Big Agnes Onyx UL

The Onyx UL is a minimalist flat rectangular tarp built from silnylon, designed to be pitched with trekking poles rather than dedicated tent poles. At 283 g trail weight it covers 6.7 m² of ground, and 24 attachment points around the perimeter and ridgeline mean it can be configured in a wide range of shapes — A-frame, lean-to, half-pyramid — depending on terrain and weather direction. The fabric carries a 1200 mm silicone/PU coating, enough to shed steady light-to-moderate rain but on the lighter end of waterproofing compared to dedicated four-season shelters; in sustained heavy rain it needs careful pitching and guying to keep water out. A 2.59 m ridgeline gives enough length for one or two people lying head to toe in the widest configuration. This is gear for hikers who already understand tarp camping and want to shave weight off a shelter system, not a first tent. It rewards practice with guylines and site selection, and suits three-season backpacking and thru-hiking where low pack weight matters more than headroom or bug protection.