Zippers are loud, especially when your over-hydrated buddy is constantly getting up to pee in the middle of the night. And when they break, come off track, or otherwise get fouled up, they can be difficult to fix. For all these reasons, Big Agnes decided to replace all the zippers on their Fishhook SL 2 with ... magnets. Fifteen individual magnets line the door and the vestibules are lined with magnets as well. It’s a cool idea, and doesn’t seem to affect the overall weight of the tent: the 37-square-foot Fishook weighs in at a very respectable 3 pounds 10 ounces. Big Agnes claims that their magnets are much easier to field repair—and seal up tightly enough to keep winds and no-see-ums and everything else on the outside. We shall see, as we look forward to field testing it later this fall.
Photo: Courtsey Agnes
