Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 XL Sustainability Report

The Copper Spur UL3 XL uses a mix of 15D and 20D nylon throughout, which requires some babying on rough terrain. The floor is particularly thin at 15D and doesn’t come with a footprint. High-quality DAC poles and reinforced seams help boost the overall lifespan, which is about average for a backpacking tent.

Choosing durable outdoor gear is perhaps the most effective way to reduce environmental impact—the longer it lasts, the less it needs to be produced. Our proprietary longevity rating evaluates overall build quality based on factors such as materials, fabric denier, component durability (including zippers and toggles), real-world performance as reported by our field testers, and our experiences with the brand. Overall, we feel strongly that reducing overall consumption is a cornerstone of sustainability.

The Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 XL uses a PFAS-free durable water-repellent treatment. All new or updated Big Agnes products since 2025 are produced without intentionally added PFAS. Products that haven’t been updated may still contain these chemicals. For some of its down-insulated products, the company uses DownTek, which is a PFAS-free, Bluesign-approved water-repellent treatment.

The DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish is a product’s direct defense against outside moisture, and commonly contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These synthetic compounds, known as "forever chemicals,” are found in a range of gear categories, from jackets to footwear. They resist water, oil, and heat exceptionally well, making them ideal for outdoor use, but their nearly indestructible nature also means that they take an extremely long time to degrade in nature, if at all. PFAS can eventually end up in everything from soil to drinking water and have been linked to a range of health issues.

The Copper Spur UL3 XL contains no recycled materials. Instead, it is made of virgin ripstop nylon. Big Agnes doesn’t report the total amount of recycled content it sources, but it uses recycled materials in many products, including tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and backpacks. These materials include NetPlus post-consumer nylon and Regen Ocean Robic nylon, which are both made from recycled fishing nets.

Outdoor gear can be made partly or entirely from recycled materials, the most common being nylon, polyester, wool, and down. Some products include a single recycled component or a partially recycled fabric, while others are 100% recycled (generally excluding accessories like zippers, Velcro, toggles, etc.). For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate the amount of recycled materials in a particular product and assign points accordingly.

The Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 XL does not feature any Bluesign-approved materials. Big Agnes isn’t a Bluesign System Partner. However, the down in its sleeping bags is treated with DownTek, a Bluesign-approved water-repellent technology.

Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile certification system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A Bluesign-approved material indicates that it has undergone a rigorous vetting process based on the criteria above. A Bluesign Product goes the next mile, containing at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and at least 20% Bluesign-approved accessories.

The Copper Spur UL3 XL features solution-dyed fabric in the tent body. Big Agnes introduced its first solution-dyed tents in 2021, becoming the first brand to incorporate these textiles into camping and backpacking equipment.

Solution dyeing is a process in which pigment is added to a synthetic fiber’s raw materials during production instead of after. Compared to traditional methods, solution dyeing reduces water consumption, energy use, and carbon dioxide emissions, and releases fewer chemicals overall. In addition to these environmental benefits, solution-dyed fabrics resist fading because the fiber’s pigment becomes intrinsic to it, rather than being dyed on the surface.

Big Agnes maintains a supplier code of conduct that its manufacturing partners must adhere to. However, the company doesn’t enforce its code of conduct through a third-party program that provides certification and regular audits to ensure safe working conditions, fair wages, and reduced environmental impact. Therefore, it doesn’t meet our responsible manufacturing criteria.

This criterion evaluates a brand's commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing its environmental impact throughout the production process. Responsible manufacturing is most commonly demonstrated through certifications and membership in programs such as Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accreditation of Production, and the Fair Labor Association. We also recognize brands that prioritize local production, such as those that manufacture primarily in the United States or Europe, to reduce carbon emissions, maintain better oversight of working conditions, and comply with strict social and environmental regulations.

Big Agnes is taking steps to reduce packaging, such as removing individual poly bags from most tent poles and all camp furniture frames. It also uses recycled poly bags and transitioned its sleeping pad packaging from corrugated cardboard boxes to Forest Stewardship Council-certified paperboard wraps.

Packaging can add significant waste to an outdoor gear purchase and often ends up in landfills. Many brands are using recycled packaging and/or making efforts to reduce packaging altogether. For example, they may use a certain percentage of recycled cardboard or make efforts to use less plastic or paper across their packaging operation. In some cases, brands also use Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, which helps to ensure sustainable sourcing of forest materials.

Big Agnes offers extensive repair services for its products, assisting over 6,000 customers and providing over 1,500 parts for at-home maintenance in 2022 (the only year for which it discloses data). It performs repairs for free under its limited lifetime warranty against material and manufacturing defects, while damage due to misuse, wear and tear, or improper care is addressed at the company’s discretion for a reasonable charge.

Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption. Some brands offer comprehensive repair programs that can fix a wide range of issues, while others have more limited capabilities. If a brand's warranty policy only covers replacement, rather than repair, these programs usually do not meet this criterion.

Big Agnes operates a recycling program called 2nd Routt, which enables customers to trade in used gear for credit. Items sent to the program are either recycled, disassembled for repair parts, or donated. The company’s Circle Back sleeping pad is also designed to be recyclable through the program at the end of its life. While Big Agnes sells demo and open-box products, it doesn’t accept used gear for resale.

Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation for longer and out of landfills. The most common form is a trade-in program, where consumers can exchange items for store credit, which is then resold. Some brands accept products back for recycling at the end of their life, thereby reducing waste. Occasionally, some do both.

Big Agnes tracks its greenhouse gas emissions across all scopes and has set targets to reduce them. However, it doesn’t publicly share its year-over-year emissions data or reduction targets. Its three U.S. facilities purchase 100% renewable energy through offset programs, though.

This criterion evaluates whether this brand measures its greenhouse gas emissions, along with its commitment to reduction and transparency in reporting. Typically, we require brands to follow established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. Most companies use the widely recognized scope categorization system for measuring brand emissions. Those who earn the most points in this category have emissions reduction goals verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a global organization that helps companies set greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C. To verify their goals through SBTi, companies undergo a rigorous assessment process and continual follow-up to ensure consistent progress towards achieving their targets.

Big Agnes doesn’t publish an annual impact report.

An impact report is an important step toward transparency and accountability on the sustainability front. These reports vary in form but generally cover topics such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions tracking, waste and water usage, supply chain analysis, and packaging efforts. For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate this criterion based on the depth and quality of the information provided in the report, and how often it is produced. Some brands produce their own impact report, while others are published by their parent company. In practice, we’ve found that reports produced by individual brands include more detailed information about their sustainability efforts.