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(More customer reviews)I am new to tent camping, so I cannot speak as an expert.I did do a great deal of internet based research to try to find the right test for our family of 6.Like the other reviewer, the Cougar Flats also looked like a good option, but I ultimately choose the Eureka due to the Eureka brand name and it's reputation for quality.We did have a backyard campout with the tent which at least gave me the opportunity to run it through a basic checkout. My impressions:
1) It's big! Great height.I'm short (5'6") and I can't even reach the top of the tent without a stool to hang the tent divider.We had three queen air mattresses in and that still left us with a reasonable spot for gear.There are two doors, one at opposing corners (to match with the divider when it is in use)
2) Divider:It is not a zipper, but it hangs on hooks.Because it is not a zipper based divider, it simply hangs over the floor and there is a gap all around (maybe an 1"?).So it provides some division, but not "real" privacy if you were concerned about that aspect.( But if you have it up and "fold it back" the tent looks very "fancy".My kids got a big kick out of it.)
3) Very easy setup.Due to my height, I'm not sure I could put it up by myself, in particular the fly.Although I was embarrassed trying to put up the awning.Instructions are not terribly clear on that point.(There are extra guy lines for the awning poles to latch them to the ground.)
4)Seams: Most seams are tape sealed, but you will need to seal up the others.No experience in rain.
5) Door Zippers: The flap which protects the zippers from the rain sure seems to get caught very easy in the zipper.I'm not sure there is much that can be done about that other than use care when getting zipping the door closed.
6) Awning: Nice touch, not terribly wide but would provide coverage in the case of rain when getting in/out of the tent.(see my comments about setup)It does look quite nice and could get you somewhat out of the sun.
7) Other: Nice touches with the partitions in the roof to be able to zip in a small screen to block the sun during the day and open them at night.Lots of small latches for things.Zipper on both sides for power cords (great addition).Top is totally open and would be quite dramatic without the fly cover IF you could trust it wouldn't rain.Fly Cover is not that easy to just "throw on".I'm not sure what you would do if it started to rain with the rain fly on.Comes in a bag with cloth handles that seems reasonably robust.And yes, we did get the tent back in the original bag, although I kept the poles and stakes separate.I'll post up additional comments once we've used the tent a few times more.
Edit: June 8th, 2007
We've done a number of "backyard" trips, and finally went to the wilderness to briefly try it out.I think most of my original comments are still accurate.Here's some updates:
1) The stakes are junk! We had some serious winds and the stakes would simply not hold the tent down.Fortunately I had purchased some Colman stakes (Coleman Tent Kit) for backup and at 2:00am I was out using them to get the guy lines to stay down.Having said that, the tent did ultimately hold up well in some very serious winds. (Hint: buy some good stakes and take a hammer)
2) Setup was as easy as ever.Tent fit well into our spot with no problems.Lots of room with 3 queen air mattresses.
3) Didn't use the awning.This seems to be a weak part of the setup.In a few nights in the backyard it simply can't hold up to any wind at all.
4)Tent fits nicely back into the original back and is light-weight (minus poles) I carry the pole bag separate but put everything else into the tent back.Not a big challenge, which is nice.
5) Continued issues with the zippers.I'm tempted to cut the black flap and Velcro it back when it isn't raining. You have to be very careful not to zipper the flap into the zipper. We've done this a number of times and you can fix it, but not a good thing during a middle of the night bathroom break.
6.) We used a combination of overhead lighting (Coleman Tent Light)and a small florescent lantern (Coleman 4D Pack-Away Lantern) and the combination worked out well.
Additional Feedback, June 23, 2007: All still accurate, a few more trips completed.The one issue I am starting to have is corner poles collapsing under very strong wind gusts.I'm no expert, so I'm not sure if this is a design defect or my inability to correctly put up the tent.See discussion below.
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Eureka Copper Canyon 1312 Eight-Person 13-Foot by 12-Foot Family TentProduct Description: Featuring vertical walls for maximal internal space, this 13-foot x 12-foot (156 square feet) freestanding cabin-style tent accommodates up to eight campers on cots. The tent includes a removable curtain so it can be divided into two rooms as well as being configured as a single room. Two D-shaped doors with side flaps permit private entry into each room and have large #8 zippers with covers for durability and rain protection. Six large zippered mesh windows open for visibility and airflow and close for privacy. Toggles keep window flaps off the floor and out of the way. A detachable awning shades the front. A fly with clear-panel skylights permits stargazing and includes pockets for storing storm guyouts when not in use. A port allows an extension cord (not included) to be run into the tent. A sweep-out point facilitates housekeeping. A hanging gear-loft supplies convenient storage.
Made of 1200mm, 75D polyester, the tent has nine steel and fiberglass poles that slip into sleeves during setup. Frame clips and ring-and-pin assemblies also facilitate setup. Mesh screens out insects as small as no-see-ums. The tent weighs 37 pounds and has a center height of 7-foot-3.
Eureka! tents' standard design features include bathtub-style floors that wrap up the sides to keep water out; nickel sliders and self-healing zippers; and factory-taped major seams to seal out weather.
Key Details: The spacious Copper Canyon 1312 tent offers 156 square feet of room for sleeping and storage.
Floor Size: 13 x 12 feet
Pack Size:10 x 28 inches
Center Height: 7' 3"
Minimum Weight: 37 pounds
Tent Area: 156 square feet
Seasons: 3
Sleeps: 5-6
Doors: 2
Windows: 6
Wall Fabric: 75D polyester taffeta, 1200 mm
Fly Fabric: 75D StormShield polyester, 1200 mm
Floor Fabric: 75D polyester taffeta, 1200 mm
Mesh Fabric: 68D no-see-um
Frame: 12.65 mm fiberglass and 19.5 mm steel
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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