Huge Agnes might have simply rocked the boat for the world of ultralight tents. The Steamboat Springs backpacking model introduced its new HyperBead cloth this week, which it claims is 6% lighter, 25% extra waterproof, and 50-100% stronger than conventional ultralight tent materials. HyperBead makes use of no PFAS chemical compounds, DWR, or different water resistant therapies, so it’s environmentally pleasant as well.
“We’re always in the hunt for new supplies and processes that enhance our buyer’s backcountry experiences, improve product sturdiness, and produce environmentally acutely aware merchandise,” Michael Thompson, director of design and improvement at Huge Agnes, informed GearJunkie.
Huge Agnes is launching upgraded variations of 5 flagship tents with the brand new HyperBead materials. If this proprietary new cloth lives as much as Huge Agnes’ hype, it might start a brand new period for the model’s backpacking tents — possibly even for backpackers at giant.
“We’ve spent two years sweating over each ounce and each element of this course of and expertise,” Thomspon mentioned in a press launch.
HyperBead: Coming to Huge Agnes’ Flagship Tents
I requested Huge Agnes particularly the way it developed the HyperBead materials to be lighter, stronger, and extra waterproof. However the model was a bit cagey about its course of.
“Excessive-quality cloth weaving and coating is a really intricate course of that entails many aspects comparable to coating varieties, thickness, variety of passes, facility, and equipment sophistication,” Thompson mentioned. “So, there’s, sadly, numerous proprietary HyperBead data we aren’t prepared to share.”
What Huge Agnes was prepared to share is that HyperBead is waterproof at a molecular stage. The model mentioned that’s why the fabric wants no chemical therapies to remain dry and by no means requires re-waterproofing.
Huge Agnes additionally improved the material’s dimensional stability in order that it’s snag-resistant and received’t distort “even underneath load.”
“HyperBead is a superb instance of a multi-year effort centered on maximizing the mixed expertise and expertise we’ve got on our staff in addition to at our manufacturing companions and materials suppliers,” Thompson mentioned.
Huge Agnes is providing its flagship tents with HyperBead in 2025 — the Copper Spur UL & XL, the Tiger Wall UL, Fly Creek UL, and Tiger Wall Platinum Tents. They’re obtainable on the model’s web site underneath the “HyperBead” dropdown. Thompson mentioned HyperBead could also be “excellent for different merchandise” within the Huge Agnes line. Nevertheless, he declined to remark additional on which of them.
“HyperBead is an entire reimagining of ultralight gear,” Thompson mentioned. “[It’s] a expertise that performs higher, weighs much less, and is less complicated on the setting. This cloth is the fruits of that imaginative and prescient.”
The GearJunkie staff will check HyperBead in depth for spring 2025 opinions. Keep tuned!
