Eureka High Camp 2 Tent [True Winter Tent]

Eureka High Camp 2 tent is a winter tent with quality aluminum poles, two vestibules, two doors, a solid window, no less than 12 storage pockets, and much more. Keep reading.

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Key features

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What type of tent is this High Camp 2 Tent

Here you have a new tent on the market built as a semi-freestanding nicely balanced and stable dome structure. The inner tent is fully freestanding but there are two vestibules that must be staked to be functional. This is a 2-layer design with the inner tent that is all taffeta, plus a full-coverage fly.

The tent has two asymmetrical vestibules with 12.4 + 5.2 ft² (1.2 + 0.5 m²) of the covered area and numerous wall pockets, so you have plenty of options for the storage of the gear.

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Who is it for

Space-wise, this tent offers 40.4 ft² (3.7 m²) of the inner floor area, plus the two vestibules so the total protected area is 58 ft² (5.4 m²). This gives 29 ft² (2.7 m²) per person, so I would say this is a really luxurious winter tent for two people.

Seasons-wise, they describe it as a 4-season tent and this is a typical mistake in the terminology used with such tents. In fact, this is a true winter tent and tent for cold weather conditions. But this does not make it perfect for warm weather camping, there is no mesh here, this is all taffeta although it has vents. This is not a convertible design which you have in their another Eureka Mountain Pass 2 tent which is indeed a 4-season tent.

In general, this is a strong construction with poles creating 7 intersections, aerodynamic and relatively low, designed to protect you in the harshest conditions. The small sections on the ceiling can be zipped completely to preserve the warmth. These are all features you would expect from a proper winter tent. So it is best to check for something else if you need a summer camping tent; besides, this tent is simply a too expensive item for summer camping.

Weight-wise, with its 9 lb 8 oz (4.3 kg) this is everything but a light tent. But it has so many features and it is strongly built so the weight is indeed justified.

The packed size is very good and it is practically the same as in some of its top competitors shown in the comparison table below. It can be easily attached to a pack, but see the weight.

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Materials

The poles

There are 5 poles here, four of them create the strong dome structure and the fifth is the fly pole that creates head space in the vestibule. These are all lightweight and durable shock-corded 9 and 9.5 mm DAC aluminum poles, so these are among the best on the market.

The fabric

The inner body fabric is 70D 190T breathable nylon taffeta. The fly fabric is 75D 190T but this is StormShield polyester ripstop with 1800 mm coating. Mesh sections are 40D polyester no-see-um. The floor fabric is 70D 190T nylon taffeta with 5000 mm coating.

Note that you have a cold weather solid PU window in the front larger vestibule. It allows for visibility and lightens tent’s interior.

Ventilation

This tent relies on vents and you have them two on the fly. They are matched with two zippered sections on the ceiling where you have panels with zippers. This means that you can get to the vents from inside and close them when needed. Those ceiling openings can be closed when you feel cold.

But the inner tent’s material is breathable and one of the doors is also a double-layer structure so you have mesh plus panels, and you have a patented high/low venting system on vestibules (U.S. Patent No. 5,765,584). The rear door is only with a panel.

Other features

• The tent has an incredible number of storage pockets, 12 in total.
• The package contains 7 plastic 9 inches long stakes, plus 10 skewers 7 inches long.
• Poles attachment is through clips, carabiners, grommets. There are no sleeves here.

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Eureka brand

This brand has a long history that goes back prior to 1895 in Binghamton, NY, where it still resides. They started with tents and they are still building them as you see from the example shown in this text.

Sir Edmund Hillary used Eureka’s Draw-Tite tent in his 1960 Nepal expedition. Then in 1963 Eureka brand organized its own Mt. Everest ascent with more than 60 of its tents used by participants in the first all-American Mt. Everest Expedition.

The StormShield design which you have in this High Pass 2 tent was introduced in their Timberline tent in the 1970s (this tent is still on the market).

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Specifications

• Declared capacity: 2 people.
• Weight: 9 lb 8 oz (4.3 kg).
• Dimensions: 93 x 58 in (236 x 147 cm).
• Inner floor area: 40.4 ft² (3.7 m²).
• Vestibules area: 12.4 + 5.2 ft² (1.2 + 0.5 m²).
• Total area: 58 ft² (5.4 m²).
• Total area per person: 29 ft² (2.7 m²).
• Packed size: 20 x 8 in (51 x 20 cm).
• Interior height: 44 in (112 cm).

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Eureka High Camp 2 Tent vs Competitors

In the table below you can see how this High Camp 2 tent compares with the other two top-notch tents that are more or less 4-season items because of their convertible design. In view of its price, if you are on a budget it is best to check the Slumberjack tent which is in the table, so please follow the links for more.

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Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons

Here is my rating against the standard set of criteria used for all the tents presented here in the site:

If you need more options for cold weather, please check my list with best winter camping tents where this tent is also included. A nice and very affordable alternative is this Snugpak Journey Duo Tent. But if you need something for summer camping, check this one from the same brand, the Eureka Summer Pass 2 Person Tent.

Note that this is not a sponsored text and I am not paid by the brand. Please use the comment box below in the case of questions or comments.