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| | | | | | | Why Big Agnes Is Our 2021 Outdoor Gear Industry Leader | My first real interaction with Big Agnes happened when I moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, as an AmeriCorps volunteer. The outdoor gear company, which is based in Steamboat, offered pro deals to the volunteers and other staff at the nonprofit where I worked. Within a month, while soliciting items for a silent auction fundraiser, I learned no other business in town donated products like Big Agnes. And by my final months as a volunteer, I learned they regularly host mountain bike and trail running races, donating the proceeds to area nonprofits. That year, our small nonprofit earned tens of thousands of dollars from Big Agnes, which was a big deal for our modest budget.
Simply put, it didn't take long to realize what made Big Agnes particularly special in a crowd of outdoor gear brands. As Helen Beall, the community impact manager of the Yampa Valley Community Foundation in Steamboat Springs told me recently while reporting on Big Agnes for our 2021 Editors' Choice Awards: "[Big Agnes] actively seek[s] out things to improve in the community."
In addition to its philanthropic endeavors, Big Agnes also makes really good—and sustainable—outdoor gear. Here are some of my favorite Big Agnes products I've used over the years:
- Tiger Wall UL2 Solution-Dyed Tent: One of our favorite things about Big Agnes is its commitment to sustainability and willingness to take risks in the name of resource conservation. This year, Big Agnes began producing solution-dyed versions of its most popular backpacking tents. Big Agnes claims the process saves up to five gallons of water in producing some tents, uses 80 percent less energy, and 80 percent fewer chemicals. Sustainability aside, the Tiger Wall is a damn-good tent. I used it most recently on a backpacking and camping trip outside of Mammoth, where temps dipped below 20 degrees. The free-standing shelter held up in sleet and snow, and it has nifty features like two massive vestibules and an oversized mesh storage pouch inside the tent. Oh, and it weighs in at a meager two pounds.
- Sidewinder SL 20 Sleeping Bag: Also launched to the market this year were the innovative Sidewinder SL and Camp sleeping bag lines. If you're a side sleeper like me, this is the bag for you. I tested the 20-degree version of the SL bag down to—and below—20 degrees, and stayed warm enough. It has a long, ambidextrous zipper and allows for plenty of twisting and turning.
- TwisterCane BioFoam Sleeping Pad: I simply love this minimalist pad, made of 60 percent sugarcane biomass. If you're looking for a primo loft in a pad, this one isn't for you. But if you're looking for a basic, inexpensive, all-purpose pad to grab and go, this is it.
While Big Agnes is my go-to for outdoor gear, there are a lot of great products on the market. Read on for TripSavvy's top picks for tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and more.
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