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Eureka! Apex 2XT

rated 4.5 of 5 stars

The Apex 2XT has been discontinued. If you're looking for something new, check out the best three-season tents for 2024.

photo: Eureka! Apex 2XT three-season tent

Great hot-weather tent, fast setup, and good weather protection.

Pros

  • Breathable
  • Weather-protected
  • Fast setup

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Bulky
  • Poor protection from windblown precipitation
  • Not for winter

My girlfriend and I have used this tent to overland camp and backpack in Colorado, New Mexico, and West Texas, mostly in hot weather, and it's been great! I've also used it to motorcycle camp in central New Mexico in the Sacramento Mountains, and it does well at higher elevations where the wind gets chilly.

Setup: The tent unpacks and pitches very quickly. The longest part of setup is assembling and feeding the poles, but that only takes 2-3 minutes. The rain fly buckles right on, and the stakes hold it down well.

Stability/Protection/Ventilation: The tent is very stable, and doesn't feel like it will blow away in high winds. The rain fly covers it nicely without causing it to get stuffy like some tents do. It's nice to wake up in as well, and stays very dry by routing the condensation from breath and dew down the inside of the rain fly to the stakes. The downside is that driving rain or snow can blow up and under the rain fly with high gusts, and the netting on the sides doesn't keep precipitation out. It does dry out very quickly when the rain passes, though.

Size/Footprint: The tent is very roomy, and it has more than enough room for two people and the entirety of their gear in the backcountry. It is very tall inside, and is comfortable to sit up in. The actual ground footprint is small as well, which makes it nice for camping on uneven terrain, since finding large level spots can be difficult.

Packability/Weight: This is one area the tent is weak in. At a little over 5lbs and 24" long by 10" across in its stuff sack, the tent takes up a lot of room in a backpack, and it's definitely not ultralight. It can be mitigated by spreading it amongst the hiking group, but it still is not a small tent to carry. On a motorcycle, it cinches nicely to the top of one of my panniers, and doesn't take up a ton of space, but it's still large and bulky for technical terrain.

Overall, a very good option for a budget tent, and definitely workable as a backpacking tent for short trips. If you plan to hike dozens of miles a day, or ride a motorcycle through thousands of miles of off-road, technical terrain, though, a lighter and smaller tent is definitely something to look elsewhere for.

Background

12-15 trips over 6 years.

Source: received it as a personal gift

Solid, durable, versatile tent.


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I bought the XT Aluminum in 2004 and STILL have it in 2018. That's FOURTEEN years.

I guess it's not for sale anymore, so I guess this is more of a "tribute" review.

It's not the one in the website's pictures, but the one here.
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There are no tears, nothing is broken, and nothing is wrong with it.* The aluminum poles are still intact. I've probably used it once a year—from Burning Man to Tennessee foothills in heavy, heavy spring rainstorm storms to west Texas deserts in July. Wow—so many memories...

I have never backpacked with this, so I don't know if it's considered heavy.

Easy to set up! I tried to pack it up nicely in the first few years, but now just cram it into the storage sack. 

I've always used some sort of ground covering like a blue tarp. I've always pitched the fly really tightly (and as flat as possible with no creases for water to collect in), which I think helps keep the whole structure very secure, especially in high wind. I have never sealed the seams.

The vestibule zippers are annoying in that you have to crawl out on your hands and knees to open/close them, but I'm used to that. The vestibules are GREAT extra storage space for boots/packs etc and keeping things dry.

Inside fits two adults well. And a full size air mattress if you have one.

The vent is surprisingly functional and a great feature that keeps air moving when you need that. I have never noticed any condensation, but I've never camped below freezing, either.

I also think the design is aesthetically pleasing. It's a good-looking tent. Looks like a spaceship from certain angles.

Taking it to Yosemite next week, for more great memories.

*the pinch toggle on the STORAGE BAG broke, which is NDB, and not the tent :-)

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: ~$180 in 2004

Amazing tent for the price!

Pros

  • Roomy
  • Warm (when you need it)
  • Easy to set up
  • Inside pockets


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Very easy to set up. I can set the entire tent up within 3 minutes. I've never had a problem with the stability. 

I seam sealed the tent and have had no problem with rain. 

Ventilation is great if you unzip the fly and leave the mesh open. There are two openings to do this so you can get a nice draft if it's too hot. On the other end of things if it's chilly, I zip it all the way up and it stays a good 10 degrees warmer. 

One of my favorite aspects to this tent is its inside pockets. There's an overhead hammock and a few side pockets in the corners for storage. I put my headlamp on low and set it in the hammock to have a nice glow to read/drink/see. 

I've used this tent around 20 times in various conditions except winter. My girlfriend and I fit comfortably and I'm 6ft. I've recommended this tent to friends and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great, affordable 1-2 person tent. 

The only thing I'd change is the color! I'd love to get an Apex in green. 

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $120

I just brought this tent last week and tried it out immediately on the weekend at Mount Pisgah, NC. Setting up the tent is quite easy and error proof even for the new campers like me. My hubby and I are both happy about the inside space. It is quite roomy for our two Walmart sleeping bags, a backpack and some other stuff. With the raintop on, it provides some nice covered areas on both sides out of the tent for our shoes.

It was raining and quite windy whole night. The tent hold up reasonably well and kept us dry. Not mention that when I woke up, I found my tent was surrounded by about 1 inch water. (I used Eureka footprint though.) After a really heavy shower in the early morning, I did notice some drops penetrated from the top seams and side zippers. I don't know if such leakages avoidable by applying sealant to all exposed seams, as suggested on Eureka tent instructions sheet.

One thing I found a little awkward to use is the rain shield door, when you are trying to get out of the tent. It's always not easy for me to stretch my arm far enough for the zip head. I don't understand why not design the outer door unzipped from up down? Guess it will probably cause more leaking, maybe? Anyway, this is not a major issue for me.

All in all, as a first timer camper I'm quite happy with Apex 2XT. It is a good quality tent at a reasonably lower price compared with other similar 3-season ones on the market. Hopefully, the minor leakage problem will be gone after some extra seam sealing. Can not wait to camp out again. ^__^

Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: easy
Price Paid: $120

I purchased this tent several years ago because the dual vestibules would provide enough cover for gear for two people when backpacking. What I found was this tent is a fantastic all around good tent. It provides fantastic ventilation even with the fly attached, without the fly you can stargaze to your heart's content.

It's probably not going to be as light as many options, but this tent is very very versatile. To skimp a little weight I only stake the two corners where the fly/door attaches to the ground.

I've used it both for backpacking and car camping, and it does the trick in both scenarios. (Most people wouldn't want to use this for car camping, but in a pinch it seems much more spacious than most backpacking tents, especially considering the double vestibules.)

Last summer while backpacking in Pasayten Wilderness in northern Washington we were hit with an unexpected snowstorm, and got a foot of snow if not more. This tent performed fantastically and shed most of the snow.

My friend had a much more expensive Marmot tent that nearly collapsed because of weight from the accumulation. Another friend was so impressed by its performance/design that he bought one as an upgrade to his backpacking tent after that trip.

My only gripe is that the zipper design on the fly can be a bit annoying and tough to fully zip when in the vestibule...but it's really not much of an issue and shouldn't deter you from buying what is otherwise a very good tent which will provide lasting value.

Design: 3 season dome with dual vestibules
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Super easy
Weight: 5 lbs.
Price Paid: $100

Leaving on a Boy Scout campout, I stopped in Gander Mountain and "decided" I needed a new tent since I was backpacking/camping and my old larger Eureka was getting pretty thin. I saw the Apex 2xt and it seemed to be just what I wanted so I bought it. Now for the review: I spent two nights on sandy/dirt ground.

First, the negatives - forget the little stakes that come with the tent, they are just not long enough to hold in any kind of sandy soil (why do tent companies even bother with these after all these years of complaints). The fly design is interesting in that the tent itself is easy to open but you have to reach way out to the ends of the fly to get to the zipper. (An additional vertical zipper in the side of the fly would have been nice.) Now this is not so bad unless the ground is wet, dirty, sandy, whatever!

Finally, the worst thing is that we had a nice long rainstorm the second night. No wind. I literally watched water bubble through the zipper seams, drop onto the mesh, and then onto my arm, bag, floor. The total amount of water wasn't that great but when they specifically advertise on their box that the tent is sealed - then I expect it to be, at least for a few months time. The little pop-out vent also leaked and let water drip into the tent.

Here are the Positives - the tent is roomy enough for me and I am 6'2". I at first though I might even have room for a cot on some campouts (I am in my 50's) but decided that would be pushing it. There is plenty of mesh and ventilation. The way the fly is designed it will catch air on either side of the fly and direct it into the tent. The zippers are very smooth opening and don't get caught.

I like the little extra height the tent has over some tents in this category. It has two pouches sewn in one end but I wish they would have put at least one in the other end. During the rainstorm it was nice knowing the tent has a bathtub floor (aside from the leaking zipper seams.)

Overall, a nice tent and I think that after I seal all the seams and get used to the fly zipper that I will enjoy it.

Design: three season backpacking / camping tent
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: excellent
Weight: 5 lbs 12 ounces.
Price Paid: $129

I bought this tent in Mar. '05 to replace an old no-name-brand 3-man geodesic dome that I just wore out. I was attracted to the dual doors and vestibules as much as the price.

Overall I am very pleased with the quality of the tent, and it is not as snug with 2 adults as some other "2" man tents I've spooned in (this is where the dual doors/vestibules SHINE). :D It is very easy to set up and while there are lighter tents out there, for the money and spaciousness it is relatively light but I'm no thru or long distance hiker either. I've been in some heavy, sustained downpours and with near gale winds. Neither the fly (itself) nor the bathtub floor leaked (I do use a footprint) and I've awakened dry every time (except for #1 below...). FWIW, it can handle a small snow load. ;)

The tent loses points for:
1. Condensation, even when it is not so cool that I can see my breath the inside of the tent and fly collect a lot of moisture from the air and my breathing (happens when I'm solo, too). Reaching for the fly's zipper on a chilly am to run to the sinks can be a cold, damp experience. :( Or maybe it is better suited as a two season tent. And yes, I pay attention to staking the tent and guying out the fly for maximum air circulation. (Two occasions this is not a problem: warm temps or well below freezing).

2. Some rain penetrates through the fly/vestibule zipper openings, not at the seams which I also sealed (I'm not relying on even Eureka for that). Maybe a better (wider?) gusset overlapping the zipper would eliminate this admittedly minor issue.

Although it would increase weight, perhaps at least one of the doors could have a zippered panel to cover the mesh door for foul weather entry/exit. Entering/exiting the tent in heavy weather in the present configuration also lets in too much of the weather.

Enough sniveling! It is a solid tent both in construction and value. I would buy another one, and recommend it without hesitation. Four solid thumbs-up (there ain't no such critter as 5-star in this price range...)

YMMV

Design: Free standing
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Easy-peasy, I've done it in the dark without a light
Weight: Approx. 6 lbs.
Price Paid: $89.99

This is the first new tent I've owned since I bought one over ten years ago. I didn't think tents would change much, but I was wrong. The Eureka Apex 2XT is extremely easy to set up, is very light weight/compact, and comes with seams sealed from the factory. I'm sure this isn't news to most people, but compared to the tent I got in the late '80s, which was modern at the time, the Apex is good stuff. I've been very happy with it.

When you set up the tent for the first time, do read the directions. It's not hard, but there are a couple of cords and clips that aren't obvious how they work unless you've had a similar tent previously. After the first time, setting up is very simple.

The model I got has the fiberglass poles, which are supposedly not as robust as the aluminum, but I've had no problems and it was $30 less. Once the tent is staked out, it's very secure. I've camped out in two storms (bad luck, that) and slept dry through both of them while the tent remained stationary. The trick is to find high ground and use the stakes. The tent fly worked well and the vestibules are good for keeping your dirty boots/stuff.

The inside of the tent isn't large, but it does give one person enough room to move around, sit up and read, etc. The two vestibules could be used to stow all your stuff, but I prefer to have all the dry things inside the tent with me, which takes up the room that a second sleeping bag would use. For me and my stuff, this tent is the perfect size.

Air circulation is very good. Zippers and fasteners are first-rate with no problems experienced. Having two doors is nice cuz you don't have to think so much about orientation. I like the bright yellow and black color scheme, but I'll bet some people would prefer a more conservative color. Other than that, I can't think of anything to change about this tent.

Design: Three-season freestanding dome
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Quick & easy set-up
Weight: 6.5 lbs
Price Paid: $99

When I first received this tent I was shocked to notice that the side of the box claimed that this particular tent was to be used as a casual campers tent, a "light use" tent.

I set it up to take a look at it and was some what disappointed at the material. It just seemed very cheaply made. I decided to take it camping with me on a night that reached temps somewhere in the middle teens.

I was very impressed at how well it stood up to the colder climate. I stayed comfortably warm and had a good night's sleep. When I woke up I was expecting to be frozen with condensation but again to my surprise the inside of the tent was completely dry.

However there was a nice thick layer of ice covering the exterior, but like I said I stayed quite warm. It's only been on one camping trip and my favorite climate is 100 degrees and 110% humidity so we will see how it stands up then. Until then I have to say that I was fairly impressed.

Design: three-season freestanding dome
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: nice simple design for very easy set up
Price Paid: $110

This tent is excellent! My parents purchased it for me in 2003 when I was old enough to start backpacking with the Ventures...I have since taken it on hundreds of camping/backpacking trips and use it in all 4 seasons...it even went to Philmont with me!

I'll admit I have seam-sealed twice since I got the tent, but not because it's leaked, just because it's good practice. I have had both original fiberglass poles splinter on the end...however, I feel it was due to my abuse back in the day when I didn't know what I was doing as a young Scout. It is also pretty easy to go to a local backpacking store or Gander Mountain and find a replacement pole section. If it should cost at all it won't be above $2 for the re-stringing, and the pole section around $5.

I love the mesh in the summer time, and the vestibules are a godsend when it rains. It's big enough for 2 people WITHOUT gear...the vestibules can store a pack but it will be tight...I prefer using a pack cover instead. I have slept 3 people in it on two occasions, once in the fall and once in the winter...it was tight, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

I would encourage buyers to look around, but at the same time keep this tent at the forefront of your mind. It only has two poles running in an X design, so it does sway a bit in the wind. I haven't had it in heavy winds, but it's survived many a blizzard and heavy rainstorm. Occasionally the fly will collect condensation, but it usually runs down the inside and drips off the bottom.

I would urge buyers to get the fitted ground sheet as well, as its sometimes difficult to find a tarp a similar size, and if you roll it correctly, you can fit the (fitted) ground sheet into the tent bag as well. I wish you luck, and don't hesitate to email if you have any questions about it!

Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Very Easy
Price Paid: $125

I bought the tent in 1997 for a run on the Tatshenshini-Alsek and have never had much of an urge to replace it. It's lasted longer than any other heavy-use camping gear I own.

It goes up and comes down pretty quickly. It serves me just as well on whitewater rafting trips in Yukon and Alaska as it does at home in Florida. I pitch it very tight to prevent rain pooling, and I think that also helps it to withstand a stiff wind. A few years ago one of the original fiberglass poles split; I replaced those with the lightweight aluminum poles and Ol' Man Tent just keeps rollin' along.

It's never leaked, probably because I re-seal the seams, all of them, at least once a year. After every trip I use a flashlight to check for small holes; I think there are maybe two small patches in the floor. I also always protect the floor with a blue tarp ground cloth, which is almost weightless. I like stuff that lasts a long time, and I've no doubt those precautions help a lot.

I especially like the door arrangement, with an inner door of nylon behind the mesh door on each side. I tie it back, open, in warm weather and close when cold/windy.

One squawk: the fly zippers require me to wiggle halfway out and reach far to unzip them from inside. I was one of (probably) many who asked Eureka for a better way, and I guess the curved zipper is the result--although I could have predicted some leakage there. A wider eyebrow over it might solve that.
Eureka's Pinnacle Pass tent is a virtual twin of the Apex, except that the PP has a 3-person model.
The difference between Apex and PP is about like that between a Ford and the equivalent Mazda, which Ford used to build.

Design: 3-season freestanding dome
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: easy for one person. 2 are better in a wind.
Weight: I don't know; pretty light for its size.
Price Paid: can't recall

Just enough room for me 6'4" and my gear. Vestibules provide additional space to keep gear dry.

Pros

  • Large vestibules
  • Easy setup

Cons

  • No visibility
  • Rain fly zipper

I was looking for a fairly inexpensive tent that was big enough to keep myself and my gear dry on a rafting trip in Alaska. With a tarp laid down under the tent, the two side vestibules were able to keep my gear dry during a steady rain overnight. 

The setup was easy with just two poles and hooks on the tent. There are no windows, just the mesh openings that look into the vestibules on each side. If you leave the vestibules open, you will have a nice cross-breeze, but if it's raining, you can enjoy staring at the inside of the tent.

Also, the vestibule zippers go all the way out and down to the ground making it somewhat akward to open and close fully. After a steady rain, the fly is wet and trying to keep your gear dry can be challenging when trying to open the vestibule to get out of the tent.

Overall this is a good buy for the size of the space inside the tent and the area under the vestibules.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $130

I bought this tent from Gander Mountain to go on light backpacking trips. the tent held up well, but every tent I've had so far with fiberglass poles, the poles shattered. i guess it's because i took it mountaineering but from now on I use DAC aluminum poles. if you buy this tent make sure you get aluminum poles.

Design: three season
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: i set it up in bout two minutes by myself
Weight: about five pounds 4 ounces packaged weight
Price Paid: $129.99

Good starter tent, heavy for backpacking.

Pros

  • Durable
  • Well made
  • Affordable
  • Roomy with 2 vestibules

Cons

  • Fiberglass poles
  • Heavy
  • Large pack size

This tent is nice, for the price. It's made very well and never leaked on me. It held up to moderate use with my dog and still looked like new when replaced.

The tent however is heavy (6 lbs trail weight), packs large, and uses fiberglass poles which always make me nervous. This thing weighs more than my current big 3 (Nemo Meta 1P, Mountain Hardwear Phantom 45, Big Agnes Q-Core), and looking back, it's hard to believe I hauled it around as long as I did.

It is marketed as a backpacking tent but it is definitely more usable as a car camping tent.  

The tent breathes fairly well, but could use some venting closer to the floor.

The tent is freestanding so it sets up very easily.

It sheds water well and handles wind without a problem as well.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $100

I used this tent at a field camp in the Precordillera Andes Mts. in Argentina. I borrowed this tent for the month in Argentina and despite being extremely old and beaten upon by countless other students over the years it held up wonderfully!

Most of the other tents used showed all the abuse they had suffered over the years but this tent still looked great. Temperatures dropped well below freezing during the night and winds shifted dramatically from hurricane force to nonexistant within minutes, despite all this the tent never broke a sweat! It even weathered the famous Zonda wind storms, known to blow over the Andes.

Tent had tons of room for 2 people with gear for a month. We could have easily packed another person inside if we wanted to be cozy, or in a pinch.

My only gripe was that some condensation would run down the sides of the tent on especially cold nights, resulting in a a bit of frost along the inside perimeter of the tent. But I have yet to find a tent which completely eliminates condensation.

Extremely easy to set up and tear down. The two doors and two large vestibules make storing gear extremely easy. This tent inspired both myself and a friend to purchase Eureka! tents for ourselves.

Ease of Setup: EASY
Price Paid: Borrowed

Good product for day hiking and resting at night. Recommended for weekend or longer canoe adventures. Super easy to pitch and dries fast.

Pros

  • Easy to pitch
  • Plenty of space for two with vestibules
  • Good ventilation

Cons

  • Bulky and heavy for long backpacking treks
  • Cold in winter

Took this tent to Boundary Waters for 10 days and other weekend camping. The tent is easy to set up and has plenty of room for two with gear in the vestibule. If you are solo, all of that room is yours.  

Was stable in some wind and survived 6" Ohio snow one night. Never got wet with a ground tarp. It vents very well and it never seem to be moist.

It packs up tightly, but may be too heavy for long backpacking trips. I would suggest a hammock for that.

I will have this one for many more trips over the next few years and I expect to wear it out.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $180

Compact when packed, easy to use, good starter tent.

Pros

  • Price
  • Durability
  • Weather proof

Cons

  • Not ultra-light as sometimes described

I bought this tent 5 years ago for a ridiculously low price and it has held up remarkably well, despite abuse and nights spent with a hairy, wet, clawed German Shepherd. It's kept me dry in torrential rainstorms and is very easy to set up by yourself, though it fits two adults, gear, and a dog (if you all like to cuddle).

Never had any issues with zippers catching or breaking, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. It has always seemed stable and condensation has not been an issue. I have not yet had the chance to use it in real wintry weather, however.

It's not ultra-light, but certainly not huge or crazy heavy when packed. Good buy for my "starter" tent.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $70

Extremely light and roomy. This tent surpassed my expectations for the price.

Pros

  • Setup
  • Comfort
  • Element protection

Cons

  • Rainfly seam

This tent has been wonderful! The two vestibules make getting in and out a dream in bad climate. I have used it for short backpacking and car camping.

On backpacking trips it allowed two of us to store gear outside the main dome and have more then enough room inside and we had a dog. Car camping it was an even better surprise when we found out that a queen size air mattress fits perfectly inside do give us a dream sleep for the weekend.

The only issue I had was one of the dogs caught a tie line and it pulled the bottom seam apart with to much ease. Other than that it was wonderful!

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $100

Baked in a Timberline 4XT in July 2005 trip to DC and wanted a better breathing lightweight tent for summer use (summer camp with scouts; backpacking trips, canoe trips). This tent suits the bill with large areas of mesh, twin doors, twin vestibules. Best value ($20 rebate through 7/31/06). Quick setup that my 13-year-old mastered easily. I am concerned about corner pocket durability in two corners that may tear through. Have not field tested yet.

Update: August 15, 2006

Carried around Isle Royale for a week and huge storms hit the first two days. Heavy rain and heavy winds did produce a small leak on windward side of this tent at the very top of the door. Just drops - but it was a leak. I will note it faired better than much more expensive tents on the trip. Tent breathed very well. Twin vestibules and twin doors are very convenient! Almost a pound can be saved with the aluminum pole version - worth considering at $20 adder when on sale.

Design: three-season freestanding dome
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Minutes - but would prefer ring clips on all four corners
Weight: about 6 lbs 4 oz
Price Paid: $89.99

So i bought this tent for cycle touring last summer (09). Had it out for a two week ride around Wisconsin. Held up great, but the floors a little thin, so get the foot print.

It was big enough for two people, and the gear we had to keep dry. Got nailed with a thunderstorm the third night, and was very happy it pitches quickly. We were also assaulted by numerous ground squirrels, and it held up well to their constant investigation.

One thing i will say, I'm 5'11", 170 pounds, and I was pushing it for room in the tent. v\Vestibules are large enough for 2 panniers and a Trunk, as well as a hiking backpack (riding partner made a bad decision there).

Pros:

Cost, dual doors (key) and dual, big vestibules

Cons:

Well a couple more guy lines could be provided, as the corners of the fly tend to touch the bottom of the tent.

Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: 5 minutes, in the dark
Price Paid: $120

Nice tent for the Price, This tent replaced a Eureka Timberline that is over twenty years old. The first time I took it camping it was pouring down rain set up was quick for being only my second time, and it was in the dark and raining. Quality seems very good and the two vestibules are large and allow easy entry into the tent.

It's a little tricky zipping the vestibule door closed all the way without having to lean across the open ground, but it can be done. It was nice to be able to leave my muddy boots outside the tent but till have them protected from the rain under the vestibule. The first night it rained moderate to heavy all night long and I stayed dry, with plenty of ventilation.

I would buy this tent again.

Price Paid: $109

My Boy Scout Troop owns a lot of the Eureka! brand tents and we all love them! We recently got the Apex 2XT and used them this past weekend in 28 degree weather! 

What I like about the tent is that the rainfly stretches down so you can put your pack there and not have to worry about it getting wet. What I also like is that it has a mesh door so you can get the air flow in and out of the tent. 

What I don't like is that the floor is really thin and could rip if you wore shoes inside it (don't wear shoes inside it). When you are putting up the tent don't try and fold it up, just stuff it in the bag.  It makes it a whole lot easier.

Price Paid: $130

I have the 2005 model Apex 2XTA, which comes with the aluminum poles. For the price I have found the space, build, and materials above par. The material is polyester taffeta (floor, sides, fly), which is 10-20% stronger than the nylon taffeta. The 2006 model only has a polyester taffeta fly, the floor/sides: nylon taffeta. The polyester mantains its shape (doen't streach as much as nylon) when wet and wind blown. It is hot in the wet summer if you put the fly on, but has enough netting to cool down when you peel the fly back half way. As an added bonus, the yellow color is visually uplifting when you are trapped inside the tent for hours during the day due to heavy rain like I was.

Design: three-season
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: one person, easy.
Weight: about 5 pounds
Price Paid: ~$150

Great tent for 3 or 4 seasons that pitches nicely and fits on a pack great.

Pros

  • Durable
  • Roomy
  • Breathe able

Cons

  • Pricey

This tent weighs about 5 lbs and is great for backpacking in cold weather and warm weather. It keeps rain out very well. It is a bit pricey but is worth it because it has good vestibule and has two doors.

Any questions about it email me at jdancell@ymail.com

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $119

I use this tent and love it. I have never had the tent leak on me. As for the person who wrote the review above, the tent did not leak the rain through, that was your breathing that created the moisture on the inside. You were probably in temperatures below which the tent is rated and may not have had the tent staked out properly. Without proper airflow between the fly and the tent, moisture will accumulate, but this is true for any tent. There is a tab in the middle of the two longer sides that must be staked out to help with the circulation.

Design: Three-season
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Very easy
Price Paid: $89

The tent set up fast and easy; I used it in the dead of winter and found it capable of 4 season use. Then it rained the next morning and it leaked enough to drench the inner top roof..I was lucky enough to have the rain start in the morning. I didn't seamseal but to be honest i've spent 40 dollars on cheap tents and they have leaked only on the floor corners..not on the roof. The tent was real warm in the below freezing temps but was real wary of the leakage.......i guess seamseal is the answer for this tent.

Design: 3 season plus
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: easy and fast
Weight: 5 lbs 3 ozs
Price Paid: $100

I have had this tent for several years. It is pretty good as far as I'm concerned. I was in a heavy rainstorm last time I used it and it did seem to let water slowly seep through the walls in a few places, but this could just be the material wearing out. The vestibules are excellent and have plenty of space for a 5000cu in pack and my boots on each side while still leaving a clear path to exit the tent. Breathes well, but still picks up a lot of condensation on the inside of the fly.

Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: takes less than 5 mins.
Price Paid: $150

We bought 14 of these tents for a Boy Scout troop 3 years ago. The previous scoutmaster wished us luck in this venture, assured us they would never hold up.

Boy, was he wrong. Our troop camps at least once a month and these tents still look like new!!!! We have had only 1 broken pole in all this time. We never even did any seam sealing and have had very little leak problems. We camp mostly in Florida and the ventilation in these tents is awesome. A great product.

Design: Three season freestanding
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Very easy, even new scouts can do it

Just returned from a trip to Buffalo National River. This tent is extremely spacious for its size. It fit my wife and me as well as a lot of gear. The vestibules were great for holding our packs.

I only wish it were lighter, but I haven't found any thing as spacious that was a whole lot lighter. All in all, we really like it.

Design: three-season freestanding dome with 2 vestibules
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Easy to set up.
Weight: 5lbs, 6 ounces
Price Paid: $110

I have never really owned a nice tent before this one and I can say that I am thouroughly impressed with the quality of product you get for the money. I am quickly becoming a Eureka! loyalist. I have also purchased a silverdale sleeping bag by Eureka and just as impressed. I would buy anything from Eureka!

Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Takes a minute to understand the concept but after you have set it up once its really easy.
Weight: light
Price Paid: $79.95

This tent is fantastic! I took it camping in hot humid weather and in heavy rain. Not only did I stay completely dry but the ventilation kept me nice and cool in hot weather...and warm in cold weather! If you can't afford an expensive Marmot tent, this is the PERFECT tent for you and your gear.

Design: 3+
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Very easy
Weight: approx: 5LBS
Price Paid: $119

My Eureka Apex 2XT kept everything quite dry during a very wet weekend of blustery wind and 2-3 inch rain.

Design: 3 Season, 2 pole rectangular dome
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Quick set up, even in the dark.
Weight: about 6 lbs
Price Paid: $160

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Specs

Price MSRP: $149.99
Historic Range: $55.98-$159.95
Reviewers Paid: $70.00-$180.00
Sleeping Capacity 2
Vestibules 2
Doors 2
Storage Pockets 4
Gear Hammock 1
Inner Body Fabric 75D 190T StormShield polyester taffeta
Rainfly Fabric 75D 190T StormShield® polyester taffeta
Mesh 40D polyester no-see-um
Floor Fabric 75D 190T StormShield® polyester taffeta
Stake Material Steel Skewer

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