Showing posts with label camping equipment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camping equipment. Show all posts

3/11/2012

ABO Gear Tripod Shelter Review

ABO Gear Tripod Shelter
Average Reviews:

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To anyone who complained about how difficult it is to set up, Eagle Scout or not, I can only say that you're not doing it the right way. Or you're too weak to do it. Either way, if it's done right, it's no harder than tying boots snugly.
Hint: when you're ready to bow the 1st pole, set the ferruled end on the ground, vertically between your feet while you're standing up and making sure no dirt can fill it (I set it on a sandal instead of right on the dirt). Pull the fabric down systematically, until the ring passes the ferruled end. Grab the fabric and the pole about 2-3 inches from the end with one hand like you're choking it, making sure the fabric does not slide out again. Lift the pole off the ground so you can see what you're doing. With the other hand, slide the pin into the pole. It's that easy. Repeat the process for the 2nd and 3rd poles.
It took me less than 20 minutes from start to finish, all by myself. The key is to plant the ferruled end of the pole securely on the ground while you work the fabric with both of your free hands.
It's the best shade I've ever bought. The other shade that I own, a 10'x10' type, weighs 50 lbs and is quite large in a package, compared to this 11-lbs shade that fits in a small nylon sack. The 2008 model comes with heavy-duty poles which is an improvement to the smaller diameter poles of the earlier model. There is no way these poles will split, unlike the earlier version, as reported by some.

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Enjoy the great outdoors while remaining almost totally protected from the sun's harmful UV rays with the Tripod Shelter from ABO Gear. The tripod shelter is easily erected, durable, and stands up to even the strongest winds, offering users shade and protection from the elements. The entire structure weighs less than 10 pounds, and collapses down into a convenient carrying back with backpack-style straps. The shelter's triangular design measures 12 feet to a side and has a center height of eight feet, creating a spacious interior for the whole family to enjoy. Constructed of 150D, PU-coated nylon, the shelter features adjustable webbing tension strap and heavy-duty shock-corded poles. For maximum stability in windy conditions, the tripod sun shelter additionally includes conical sand pockets, pegs, and guy ropes.
UV Protection Tips
Avoid outdoor activities in the middle of the day when the sun is highest
Choose outdoor areas shaded from direct sun and open sky
Wear well-designed clothing that covers the body, arms, and legs
Wear a broad-brimmed hat which shades the face, ears, and back of the neck
Wear well-designed sunglasses
Use at least SPF15 sunscreen
Cover up young children

About ABO Gear ABO (Australian Beach Outdoor) began in 1995, with the humble goal of finding a solution to the common beach towel. The company called its first product the ABO mat--an oversized cotton mat with four stakes to prevent it from blowing away in the wind which folded into a convenient fanny pack. This initial product launch led to other popular items, such as beach tents, picnic blankets, beach hammocks, and more. In developing new products, the company's first aim is always to create gear that minimizes ABO's carbon footprint. ABO gear remains a fast-growing company with products in the beach, outdoor, pet, gift, and travel goods market.

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1/17/2012

ABO Gear Instent Shelter Review

ABO Gear Instent Shelter
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I purchased the Abo Gear Instent as a beach shelter for our infant daughter. Its first use at the beach in cool spring weather went well. The Instent was fast to set up and take down. Our baby enjoyed exploring the tent and soon fell asleep. Not much room though for adults to sit comfortably and the ceiling height prevents use of chairs.
Our second experience with the Instent was very different. At the beach on a sunny day in June, the Instent got very hot inside despite a normal ocean breeze and the windows open. Baby was sweating and crying so we took her out. During this time, one of the corner poles kept collapsing and I had to push it back into its socket. None of the other shelters on the beach seemed to be having problems. On take down, one of the plastic poles (maybe the same one) broke from its socket and tore into the fabric of the tent, rendering our Instent useless.
I contacted Abo Gear, and despite a quick response and a promise of, "We'll take care of the problem", I have not received a replacement or a status in sixty days. I contacted Abo Gear again and they responded with questions about the weather on the day it broke. It seems Abo Gear is looking for a way out of honoring their warranty.
On a recent Instent-less trip to the beach, a friend purchased a Lil' Nursery tent for us. It is smaller, cheaper and better ventilated than the Instent and worked fine on the beach in the July sun, though it does require a few minutes to set up. I wish I had bought this first and saved eighty bucks on the Instent. Since Abo Gear customer service never came through for me, I don't know whether I had a lemon Instent or whether there are major quality problems with this product. Based on my experience with Abo Gear and the tent's performance, I give them both the lowest rating. If by chance I receive a replacement, I will update this review.

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Up in seconds, down in a flash. The Instent has a unique instant pop up frame mechanism. To erect, simply open out and pull on cord.

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12/29/2011

Eureka K-2 XT 8'11-Foot by 7'8 -Foot Three-Person Four-Season Expedition Tent Review

Eureka K-2 XT 8'11-Foot by 7'8 -Foot Three-Person Four-Season Expedition Tent
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This has to be my favorite Eureka 4-season tent. If I only had one tent for everything (yeah, right!), this would be the one. The geodesic dome shape (4 aircraft aluminum poles) is incredibly strong...maybe the strongest of all tent designs. Ripstop fabric with extra waterproof coating will stop rain, snow and ice and the unique guy-line arrangement gives me some flexibilty when anchoring this tent. Like my Alpenlite 2XT, this tent comes with two vestibules and the rear vesti can be accessed from inside the tent via a second/back door. I wasn't sure about all the vents at first but I'm finding that they make the tent a good choice for warmer weather, too! I've posted a bunch of pictures for this tent so take a look. If there is a down side to this tent...it's a bit heavy for a backpack. The fix for this?...I fall back on Boy Scout training and divide the components. I'll carry the tent body and my friend Sharon Sharalike gets the rainfly, poles and stakes. An outstanding tent!!!

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Eureka's most roomiest and popular 4-season tent, the K-2 XT geodesic dome-style tent is built to handle the most extreme and demanding winter conditions. It features two doors and two vestibules (measuring 12 and 6.25 square foot in area) for additional storage as well as protection from the weather when entering/exiting the tent. The larger front vestibule is hooped with an external pole for strength and uses quick-release buckles for an easy set up. The durable Stormshield Plus polyester fly includes a large, clear PU window panel. This tent has two doors (with windows), two scoop vents, vestibule vents, two large sidewall vents, and two roof vents. Eureka's patented High/Low doors vent from the top and/or bottom provide even more options for moderating air flow.
The 8.5 mm 7001-T6 aluminum frame (four poles) has a specially formulated cold weather shockcord, and the clips and post and grommet corner attachments promise a fast set up when faced with extreme weather conditions. All fly and floor seams taped and factory sealed for superior weather protection. Other features include reflective web, storm guyouts for nighttime visibility, 14-pocket organizer wall, four gear loft loops, and one flashlight loop
Specifications:
Area: 52 square feet plus 12- and 6.5-square foot vestibules
Floor size: 9 feet by 7 feet, 6 inches
Center height: 4 feet
Wall fabrics: 1.9-ounce permeable nylon/40D no-see-um
Floor fabrics: 1.9-ounce Taffeta nylon with 3000mm coating
Fly fabrics: StormShield Plus Ripstop Polyester Taffeta with 1800mm coating
Pack size: 8 by 30 inches
Weight: 11 pounds, 6 ounces

About Eureka Though the exact year is unknown, Eureka’s long history begins prior to 1895 in Binghamton, New York, where the company still resides today. Then known as the Eureka Tent & Awning Company, its first wares were canvas products--most notably, Conestoga wagon covers and horse blankets for nineteenth century American frontiersmen--as well as American flags, store awnings, and camping tents.
The company increased production of its custom canvas products locally throughout the 1930s and during the 1940 and even fabricated and erected the IBM "tent cities" just outside Binghamton. The seven acres of tents housed thousands of IBM salesmen during the company’s annual stockholders meeting, which had since outgrown its previous locale. In the 1940s, with the advent of World War II and the increased demand for hospital ward tents, Eureka expanded operations and began shipping tents worldwide. Ultimately, upon the post-war return of the GIs and the resultant housing shortage, Eureka turned its attention to the home front during the 1950s by supplying awnings for the multitude of mobile homes that were purchased.
In 1960, Eureka’s new and innovative Draw-Tite tent, with its practical, free standing external frame, was used in a Himalayan Expedition to Nepal by world renowned Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person documented to summit Mt. Everest only six years earlier. In 1963, Eureka made history during its own Mt. Everest ascent, with more than 60 of its tents sheltering participants from fierce 60+ mph winds and temperatures reaching below -20°F during the first all American Mt. Everest Expedition.
For backpackers and families, Eureka introduced its legendary Timberline tent in the 1970s. Truly the first StormShield design, this completely self-supporting and lightweight backpacking tent became one of the most popular tents the entire industry with sales reaching over 1 million by its ten year anniversary.
Eureka tents have also traveled as part of several historic expeditions, including the American Women’s Himalayan Expedition to Annapurna I in 1978 and the first Mt. Everest ascents by a Canadian and American woman in 1986 and 1988. In recent history, tents specially designed and donated by Eureka sheltered Eric Simonson and his team on two historic research expeditions to Mount Everest, this time in a quest for truth regarding the 1924 attempted summit of early English explorers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine. During the 1999 expedition, the team made history finding the remains of George Mallory, but the complete mystery remained unsolved. Returning in 2001 to search for more clues, the team found amazing historical artifacts which are now on display at the Smithsonian.
Amazon.com Tent Guide Selecting a Tent Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Expect the Worst In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.
Three- and Four-Season Tents For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.
For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.
Domes and Tunnels Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.
Size Matters Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.
Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.


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3/21/2011

Coleman 4-Pole Sun Shade Review

Coleman 4-Pole Sun Shade
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Could use 2 more poles. Stakes are plastic - what a joke :)
Otherwise very handy to get out of sun.

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A great choice for outdoor parties, sporting events, or a day at the lake, Coleman Sun Shades feature UVGuard fabric to provide excellent protection from the sun's ultraviolet rays. The 4-Pole Sun Shade measures 14'x12', with a center height of 7'6". The Shade sets up easily on strong 22mm & 19mm steel poles. UVGuard 185T 75D polyester taffeta fabric.

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