New tents from Big Agnes: Ultralight bikepacking accommodation - if there's enough space

All tents in the VST series are designed to minimise weight and maximise usable space. According to the manufacturer, the materials used do not contain any PFAS and are waterproof up to a water column of 4000 millimetres (tent floor 1500 mm). The construction of the outer wall is a mixture of single and double-walled construction. Condensation is significantly reduced by the integrated ventilation system.

The new VST series comprises a total of three models. There is a freestanding tent for two or three people, a non-freestanding tent for one person and one for two or three people that requires hiking poles or similar to set up.

Big Agnes Pitchpine VST 1.5: Plenty of space for one person

The Big Agnes Pitchpine VST 1.5 is designed for solo tours - or at least for solo overnight stays and not as a shared tent. It is slightly more spacious than standard one-person tents and therefore offers space for equipment - or your dog. It is not freestanding, which means it always needs pegs or anchoring to the ground.

Big Agnes Sarvis VST: freestanding and lightweight

There is a two-person and a three-person version of the Sarvis VST. It is freestanding so that it can also be set up on a concrete surface. This may be necessary if there is deep mud everywhere and only a paved surface is available; or if you want to place it in a shelter, barn or similar to create a more sheltered space.

Assessment from the editorial team

Lightweight is great, without question, but usually comes with compromises. As we haven't tried out the tents yet, I'm looking at a crucial dimension for use when bikepacking: The length of the folded tent poles can be problematic for bikepackers travelling with bent handlebars.

The smallest tent, the Pitchpine VST 1.5, can be tied into a compact package measuring 42 x 10 centimetres. With a length of 42 centimetres, many handlebars do not have the option of transporting the bikepacking accommodation on the handlebars. However, the poles may fit into the frame bag or can be strapped to the top tube in some other way. Others transport the entire tent in the saddlebag or attach it to a fork with screw-on points. With a length of 48 centimetres, as with the Big Agnes Sarvis VST 3, it becomes even more difficult; in principle, however, the same alternatives to the handlebars apply.

In short: If you are looking for a tent for bikepacking tours, you need to think about where it can be transported on the bike beforehand. Big Agnes also offers special bikepacking tents, where the poles are shorter and the pack sack has straps for mounting on the handlebars. Possible alternatives:

• Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Bikepack, 1.37 kilos, pack size 38 x 14 cm, price 600 euros
• Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL1 Bikepack, 1.18 kilos, pack size 38 x 13 cm, price 550
• or old models of the Tiger Wall for one person or for two people

The three tents at a glance