Archive for the ‘Eureka Tents’ Category
You’re Never Too Old for Family Bonding
This fall my eldest child started high school. I knew he’d start wanting to spend less time with the family, so I decided to make the most of the time we had left. I planned a family camping trip a few weeks before school started, for me, my husband and our three kids. Before my eldest could balk that he was “too old” for these trips, I pointed out that I’m not so old that I don’t remember my teenage years, and if he wanted more independence he’d be wise to humor me.
With minimal sulking we set off to a nearby National Park and set up camp. For the next few days we bonded over hiking, fishing, and roasting marshmallows over the fire- all the corny, stereotypical activities that make camping so fun. My eldest even got into the spirit of things by teaching his younger siblings camp songs. At night we all piled into the Eureka family tent and slept soundly, worn out from the day’s activities. The week went by all too quickly, but I’m glad we had the time to make lasting family memories.
The Eureka Titan
Featuring state-of-the-art materials and an unsurpassed design, the Eureka Titan is one of the most advanced camping tents on the market today. The tent’s spacious 128 square foot interior offers enough space for the entire family. Officially, the Eureka Titan can sleep eight people. But if you want a little break from the kids, all you have to do is set up the removable divided and you can create rooms within the tent. To add more space inside, you can even remove the side walls.
With six large windows, the Titan facilitates a refreshing cross breeze, or you can close up the openings to create an insulated enclosure. Attaching the fly and floor fabric adds more protection from UV rays and the eliminate while reinforcing the entire structure. Setting up tents can be quite a chore, but with the Titan’s color-coded system, putting up your tent has never been easier.
Escaping Insect Bites
Last summer my family and I went camping on the banks of the Columbia River and it was a disaster. Ok, that may be a little drastic. We did spend four days on the water, the weather was gorgeous and we had some quality family bonding. The trouble came from the nasty insects—mainly mosquitoes—which were rampant at night.
Every morning we all awoke to a host of new mosquito bites, and by the time we left, our truck had several emptied bottles of calamine lotion. This year we’re returning to the same campground, but I’m going to be prepared this time around. I’ve purchased a Eureka screen tent, offering us a safe haven from the perils of the riverside insects.
Effectively Setting Up Your Tent
If you’ve ever spent any time among tents, you know that every part and accessory must be functioning well in order for the tent to work its best. To that end, if you’ve lost or misplaced your stakes, it’s not that sound of an idea to use the tent. One strong breeze, after all, could take your Eureka family tent anywhere, including in the woods, off the trail, or even in the water.
You’ll also want to make sure your tent poles are exactly right. If even just one section is bent or unusable, it can severely impair the shape of your tent and your ability to properly set it up. In terms of effectively setting up your tent, improperly sized poles will be just as ineffective as damaged poles. Before you place your stakes, be sure that the ground is solid and that there are any hazards in the vicinity, such as perilous looking branches.
Repair the Tear
A tiny tear in the fabric of one of your Eureka tents might not seem all that important at first, but these small issues have a way of compounding if they are ignored. In time, that tear will transform into a sizeable rip and eventually a gaping hole that will make your tent void in terms of insulation and protection from bugs. That doesn’t mean you need to rush out and buy a new tent tomorrow, however. Tent repair is often simple and practical.
Begin repairing a small tear by covering the affected spot with cloth repair tape. If you have a canvas tent you’ll want to use taffeta material. On the other hand, ripstop nylon should be used to patch a nylon tent. Then apply a seam sealer to both sides of the material. Larger tears could require sewing or at the very least some serious attention with repair tape.
Selecting a Lightweight Structure
Portability is key when choosing backpacking equipment, especially if you’re making a long haul through arduous terrain. Toting massive quantities of supplies just isn’t an option, so it’s best to pick and choose wisely. Make a list of the items you just can’t live without, and be sure to top the list with a lightweight tent.
The main selling point for a backpacking tent is its portability. After all, you’ll be hauling it around all day before setting it up at night. Ease of use is a secondary but also immensely important consideration. No one wants to wrestle around with a tent after a long day on the trail. When scanning the market for tents, factor in the total weight – not just the trail weight, which often doesn’t include the stakes and poles.
Summer RVing with The Family
This summer my family and I went on a RV trip around the country. My kids are starting to get older, and I figured that in a couple of years they would protest to spending an entire summer vacation with their parents. We hit all of the major tourist destinations, including: the State of Liberty, Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore.
While we were on our stint in the South, the bugs were unbearable. We would often take a reprieve from the confines of the RV to eat and camp under the stars, but the large Bayou mosquitoes made this difficult. After a couple days of suffering, I decided to invest in a Eureka screen house. Not only did it keep the bugs away, but it also provided shade from the blazing summer sun.
Keeping the Bugs at Bay
If you’ve ever been camping, you can relate to this experience: you set up a beautiful spread for lunch and within seconds hundreds of flies descend upon it. The last thing you want to do after hiking for miles and struggling to prepare a meal in the wild is to try to fend off countless insects. Not only is this unappetizing, but it is also unsanitary.
One of the best ways to eliminate this problem is through the use of a Eureka screen tent. The structure is large enough to house an entire picnic table and has breathable mesh to prevent congestion. After using one on my last camping trip, I’m never going without it again.
Organization Will Make You a Happy Camper
As a veteran of dozens of family camping trips, I’ve learned a few tricks over the years that make the process go more smoothly. Perhaps the biggest piece of advice I can share with newbie camping families is that privacy is underrated. Until you actually get out there in nature for a few days, you might not see a problem with four or more people sharing a single small living space. After a while, it pays to have a divider to section the kids off from the adults.
Bear in mind also that the floor space inside your Eureka tents will be at a premium. Think of all the hiking supplies, shoes, fishing gear and cosmetic items that might litter the floor of the tent. I like to travel with a camping organizer – a bag made of mesh netting that you can hang from the tent wall. This will keep your most important supplies such as a first-aid kit and a flashlight within easy reach.
In a Chaotic Tent, Organization Matters
For me, a camping trip provides an opportunity to reconnect with my family and clear my head of the stresses that come with a high-pressure job. For a few blissful days, I can live as Mother Nature intended, free and uninhibited by schedules, deadlines and – worst of all – mandatory meetings. My first few times camping, I figured out how to maximize my enjoyment.
First of all, I outfitted our Eureka Titan tent with a gear loft. This nondescript mesh device collects and stores all of our small essentials that would otherwise roll around loose on the floor of the tent. Any experienced camper knows that the tent floor is a chaotic space where sleeping bags and luggage are strewn about with little regard for order. Keeping the bug spray, first aid kit and other necessities in a handy “overhead container” is an invaluable timesaver.