Review: Big Agnes Sarvis VST 2 Tent
The Sarvis VST 2 from Big Agnes is a lightweight, spacious and extremely packable tent that is uncomplicated to setup and pitches quickly. While not designed for really gnarly weather, it can be made into a solid structure when setup correctly. Despite being on the pricier side, it brings a lot of value to the table and makes an extremely comfortable and spacious home for solo hikers or an incredibly lightweight tent for two, still with plenty of space to ‘live’.
| Weight | Total Weight – 1.27kg & Trail weight 1.13kg |
| Features | HyperBead® fabric | Hybrid single/double Wall design with integrated ventilation | DAC Featherlite poles | YKK DynaPel™ fly zipper | Two doors and two decent sized vestibules |
Pros
- Very packable
- Lightweight
- Easy to pitch
- Spacious living space
Cons
- Hybrid single/double wall design could be seen as a con (particularly in the UK), due to it potentially causing more condensation, but so far for me it’s performed well.
- Doesn’t come with enough pegs for all the guy lines
WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR
When I chose the Sarvis VST 2, I was specifically after something lightweight and packable that I could use from late Spring through to early Autumn in UK conditions. I historically have chosen 1-man tents but wanted a bit more living space without having to compromise on weight.
One thing that drew me to the Sarvis over other Big Agnes tents was that it pitches all at once rather than inner first. Personally I always choose tents that pitch either all at once or can be pitched outer first. The main reason being is that if you’re pitching in bad conditions the inner stays dry.
I mainly was looking for something for hiking, but I also wanted something I could take bikepacking, so pole length and how small it packs down mattered to me.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Firstly, I love the colour of the tent, the outer is grey but the inner is this really almost mint green. Straight out of the box the Sarvis felt properly light for what it offers. At 1.13kg trail weight (total weight – 1.27kg) for a two person tent, it’s competitive with a lot of one person shelters.
One thing that I do find frustrating with a lot of these lightweight tents is that often they don’t come with enough pegs for all the guy lines. If you wanted to pitch the Sarvis with all the points and guy lines, you’d be two pegs short with what comes with it. You can pitch the Sarvis with the provided pegs but I think a tent should always come with enough pegs for all points.
In addition to the tent I added the footprint which comes in at 102.1g. I’d definitely recommend it to help extend the life of the tent and to provide some additional protection.
Coming from mostly using a one man tent, the main draw for me with this tent was that I was getting extra living space whilst still having a light and packable tent.
Overall my first impressions were really positive and even with adding a few extra pegs, and the ground sheet, it still ticked all my initial boxes of being lightweight and packable.
THE TEST
I’ve had the Sarvis VST 2 out on a few camps this summer, including some summit camps around 700m, so it’s had a decent spread of conditions to deal with.
I found the Sarvis easy to pitch. Unlike a lot of tents it doesn’t have tight sleeves to put the poles in. It has a large sleeve in the top which you just put the poles through, cross them over and put an end into each corner.
As someone used to a one man tent, having extra room without giving anything up on weight or pack size was a massive positive for me. You could also easily fit two people inside, with some space for gear and for anything that doesn’t fit, there’s two decent size vestibules.
In my testing I’d separate the poles/pegs and have them on the side of my bag and then the main tent package becomes extremely compressible and barely takes up any space in your bag.
The Hybrid Single/Double Wall design is probably the thing most people will have questions about, especially if you’re used to a double wall tent here in the UK. On a still night I did get some condensation, but a lot less than I expected, and the tent has plenty of ventilation points built in to help with airflow.
I haven’t had it out in much wind or rain yet which is something I’d like to test just to see how it holds up. One thing that is a positive in warmer conditions is the outer sits quite high meaning there’s lots of airflow underneath which helps with condensation and just keeping you cool. However this could be an issue in colder, wetter or windier conditions.
I’d also like to get it out bikepacking, where I think it’ll perform well because of the packability and large living space. One thing to note is the poles are on the longer side, but still definitely manageable if attached to the frame of the bike or on a rack.
WHO IS THIS TENT FOR?
This is a strong option for weight conscious solo hikers who want a bit of extra space without paying for it in pack weight. I think it’s ideal for multi day hikes as it’s lightweight but gives you a really nice size living space to make home at the end of each day.
There is enough room for two, with decent sized vestibules for gear, but if I were buying for two people I’d probably size up to the 3 person version to get extra space without having to compromise much on weight or pack size.
WHAT STANDS OUT?
WEIGHT AND PACKABILITY – At 1.13kg trail weight and 1.27kg total, this is what the tent’s built around, and it shows in how little you notice it in the pack.
PITCHES IN ONE GO – The tent pitches all at once meaning the inner stays dry if having to pitch in bad conditions.
VENTILATION – The tent has plenty of ventilation points to help manage the condensation including a massive vent at the top.
INTERIOR SPACE – The Sarvis has plenty of space on the inside and two decent size vestibules.
VALUE FOR MONEY
The RRP is £700, though you can find it for closer to £600 if you shop around. It’s not cheap, so it is definitely a considered investment. Especially with the additional recommended ground sheet (£45) and additional pegs required. However if it’s within budget and you are looking for a lightweight, packable tent, that is easy to pitch and is made of quality materials, it’s definitely one to consider.
BASE BOTTOM LINE
The Big Agnes Sarvis VST 2 Tent is a lightweight, packable three season tent that gives you more space than its weight suggests it should. It’s ideal for solo hikers wanting more space and the 3 person version would be ideal if you’re looking to accommodate 2 people and gear. I’m really looking forward to continuing to test it on some multi-day hikes and also into early Autumn to see how it holds up with the changing conditions.
Planning a multi-day adventure?
BASE tests the best gear for hiking and bikepacking
Review • Hannah Mitchell • October 04, 2023
Review: Rab Ionosphere 5.5 Sleeping Mat
Rab’s Ionosphere 5.5 guarantees a warm, comfortable and quiet night for alpine bivies and camping in extreme conditions
Review • Francesco Guerra • June 27, 2023
Review: MSR Windburner Stove System
Stable, wind resistant, super reliable solo stove system
Review • Jonathan Doyle • May 17, 2023
REVIEW: Ortlieb Seat-Pack 16.5L and Frame-Pack RC Top Tube 4L
The Ortlieb Seat-Pack and Frame-Pack RC can be relied upon whatever the weather and riding conditions throw at you
Review • Hannah Mitchell • April 12, 2023
Review: Petzl Tikkina, Tikka Core and Actik Core Headtorches
We put three of Petzl’s recently revamped lamps to the test
Review • Chris Hunt • February 06, 2023
Review: MSR Hubba Hubba NX 3 Season Tent
MSR’s best selling do-it-all 3 season, 2 person backpacking tent
Review • Hannah Mitchell • January 04, 2023
Review: JetBoil Stash Camping Stove
JetBoil’s lightest stove ever is a small and mighty overnight essential
Don’t miss a single adventure
Sign up to our free newsletter and get a weekly BASE hit to your inbox
Other posts by this author
Review • Sam Firth • Feb 10, 2026
Review: Deuter Jaypack Pro 34+14 Camera Bag
An impressive camera bag both in terms of features and capabilities
Review • Sam Firth • Oct 04, 2025
Review: Arc’teryx Beta SL Jacket
A jacket that is lightweight AND waterproof!
You might also like
Review • BASE editorial team • Oct 22, 2026
Men’s Insulated Jacket Buyer’s Guide – Winter 2026
Some compelling options for this season from the main players when it comes to insulation.
Review • BASE editorial team • Jun 06, 2026
3 summer camping essentials for adventures in 2026
We've found 3 underrated gems to up your camping game this summer.
Review • Matthew Pink • Jun 06, 2026
Men’s Mountain Shell Guide Summer 2026
Three options to keep the pesky wind at bay when cracking on this summer.
