Review of Eureka Tundraline Tents
There are products that do little more than copy or
reproduce the features competitors are doing; then there are those that
stand out above the rest. The Eureka Tundraline is of the latter category.
It isn’t too unique, but the fact that it was made for canoeists already
sets it apart. It also has parts and functions similar to most tents, it’s
just that this bright yellow beauty does almost everything better. You’d be
hard pressed to find a nicer, more effective tent to take along as you
explore the wilderness or navigate a rushing river.
You should be warned from the start that this piece of
paddler gear is anything but light. At 12 pounds, this bulkily packed tent
would make even the strongest hiker cry. So that puts backpacking out of the
question, but that’s not what the Tundraline was made for anyhow. What it
really does best, is hang with the fishes. Well, not really, but it’s great
in damp conditions. Setting up for one is no problem at all, as the outer
fly is permanently attached to the main body, making this its only totally
unique feature. Adding its sturdy aluminum poles, and staking it down takes
less than five minutes in a roaring thunderstorm; and even then, the
Stormshield rainfly prevents anything inside from getting wet.
There are twelve stake points, so not even the baddest
wolf will blow this tent down; that includes really strong gusts of wind.
Fully sealable vestibules also mean that there is a lot of room for gear and
none of it will suffer from the rain. There is so much room, in fact, that
rating this as a three person tent is a humble move on
The Tundraline is not exclusively made for canoe
camping as well. Even though its weight prevents you from backpacking, that
doesn’t mean car camping is out of the picture. In reality, this tent is
perfect for it. Everything becomes so much easier driving to camp with a
tent this easy to pitch. 12 pounds doesn’t even become a factor in this
scenario. If there’s one thing that could have made this tent even better,
it would be if it had windows that worked just as well in the rain. The lack
of additional ventilation makes the Tundraline a little uncomfortable in
summer nights. If you like sleeping in your underwear in an open sleeping
bag though, then this might not be a problem.
It is hard to find something better in the market in
terms of durability and weather protection alone. $300 dollars might be a
little expensive, but as it can effectively shelter a possible four people
with gear, then it’s well worth the price.
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