When I hear the word Eureka!, the first thing that pops into my head is quality camping equipment that is built to last. Eureka! has been supplying outdoor enthusiasts from mild to wild with everything for a relaxing weekend camping trip, to backpacking for 12 days.
Eureka!‘s Taron Basecamp 4 tent is based off of the basecamp backpacking series of tents, but better. It is considered a four person, three season tent, meaning that it is suitable for moderate spring through fall weather. Innovative features exclusive to this model are the E!Luminate System & the E! Media Center. The E!Luminate System consists of 2 reflective sail panels that attach inside the top of your tent, reflecting light down from a battery powered lantern to the tent floor. Eureka! has found that by using this feature, it can increase light inside your tent by a very noticeable amount. The E! Media Center is equally cool, allowing you to position and stow a tablet or any electronic viewing device above your sleeping bag to watch a movie while enjoying the great outdoors. Using high quality materials, the wall of the tent is made from 70D polyester taffeta and the floor is made out of 150D polyester oxford with a 3000mm coat. The mesh is made from 40D no-see-um and the rain fly of 68D polyester rip-stop with an 1800mm coat.
Setting up this tent started out fairly simple until we got to the rain fly. As an avid Boy Scout in my youth I rarely have to get the instructions out to figure out how to setup a tent. However, the rain fly had me stumped. After reading the instructions and seeing how to insert the pole, snap down the fly, then apply the guy lines, the rain fly design finally made sense. The only other slight hiccup was the vestibule pole on the front of the tent. After reading that it needed to be placed at a 45 degree angle we were set. This tent is very well vented. The hi/low option on the vestibule on the rear of the tent really allowed for good ventilation. The added ability of being able to turn the rear vestibule into an awning is a plus as well. However, the telescoping poles are not included to allow you to do this. Having plenty of ventilation panels on this tent without the fly on would be perfect for that mild spring or summer night to gaze at the stars with your significant other. It also helps to cut down condensation in the tent so that you don‘t wake up to a soggy sleeping bag. My wife and I found this 4 person tent to be quite roomy. Even with our queen-sized air mattress we had plenty of room for gear inside the tent and even more in the vestibule area. There‘s plenty of pockets and an included gear loft you could attach if you like. However, it wasn‘t needed during our brief test period.
Our stay in the Taron Basecamp 4 was really quite enjoyable. The standing height inside is right at 5 feet but there is plenty enough room for a guy like me at 5‘8” to move around comfortably. I really liked how compact the tent was in its bag. It measures about 8” by 24” so it won‘t take a lot of cargo room in your vehicle. The MSRP of $319.90 is probably priced more for the avid camper who values a highly functional tent made out of quality materials. Buying a tent is an investment, if you follow proper maintenance this tent should last you for many years.
Check out the Eureka! online store for more information and check out the Taron Basecamp line along with other fine camping products.
– Ryan
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Eureka Basecamp 4 tent for free from Johnson Outdoors in consideration for review publication.
This tent was Kansas weather tested this weekend. Half an inch of rain in 1.5 hrs with straight line winds. While other tents collapsed or collected water, not one ounce made it inside this tent. This tent is strong like bull!
the one thing that wasn’t mentioned & i believe is true with the 4 (it definitely is with the 6) is that there aren’t mesh doors, so if you want to see outside the tent easily with the fly on (which most people have on, especially overnight – if not all the time), you’re out of luck. so basically no air flow & no views out the doors.
True, however for ventilation with the fly on most open the fly up to direct airflow. I bought a small battery powered fan last summer and I was plenty comfortable with the fan. The tent vents very well into the fly so no moisture was present inside.