Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 vs Sea to Summit Alto TR1
Two shelters, measured against each other on the figures that decide whether they work on a bike.
The short answer
The Copper Spur HV UL1 takes pitching on hard ground; the Alto TR1 takes floor space and headroom. Their pole sets are close enough that neither wins on the bars, so this comes down to what you want from the shelter itself.
Assembled from the differences below rather than written over them. Every figure is a published measurement or computed from one — nobody here has used either one.
Where they differ
3 of the 7 things we can measure come out differently.
Pitching
Copper Spur HV UL1 needs less from the groundFreestanding matters on a bike trip more than on a hike: gravel bars, wooden platforms and hardpack are where you end up when you are following a road, and none of them take a stake.
Floor area
0.13m² more floor in the Alto TR1Inner length by inner width as published. On a bike trip the floor also has to take whatever you brought inside off the bike, so a few centimetres is not nothing.
Peak height
11cm more headroom in the Alto TR1Whether you can sit up, which decides how a rained-out afternoon goes.
Side by side
Including the rows where they are level.
| Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 | Sea to Summit Alto TR1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Folded pole length | 445mm — too long for drop bars | 450mm — too long for drop bars |
| Pole figure source | Packed bag length, used as a proxy | Packed bag length, used as a proxy |
| Minimum weight | 964g | 936g |
| Pitching | Freestanding | semi |
| Floor area | 224 × 97cm — 2.16m² | 215 × 107cm — 2.29m² |
| Peak height | 97cm | 108cm |
| Price | $400 | $380 |