Gusting wind threatens to yank the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 tent out of my hands as I stake it in for the night, but I know the stakes will hold until sunrise. This tent has proven to be durable, taking a beating on dual-sport adventure rides, camping on everything from fine gravel and sand to sharp sticks and brush. Sleep systems often take up the most room in our luggage, so getting a lightweight solution will significantly reduce the weight you’ve got to throw around off road.

The Fly Creek UL1 is intuitive to set up because the poles, body and fly all fit together in one simple configuration. Clever design maximizes inside space while using minimal poles by clipping the body and fly together to pull them taut. The vestibule has room for muddy boots or some dirty gear, but you won’t be storing your entire riding wardrobe there. Inside, the length is great for my 6'2" frame, but my head brushes the ceiling when sitting up. On one side there’s enough room for my small backpack, helmet, neck brace, jacket, pants, and a few other things. If my gear was wet, though, I would leave it outside because of limited space. Gear storage pockets on the sides and ceiling work well for things like a headlamp or flashlight, and an optional gear loft can be hooked up for more storage. Also available separately is the footprint, which will increase the lifespan of your tent floor.

The Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 is a lightweight backpacking tent, which makes it perfect for lightweight enduro or dual-sport luggage systems where weight and size are high priorities.

This tent is meant for lightweight backpacking, where the length of poles isn’t much of an issue, but for lightweight motorcycle travel the poles can be awkward to safely fit into small luggage systems. Fortunately, I had good success strapping them out of harm’s way behind my Wolfman Enduro Dry Saddle Bags. In a pinch, you can use the Fly Creek UL1 without stakes, but decreasing ventilation can lead to extra condensation build-up. In the mornings, you can shake off most of the moisture from the fly and body, which dries off pretty quickly, so you don’t have to stuff away a wet tent. And literally stuffing it away in your luggage is easy because its materials are so light that the fly and body can be tucked almost anywhere.

A lightweight, minimalist tent is highly practical because it’s got more storage space than a bivy sack and is a tree-less alternative to a hammock. Ultimately, this option is for those who value weight savings and intuitive set-up with durable construction, but don’t need the luxury of larger tents. MSRP: $349.95 BigAgnes.com

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