User Review: Big Agnes Sunnyside 2

Big Agnes Sunnyside 2
Above: The current Sunnyside 2, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed March 6, 2009 by ckirkwood9

Rating:
Design: 3-season free standing dome
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: very easy - 4 corners and pole clips
Weight: sub 6-lbs
Price Paid: $120

Bought this on steepandcheap.. got a great deal.

This tent replaced a 4-lbs North Face Tadpole 23 that got stolen on a camping/climbing trip in Squamish, British Columbia.... (a LOT focking crackheads up there!)

But I digress - The Sunnyside... At just under 6 lbs it's a a little heavier than I'd like, but it's really spacious. AND it did a GREAT job keeping out the driving rain in Hawaii in February. I camped a few days at Volcano National Park, Ho'okena and at Black Sand Beach. The rainfly has a plastic window which was really nice since we'd wake up and look out at the ocean crashing on the beach just a few feet away :).

Overall I really liked this tent... I'm just over 6", no problem with the length or headroom... it comes with a gear loft and a few pockets which are nice. The two vestibules were great for my partner and I to store our packs and stinky shoes.

It set up VERY easy and quick, there were no instructions with my tent, but it still only took a few mins to set it up the first time... it's pretty obvious where things go - 4 corners and clips for the poles (this doesn't use a sleeve system).

It stayed put and stayed dry ~ Excellent.

My ONLY REAL issue with this tent is the fly is a little big for the setup. no matter how I tied the guy-lines or staked it out.... the fly was STILL kinda loose. No biggie for how I've used the tent so far; but i can imagine in high winds that it would really flap a lot and i don't know if rain will become an issue eventually. we all know that if the fly touches the tent body - someone's getting wet. Maybe that's what happened for one of the earlier reviewers who mentioned water entering the tent.

Overall - this tent is a great deal since i paid so little for it. It is a special-buy tent, which means that Big Agnes doesn't sell it as a part of their line up (though i think I found specs on their website somewhere).

I would recommend this tent to anyone who's tall and who wouldn't mind an extra pound or 2 in their packs.

Even though I was really too tall for it - I do miss my North Face Tadpole 23 though. Bastards!!

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