Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This COULD be an excellent ultralight tent. The tent's strong points are it very light weight ( a previous reviewer stated 2 lbs 13 ounces but that would be the Spitfire, I believe, not the Spitfire UL), it's interior room which is outstanding given the tent's weight, and it's very small packed size ( with a compression stuff sack which it doesn't come with, but should). The downsides to this tent unfortunately outweigh the upsides. It is nearly impossible to get a good, tight, pitch. This causes two problems. One a simple annoyance, the other a showstopper. The first and only night I used this tent in the Trinity Alps Wilderness in northern California I was kept awake most of the night by the noise made by the fly flapping in only a light breeze. No matter how I tried I simply could not get the tent staked down tight enough to stop this. When I woke up the following morning the fly was torn at the foot end. The design concept (A single hoop with 2 "struts" at the foot end)is an excellent weight saving idea, but due to the inabilty to get a tight pitch the fly tends to rub on the struts causing the tearing. But for that deficiency this would be a great tent. To make the best of it I plan to add some reinforcement fabric to the fly at the area of the aforementioned struts at the foot of the fly. I would like to recommend the tent but cannot due to this design flaw. If Eureka would fix this problem this would be a near perfect fair weather, ultralight solo tent.
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Product Description:
Perfect for packing out on your own, the ultra-light, silicone-treated Eureka Spitfire UL weighs just over two pounds. It's made from a silicone-treated nylon fabric, which provides quick-drying water protection that meets CPAI-84 F/R requirements. It also has more headroom than most tents in its class, making it very easy and comfortable to sit up in. This one-pole tent sets up quickly, thanks to a durable 8.84 mm DAC Featherlite aluminum frame, clips, and post and grommet corner attachments. It's also extremely well ventilated with large mesh panels--great for stargazing during summer trips.
It has a large side door that makes it easy to get in and out of the tent. The bathtub floor keeps seams taut and high off the ground for superior protection. The full coverage fly features a poke-out vent that's closable and accessible from inside the tent. Side release buckles attach the fly to body for fast easy set up. This tent also features two interior storage pockets.
Specifications:
Area: 18 square feet
Floor size: 8 feet, 9 inches by 3 feet, 5 inches by 2 feet, 2.5 inches
Center height: 3 feet, 4 inches
Wall fabrics: 30D polyester ripstop, silicone treated, 1500mm coated
Floor fabrics: 30D nylon ripstop, silicone treated, 1500mm coated
Fly fabrics: 30D polyester ripstop, silicone treated, 1500mm coated
Pack size: 3 by 4 inches
Weight: 2 pounds, 4 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.
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