Eddie Bauer and Target

“Have you saw the new line of outdoor equipment at Target. Tents, packs etc.
Any information on who makes the gear for Target, the quality looks pretty good. They have a family tent 10x10 with lots of features and a great looking 5.5 lb backpacking tent. The internal frame pack is 5500 ci. with goodies, but I dont know what the weight is.”

“Tar-zhay is UPscale, ya know.”

“Most of the stuff looks remarkabley like Kelty, except different colored fabric.”

“We don't have a Target here on the North Coast of Calif. but when I was down in the City the other day, thats our other nice name for Frisco, I saw some of that Equipment Pemsit. I was looking at a day pack that was chock full of features.”

“I looked at that stuff at Target the other day. I thought that 5.5 lb. tent looked pretty nice.”

“Anyone remember Devo? That's a Devo song on the new Target commercial!

The local Target has been stocking with lots of Dick's Sporting Goods-like gear...Coleman and the like. They're making camping affordable and gear accessible. I think it's cool. It may not be the best gear in the world...but that's the stuff that got me started...and I'm sure many others too!”

“I, for one, am glad to see Target stocking cheap backpacking gear. I've found in a lot of cases it's hard to get people involved seriously in hiking because of the cost of some of the equipment. It's nice to know that I can take my friends to Target after they faint at the cost of North Face, and Mountain Hardwear.”

“I am a big fan of Target, and I have a White English Bull Terrier, just like the one used in thier ads. She is 13 years old and her name is Lefty. She has a black spot on her left eye. She loves camping but.....Oh, I'm sorry-we were talking about Target. Yeah, I like thier new E.B. gear, in fact I was waiting for that 10x10' car camping tent to go on sale-it did (for$99) and I bought it. If that 5.5 lb backpacking tent goes on sale -I may grab that also. If you are looking for a killer 'car camping sleeping bag' (one that is BIG) check out the Coleman 0 degree bag sold at Target. I paid $49 for mine last year and it is great for times when I don't need to worry about compressability. This way I can save my good gear for backpacking.”

“Wow, I am surprised that you folks are giving the gear there thumbs up (if only somewhat). I wouldnt' have expected any gear of decent quality at Target. That is not to say that I don't do a good share of my shopping at Target. It's one of those dangerous stores - you always come out spending more tha you wanted. D'oh.”

“I'm sure that the stuff you'll find at Target for backpacking won't be the kind of stuff you take to the AT, but for someone on a tighter budget, it's a good way to break into the activity.”

“i got the eb internal frame backpack from target
a- because it had a removable summit pack that is really a hydration pak(platypus) and I wanted one of those to carry while kayaking. So, i figured i could use the backpack for shorter trips , the backpack is 3420 cu inches, but has nice mesh side pockets and also has carrying pouch for the platypus, its own raincover , etc...i love the color and now i have something for overnighters,
I took it to cumberland island and had not really had time to learn how to pack it so, i fumbled with it a lot (i took too much stuff thinking it might rain a lot which it didnt) , but by the last day, i had the system down and I think it is a good deal for one or two night trips...in the summer, cause, there is not enough room to really pack a sleeping bag, just a fleece bag at the most if you just have to wrap up to sleep.
It held up really well..as i overstuffed it and stressed it a lot during this trip...i like the built in raincover too
i think it was a good deal....would be especially a good pack for young kids whose parents are carrying the tent and stuff.”

“I went to Target to look at the EB packs today. They were on sale, so I bought the 5500ci internal frame pack on impulse for $79. I decided that was cheap enough for me to chalk it up to experience if I hate it. It says it is made by American Recreation Products, anyone heard of them?

I am not sure how much it weighs, but probably a lot since it has quite a few zippers and straps. It is a one size fits all design. The torso length adjusts with a ladder type thingy. It has a sleeping bag compartment, and the divider can be unzipped for one big compartment. It has an extension collar at the top (which I guess is how it gets to 5500ci) and the lid has a zip off fanny pack. There are two shove it pockets and a daisy chain. There is a gear bungie on the lid, compression straps on the sides (that look like you can put skis through), and mesh bottle pockets. There is a hydration bladder pocket, but no bladder with the pack. It has a mesh covered foam back panel and a lumbar pad. The shoulder straps are contoured, and the straps and hip pads are supposed to be dual density foam. There are load adjuster straps at the shoulders and a sternum strap that adjusts up and down. The frame is two removable curved aluminum stays. There is not a plastic sheet for the suspension, and the stays just slide into slots made of strap type material. There is a built in rain cover in a pocket at the bottom.

I will will put a review of it here on TT after I use it for an outing.”

“I don't know if Target is dumping all of their Eddie Bauer gear, but the backpacking tent is now $32.44 at Target.com. It's a mite heavy but looks to be pretty well-made, seems like a good deal if someone is in the market for a cheap, "two-man", 3+ season, free-standing tent.

Eddie Bauer tent at Target.com”

“[hands shaking and sweat dripping from my brow] “Can’t buy another tent…wife will kill….but the price…no!…YES!…help me…

That is a great deal! Is it Everest ready, no but damn! It’s a proven design and the quality of the stuff I’ve seen at the store looks pretty good. I’d buy it if I had a hiking partner to share a tent and the carrying with. 6 pounds is a bit much for myself. They have a Clip Flashlight knockoff I’d pick up if the price was right.”

“Yeah I know what ya mean, I would have to sneak another tent into the house under my coat, or hide it under the backseat of my car and wait to bring it in when no one is home. Usually, my campin' buddies' first question when they see me is "so, did you buy another tent?" They just don't understand...”

“I bought one last night. My way of thinking was that at the very least it would make a good spare for those times when someone needs to borrow a tent. So far it looks ok, no doubt the seams need to be sealed. I am thinking about trying it out this week. Weight 5.5 pounds, looks like 35 sq ft or so and a vestibule of 7 or 8 sq ft. (maybe a little more).

Originally marked $129, now at $32.44.”

“The seams need to be sealed? The Target specs say they are factory taped. Is this wrong?”

“ This thermarest knockoff looks pretty sweet. $35, comes with repair kit, 1 year limited warranty. But of course, they don't tell ya how much it weighs!”

“Oma, I got home late and did not take time to examine too closely. But it did not appear that they were. I will look at the specs on the box and re-examine when I get home today.”

“That is cool.
I could outfit the whole Scout troop with new tents at half the price we spent last time.”

“I just called Eddie Bauer and found out the tents are manufactured by American Recreation Products (they make Wenzel tents also). I called their customer service to inquire about the product. They assured me the seams were taped and that if there are any problems, they will guarantee the product. They produce these tents under license from Eddie Bauer but EB has decided to discontinue the line. ARP will probably be producing this tent under a different name in the near future. Production facility is located in Missouri, USA. All and all, I feel comfortable that the tent is a good deal. American Rec. Products Customer Service is at 800-972-3151”

“I'm going to Target!”

“Just like the $300 challenge thread, this thread makes me more pumped to do this. Liamoconnor makes a good point, Target could be helping people w/ less dough to blow get into bping. I never even thought of looking at Target, I usually spend the entire time I'm in there fondling the housewares. Cool. Exciting.”

“target and wally's are both stocking decent quality CHEAP gear that is functional /useable ... camptrails-EB- texsport-coughlans-and others...
if you don't need go-lite or TNF logos it's a good place to start...”

“I bought a texsport cookset (pot and frypan w/ stuffsack) for under $10. At the time, I figured that it would last until I found something else. That was three years ago.”

“Well, having some spare time this morning, I have become intriqued over this Eddie Bauer tent. After determining that it was manufactured by American Recreation Products, I found that ARP is owned by Kellwood. Kellwood, as it turns out, owns (among others) Sierra Designs, Kelty, SlumberJack and Everest Elite.

I still don't know if this tent is worth the $35 bucks I gave for it, but I am going to find out during the next week.”

“I noticed that my more experienced bping friends tend to really get caught up in all the logo crap. I realize that their experience has probably taught them alot about what is "higher" qaulity stuff and all, but it can get disgusting. I mean none of them are going on major Everest expeditions or spending a yr. exploring the Amazon. I like the attitude of most of the people posting on this thread. "Let's just get the basics as cheap as possible and go have a good time walking around in the woods."”

“Hey Omahiker, how did you find this product. I went around the web-site, found tents, Eddie Baur gear etc, but no reference to this great find. Your link did take me their, but I couldn't get there on my own. Hmmm.
I too am active in a troop looking to get new gear.”

“I usually check Target for outdoor clothing also. They stock a line of synthetic stuff marketed toward the running crowd. Long sleeve zip necks, wicking mesh t-shirts, microfiber windbreaker jackets and vests, etc. I also found on clearance thin long-sleeve merino wool sweaters for $12. I use these as base layers and for running/biking in cool weather. Whenever I "need" something for backpacking or other outdoor activities I always check target/wal-mart/k-mart or used stuff, then clearance (like rei-outlet, or sierra trading post), and, if all else fails I'll actually throw down my hard earned cash toward something like REI or Campmor. Rarely do I get to the last resort.”

“Tarabull, If you were in Reno, I would see you there. Killer deal.”

“Chili, you are lucky you found this tent in a store at that price. My local Targets (and I went to three today) still have the tents marked at 69.99. Well, I bought one anyway, thinking I could order one from the website and then return one to the store when I got it in the mail. Alas, the website is out of stock. So now my strategy will be to save my receipt and wait for them to drop the price in the store, so I can buy a cheap one & return the expensive one. So, anyone else looking to take advantage of this bargain will have to wait for another markdown, unless you are in an area where they are already marked down, like Chili36.

Flyguy, I frequently shop for camping gear at Target, & I have been looking at this tent for some time. Even at 69.99, it is a bargain, & I was researching it this morning to see if it had good reviews, and that is how I found the $32.44 price.

Another bargain item I saw at the store, was an Eddie Bauer stainless steel cookset with about nine pieces from a 1L pot to a 9 inch frypan, for $13.90. Of course you would not want to carry all of it at once, but it is definitely a steal at that price. I did not buy one because I already have two cooksets.”

“Chili ...that tent was $99.00 when I looked at it :)”

“Wind Walker, the red tag had it marked down from $129 to $69.99. I saw a review either in Backpacker magazine or on their website (can't remember which) that they were reduced to $32. I checked the price on the wall mounted scanner and it indicated the $32.44 price.

Oma, ask for a price check. If it is at $69, ask the manager what the deal is with the web price. The store on Hickory Hill in Memphis had it at the lowest price. However, with this particular store they only had two and I don't think their genaral clientele are "hiking" prone. I just happened to stop by on the way home from Lorezen Wright's (Grizzley's center and former U of M star) new sports bar.”

“I have been debating getting a good "second" tent. Problem with this one is it's so close to what I have. I'd either want to got to Wal-Mart, I think, and get the "Backpacker Jr." (I had the bigger version. It's a dome with only 2 poles, which is nice)...
Or...... I need to get a bivvy for one, or a one-person tent. hmmm......... THEN AGAIN, THE PRICE!!! (see, I'm getting addicted TOOOOOOOOOO!!)”

“I purchased a 3 rooom cabin tent from Target and have been very pleased-”

“I went to Target today, since I got a gift cert for Xmas. The tent was marked $99, no red tag, and the wall mounted scanner scanned it as $99. That is NJ for you! I did get a water repellent jacket and pants (for runners) for a total of $24, on sale. I got them big so I can wear them over fleece for playing in the snow. They had fleece sleeping bags for $12.50 red tag, but they were bulkier and heavier than the one I made myself, so I didn't get it.

Lizs, I have a Eureka backcountry 1 tent which MSilver calls a "baby tent". It was $98, is lightweight and pretty sturdy, and key for me, free standing. Downside is it condenses bad if you don't leave the window full open. I like the Zoid 1.5 for more roomy quarters, but when I was looking for a solo, it was more money and not free standing. It does have a full fly though. The backcountry just has an overhang.”

“Oooooooooh Splash, you said the magic words "free standing"..... hehehee. It's like you read my mind!!!

My latest tent I bought from bpbaby. It's a Sierra Designs 3 pole Mantra -- that's not right, but it's kinda like that. Great tent. But more setting up than I'm used to. Ex hiker friend had a Kelty G-4, or something like that. Great little rectangular dome...2 poles only. EASSSSSSSSY!! Plus nice easy rainfly and vestibules, too. I could rip through setting that up or taking down. Sigh......

I liked the Wal-mart dome tent I've had, although it seems to be getting pinhead size holes in it. Oh well, I expected 2-3 yrs. use from it and got it.”

“Lizs, maybe you mean the Kelty V-4. I have that for the family, and it is strong, like a winter tent. I would like the V-2 for a two person tent, because though heavier than some, it is very strong, full fly, two doors I think (V-4 has two doors, two vestibules). For the price, it is a great tent, just heavier than some. I think the V-2 would be 7 1/2 or 8 lbs with a ground cloth, but is an inexpensive winter option. I was thinking that the Eureka Backcountry 2 with a sil-nylon tarp would be great, because the tarp would give you a vestibule that can be raised for cooking under if it were raining. Would be a good three season setup, depending on the situation.”

“I own 2 backpacks form Eddie Bauer and they are great.”

“I bought that tent from Target about 6mths ago when my daughter wanted to car camp with me I paid 69.99 to bad I missed the sale but it's worth the money at the 60+ it's roomy an the waterproofing worked good without additional seam sealing it also held up in a heck of a wind storm I wouldnt want to pack it, to heavy for me but it sure worked well car camping”

“I can't belive I paid $140 for a similar tent last year. This is a great deal. Must resist the the temptation - I'm in the same boat as Nigal and Omahiker.

Target Raingear - I got their EB 70%P PVC/30% nylon raingear for Christmas. Haven't had bad weather yet to test it. Ups - Inexpensive and will keep me dry. Downs - breathability and weight.

Eyeing Frogg Toggs for next Christmas...”

“I just got Catalina sport pants on sale for $9 at Wal-Mart. Khaki, kind of a brushed finish. No waistband, front zipper with velco instead of button at the top. Two cinchee things you pull to tighted up waist drawstring.

Regular pockets in both sideseams. Also, lower patchpockets in both sideseams at hip level. Left pocket also has interior pocket that zips shut.

And at the bottom of the leg, cinchee drawstring things to pull the leg shut.

BARGAIN, BARGAIN!! I might to go back and get the olive green ones too. :-)”

“I bought the EB daypack last summer for the same reason OM did, it included a platypus hydration system in a zip off outer pocket which I used all summer for cycling and walking. Worked GREAT!

You can also tuck your bladders inside the main pack and there is a special reinforced slit in the main pack to thread the hose through - very handy!

The daypack was put through its paces this weekend with all the dayhikes I did in Arkansas with Mozart. It performed flawlessley, kept the load stable and has a very agressive shoulder pad and hip belt system.

Although on the small side (less than 2500 without the zip off part,) Mozark and I discussed the possiblity of using it in the summer for a weekend trip - definitely do-able.

I got it on sale for 34.99 and the only complaint I have is the color, it's bright, baby blue..not a color I want for my backpacking gear - BUT - the price was too good to worry about color!

Tex”

“Went to Target today to get one of those tents but they were charging $70 for it and weren't gonna budge. TWW - I saw that pack as well - like you said - looks like a good one for the light summer trips - it was still $70 though so I had to pass.”

“Coop -

Seventy bucks? Here in Texas it lists for a regular price of 59.99. Hmm..may have to swing by Target after the gym tonight afterall...
;-)”

“I saw two different bags - one lighter blue and one darker blue - the darker one had a more firm back and a fully detachable little daypack - it was $70. Then smaller light blue one (which I now realize may be the one you have) was on sale for $35.”

“That sounds like it Coop - like I said, it came with a platypus system..are they still promoting it that way? With the hip belt and shoulder padding, it really is a good value for the money, esp at $35.00.”

“I set this tent up in my living room over the weekend and in my opinion it is a very good tent even for $70.00. It has a window in the rainfly, and vents at each end of the fly with stiffeners to keep them open. The weight is actually less then 5.5 lbs, out of the heavy stuff sack it is 5 lbs 6 oz. It is much roomier than my Peak 1 Cobra, seems like it would be fine for two people if they are not much taller than average (of course, I couldn't stake it out in the living room, maybe it would seem longer if it were stretched out fully). Lotsa head room, aluminum poles, nice vestibule. I think I will make a detachable velcro cover for the biggish rear window, which will make it worthy of winter camping as long as there is not heavy snow. A lot of tent for the money, if you can find it for $32.44, go for it!”