Eureka! Backcountry 4

This is a reasonable backpacking tent for 2 with gear, if you don't need a vestibule.

Positives:

* Setup is easy, since there are only 2 poles on the frame, attached with clips, that run diagonally from corner to corner. The fly uses a single pole that creates a small awning over the rear window and front door, allowing you to leave them partly open during rain for ventilation.

* The pole bag is sewn into the tent bag itself, which does help to prevent losing the bag, but makes it harder to split up the tent between two people...

* Poles are a stronger, lightweight 7000 series alumnium, which is a big improvement from the older aluminum they used to use and much better than the fiberglass in their three-season tents. (Not the same stuff as the 7075 Al in the high-end tents, though.)

* The door zips across the bottom, which makes it easier to keep it out of the way when climbing in and out of the tent.

* Color is a very neutral olive-green, which blends in extremely well.

Negatives:

* Size is 90" x 90", which is fine in the width for two, but could be longer for us tall people (I'm 6'3").

* The walls, while better than an A frame style Timberline, still angle somewhat toward the center and take away some of the usable floor space of the tent. One's sleeping bag is usually a little damp in the morning as a result...

* Stakes are cheap. They become pretzels on the first hard ground, and I replaced them after a couple trips with a stronger version.

Since I bought Eureka Backcountry 4 four years ago, I have always loved this tent. Eureka Backcountry 3-season, 2-pole dome tent offers solid comfort in sturdy shelters.

Not only it's roomy but also it's amazingly strong. I was so proud of it, when it successfully went through the extreme windy condition without falling over or being blown away on one of my backpacking trips.

The shock-corded 7000 series aluminum frame used in this tent IS the way to go; no fiberglass frame can beat it! I love the low-impact color, too. It looks nice and fits into the nature so well.

Lightweight, roomy, and nice ventilation are other good things about this tent. If you were going backpacking with 2 up to 4 people, you'd love it. With 2 or 3 people, you get PLENTY of room for everybody and all the gear, and yet there is still good ventilation. From my own experience, I think the tent serve the best for 2-3 people if you want space in the tent. However, my tent has fit 5 people without any problem in the past. I'm just glad that I got this tent at a great price!

The last couple of times I've taken this tent out has been in rather "adverse" conditions. One night on a peak we were pelted with hailstones, but slept comfortably. The tent showed very little (if any) noticable damage, and held up like a champ. Our last outing consised of 50 mph straight-line winds with guts up to 65 mph right on the edge of a caprock. Again, the Backcountry 4 held up like a champ with no bending and very little swaying or flapping. The contstruction was surprisingly strong. It fit both of us (my husband and I) with our packs comfortably. I would personally rate it as a 2 person tent if you plan on moving around any at all inside it, or if you're of "average to large" size. The set up is very quick and easy and without the rain fly allows for great star gazing (when it's not hailing!) It's roomy and strong with an average backpacking tent weight.

If you want a lot of square footage AND a light tent (very hard to find) it doesn’t get much better than the Backcountry 4. Yes, you can find the same amount of space, center height, light weight, and quality construction of the Backcountry Four in competing products, but not at anywhere near the low price. It has proven to have sufficient room for my wife, our two (large) dogs, and me. I can literally set this tent up with my eyes closed, in less than 3 minutes. We like this tent so much, we have purchased 2 more. Now we have three of these awesome tents. I cannot say enough good things about the (the original not the 'outfitter') Backcountry 4.