Eureka Apex 2XT

[Mellow]

I have the discontinued version of this tent, the 2XTA, which has aluminum poles.

The rest of the features are pretty much the same.

Setup
This Tent sets up fast and the rainfly has different connectors on each end so it's impossible to put it on backwards.

Rain Protection
We set up our tents in an area with sprinklers once and they came on at 2:30 in the morning - but, that's another story - the tent stayed completely dry.

Pack Size
The tent packs small at just over 18"x7"

Notes
The only drawbacks to this tent compared to the REI Half-Dome 2 that I was using is that Eureka does not have a footprint for this tent, you have to buy a generic one or a tarp and also the REI tent had a built-in upper gear loft.

Value
The one I purchased was $100 after rebate, previous year models can be found for an additional $20-$30 savings.

[number9]

Hey Joe, I have the Apex 3XTA. Have you ever had any issues with the pins at each bottom corner of the tent causing the tent damage while in the stuff bag or a compression bag? Those look to me to be a potential source of wear / holes in the tent body or floor.

I am thinking of removing them and storing them in a pill bottle or something of the like when breaking the tent down - but that would open the possibility of loosing them, rendering the tent useless. Hmmm, I may just pick up some rubber vacuum plugs to fit over the end of the pins.

Also, I am thinking of installing a piece of foam in the bottom of the stuff bag for the tent poles. Or maybe find some sort of plastic tube container to carry the poles in, again with foam in the bottom. A drop or two of the tent poles to the ground could damage the shock cords - or break them, again rendering the tent useless.

I set my tent up in the garage the night I got it and seam-sealed the crap out of it and the fly. I know the inside of the seams are factory taped, but I just wanted to be double sure.

[Trailace]

Also, I am thinking of installing a piece of foam in the bottom of the stuff bag for the tent poles. Or maybe find some sort of plastic tube container to carry the poles in, again with foam in the bottom. A drop or two of the tent poles to the ground could damage the shock cords - or break them, again rendering the tent useless.
number9 I don't pack my poles with my tent I have them in their own bag and pack then in the top of my duffel bag. The cord in those poles seem to be made out of some tuff material, only thing you need to remember to do is start in the middle when you break them down.

[Mellow]

On mine, I pack it in one of the Cabela's rip cord duffels, not the bag it came with but that shouldn't be a problem. It does allow a little more space to pack the tent in.

When I pack the tent, the fly goes in first then I slide the poles in. The main tent, with the rings/pins, I grab in the center and start packing it there. The pins are the last thing to go in and that way I cn position the pins to do the least harm.

I'm not crazy about the ring/pin setup but apparently, there are many tents that are designed this way - must be a reason.

I've only had the tent a short time but have made good use of it and haven't seen any damage from the pins.

Hope that helps.

[number9]

I just couldn't get over the thought of the pins wearing my tent fabric, so I cut some vacuum hose to slip over the ends and keep them safe.

[number9]

Oh yeah, something else I was going to add. I got the tent loft with my tent. The tent has small loops on the ceiling for the loft. The loft itself has a strip of material (string like) at each corner to run through and tie the loft in the tent. I thought this would be a hassell to do each time and get all 4 corners the same to keep the loft level. Also, I can imagine the loft coming loose in the middle of the night and a flashlight smacking me in the forehead (or the "boys"). I picked up 4 small carabiners at Walmart to solve this. I will sew the strip material on the loft corners into a loop with each one being the same length. Then I can use the carabiners to hang the loft making it quick to install and remove.

[Mellow]

That's cool, I may try the hoses on mine.

The loft I have I just tied and it has stayed in place but it also seems to be too big so I'm not sure I got the right one.

Great Ideas!

[2001concours]

I bought one of these last fall for a week long camping trip. I really wasn't impressed by the tent at all. I have been spoiled by single wall tents with a standard rainfly. The tents I like have the ability to zip up the windows from inside the tent and regulate the internal temperature better than the 2XT. I was camping where it would still be in the 80s in the evening, getting down to 50 or so by 3am. So I had the tent set, but would be either sweating or freezing. Middle of the night is no time to unzip the door, then scoot your butt over to the small vestibule, then unzip that, then walk around to the side of the tent just to loosen the side guy line that pulls the fly away from the side of the tent.

So, after a few nights of this, I wound up at the rally hotel, sleeping on the floor of a buddy's room.

Come spring I will most likely sell it on eBay once I locate a suitable replacement.

Best thing about the tent was it could fit into my saddlebag along with a sleeping bag and fleece bag liner and small thermorest pad.

[JCS]

I don't have the Apex but I have gear lofts in 2 other tents. I just tied them in and leave them there. No problem.

I also have the little pegs for the poles on both my tents. After several years use have had no wear problems with them.

[Mellow]

I think Eureka even has a tent, and there are probably others out there too, that you can set up from the inside and is single-walled. That would be cool if you got caught in heavy rain.

I've been pretty lucky and haven't got caught in any significant rain when needing to set up a tent. And, living in Texas, it's nice to leave the rain fly off and get some extra ventilation.

One time I was caught in an afternoon summer rain in South Texas after the tent was setup. I was not getting any water in the tent but it was so humid and there wasn't any air moving, that was hot...

[max]

Ive used my 2XT for a year now with only one complaint, the fly will shed water into the tent if its wet out and you forget to shake it before you unzip the fly.

Ive camped in it in weather ranging from 30 degree spring to 100 degree summer with rainstorms mixed in both. without much if any discomfort

one thing, you have to stake the fly well, preferably at least 4 times besides the two endpoints. mine stood up to a pretty severe mountaintop thunderstorm that sent other tents,flys and campers into the woods and the shelters.

I bought some MSR groundhog stakes instead of the skinny ones that came with it. and theyre really good and tough, they hold well and lots easier to get back out than the plastic toy stakes or the skinny metal ones that come with the tent.

if I had to buy another one,I would probably get a 3XTA now for the extra room and it would still fit in my drybag.
the 2XT is room enough for One biker and gear, barely, with the tankbag,boots,mess gear, and onepiece riding suit. the side bags from my concours with my clothing in them sit nicely outside underneath the vestibule.
2 people and gear would be way crowded.,ltho I know of couples who manage it.
my wife doesnt camp and thats way closer than I intend to be to anyone else

[KnoxGreenV]

I just purchased this tent off of Amazon for around $68.00, but I don't know which one I'm getting. Probably not the smartest purchase I've ever blindly made, but every review I've seen has been positive no matter which year tent it was. This picture shows it as a yellow Eureka Apex 2XT adventure. If it turns out it has fiberglass poles instead of aluminum should I start looking for some aluminum poles to replace the stock poles? Is one really better than the other? Just curious... I'd hate to put this thing up and have a pole snap in the middle of the night.

[badger]

Just curious... I'd hate to put this thing up and have a pole snap in the middle of the night.

Sounds like you got a great deal!! I wouldn't worry about it ... just get out and camp!!

[STCPO]

I just purchased this tent off of Amazon for around $68.00, but I don't know which one I'm getting. Probably not the smartest purchase I've ever blindly made, but every review I've seen has been positive no matter which year tent it was. This picture shows it as a yellow Eureka Apex 2XT adventure. If it turns out it has fiberglass poles instead of aluminum should I start looking for some aluminum poles to replace the stock poles? Is one really better than the other? Just curious... I'd hate to put this thing up and have a pole snap in the middle of the night.

You got a great deal at $68. It will have fiberglass poles, but I would not worry about anything snapping. I have the same tent. It fit my budget nicely and gets plenty of use with no issues so far. My only complaint is the bright yellow. Sort of makes being stealthy a little hard sometimes :)

Cheers,
Pete

[Ironheadziggy76]

Like others have said, I don't think you will have a concern with the poles. I have a tent with fiberglass poles that is 20 years old. One of the poles got stepped on and is cracked, but is held together with tightly wrapped electrical tape. I need to repair it correctly, but it still works fine as a spare tent.

Great price on the tent!

[KnoxGreenV]

Excellent! Mine arrives Wednesday! Can't wait to go on our first trip of the year! Now if the weather will just decide what it wants to do.... :tent7:

[Indianscout]

This will be the second year with mine and so far am very pleased with it. Was lucky enough to get mine for the $68.00 deal also. Was a bit reluctant as it seemed almost too good to be true sort of deal but was smiling ear to ear when it showed up. Looks like I should have lots of good years usage off of it.

[DBrent]

I've had my Eureka 2XT for two seasons now, and I have to say, I prefer my Coleman Sundome 3--which is what you have seen me using at a couple of campouts.

The Eureka is a fine tent, and the fact that it fits into my panniers makes it pretty darned convenient to travel with. The footprint of 5X7 works for me and my gear, but there is not a lot of extra room. What I find inconvenient is the vestibule. You have to crawl through the vestibule to get into the tent. Likewise, it's the same exiting the tent, and in the morning, when there has been some dew on the ground and tent, I usually get a little moisture on my shoulders and back getting out of the thing.

The Coleman Sundome 3 is a slightly larger tent with a 7X7 footprint and a slightly taller ceiling height. It is easy quick to set up and to get in and out of. The way the door and window are constructed, it's easy to alter the ventilation from inside. It's a simple one-wall tent with a rain fly.

Now here is the test that I know absolutely no one here has seen or even contemplated:

At a family reunion on my brother's farmette, I took both tents--I slept in the Eureka and my other brother slept in the Coleman. They were sitting side by side. In the morning, there was fog and plenty of dew on everything. It was taking a while for things to dry out. So, when Barry was ready to start giving airplane rides, I asked him if he would do his run up in front of those tents to providing a 145 hp blast of propeller wind on the tents.

http://www.dbrentmiller.com/images/family-reunion-2011-51.jpg

The tents were pretty secured. The Eureka was nearly flattened on the ground and the Coleman was standing up, just shuddering in the wind!

My brother Brian, who used the Coleman and is looking for a tent, said, "I know which one I'm getting."

The airplane-generated wind did not sufficiently dry either tent, but they were less saturated from the dew. :)

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. ... and using the Coleman.

Brent

PS Barry and his wife, Karen, do a lot of airplane camping. They were the subject of one of my YouTube videos, "Camping out at the airport."

http://youtu.be/PR0BJSo_Tzw