Eureka Tetragon 1210 Family 12- by 10-Foot Eight-Person Tent

A great choice for car camping or use as a base camp, the Eureka Tetragon 1210 rectangular dome tent comfortably sleeps eight people and includes a divider to create two separate rooms. The double-coated StormShield polyester fly and the polyester bathtub floor combine to provide excellent weather protection. This free-standing, two-pole tent is quick and easy to set up with its durable shockcorded fiberglass frame, ring and pin attachments, combination sleeve and clip assembly, and color coded webbing.

It's well ventilated, thanks to large no-see-um mesh ceiling panels, six windows, and two doors. The hooded fly provides enough coverage over the front and rear door windows to enable you to leave the window partially open for even more ventilation even in rain. Other features include:

• Twin track zippers for separate operation of the window in the door
• External guy points on the fly help secure your tent in high winds
• Natural green color scheme blends into any campground
• Attached hinged gear loft and two detachable interior storage pockets
• Clothes line loop, flashlight loop
• Mesh panels allow for clip-in accessories
• Tent, pole, and stake bags included

Specifications:

• Area: 120 square feet
• Floor size: 12 feet by 10 feet
• Center height: 6 feet, 5 inches
• Wall fabrics: 1.9-ounce 75D polyester taffeta with 800mm coating
• Floor fabrics: 1.9-ounce 75D polyester taffeta with 800mm coating
• Fly fabrics: 1.9-ounce 75D StormShield polyester
• Pack size: 8 by 28 inches
• Weight: 17 pounds, 11 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.

Customer Review: Eureka 10x12 tent
This is out 3rd tent and we are extremely happy with it. We have been in driving rains and high winds. We love the fact you can open all 4 sides for super ventilation. Easy setup but does require 2 people or you will crack the fiberglass poles ( I know that from experience).
Customer Review: To Kenya and back with no problems
I have yet to use this tent, but I loaned it to friends traveling to Kenya. It survived the international flights both ways and proved to be a roomy and sturdy home for them during their stay there. Pretty good endorsement, I'd say.

For many families, camping is living in a comfortable motor home at a campground with tennis courts and swimming pools, perhaps movies at night. For backpackers and hikers, it means truly roughing it out in the wilderness, away from the amenities of civilization and being in tune with nature in the raw. No matter which one suits you, here are a few tips on camping for the first (and even multiple) time:

Consider borrowing or renting equipment. If you think that camping is not for you - and you dislike roughing it out.

Try car camping rather than trekking into the wilderness. This allows you to carry more supplies and you are safer. You can go to a place within an hour of your home and plan to stay for a day, two or three days. Find out if you can make advance reservations and buy a topographical map of the area.

Watch the weather forecast for the place you are going for a least a week ahead. Plan clothing and equipment accordingly.

Check on the need for a forest permit (this is free at ranger stations); ask about fire restrictions. Fishing usually requires a license, so be sure to find out about regulations.

If you are tent camping, be sure to have proper equipment.

When you pitch a tent, find a flat, smooth place. Clear way rocks and twigs, then put down your ground cover. If you think it might rain, dig a little trench around the tent to divert the water.

Keep meals simple, but bring plenty of food. Keep food in containers so that animals cannot get to it.

Do not drink water or even brush your teeth with it unless it has been purified first.

Dogs should be leashed and children should understand how to behave themselves.

Be careful of fire. Build one in fire rings and make sure they are put out before you leave.

Pack out garbage or leave it in garbage cans at campsite.

Dive up chores so that no one gets stuck with all the unpleasant jobs.

Make sure you have a ground cloth, this can be cheap tarpaulin.

Use plastic, but not disposable, plates and containers for food.

When you come home, turn the tent inside out and hose it, then hang it up to dry. Store it in a dry place, but not in its bag - keep it loose.

KiyaSama is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.

Kelty Yellowstone 4 person Tent (Navy/Grey)

Kelty Yellowstone 3 - Season Tents... 3 different sizes to fit your adventure - seeking crew! Affordable and easy-to-pitch... who wouldn't appreciate that? Get back to nature with these cost-effective, free-standing Dome Tents... available in 3 different sizes capable of fitting between 2,4 or 6 happy campers. Take a closer look: Tough, durable 68-denier, 190T polyester ripstop tent walls; 180 mm polyurethane coated nylon-taffeta tent floor; Mesh roof for cooling ventilation; Closable mesh window panels; Internal storage pockets; 2 fiberglass pole design; ArcEdge construction lifts floor seams off the ground eliminating them as a source of leaks; Taped floor seams and watertight walls keep out the rain; Sidewall vents provide ventilation during those warm nights; Color-coded clip construction (Yellowstone 2 and 4) / Clip-sleeve construction (Yellowstone 6); Rainfly info: 75-denier, 190T, 1800 mm polyurethane coated polyester ripstop; Side-release buckle tent / fly connection; Noiseless zipper pulls; Guyout points. 96 x 96 x 59", 10 lbs., 2 ozs. Order Today! AVAILABLE SEPARATELY: Kelty Yellowstone 2 3 Season 2-Man Tent Kelty Yellowstone 6 3 Season 6-Man Tent - word search in our Store for 'Kelty'. Kelty Yellowstone 4 3 Season 4-Man Tent
Customer Review: Good economical tent for car camping
This tent turned out to be just about perfect for car camping. It's a little heavy, but it sets up very easily and is very roomy. We used it on a very rainy night and aside from a slightly damp floor, we stayed very dry. My only complaint is that the instructions are pretty lousy. There's no information at all on how to connect a footprint or how to use the gear sling. I spent a lot of time guessing and am still not sure I'm doing it right.

Ever since I first set eyes on the Painted Desert in northern central Arizona I was immediately captivated by it's unique rugged beauty. Covering 7,500 square miles starting from the Grand Canyon and spreading itself 150 miles in a south easterly direction, it's width varying between 15 and 50 miles. Many mesas and buttes contour this sparse and arid land, with the multi layered Chinle formation displaying many different colours, sunrise and sunset have to be seen to be believed. These wonderful badlands are home to special places and fascinating people that will make your visit here a memorable one.

Petrified Forest National Park is situated at the very southern reaches, and features a 27 mile drive that can be taken at your leisure with many vantage points where petrified conifer trees from the Triassic period can be inspected up close. Some of the stop offs have paved trails that you can stroll at your own pace, while others like the Blue Mesa and Jasper Forest can only be seen from the viewpoints due to the delicate nature of the soil.

A house made entirely from petrified wood and some world famous petroglyphs are just two of the many interesting, and educational features of this beautiful park.

Drive the north and south rims of Canyon de Chelly by car, stopping off and walking down a trail to the white house ruins, this is free but can be tiring depending on your level of fitness. Here you will be greeted by the sight of a fabulous cliff dwelling built by the Anasazi and set into the sandstone sheer canyon wall. Access to the floor of the canyon is only permitted if you take a tour with a Navajo guide, this you will have to purchase but I guarantee the views will be breathtaking.

Just 35 miles east of Flagstaff is Meteor Crater, a visually stunning impact crater that was caused by a meteorite penetrating the earth's atmosphere and slamming into the Arizona rock some 50,000 years ago. Used by Nasa to train the Apollo astronauts for the moon landings, this will get your camera clicking.

A short 12 mile drive north of Flagstaff will give you access to a loop road to Sunset Crater, this 1000 feet high volcano last erupted nearly 800 years ago and gets it's name from the bright red cinder cone at it's summit. By paying one entrance fee you also gain access to Wupatki National Monument, where well preserved ancient multi storey pueblos can be viewed at leisure.

The vast majority of the Painted Desert is the homeland of the Navajo Indians, whose tribal capital is Window Rock just south of Canyon de Chelly. A very informative museum in the capital will enlighten you of the Navajo past and lodgings are also available here. The Navajo farm and work the canyon floor, and if you do decide to take the tour, you can witness first hand the making of a Navajo rug and the interior of a hogan. Some of the most picturesque parts of these Arizona badlands are on Navajo soil.

Living atop 3 spectacular mesas, the Hopi Indian reservation is completely encircled by Navajo land. The Hopi are well known for their wicker basketry and pottery, but it is their very skilful work with sterling silver jewelry that makes them world famous. To be amongst the Hopi is indeed an experience, be sure to learn about the kachina dolls while you are there.

Well there you have it, six very good reasons to visit the Painted Desert, or El Desierto Pintado as the spanish named it.

Nigel Makin is the founder of http://www.painted-desert-jewels.com a website dedicated to promote awareness of Arizona's beautiful Painted Desert.