Eureka! Solitaire - Tent (sleeps 1)

by Eureka

Product Features

• Two-hoop bivy-style tent for one sleeper (21.33 square foot area)
• Ventilated with a large mesh roof; attached full coverage fly
• Zipper in roof cloth for easy entry/exit
• Includes two storage pockets and one flashlight loop
• Center height of 28 inches; weighs 2 pounds, 9 ounces

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Perfect for singular trekking and walkabouts, the Eureka Solitaire is lightest, most compact three-season solo tent made by Eureka. It's also extremely well ventilated with a large mesh roof--great for stargazing during summer trips--and the zippered roof provides an extra exit in nice weather. This two-hoop bivy design offers an efficient tunnel design, with a durable 6.3 mm fiberglass frame is shockcorded for fast set up. The full coverage fly is attached, so it can be rolled back or put in place very quickly. Other features include nylon pole sleeves for easy setup, three storm guyouts on the fly, two storage pockets, and one flashlight loop.

Specifications:

• Area: 21.33 square feet
• Floor size: 2 feet, 8 inches by 8 feet
• Center height: 2 feet, 4 inches
• Wall fabrics: 40D no-see-um mesh
• Floor fabrics: 70D nylon taffeta
• Fly fabrics: 70D nylon taffeta
• Pack size: 4 by 17.5 inches
• Weight: 2 pounds, 9 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.

Product Description

Lightweight solo tent with efficient tunnel design and compact fold size

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 19 x 4.5 x 4.4 inches ; 3.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000EQCVNY
• Item model number: 2628307
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,867 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #8 in Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Camping & Hiking > Tents

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good for the Price, January 12, 2009

By 

Turtle "Turtle" (Abingdon, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eureka! Solitaire - Tent (sleeps 1) (Sports)

This tent is extremely good for its designed purpose; a lightweight backpacking tent. It packs extremely small and light. Have used it in all night rain and wind with no leaks (without sealing the seams or additional waterproofing). I am 6'2" and can fit in the tent without touching any sides, but space is very tight and there is no room for gear. Plan for your boots and pack to be outside. I have found a large black trash bag is sufficient to keep everything dry outside of the tent and adds no additional weight to my pack, plus I have something to put wet stuff in the next day. It takes some practice to learn to get into and out of the tent, but it is worth it for the light weight and weather protection this tent provides.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great SOLO tent, May 25, 2009

By 

D. Yordy (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eureka! Solitaire - Tent (sleeps 1) (Sports)

I have no idea what the people complaining about long setup time or needing 12 stakes to set it up are talking about. The first time I ever set this tent up was in a snow storm at night by flashlight and it was up and ready in no time. It was much warmer than expected, the night temp got down below 13 degrees but I stayed warm. However I do not recommend this tent for that! I am 5'10" and 220 lbs and I fit in it with my boots and pack inside. It is not a roomy tent, but anyone should be able to see it is NOT a family cabin tent! I have used this tent for backpacking over 150 miles of the AT and dozens of other trips with NO problems. No broken poles nor moisture leaking inside. My only complaint is I wish it was about 4 inches taller at the entrance.

88 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars EXTREME Backpacker's tent, October 24, 2006

By 

Bruce Irvine "Both sides now...." (Heartland USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eureka! Solitaire - Tent (sleeps 1) (Sports)

The Solitare is exceptionally light and packs very compactly. It is fairly easy to set up even if it is non self supporting. Unfortunately, being non self supporting means you MUST have sufficient soil to plant the stakes which is difficult in extremely rocky sites.

Practically, the Solitare is a pain in the [...]. It is actually more of a bivy sack than a tent. Even when it is correctly set up it is so small that you can expect to be touching tent walls on 3 if not 4 (or 5) sides at once. There is no space inside for any gear stowage and the vestibule is so low overhead that storing your boots out of the rain is about all that is possible. It takes great flexibility to get in and out of the Solitare without stretching the fabric unacceptably. Getting in and out of the tent in more than a light drizzle will ensure that you get soaking wet. Getting dressed within the Solitare is impossible.

I would buy this tent again, but only for situations that require extremely light gear and temperatures above 50F with virtually no rain.