Posts Tagged ‘Eureka Tents’
Our Annual Backpacking Adventure
My brother and I take a couple weeks off from work every summer and go backpacking through the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. We have a strong disdain for technology despite the fact that we both work for an IT company, so it’s a good opportunity to disconnect and reacquaint ourselves with nature. Since we carry our packs with us everywhere, we bring nothing but the essentials: backpacking tents, emergency rations, tools and a few other miscellaneous lightweight supplies.
It may seem irresponsible to head into the great outdoors with such minimal equipment, but my brother and I were both Eagle Scouts and spent time in the Marines, so we’re well versed in the ways of the wild. Much of our food comes from fishing, which is one of our favorite activities on these journeys. On particularly good days, we dry some of the fish to save for later when they may not be biting.
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.
What to Look For In a Camping Tent
For the novice camper, it might seem like any old tent will serve when you’re out on a camping trip, but this truly isn’t the case. Camping tents have a series of features and characteristics that make them uniquely suited to serve as outdoor tents. Rather than being made of thin fabric, a camping tent is sure to be made of a durable nylon. While this nylon can be extremely light, it is surprisingly resistant to tears, rips, and the kind of damage that can be incurred on tough, outdoor surfaces.
This special kind of tent should also feature a foot, which is an extra piece of nylon that fits snuggly on the bottom of the tent. Offering an extra layer of protection, it helps ensure against rips in the bottom of the tent. It should also feature mesh windows, allowing for ventilation and protection from many different kinds of potential insects. Lastly, your camping tent should always come equipped with a rain fly. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck outside in a downpour and having no way of keeping your tent dry!
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.
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.