Eureka! Tent Experiences?

[Bongo Boy]

Have you seen or experienced the Eureka Assault Outfitter tents, and if so would you please comment on the overall quality of construction? This tent seems to be one of the few I've found that comes close to being what I think I want--the Assault Outfitter 4 is the name. It looks to be hard-to-find.

I wanted a 3 or 4 season tent that combines heavy-duty construction with good summer ventilation. I'm fussy about a rectangular floor plan, and with room for 2 plus gear. This puts me well in to the 3-4 person tent range. At a minimum, the tent should be 7'6" in the heel-to-toe direction, and about 6' wide.

REI offers a couple that come close, but my local store doesn't have either set up for viewing. One would be the Base Camp 4 (100" x 86"), and the other is the Sierra Designs 'Alpha' 3-person (94" x 63"). The Alpha is not strictly rectangular in plan, but it's close, and more reasonable is size.

Your experiences with any of these 3 tents would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[chet]

We have had a timberline 4 for years. the quality of construction is outstanding. never a ripped zipper or broken pole. I would have no problems buying another Eureka tent.

 

[Christophe Noel]

For several years I was a field tester for Mountain Hardware tents so I tend to lean that direction. To answer your question, I would say we need more information about how you're going to use this tee-pee. If you plan to backpack, forget the Eureka entirely. I would also question your need for a 3-4 person tent if it's only 2 peeps backpacking this thing. If this is a non-backpack endeavor, then by all means, go big!

I'm not wild about Eureka tents. Never have been. Of the three you list, I would lean towards the Sierra Designs tents. Convertibles are heavy (too heavy) for backpacking but they do make for virsitile tents. With regard to venting, I'm not a fan of shallow tent pole sleeves. They really stimey air flow between the fly and tent body. Clips are not just facilitate a quick pitch, they help air move under the fly.

One of my all time favorites is the Mountain Hardware Trango series. In 1997 we had a Trango 2 Assualt pitched at 13000ft in 50mph winds and she was a fortress. Double doors make for nice venting in warmer months.

 

[Bongo Boy]

Thanks for the feedback. Yup, I totally forgot to mention how we'd use the tent. Not looking for a backpacker...I don't care too much about the weight, and in fact am using weight (more of it) as one of the selection criteria (in comparing two tents of about the same size, for example). Rapid setup is also not much of concern. As for room requirements, we are probably weird, to say to the least, when it comes to setting up the tent. I use one of those 5" thick inflatable air matresses that is listed as 'queen' sized, and even that is 2 ft too narrow and a foot too short for my taste. I use old-school rectangular sleeping bags, all of them opened and used as blankets. So...there is almost no chance of having too much room. Did I mention 'weird'?

I wouldn't have thought to look at the pole sleeves as they relate to ventilation...not having thought too much about how a tent works. So, thanks for that. I also shouldn't make too much of ventilation, I guess. We are most likely to camp at 9,000 ft or above, and I don't recall ever being too warm at night even with our 3-man sealed-up pretty well.

The ideal, eventual deployment would be very much like a roof-top-tent, but with the support platform being only about 18" off the ground, levelable and foldable. I don't see that concept happening any time soon--engineering challenges and project backlog, etc.

 

[BigAl]

One of my all time favorites is the Mountain Hardware Trango series. In 1997 we had a Trango 2 Assualt pitched at 13000ft in 50mph winds and she was a fortress. Double doors make for nice venting in warmer months.

I have a MH tent of that era, I think mine was made by Easton for MH at that time. I still drag it out when I know the weather will be bad. For roomy camping in fair weather, I love my Coleman 2 pole dome tent. Big and easy. I can't picture a high quality 3-4 season tent that would be comfortable with a queen size blow up matress. I'd look for something at least 9x9.

 

[Christophe Noel]

I also shouldn't make too much of ventilation, I guess. We are most likely to camp at 9,000 ft or above, and I don't recall ever being too warm at night even with our 3-man sealed-up pretty well.

Venting is not entirely about warmth. A tent with bad air circulation gets stuffy, clammy and downright wet inside. That's a drag when the morning rolls around and you want to get moving but have to stall your departure as your fly dries out in the morning sun.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Venting is not entirely about warmth. A tent with bad air circulation gets stuffy, clammy and downright wet inside. That's a drag when the morning rolls around and you want to get moving but have to stall your departure as your fly dries out in the morning sun.

The whole point of bothering with a tent is to keep everything dry and it plain old stinks when your down is wet because of condensation. Ventilation is important year round and in all climates.

BTW, I have a Eureka backpacking tent (I wanna say the Cirrus 2, it looks like a TNF Tadpole 23). I got it in about 1993 or so and it has served me well for several years. When I started going backpacking with my eventual wife around 1996, it was snug but still worked OK. Added the dog to the mix and it was too small, so we replaced it in about 2002 with a bigger TNF Talus that's our current 3 season. Anyway, I still pull the Eureka out for solo stuff and it's been a solid friend for a long time. The Colorado UV is probably going to be the end of it, but other than periodic seam seals, it's a good tent. What about Eureka tents don't you like Flounder?

 

[Icewalker]

I have the K2-Xt 4+ season Eureka tent - so far no complaints. It's been bomb proof and apart from going up to the Canadian Arctic with me has also served time out on Thunderstorm Junction in the white Mountains in Jan, Feb when there is usually more than a few feet of the white stuff on the ground

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

The Eureka timberlines are the tent of choice for camps and boyscouts & such. Not sure if I could say the same about the rest of their lineups, they are bulky and heavy but are bomber. I spent many many many a night in a timberline... I just finally tossed one that was ex-something that was a good 10 years old at least and still truckin strong

 

[asteffes]

The Eureka timberlines are the tent of choice for camps and boyscouts & such. Not sure if I could say the same about the rest of their lineups, they are bulky and heavy but are bomber. I spent many many many a night in a timberline... I just finally tossed one that was ex-something that was a good 10 years old at least and still truckin strong

One reason for that is the discount on Eureka tents in the various BSA catalogs. Also, an errant pocketknife will slice through a $500 TNF or MH tent just as easily as a $100 Eureka. Scouts, at least the ones from my old troop, are not easy on tents.

 

[Howard70]

I used various Eureka Timberline tents on the equator in the Galapagos for many years in the late 70's, 80's and early 90's. I think the heavy duty model was called the Outfitter Timberline? It had UV resistant material, stronger zippers, and better construction than the "regular" Timberline tents.

They held up well and could really handle the intense sun and UV - conditions which destroyed most nylon tents in three months or so (the record was a cheap dome tent that turned to tatters and dust in three weeks). However they were hot. The two man model was simply too hot, the four man slightly better (great height allowed for more airflow). The best and most comfortable in tropical conditions was the 6 man model. Lots of space for gear, sleeping, and even a small "office" corner. They opened on both ends and if you pitched them with the doors facing the wind you could get fantastic cross ventilation and even be in the tent during the day.

They were heavy and not a backpacking tent. We tended to use them for coastal base camps.

I don't know if these heavy duty models are still available or not. Perhaps the "Assault" line is the same idea?

A tent that I currently use and am extremely happy with is an Armadillo Ocotillo. This is a 4 man tent with good capability in high winds and nearly vertical sides - tremendously usable floor space. Armadillo made a six man version called the Bojum, but MSR bought out Armadillo before I could get one. Unfortunately MSR discontinued these tents in the Armadillo line once they bought the company.

Howard L. Snell

 

[Christophe Noel]

What about Eureka tents don't you like Flounder?

For years, Eureka tents were just behind the times in terms of desgin and the quality wasn't always top shelf. They had a run of years using pretty sub par materials. Then again, the Ford Explorer isn't by any means a Defender 110, but plenty of people love those too. The tent market is super competitive and I think better tents exist.

 

[DaveInDenver]

For years, Eureka tents were just behind the times in terms of desgin and the quality wasn't always top shelf.

The tent market is super competitive and I think better tents exist.

You got that right. I never thought of Eureka as a market driver. The one I have was a pretty blatant copy of the Sierra Designs of the era. Quality-wise this is the only Eureka I've ever owned and it's held up, but exceptions always exist and I might just be a lucky one. I still do think that Eureka has a place, that middle ground above the real cheap-o Mal-wart stuff and true quality pieces.

 

[Christophe Noel]

I still do think that Eureka has a place, that middle ground above the real cheap-o Mal-wart stuff and true quality pieces.

Yep. True. Like all things, top shelf isn't necessary for everyone's needs. You can be rockin' the XTR bike and get blown away by some dude on a 5 year old Rockhopper with simple old Deore.

 

[spressomon]

We bought a new Eureka Titan as a shelter for eating, relaxing when the weather was a factor. Used it twice...once at SnT '06...and it held up great the one day we had HUGE wind off the ocean. I was impressed...considering my background is NF VE25, Bibler, etc. mountaineering type tents...