Eureka Tetragon 5 Product Review

The Eureka Tetragon 5 two-person tent provides all the shelter you need for a trip to the back country. Designed using Eureka’s patent pending StormShield technology–which combines moisture-repelling materials with a tough, reinforced construction that resists wear and tear.  This tent will keep you warm and dry for spring, summer, and fall camping.  The tent features 35 square feet of sleeping space, with a twin-track, brim-covered side-opening door, a brimmed rear window, and a pair of vents.  As a result, you’ll enjoy extra sun and rain protection and plenty of ventilation during inclement weather.  The tent’s Tetragon bathtub floor will protects you and your gear against splashing rain, a must during downpours. Best of all for serious hikers, the tent sets up quickly and easily, with a durable shock-corded fiberglass frame, ring-and-pin attachments, and color-coded webbing.

Eureka introduced its legendary Timberline tent in the 1970s, targeting it to backpackers and families. The first to employ the StormShield design, the lightweight, self-supporting backpacking tent became one of the most popular tents in the industry, with sales reaching over 1 million by its 10-year anniversary.  Eureka has continually marketed high quality camping gear, including tents for the camping enthusiast, novice and experienced.   The Eureka tent I will be reviewing is the Eureka Tetragon 5.  I found this to be one of the most popular 2 Person tents among campers on Amazon.

Eureka Tetragon 5 Tent Features:

• Center height 4 feet.  Very good for backpacking tent.
• 5 pound 13 oz packing weight.  Also very good for backpacking.
• StormShield Technology polyester material.  Will keep you from getting wet.
• Easy set up and tear down.
• Hanging gear loft.  another option for storing your gear other than on the floor.
• Storage pockets and mesh panels provide options in keeping items separate.  Also, prevents items from getting lost.

Eureka has proven to come up with quality tents every year at a reasonable price.   I have read many reviews from experienced campers and only kudos are expressed.  This tent is meant for all campers, novice and experienced.   It’s easy to put up and take down; It stands well against wind and rain.  This tent will not fail you unless you put it together wrong.

Among the 2 person tents that I have reviewed, this tent is one of the best I’ve come across.  The price is reasonable.  It’s durable and will protect you from the elements.  It’s light for backpacking.  If you’re an experienced camper or backpacker or a weekend camper, the Eureka Tetragon 5 is the tent for you.

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Comments.

I have had this tent for at least 5 years and it just keeps on trucking. It is tough and after you seal it it is very waterproof. Anyone who doesn’t waterproof their tents are asking to get soaked. I would recommend this to anyone wanting a good cheaper backpack tent.

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Since I purchased this tent, I’ve used it three times and have thoroughly enjoyed it each time. The first time I used it was a solo camping trip, and it was very easy to set up. The second time my friend and I (one average and one petite female) fit snuggly into it with no problems. I would not recommend it for a large man camping with a companion. On my second trip, it rained all night, and the tent kept us dry (with no additional weather-proofing). I love the inside pockets for organizing your things. The color is wonderful; it’s a nice compliment to natural scenery. Most tents are flamboyant, unnatural colors. It’s lightweight, and easy to take down and pack up. I have no complaints for this tent!

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I’m very pleased with this tent and at this price this is what you’re going to get. It’s not the most waterproof but you can add sealant to it which, unless you’re buying in the $150 and up range, you’ll have to do anyway. My hubby is tall so, there’s’ nice room for him plus we can keep our packs inside. All good tents have a lip to climb over and the lip ensures keeping you dryer. Again, for the price, it’s lightweight and is easy to put up and tear down. I think it’s a really good buy if you want to do some back packing but aren’t going up to 9,000 feet in fall cooler-wetter conditions. It’s a perfect tent for summertime weekend fun. We love it!

The Eureka Tetragon 5 is an awesome tent and worth your consideration.

Kelty tents are probably the most visible tents in your local sporting goods stores.  Kelty spends a lot of research on making strong and dependable tents for the casual camper at a reasonable price.   It’s probably the most common tent manufacturer next to Coleman.  One of Kelty’s most popular tent is the Grand Mesa.  Grand Mesa comes in different sizes.  2 person, 4 person and 6 person tents.  I will review the Kelty Grand Mesa 6 Person Tent.   I think it’s one of the best in it’s class.  Let’s take a closer look at it.

This freestanding tent sleeps up to six campers, offers three-season usage, and includes a single vestibule for storage. It also includes large mesh windows for optimal ventilation, full coverage, UV resistant polyester rain fly, and color-coded poles for quick-and-easy setup. Weighing only 13 pounds, 2 ounces, the six-person Grand Mesa has a 99 square foot floor area and a 29 square foot vestibule.

The aluminum DAC Press Fit poles offer more strength for improved durability and a more wind-resistant pitch. They use a color-coded clip construction that eliminates the hassle of feeding poles through cumbersome tent sleeves–just slide the shock-corded pole sections together and attach the clips. The tent also offers post and grommet type assembly with locking pole tips for convenience and security. The bathtub floor offers wrap-up sides for extreme weather protection, and the main fly and floor seams are factory taped for extreme weather protection. Other features include a single flashlight loop, mesh interior pockets for gear storage, external guy points for added stability in windy conditions, and noiseless zipper pulls.

Pros:

• Easy Set Up and Take Down.  The use of clips instead of feeding the poles through tent sleeves definitely make it easier to put together.
• Light and Durable Tent for Backpacking.   Only over 13 pounds packing weight makes it a great for backpacking for 4.
• Some reviews have stated that the tent held up well in wind and rain.  With aluminum poles, it should be durable for strong winds, better than fiberglass.

Cons:

• Some reviews have stated that it doesn’t keep in the heat on cold nights.  Probably best when used in the Spring and Summer.
• Packing it back into the bag may take some effort.

This tent is suited for both family car camping and backpacking trips.  From what I can gather from reviews, it serves best in fair weather camping trips.  Meaning, nights under 45 degrees and excessive winter storms might be a problem.  It is a very airy tent making ventilation very good for warm weather.   This tent is geared towards the casual camper;  not the advanced hardcore explorer.   But if you’re reading this, you probably already knew this.   It’s a great tent for 4 people, whether it’s 4 friends on a camping trip or a 4 members of a family.  Here’s a link to the tent on Amazon. com.   I’m sure you’ll be happy with this tent after you purchase it.  Good luck!  Following the link are some excerpts of reviews on Amazon.com  Condensed the number of reviews for this website.

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I bought this tent to go family camping with my wife (we have dogs, so we needed a slightly bigger tent). I took the tent on RAGBRAI, a 7 day bike ride across the state of Iowa. I actually used the tent 8 times: we had violent thunder storms on four nights. The tent was stable and waterproof. It is a snap to set up and take down and it packs up easily in the included bag. Best of all, when you have a bit of sunlight, the tent dries out in minutes. I am 6 feet tall, so I also enjoy being able to stand up fully inside.
Two things to note:

1. a lot of the stability comes from making sure that the rain fly is staked out and is tight. In a trial campout before RAGBRAI, I didn’t have it staked out tight and it wasn’t as stable in a storm that came through.
2. the included stakes are really bad. I bought some MSR Groundhog stakes and they worked very well.

I love this tent.

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I’ve picked this tent to have a very roomy tent for camping with simple layout. I don’t like the heavy and squishy fiberglass poles. The poles here are made of thick aluminum and hold the tent nicely. The tent can be set up fairly quickly, even by one person (5’10″). The rubber bands in the poles lost their strength after about a year of use, even though I was careful to dry everything after each trip. This should be easily fixed though. The quality of the cloth is marginal (thin, cheap) and it has too much mesh on the inner tent for our taste. There is always some draft even in low wind, as it is not possible to close the outer tent well. We used the tent a lot for winter camping in Arizona and New Mexico. The tent warms up well in the sun, but it gets very cold at night. We tried heating it (heater, stove, light), but while the other el cheapo tent it replaced or my winter mountaineering tent would feel like a sauna, heating is hardly noticeable in this tent. The warm air goes straight out through the mesh and 3 vents that can’t be closed. It basically feels a lot like a big tarp.

For summer use good, but for California coastal fog or fall/winter use go somewhere else.

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My wife an I used this tent for a week trip in Maine. It rained for two nights and we were completely dry! We did a lot of research and wanted to make sure that we could obtain a high quality tent camping tent for a good price. Features that I like: full coverage rain fly for great storm protection, strong aluminum poles, coated nylon floor, gusseted seams and good ventilation from the vents on the rain fly. Excellent construction! We’re so pleased!

Coleman has come with some great tents called with the brand name Sundome. At the time of this writing, there were 14 Sundome tents on sale in sizes range from a 2 person tent to a tent that sleeps 6. Price-wise, they range from $57 to $149. They have a great look with great colors.  In this review, I am looking at the Coleman Sundome 6 Person Tent.

Coleman’s Two-Room SunDome Six-Person Tent is roomy enough for the whole family to enjoy, but allows some features to include a little privacy. This 12-feet by 10-feet two-room tent can sleep up to six people at a time in complete comfort. The Coleman exclusive Weather-Tec system is guaranteed to keep you dry and includes: a waterproof floor, leak-free and protected seams, weather resistant fabric, a strong frame design, and the zipper guard system. With 72-inches of vertical space in the center there is plenty of head room, and the two large doors make entering and exiting an easy affair. The zippered privacy wall is removable in case you want to convert your tent in to one big space.

This tent includes a rainfly that covers the doors and windows for protection from the elements, as well as separate storage bags for the tent-poles and stakes and easy-to-follow set up instructions sewn into the carry bag. Features include a mesh vent to keep your tent fresh, heavy-duty welcome mats, and Cool-Air ports to further adjust ventilation or access your gear. Shock-corded steel poles will keep this tent a sturdy haven from the weather for years to come.

Features:

• 12 x 10 feet of interior space that can be partition into 2 rooms
• Sleeps six
• Center height: 72 inches
• Mesh vent for increased ventilation
• Rainfly covers door and windows
• Shock-corded poles for easy and quick setup
• Access gear or adjust ventilation with Cool-Air port
• Heavy-duty welcome mat, privacy windows, pole sleeves, pin and ring, and insta-clip hooks
• Easy-to-follow instructions sewn into carry bag
• Separate storage bags for tents, poles and stakes
• Two doors
• Zippered privacy wall
• 5 Year Manufacturers Warranty

Pros:

• Easy to set up and take down because of the colored shock-corded poles.
• Good ventilation through out the tent.  Good in warm weather.
• Can sleep 6 comfortably, unlike some tents that are advertised as a 6 person tent.  This really is a 6 person tent.  If you need more room, 4-5 will fit very comfortably.
• Two Hinged Doors.  Love Hinged Doors.
• Partition wall in the middle.  Can be used for privacy or just separating your sleeping quarters from your camping stuff.
• Center height is 7 feet high.  Plenty of room to stand towards the middle.

Cons:

• Ventilation ports can be a problem in cold weather.  No cover to prevent cold air from coming in.
• Have read complaints about some leakage from rain storms.  I would apply a sealant to the seams before you use it.  Wet tents put a drag on a camping trip.

If you’re a family of 4-5 that does casual camping maybe once or twice a year looking for a nice family tent to go on a car camping trip in the Spring or Summer,  this is the tent for you.  It is reasonably priced and you can’t beat the quality of Coleman tents.

Edited Amazon Published Reviews (Complete List on Amazon.com) :

We found the screens to be an advantage. The tent is very well ventilated. The dome cover kept out rain and night dew but the tent did not get steamy or stuffy when full of sleeping campers. We found the screen on top to be an adavantage, because of privacy we don’t and I don’t know of anyone that sleeps with the tent windows open at night. This did well in the rain no wet spots. Coleman has a floor that wraps up several inches to meet the tent fabric. Huge advantage! We have never had a water problem with any Coleman tent made in this fashion.

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My family went camping in Yosemite and bought this tent there when we found the poles for our 4 man tent were left behind. This is a much better price here at Amazon. We had rain off and on for 2 days and never had any leaks. On the third night the hard rain turned to snow. The tent was surrounded with 3 inches of snow, and still we were dry inside. A large amount of snow fell from a tree above us and caved the top of the tent in, but we were able to knock off the snow from inside and pop the top back up. I have to say I’m very pleased with this tent. Granted, there wasn’t any wind which could have changed things but it held up to hard rain and an unexpected snow. We didn’t have to scoop up my 3 year old and run to the car for cover. My only complaint is that the top of the tent is made up of large screens with no way to zip them shut. It’s rated as a 3 season tent, but spring and fall can be cold and being able to cover the screens with more than just the weather cover would have helped in retaining our body heat to warm the tent.

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The first night out in this tent there was a huge thunderstorm. I thought for sure water would come in or the stakes would come up as the tent rocked but neither did. I even had a dream that night that our sleeping bags got wet but when we woke up everything was dry. We still had pretty good ventilation even with the rain fly on. The tent took less than 10 minutes to put up/take down with two people and can be done alone in 15 min. The only thing I question about this tent is the ability to sleep 6. Six children, maybe. We had 2 adults and one 7 year old and our duffel bags with the clothes we needed for 2 days in there and I dont think we could have comfortably slept more than 4 total. This doesn’t bother me since I bought the bigger size to have extra space, not to sleep 6 but it could be important to another buyer. Having been in leaky tents before I am so glad I purchased this one. I definitely recommend it.

Coleman has come with some great tents called with the brand name Sundome. At the time of this writing, there were 14 Sundome tents on sale in sizes range from a 2 person tent to a tent that sleeps 6. Price-wise, they range from $57 to $149. They have a great look with great colors.  In this review, I am looking at the Coleman Sundome 7 feet by 7 feet 3 Person Tent.  It is one of the more popular Sundome tents and I’ll tell you why.

The Sundome 3 Tent is great for small-family car campers and small groups, the Coleman Sundome 3 Tent sleeps two people comfortably. It measures 7′x7′, with a 4’4″ center height. The Sundome 3 Tent features a new Ground Vent for improved airflow; a privacy vent window offers more ventilation; and you can control airflow with Coleman’s VariFlow adjustable ventilation. A convenient electrical-access port lets you run a cord from your device in the tent to a power supply outside. An interior gear pocket helps keep your things organized. Setting up this 2-pole dome tent is a breeze — it sets up in 10 minutes or less, thanks to color-coded poles and sleeves, shock-corded poles, continuous pole sleeves, pin-and-ring design and InstaClip attachments. Easy-to-follow set-up instructions are sewn right into the carry bag, so you’ll always have them handy. The frame is strong and wind-resistant, with 8.5mm fiberglass poles; the tent fabric is 68D polyester mesh and 75D polyester taffeta inside, with a 75D polyester taffeta flysheet. The durable carry bag includes separate storage sacks for tent, poles and stakes. Limited 1-year warranty.

Pros:

• Easy Setup and Take Down.
• Adjustable Ventilation through Coleman’s VariFlow patent pending design.
• Coleman’s WeatherTec patent pending design helps you keep dry and comfortable during rain and wind.
• Tent packs nicely into carrying bag.

Cons:

• Some reviews I’ve read on this tent stated that there was some leakage during rainstorms.  I recommend applying a seam sealant on the tent before taking it out camping as a precaution.  You should actually do this to all tents you buy regardless of the quality and price.
• Slightly heavier than other 3 person tents.  Probably not the best tent for backpacking.
• May not be suitable for temperatures lower than 45 degrees.

This tent in my opinion is suited for the casual camper.  Based on the price and quality, this is a dependable tent that can be used over and over again in environments that is conducive to family camping.  If you are looking for a dependable 3 person tent (2 adults) for your next family tent camping trip, this is the one for you.

I’m giving this tent 5 stars because I’ve had no issues and the price is great. The tent sets up in less than five minutes, super easy even for just one person. Along the same lines, the tent also comes down quickly and is easy to repack in the bag. The bag has the instructions sewn on, which is great. The tent is spacious. While it’s recommended as a three person, four average size adults could fit if needed. But for two, very roomy as well as for three. I’ve used this twice when it’s rained and I’ve had no problems with leakage. Really, for the price, this is a great tent.

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June 21, 2011
Danielle (Chicago, IL)

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June 5, 2011
Alexa Anderson

Thinking about buying a tent for your next camping trip. There are a lot of things to consider. Don’t just buy a tent just because it’s cheap or has a famous brand name. Let’s discuss what you should think about.

• Size.   How many people will sleep in this tent.  The general rule when choosing the correct size tent is to add 2 people to the advertised tent size.  For example, a 4 person tent will generally accommodate two adult sized people comfortably.  Besides a place to set your sleeping bag and pad, you’ll need some room to store gear and other miscellaneous stuff.
• Price.  Tents based on size can range from $30 to $1,000.  The majority of them are between $70 and $200 depending on the size.  Think about how often you will go camping.  Once a year; once every 5 years; once in a lifetime?   It would be a shame to purchase an expensive tent, not like camping and not use it again.  In that case, once in a lifetime.   I wouldn’t necessarily get the cheapest tent on the market either if you’re not sure you’ll like camping because it could make your experience ever worse so that you’re almost guaranteed not to go again.  An inexpensive tent might have some design flaws that could allow rain to collect into the tent.   One of the experiences you don’t want on a camping trip is a wet sleeping bag.    Experienced or not,  my choice is to pick a good brand, nice features, right size in a reasonable price range and hopefully, on sale.
• Brand.  The most popular brands on the market, is Coleman, Kelty, Eureka and North Face.  All have very excellent tents but you’ll have to make sure it has the features you want.  Some brands might have as many as 20 tents on the market for sale.  I would definitely lean towards one of the more well-known brands rather than an unknown brand or a brand just starting out in the tent market.
• Multi-Room Tents.  If you’re looking for a family dome tent, you might consider at least a 2 room tent.  This feature will give some some privacy amongst family members.  It also allows for a separate room for storing your gear.
• Weight.  Unless you’re backpacking, weight shouldn’t be an important factor in what tent you’re buying.   When you’re car camping, weight is only a factor when transporting the tent from your car to your campsite.  For backpackers, this is probably one of the most important factors in what tent to buy.
• Other Considerations.
  • Floor is in one piece.   Tents should have no seams or divisions.  You don’t want rain to seap into your tent from the floor.
  • Tent should have a roof vent.  During the day, it can get pretty hot in the tent.  You need hot air to escape through the roof.

Ok, you’re reading this article because you’re wondering are all Coleman dome tents good.  Is a camping product with the name “Coleman” on it always dependable?  It is well known to be one of the most famous and successful camping equipment manufacturers today.  The Coleman company started in 1909, over 100 years ago making Coleman lamps and lanterns.  Then expanding their product list to stoves, insulated food and beverage containers, sleeping bags, backpacks, tents, outdoor folding furniture, among other recreational accessories.

I think it’s safe to say that Coleman company is highly respected in the industry and stands by their products on the market.  With that said, should you go out and buy any Coleman product without comparing it to other like products.   Definitely not.   Every product is different and tents have many features.  Depending on the type of features you are looking for, Coleman may or may not be the best for you.   Brand name is an important factor in what products you should buy.  Coleman products ranks very high among other camping equipment manufacturers.   I would recommend that you consider Coleman dome tents for your next purchase.

Coleman has a patent pending on a family tent feature called Hinged Tent Door. It a door that swings open and closed on a hinged pole. Acts just like a door on your house. Read my article about them. I think they are really great. I’m sure you’ll like it too.

Review on the Coleman Sundome 3 Tent.

A picture is worth a thousand words…  This is what I’m talking about.  As you can see, this tent has an actual door, not a zip opening like most tents.   Hinged tent doors have a velcro type lock with an overlapping door flag if installed correctly, will swing open on a rigid pole frame support structure.  No need to unzip both the screen enclosure and actual tent opening to get in and out.  You can stand upright as you walk into the tent instead of crouching down to unzip the opening.  Because the time it takes to open and close the door, less bugs will get a chance to enter your dome tent.

From what I’ve read, Coleman has a patent pending on these hinged tent doors.  It was first introduced in 2007  with the Coleman Weathermaster Elite Tent.   Since then, Coleman has installed this hinged door on other family camping tents.

Just imagine going on a long hiking trip and your back is aching.  You don’t want to bend down and unzip the opening of your tent to go lie down.   All you have to do is, wipe your feet and open the door standing… the ceiling height of the tent will usually be high enough for you to stand inside the tent.   You don’t even have to bend over at all.

Here are some Coleman tents for sale with hinged tent doors.

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Here’s a YouTube video that shows you how it works.

Coleman Elite WeatherMaster 6 Tent

Family dome camping tents come in a variety of sizes. I’ve seen family size dome tents anywhere from 5-6 person tents to 8-9 person tents. I have even seen 12 person tents. Don’t know if I would consider purchasing that one. There are some campers that like to stay in a large family dome camping tent for the space. They pitch up an 8 person tent for a family of 4. All the comforts of home, I guess. Floor space can range from 10 x 10 feet to 18 x 18 feet.

When shopping for a family tent, look for tents with the best weather protection, full rain fly, a tub floor, sealed seams and good ventilation.

Some of the best family tents are Coleman, Eureka, Kelty, Paha Que’, REI, Columbia, Sierra Designs and The North Face.

In looking for a tent, what size tent are you looking for?

• Families (2 Adults, 2 Kids that are small) Consider a 6-person tent for optimum elbow room. This tent will suffice for many years. At least until the kids want a tent of their own. But if you’re family is still expanding, consider starting out with a larger tent.

• Families (2 Adults, 3 or more Kids) You will need a family tent with lots of space. You may want to consider a lodge style tent, which is a large square tent that you can stand up in, or you may need a multi-room tent, which would provide extra space and a little privacy. Look for the 6-8 people size tents.

Want my recommendation for a family tent (families up to 5 – 2 adults / 3 kids), check out my review of a family tent I fell in love with

Columbia makes a wide variety of products, mainly outdoor or recreational sportswear.  Too many to mention in this article.   Columbia Sportswear has been in business for more than 70 years dedicated to making great outdoor gear.  As far as camping gear or equipment, they have their stamp on sleeping bags, camping furniture, tents, and air mattresses.

History:  Chairman Gert Boyle’s parents who were German nationals fled Nazi Germany in 1938 purchased a small hat company upon their arrival in Portland and named it Columbia Hat Company, after the river that inspired their new home.   Soon after, her husband later took over.  In 1970, after he died, Gert took over the company, going from housewife to executive overnight.  Today, her son Tim Boyle is our longtime president and CEO.

If you’d like to read my review of a Columbia tent that I totally recommend, click here to link to it.  I consider it one of the best family tents on the market today.  Worth your consideration.

Kelty, based in Boulder Colorado started in 1952.  Their mission is to build affordable, reliable outdoor gear for the camping novice to the most experienced experts.   I think they have accomplished this and more.

Through the years, they have increased their base products to selling backpacks, tents and shelters, sleeping bags and pads, camping chairs and accessories, child carriers, clothing and lighting.  Products can be purchased via their own website http://www.kelty.com.   The big national chains stores that I recognize that would carry Kelty dome tents would be Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Cabela’s.   There are many local retailers but there would be too many to list here.   The most popular online sites that carry Kelty tents and products are Amazon, Target, REI, Cabela’s and of course, Kelty.com.

With regards to dome tents, Kelty has a great reputation.  It is among the most popular tents sold on the market today.  What you’re looking for in a tent is, durability, easy to install, light weight, compactable for storage, weatherproof, climate-smart and comfort.

Review on the Kelty Grand Mesa 6 Person Tent.