Big Agnes Rattlesnake SL3 mtnGLO
If there’s any season that makes people want to go camping (no matter the “style” of camping), it’s summer. From backpackers to glampers to RV masters—everyone wants to get out into nature, even if it means cooling your heels in a packed campground.
The Big Agnes Rattlesnake SL3 mtnGLO is ideal for the backpacker who requires a super-light tent, but may have a teeny bit of glam camper in his or her blood.
The product name may be a little confusing at first. Let me unpack this for you:
• Rattlesnake = Big Agnes likes to name tents after local history, places, peaks and rivers. This tent is named for Rattlesnake Butte.
• SL3 = Sleeps 3.
• mtnGLO = Tent light technology that uses durable LED lights to illuminate the interior of your tent.
The Rattlesnake weighs 5 pounds, 4 ounces when packed, and is made from breathable nylon and polyester mesh. The fly and the floor are silicone-treated nylon rip-stop with 1200 mm waterproof polyurethane coating. There are reflective guylines and webbing on tent corners.
The tent has two doors and two vestibules. A symmetrical pole structure makes set up easy. There’s also a Quick Stash on the tent’s door, which allows campers to stow the unzipped door.
If you’re backpacking, you’ve got to keep the load light, and it often means you’re willing to give up a few comforts in order to carry your gear on your back without emulating Cheryl Strayed and her huge Monster backpack in “Wild.” This tent “sleeps 3,” but snugly, as the length is 88 inches and width is 70 inches. Height when you sit up is 47 inches. Three adults means you’ll get to know each other rather well, if you don’t already. That’s why I’ve used this tent for camping with two adults and a 5-year-old.
Inside the tent, there are four mesh pockets and two internal media pockets (those are located above the sleeping area and enable simple ear bud cord routing from electronic devices.
One thing that isn’t included with the tent, but you’d want to consider getting anyway: the Rattlesnake SL3 mtnGLO footprint.
The mtnGLO system is operated by a push button controller, and has three settings: on, off, and 50 percent brightness. The light strand is integrated into the tent seams and is flexible enough to survive through the many times you’ll be packing and unpacking the tent over the years. It does require three AAA batteries, which aren’t included.
The Big Agnes Rattlesnake SL3 mtnGLO tent lists for $399.95 on the Big Agnes site. Footprint is $70. It’s also available at REI.