Eureka Solo Backcountry 1 Tent

Roomy and well ventilated, the Eureka Backcountry 1 provides a roomy area to sleep and store your gear as well as a good amount of headroom. It weighs just under 4 pounds, and stores away discreetly with its 6 by 15.5-inch pack size. It features a large side-opening door with twin track zippers and an offset door window for good ventilation as well as visibility. It also offers two large no-see-um mesh ends for even more ventilation. Its muted green colors also help the tent to blend into any wooded campsite.

This two-pole tent sets up quickly and easily, thanks to the 9mm DAC Press-fit 7000 series aluminum frame, clip attachments, and post and grommet corner attachments with locking end tips. The main fly and floor seams are factory taped for extreme weather protection, while the bathtub floor keeps seams taut and high off the ground for superior protection. Other features include two storage pockets, four gear loft loops, and one flashlight loop. It includes tent, pole, and stake bags.

Specifications:

• Area: 24 square feet
• Floor size: 8 feet by 3 feet
• Center height: 3 feet, 2 inches
• Wall fabrics: 1.9-ounce 70D nylon taffeta with 1200mm coating
• Floor fabrics: 1.9-ounce 70D nylon taffeta with 1200mm coating
• Fly fabrics: 1.9-ounce 75D Stormshield polyester with 1200mm coating
• Pack size: 6 by 15.5 inches
• Weight: 3 pounds, 14 ounces

About Eureka
Though the exact year is unknown, Eureka's long history begins prior to 1895 in Binghamton, New York, where the company still resides today. Then known as the Eureka Tent & Awning Company, its first wares were canvas products--most notably, Conestoga wagon covers and horse blankets for nineteenth century American frontiersmen--as well as American flags, store awnings, and camping tents.

The company increased production of its custom canvas products locally throughout the 1930s and during the 1940 and even fabricated and erected the IBM "tent cities" just outside Binghamton. The seven acres of tents housed thousands of IBM salesmen during the company's annual stockholders meeting, which had since outgrown its previous locale. In the 1940s, with the advent of World War II and the increased demand for hospital ward tents, Eureka expanded operations and began shipping tents worldwide. Ultimately, upon the post-war return of the GIs and the resultant housing shortage, Eureka turned its attention to the home front during the 1950s by supplying awnings for the multitude of mobile homes that were purchased.

In 1960, Eureka's new and innovative Draw-Tite tent, with its practical, free standing external frame, was used in a Himalayan Expedition to Nepal by world renowned Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person documented to summit Mt. Everest only six years earlier. In 1963, Eureka made history during its own Mt. Everest ascent, with more than 60 of its tents sheltering participants from fierce 60+ mph winds and temperatures reaching below -20°F during the first all American Mt. Everest Expedition.

For backpackers and families, Eureka introduced its legendary Timberline tent in the 1970s. Truly the first StormShield design, this completely self-supporting and lightweight backpacking tent became one of the most popular tents the entire industry with sales reaching over 1 million by its ten year anniversary.

Eureka tents have also traveled as part of several historic expeditions, including the American Women's Himalayan Expedition to Annapurna I in 1978 and the first Mt. Everest ascents by a Canadian and American woman in 1986 and 1988. In recent history, tents specially designed and donated by Eureka sheltered Eric Simonson and his team on two historic research expeditions to Mount Everest, this time in a quest for truth regarding the 1924 attempted summit of early English explorers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine. During the 1999 expedition, the team made history finding the remains of George Mallory, but the complete mystery remained unsolved. Returning in 2001 to search for more clues, the team found amazing historical artifacts which are now on display at the Smithsonian.

Amazon.com Tent Guide
Selecting a Tent
Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Expect the Worst
In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.

Three- and Four-Season Tents
For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.

For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.

Domes and Tunnels
Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.

Size Matters
Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.

Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.

Customer Review: Month and a half and no complaints
Buddy and I went out to Yellowstone and Glacier area for about 1 1/2 and stayed exclusively in Eureka's Solo Backcountry 1 tent. Everything from hard rain to bright sunny days. Not a single complaint. Sets up easily. Packs small. Well vented (occational slight condensation on inside, but no more than other tents I've owned). I didn't get sick of being inside it. I'm 5'10" and didn't have my feet pressed up against one end while having my head pressed up against the other. I had about 6 extra inches of comfort. People over 6' might not be as comfortable, it's an individual thing.
Customer Review: Better than expected
Took a risk buying this tent on my way to my last backcountry hiking weekend on August 17-19, 2007. It set up quickly with no struggle. I found that if I removed the poles from the stuff sack and packed them vertically I could gain even more space. This tent packs & compresses small. I love it. Ventilation is awesome even with the rain fly. I did get rained on but stayed perfectly dry and NO condensation. There's also lots of room and I'm 6'4" @ 235 lbs, easy to move around, sit up, get in & out. I kept my day pack at the side of my feet IN THE TENT and was not cramped. Temperature dropped at night so I had to put on some extra clothing - plenty of room to shuffle about. I researched 1person tents for a while and I'm thriled that I decided on this one.

There are different camping equipment available for camping in different weather conditions. You should be prepared with the right camping equipment, especially in UK as the weather here is very unpredictable. If you go for a camping trip in the last few weeks of summer, you must ensure that you carry all the essential equipment to ward off the cold. The best course of action is to prepare a list of all the items you think you are going to need on your camping trip.

In order to make sure that your tent can protect you from all the vagaries of nature, you must ensure that the material it is made from is completely waterproof. Think of the repercussions if your tent cannot stand its own against heavy rain at night and you and all your supplies are left dripping wet. Also, layering your clothes is the best idea during camping trips. That way, you will be prepared if the weather is cold, especially at night. And in case you feel hot during the day, you always have the option of taking off some layers of your clothes. September in UK signifies the end of summer and so this is the time when the weather is at its most unpredictable.

So you should also carry some extra bedding, as the evening time is cool during this time. A good sleeping bag is an investment that you would thank your stars that you made when you are camping. A sleeping bag with a hood is the most ideal. Also, placing an inexpensive thing as a sleeping pad under the sleeping bag helps keep the bag warm and dry.

When you pitch your tent, it is a wise idea to make sure that it is away from the direction of the wind. This will protect you from the direct onslaught of cold winds, especially during the cold nights. An extra blanket will also prove to be a boon in such situations. In case you are still feeling cold, you can add some more layers of clothing. If the cold has made you sleepless, a nice hot drink would soothe you enough to make you settle down. A hot water bottle is also something you might appreciate at this time so make sure you pen it down on your list of camping gear. Considering the fact that the weather in the UK countryside is at times merciless, you need to be fully prepared before embarking on your camping trip.

You can find a wooly hat as well as socks at many camping store in UK. Make sure you carry these with you as when you feel warmer when your extremities are covered and warm. During the day, even in case the chill creeps in, you would be engaged in the activities of the camp to pay attention to it. So stay warm and enjoy the day.

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