REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Easy to pitch
REASONS TO AVOID
Small interior
Single door and vestibule
Big Agnes C Bar 2 Review
A budget tent for those who want to minimize weight and don't mind sacrificing a fair bit of comfort
Credit: Big Agnes
RELATED: Best Budget Backpacking Tent of 2023
Our Verdict
The Big Agnes C Bar 2 is a budget backpacking tent that goes all-in on light weight. If you are looking to lighten your load in the backcountry while keeping costs down, this Top Pick Award winner is for you. It has a single head-end door and vestibule with an excellent fly and really nice rain protection. The downside is that you and your partner are going to be cramped. The walls and floor taper significantly, and the shoulder room is minimal. If you can stomach the extra weight, there are a couple of models that will give you way more space. However, if you want a sub-four-pound tent at a budget price, this is the one.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Big Agnes C Bar 2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $250 List | $184.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $139 List | $80 List $68.99 at Amazon | $70 List $42.49 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This tent is cramped quarters for two people but will keep your load light if you are on a budget | A tent with lots of headroom and a stable structure for waiting out summer storms | It's an excellent option for one person and carries many of the same great features as the two person model | A bargain basement tent with some of the trappings of its more expensive counterparts | This super cheap tent is most appropriate for concerts or venues with alternatives for sleeping if something goes wrong |
| Rating Categories | Big Agnes C Bar 2 | The North Face Stor... | REI Co-op Passage 1 | Bisinna 2 | Coleman Sundome 2 |
| Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Setup (15%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Packed Size (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Big Agnes C Bar 2 | The North Face Stor... | REI Co-op Passage 1 | Bisinna 2 | Coleman Sundome 2 |
| Measured Packaged Weight | 3.96 lbs | 6.33 lbs | 4.21 lbs | 4.76 lbs | 6.47 lbs |
| Floor Area | 28 sq ft | 30.6 sq ft | 20 sq ft | 31.6 sq ft | 35 sq ft |
| Packed Size (diameter x length) | 6 x 19 in | 7 x 22 in | 7.5 x 17 in | 5.9 x 16.9 in | 5.9 x 24 in |
| Dimensions | 86 x (52 x 42) x 41 in | 87 x 50 x 43 in | 88 x 36 x 40 in | 82.7 x 55 x 47.2 in | 84 x 60 x 48 in |
| Vestibule Area (Total) | 7 sq ft | 9.78 sq ft | 9.5 sq ft | 13.6 sq ft | n/a |
| Peak Height | 41 in | 43 in | 40 in | 47.2 in | 48 in |
| Number of Doors | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Number of Poles | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Pole Diameter | Not provided | Not provided | 8.5 mm | Not provided | Not provided |
| Number of Pockets | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Gear Loft | No | No | No | No | No |
| Pole Material | DAC pressfit aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Fiberglass |
| Guy Points | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Rain Fly Material | Polyester Taffeta | 75D Polyester | Polyester | 190T Polyester Taffeta | Polyester |
| Inner Tent Material | Polyester & Mesh | 75D Polyester Taffeta | Polyester | 190T Polyester Taffeta, B3 No-see-um Mesh | Polyester/Polyethylene |
| Type | Freestanding | Freestanding | Freestanding | Freestanding | Freestanding |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
If you prioritize minimizing weight above all else, this tent will do the trick. During testing, we were also pleasantly surprised by the quality fly and solid weather resistance of this model. It's tight on space, so we don't recommend it for the loungers among us but split it with a backpacking buddy and take it into the backcountry for some nice nights under the stars.
Performance Comparison
The Big Agnes C Bar 2 is one of the lightest weight, most packable options in this review. Its overall score is pulled down because of how tight it feels on the inside.
It's a nice tent for finding your secluded spot in the backcountry.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Comfort
We have to be honest here; this tent is not comfortable with two people in it. Its dimensions are superficially adequate. An 86" length is enough for taller folks. However, its 52" width quickly tapers to 42" at the feet, and its peak height of 41" exists only as a narrow, two dimensional plane near the entrance. What proved to be the trickiest area, though, is the space at shoulder height. The sidewalls of the tent ascend steeply, so the space you have sitting up and, say, eating a meal, is minimal.
The single door at the head is also small relative to other models with a similar design. Consequently, the vestibule is not large enough for two regular backpacking packs and two sets of footwear (especially if you want to get out of the tent easily).
The C Bar 2 is close quarters on the inside, especially around shoulder height, right around where the mesh begins. However, it's also one of the lightest options in our budget category.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
The pockets are modest but totally serviceable. There is one on each side at the head in addition to a slightly larger one overhead. Some folks have a lot of stuff they like to store, but we think these pockets will be the right amount of space for most people. The C Bar 2 also offers a fair amount of privacy if you choose to go sans fly. The white mesh makes the tent more difficult to see into, and the red fabric runs high up the sidewalls.
It's actually kind of easy to hide out in this tent. It offers more privacy than a lot of other models.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Weather Resistance
Mostly owing to the fly, we are really pleased with the weather resistance of the C Bar 2. The sides stake out and away from the tent body. The vestibule runs very low to the ground, which is excellent. There is also a flap of fly fabric that covers over the zipper. This is a very common feature to find between models, but we like that it keeps precipitation from finding its way into the vestibule.
Though there are no vents, the dual zippers of the fly door allow it to open without having to tie it back or unstake any part of it.
The fly is nicely designed, hugging the forest floor very closely.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
There is less mesh in the canopy than in many other models, so the opportunity for cross breeze is a little limited, especially because there is just the one door, but in terms of wind and water protection, we think this tent does really well.
The fly door is the primary method of venting the tent.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Ease of Setup
This tent sets up in a snap. Though the pole matrix is a little gangly (there are a couple of hubs that join the 'legs' to the 'spine' of the structure) it's still fairly straightforward. Once you have the segments locked in, the color-coded pole in one corner makes it clear how everything needs to be oriented, and the grommets and clips come together quickly. The cross pole provides a little more headroom but not much. The fly tensions easily as well, which we find to be an undervalued feature.
This model is simple, but if you like easy, there are some tents with a really straightforward X-pole design that go up in no time.
The single pole skeleton has a lot of segments but they are easy to orient correctly and attach to the tent.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Durability
We think the construction of this tent is solid. The polyester fly and floor are substantial enough that with reasonable site selection, they should hold up well. The standard-issue hook stakes will bend on you at some point, but stakes are easy to swap out.
The pole structure has a chunky hub that adds bulk but seems sturdy, and the DAC pressfit poles are an industry go to that we have rarely had issues with. Having said that, this tent is one of the few budget models to also include a pole brace if you crack or snap a segment in the middle of a trip.
The eight included hook stakes and pole splint. The stakes are likely to bend if they meet resistance during set up and are forced in.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Weight
Weight savings is where this tent earns its keep. It is advertised at four pounds even. Our measurement put it just under that number.
Split the load between two people, and you are looking at a reasonable two pounds per. So long as you have a hiking partner that you really get along with, it's a great budget option for going deep into the backcountry.
The pole hubs are chunky but durable.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Packed Size
It also packs down to 6" x 19", making it one of the best space-saving options as well. If you are going out on a solo adventure, that will significantly improve the comfort of the C Bar 2 however, once you are carrying the whole thing by yourself, it doesn't feel so light anymore.
If weight and size are high, high priorities for you and your companion, this is the tent that we would recommend above other similar models.
The Big Agnes C Bar (middle) compared to the Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight (left) and the ultralight backpacking tent Big Agnes Tiger Wall (right).
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Should You Buy the Big Agnes C Bar 2?
This sub-four-pound tent goes all in on weight savings. It has an excellent fly and weather protection. It earns a Top Pick Award for its light load and though it costs above average for models in our budget review, its quality construction and light weight make it a good choice for someone who wants to get into the backcountry without spending a premium. We recommend this tent for two people who don't want to keep it light without spending too much and are comfortable in close quarters.
The side and overhead gear storage pockets are visible looking out on a bluebird day.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
What Other Budget Backpacking Tents Should You Consider?
If you don't mind carrying the extra weight and need a lot more space, the The North Face Stormbreak 2 is our favorite tent in the category. If you do most of your hiking solo, then the REI Co-op Passage 1 is a viable option as well that is less expensive.
—
Ben Applebaum-Bauch
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