Big Agnes Flying Diamond 6: Definitive Review (2024)
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So – you want to know if the Big Agnes Flying Diamond 6 is any good – well, it’s possibly the very best 6 person tent money can buy – for your next big vacay?
We used the Big Agnes during two of our outdoor trips where veteran campers and hikers from our team checked out the tent in detail – and we loved it.
On the whole, we found this to be an outstanding tent and in our review, we’ll share the following insider information with you:
- The workmanship;
- The comfort and value you can rely on;
- The special design features that set it apart from the others in its class;
- The ease of set up and 92 square feet of space for your crew;
- Lots more…
What about a comparative analysis with the other products in this category?
We got that covered too!
And the final outcome is…
…We’ve marked the Flying Diamond 6 as our TopNotch Top Pick.
Interested?
You’re right to be.
Stay with me while we move into the details and learn more.
- Manufacturer: Big Agnes
- Capacities: 4P, 6P, 8P versions
- Dimensions: 150 x 96 x 67 feet
- Seasons: 4-season
- Weight: 20 lbs 6 oz
- Packed Size: 9.5″ x 13″ x 23″
Bottom Line : This product stands out as the finest large-sized tent for camping with your friends and family, offering full protection no matter what the season
Pros
- Excellent weather protection
- Spacious interiors with two rooms
- Superior workmanship
- Total protection from the elements
- Top class ventilation
- Color-coded pole ends, webbing and buckles make the setup super easy
- 12 mesh pockets
- Two rooms
- 92 square feet in total
- A superb carry bag
Cons
- The ceiling height is a little low
- Meshed ceiling but no windows
Our Verdict: Big Agnes Flying Diamond 6
With top-class features and superb stability, this iconic tent is back with a new look that’s perfect for a group wanting adventure or a family looking for some outdoor fun.
The truth is, this tent has been a long-time favorite of mine.
It’s basically a dome-style tent with an extended freestanding frame.
With two vestibules, it’s like a tunnel once you set it up.
Other points you’ll love are the excellent ‘comfort factor’ and the large floor space.
The Flying Diamond 6 excels when it comes to stability. We were using it on a particularly stormy night when we needed to be able to rely on its build quality and strength.
It didn’t disappoint.
Moreover, the overall craftsmanship and attention to detail set it far apart from the competition.
And here’s the most important part.
This is a 4-season tent – you can use it in the rain, snow and during the summer – ventilation and weather resistance will never be an issue.
That’s gonna be hard to beat!
Quite simply, this is a really versatile package.
And did I mention the vibrant, bright orange color?
We loved it.
You’ll never lose your tent on the camp site again!
At the same time, there are a couple of flaws (minor ones).
First of all, the set up can be complicated for first-time users.
Though once you get the hang of it it’s pretty straightforward.
Secondly, taller campers might find the height in the main compartment slightly restrictive.
And finally, the price of our Flying Diamond is also on the higher side.
But…
… big but… with its versatility and outstanding design, this is a Top-Notch choice and you won’t regret investing those few extra bucks to bag yourself the best tent on the site.
All in all, this is a great tent for families with kids and also for friends on an adventure.
We’re super confident about awarding it our TopNotch Top Pick from the entire range of competition.
So let’s dig a little deeper and find out even more about why that is.
Our Analysis, Comparisons & Test Results
From the Himalayan highs to the trails in the Rocky Mountain National Park, we (team members at TopNotch) took this tent across a wide variety of terrains for our two testing trips.
We judged the performance under each metric and also had a ‘special’ (well, they’re all special in their own way) team of teenagers on one of the trips to test out the durability of this tent.
Frankly, we never expected the tent to withstand that assault, but it did!
But that’s another story…
After our thorough tests, we felt the Flying Diamond performs best either as a base camp tent or a tent for a family car camping trip.
Anyone looking for a great quality large tent will find it ticks all the boxes.
In fact, one of my colleagues has nicknamed the Flying Diamond 6 his “Outdoor Palace”.
Needless to say whose garage it ended up in – just until I get it back.
So stick with me here as we dig deeper into the details of our review.
Value for Money
Let’s start with the main features of this tent.
It offers two rooms with sufficient space for six people along with all the gear.
What else?
There are two large doors with storm flaps, 6 fly vents, and 16 large interior mesh pockets.
Value For Money Rating
Seriously, the amount of storage space in the Flying Diamond 6 is incredible.
But hold on, there’s more.
The tent body and floor is a combination of polyester rip-stop and straight polyester fabric.
With the right amount of care it’ll last for years.
What else?
The weather fly can be used as a shaded area to sit back and enjoy the Great Outdoors.
A great option when the kids want to play outside.
However, there are no poles supplied to support the canopy (why Big Agnes?).
We used our own trekking poles to hold it up – or just rolled it back.
Lastly, the carry bag is one of the best designs we’ve seen – with multiple compartments for each item.
Maybe you’re thinking about the price.
Well, as we’ve said, it is one of the more expensive tents we’ve reviewed.
…but if you need a superb family tent, and you’re willing to invest a few more bucks to get one that’ll last, then the Flying Diamond 6 does indeed offer superb value.
Ease of Set-Up
Let’s get straight to the point.
The superb stability of the Big Agnes Flying Diamond 6 comes at the cost of a setup that not everyone will find easy to adjust to.
Ease of Set-Up Rating
Let me explain.
There are four poles with two intersection points for supporting the long body.
There are 2 other poles for the smaller room and the vestibule.
To make things easier, the poles do come with 3 different color codes.
The setup instructions aren’t hugely clear.
So if you’re handling a large tent like this for the first time, you might struggle a little.
Word of advice – always do a dry-run set-up in your backyard before you take your new Flying Diamond out on the trails.
We asked our team of teenagers to set it up and they found it a challenge – it took them 35 minutes between 4 of them.
At the same time, for experienced campers, the color-coding will be good enough to set up the Flying Diamond 6 without instructions.
Note – the fly is much easier to set up – it has coding on the webbing and buckles make set up easy.
But that’s not all.
The fly also has tensioners and guy lines for easy pitching.
The tabs that attach the fly with the poles are great quality and provide even more stability.
During our trek in Montana, our support team needed some guidance setting up.
But with just one run-through they mastered it.
Finally, though our Big Agnes Flying Diamond isn’t necessarily the easiest tent to set up, just give it a little time and you’ll have the better of it before you know it.
Comfort
If you’re looking to stretch out and unwind after a tough day adventuring outdoors, the Diamond 6 is a perfect choice.
To start with, there’s a separate space for your gear, the kids, or even the doggo.
Comfort Rating
Chances are that…
…the kids will love the cozy feel of this space.
Looking for privacy?
Good.
The main area can also be separated with a divider wall.
But remember to place the stakes around the smaller room to keep it in shape.
Designed for six people, the floor area of the tent is 92 square feet in total.
When it comes to ventilation, the large doors with mesh openings and the vents on the ceiling keep air flowing pretty well.
Given the large doors, entry and exit are never a problem, even when you’re carrying your gear.
Thanks to the tunnel-like profile, the air will flow from both ends.
In addition, the fly has six vents and the vestibule can be configured in multiple ways.
The result?
Even in heavy rains, the ventilation is good.
Still, you may find the lack of windows an issue if you’re in the tent for prolonged periods during the day.
The taller members of my team talked about how the ceiling could have been a bit higher.
On the plus side – with so many mesh pockets, all our clutter was kept at bay.
(Maybe that’s an idea for the office – hint hint!).
Overall, we loved using this tent and it scored top marks when it came to comfort.
Water Resistance
Here’s the deal.
We’ve always found Big Agnes tents offer excellent water resistance.
And not to be left out – the it will keep you dry even in the worst rainstorm.
Water Resistance Rating
But I’m jumping ahead.
Let’s start with the features.
The polyester fabric is 100 percent waterproof and the seams are reinforced with a solvent-free polyurethane tape to ensure no leakage.
We used it in the rain and slight snowfall during our Montana trip.
Our team of teenagers also used a hosepipe in the back yard to test the water resistance (that was a lot of fun – though the tent wasn’t the wettest thing in the end).
And thanks to the design features, the Big Agnes was bone dry inside.
Superb.
In addition, we also noted that the shorter profile makes the tent more resistant to high winds.
But hold on.
There’s more.
What about wet ground?
In fact, water ran around the tent during one particular rainy night.
But the raised vestibule entrance combined with the bathtub flooring meant the inside stayed dry.
Also, the storm flaps on all the zippers and the corner webbings gave us complete protection.
Lastly, engineering multiple vents in the rain fly is a great design touch.
To sum up, the Big Agnes is a safe, secure shelter for when the weather gets rough.
Workmanship
The workmanship of the Big Agnes is exceptional whichever way you look at it
To tell you the truth, the competition in this metric was tough.
But our tent outshone all the others as a top-class base camp tent.
Workmanship Rating
So what about the quality of the material?
Well, the DAC aluminum poles with press-fit connections guarantee strength and rigidity.
Consider this…
We spent a night in the tent with gale-force winds in the Bridger Range in Montana and the tent was rock-steady.
In addition, the 1500mm ripstop polyester makes all the tent parts extremely durable.
We tested the material through various scenarios (catching with cutlery, kids bikes) and noted it’ll withstand some pretty rough handling.
One thing we really liked is…
…the doors are double-layered to withstand rain better.
As for its weight, the tent is on the heavier side, so don’t expect it to carry it in your backpack.
But the good news is…
…The carry bag is really durable with multiple pockets for different components along with shoulder straps webbing and buckles make it a breeze to set up.
After using this tent we found it has one small issue…
…the zippers aren’t the best.
But when it comes to the overall workmanship we had to admit…
…it feels and functions like a top-quality tent is.
We were so delighted – we marked it as one of the top performers under this metric.
Conclusion: Big Agnes Flying Diamond 6
Let’s sum up the facts, shall we?
To start with, this is a tent for all 4 seasons and can be used just as well in a base camp or on a forest floor.
On top of that, the weather resistance of this tent is superb.
Why is that?
The use of superior-grade materials and excellent attention to detail.
Let’s not forget about the spacious interior and the two separate rooms that make this a great choice for families.
Want to bring a queen-size mattress or two inside?
Your Big Agnes has plenty of space for that too.
The overall stability of the tent is simply outstanding – very unusual in a tent of this size.
Moreover, the amount of mesh in the ceiling is perfect – giving great ventilation, at the same time as maintaining warmth on colder nights.
Admittedly, it’s an expensive tent, but for those looking for a large tent that’ll stand the test of time, and which can be used all year long – this tent offers superb value for money.
And we declare the Big Agnes Flying Diamond 6 is the undisputed King Of Its Class.
We’ve chosen our TopNotch Top Pick – over to you, is the Big Agnes going to be on your shopping list?
Other Versions:
Big Agnes Flying Diamond 8 2017
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