Newbie with a few questions

“Hi Everyone,

I'm getting ready for a 5-month excursion and had a few questions.

I'm looking at the Eureka Apex 2 and have checked out the reviews on this site. I was curious if anyone else had used them? I certainly don't want water leaking in, as one of the reviews mentioned... but thought it would be a good idea to ask a few other people. I'd like a large 1 person or small 2 person tent to use, but I definitely have a budget. Any other suggestions?

My other question has to do with a water system. I bought a daypack that had a hydration system ready, minus the bladder. Can I purchase just about any reservoir to use with this? or are they brand/size specific?

Thanks so much for your help!”

“Eureka makes a good tent for the money. A bit on the heavy side. I just picked up a Kelty Crestone 2 . its a snap to set up. has ample room and is much lighter than the apex.”

“A newbie on a 5-month excursion?

Do tell!”

“the wizard is busy, now go away”

“I want to see WP after one week...something tells me he/she/it is doing the car camping thing financed by mommy and daddy.”

“Any resevoir brand should work.

Have a good trip! =) Give us a trip report when you come back.”

“A newbie on a 5-month excursion?

i'm assuming, and you know what you do when you assume, that he means he's a newbie to the sight

i have a bladder that came with a daypack and i've used it with other packs with no problem...they're all pretty much uniform in size and if it's too big you could always just not put as much water in it”

“I have the Eureka Stratus XT 2, which I think is just a renamed version of the Apex. Its been a darn good tent for the money, but at about 6 pounds, I don't use it much for backpacking anymore.

I haven't used one, but for budget lightweight tents, the Eureka Spitfire seems like a good place to start. I think someone reviewed it here - search the past threads.”

“I have the Eureka Apex tent and so far, it has not let me down. I rarely use it for hiking trips due to its weight.

I mainly use it as a canoe camping tent now or a base camp tent. It has been rained on, snowed on and I have had no trouble with moisture build up on the inside.”

“In response to sticks... I don't know if you're jokingly prodding, but I am an adult completely independent of my father. My mother is no longer alive.

Newbie on 5 month excusion is me going to work for a conservation group that spends 5 months working trails in a National Park. I obviously don't want to get a tent that's going to be too heavy to carry with all the other gear I'll be taking, nor that leaks or doesn't protect from the wind.

Thank you everyone who has given me advice! I appreciate it.”

“people new to backpacking going on a 5-6 month excursion is not so strange. Read some AT trail journals some time. I was surprised by how many people who had never backpacked a day in their life made the decision to do a thruhike. Most do a practice trip before they actually start, but I am willing to bet there are plenty that start out from springer that have never backpacked before that day.”

“your welcome”

“When does your project start and where will you be? We may be able to recommend a tent depending on the conditions you will be working in.

We can also suggest additional "must-haves" you should bring along.”

“Like a very big flask.”

“I'll be in the Stanislaus National Forest (right above Yosemite). It begins April 17th and runs until September 21st. Any advice would be welcome. I'm very excited about it... have dabbled here and there in different outdoors "stuff." But this is definitely more long term than anything I've done in the past.”

“Sounds great!

I take you won't be hiking high mileage days but will likely hike to remote areas and then spend several days at a time in one area? Will you be keeping a lot of possibly muddy tools in your tent along with your other gear? What is your maximum budget for a tent?

Have you thought about one of the pyramid style tents like the megamid that give you lots of space for the weight and leave room to segregate messy tools from your other gear?”

“We'll hike to a spot, camp there for a few weeks, but every day we'll be hiking 2-8 miles to the work site. Money-wise I need to keep it under $150, I'm on a rather tight budget. As for what else will be kept in the tent, mainly my pack, my daypack, and myself. The gear will be elsewhere.”

“There is a thread going on now comparing the MSR Hubba Bubba with this tent. If you have a REI membership you can get it for about $180. I think it's the best tent in it's class (3 season, ultralight) for less than $200.00. It always keeps me dry. Has a perfectly rectangular footprint, weighs a tad over 4#s packed.If you want something better you'll pay 3-400.00 for it.”

“Just your luck WritersPhastasm! REI is having a "20% off one item sale" today for new and current memebers! But you need to join today for the discount, according to the website. They carry great gear and you might be able to get one of the tents mentioned here at a good discount.

Good luck on your trip.”

“I know. The 0.25 Dome now lists for $200.00 hence the $180.00 I mentioned. I think the sale goes off around April 4th.”

“Hey there mrhyker! I have the Half Dome and I really like it. Good product. And it has really held up, even with Boy Scouts using it!”

“I second the 1/4 dome I have it and love it. If you go the the thread mentioned above you'll find pics I've posted of the tent. Granted its setup in my living room.”

“You could check out Campmor. They have a wide selecton of name brand tents under $150 and only $6.95 for shipping. Look under hot deals.”

“It seems I am mistaken because a post like yours reminded me so much of the kids I see in an outfitter store buying gear on the parents card to hike the AT.

OK so I was wr...r..rrr..wrong.

My advice is forget the bladder and use bottles but that is your own decision. I do not like bladders. Eureka does make a good tent in fact I was looking at the Exos. But then there is the SD clip flashlight, 2 man about 4# and under $200. You might think about a silnylon tarp to make a kitchen under for those rainy days, a 6X8 works well and doesn't weigh much. It also gives you that storage space for tools and gear instead of inside the tent.”

“I've had good luck with Eureka tents and have purchased three or four over the past 14 years. Good values.

The last two summers I've shared and REI Half-dome with my son. For a solo tent, I would consider the REI Quarter-Dome...the slightly smaller, lighter version.
last edited: 3/24/06 8:33:08 PM”