- Full coverage fly.
- 2 Doors & 2 vestibules.
- DAC aluminum poles.
- 8 Storage pockets.
What this is about
Here you have a dome type tent with two main poles supporting the canopy, plus a short ridge pole that pulls the doors up and make the vertical. This adds lots of volume and you have it more here than in standard dome tents. The picture below shows what I am saying.
The picture below shows its floor plan and some dimensions so you realize it is almost square. It is moderately tall and it has 2 doors and 2 symmetric vestibules. You can stow unzipped doors with Quick Stash door keeper, located on the tent body door.
The materials
I already mentioned poles, so they are top quality pressfit DAC aluminum and quite thick with a 14.5 millimeter diameter. The poles attach to tent body with plastic clips and sleeves. Hook and loop tabs connect fly to pole structure for extra stability.
The canopy is a polyester breathable taffeta combined with a nylon mesh. Both fly and floor are a polyester taffeta with a 1500 mm waterproof polyurethane coating. In my view, this value is quite low for the floor. All seams are taped with waterproof polyurethane tape. I could not find the denier value of the fabric.
Other details
- The tent has no less than 8 internal storage pockets, low and high, in every corner.
- You also have 8 Big Agnes Dirt Dagger UL tent stakes.
- It is compatible with Trapezoid, Large Trapezoid, Triangle, and Square Gear Lots, all sold separately.
- Fast Fly setup available if you order a corresponding footprint. Note that the weight of this Fast Fly set would be 8 lb 7 oz (3.83 kg).
- Color-coded webbing and buckles.
- Ready to pitch with pre-cut guylines and tensioners attached to fly.
- Reflective guylines and webbing.
- Multiple interior loops.
Ventilation
This tent has plenty of mesh on the canopy, and this looks good. However, there are no floor vents, and the fly is also without vents. I am not sure what they were really thinking here.
Please see more in this short video:
Who is it for
Regarding the best use & climate, they describe it as a 3-season tent, so I would say it is indeed so. The tent is moderately high and aerodynamic so it will perform well even in windy places. You have full protection from the rain, see how it looks when the vestibules are closed.
In such a setup you would want to have vents. On the other hand, when the sky is clear, you can keep the vestibule flap out of way as shown below.
Regarding the size, the tent is officially for 4 people and it offers 58 ft² (5.4 m²) of the floored area. The dimensions are such that it is possible to put four narrow sleeping pads on the floor as you have seen from the floor plan above. But this is a car camping tent and it would not make much sense to use it with so many people.
The two vestibules add 11 + 11 ft² (1 + 1 m²), so this is a useful space to keep your gear protected from the rain. All in all, the tent is ideal for couples or for parents with a kid.
Regarding the weight, the tent is moderately light with its 11 lb 15 oz (5.41 kg), they also give the trail weight but this is not a tent for the trail.
The packed size is not so bad, its carry bag measures (L x D) 25 x 10.5 inches (62 x 27 cm). But you can compare this all with the Browning Echo 4-Person Tent that weighs less than 4 kg, and it is also more compact.
Regarding the price, it is quite high as usual for this brand, but you have quality materials here and a globally-known stand out brand.
Specifications
- Type: dome-type tent.
- Official capacity: 4 people.
- Weight: 11 lb 15 oz (5.41 kg).
- Dimensions (L x W): 164 x 90 in (416 x 229 cm).
- Floor area: 58 ft² (5.4 m²).
- Vestibule area: 11 + 11 ft² (1 + 1 m²).
- Total covered area: 80 ft² (7.4 m²).
- Packed size (L x D): 25 x 10.5 in (62 x 27 cm).
- Peak height: 70 in (178 cm).
Final thoughts & rating
In summary, this Big Agnes Spicer Peak 4 Tent is a quality product and you have the highest quality aluminum poles for its support. The poles shape the canopy so that you have plenty of headroom here.
It has many great elements, but I would exchange some of them for a pair of missing roof and floor vents. The weight and packed size are moderate, so this is a car camping tent and not built for the trail.
Below you can see how I rate it against my usual rating criteria so that you can easily compare it with other items of this type:
Big Agnes Spicer Peak 4 Tent
Pros
- 2 Vestibules.
- DAC poles.
- Many pockets.
Cons
- No fly vents.
- No floor vents.
- Expensive.
BEST PLACEs TO BUY
For more options, please check under the category Tents for 4 People.
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