Tent Review: Eureka Tetragon 5

October 7, 3:55 PMLA Outdoor Recreation ExaminerSeth Smigelski

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the LA Outdoor Recreation Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

The Tetragon 5 at 11,400 feet beneath Muriel Peak

Eureka’s Tetragon 5 tent is a three-season option well suited for campers in Southern California. Eureka has built a reputation for producing tents that are well designed, durable, and affordable. The Tetragon 5 is no exception.

This dome is kept standing by two long collapsible fiberglass polls, making the Tetragon Five a quick easy setup. Two shorter rods prop up the fly around the door and window to keep falling liquids away from the mesh screens.

The fly extends on the door side of the tent to provide two small vestibules to protect your outdoor gear.

With the fly off, the see-through mesh walls on the short sides of the tent offer immense ventilation, which is perfect when you are camping on a warm California night. With the fly on, the tent is more private while still providing impressive airflow. Open the mesh panels on the door and the back window, and you have ventilation on all four walls.

Inside the tent, there is a hanging gear loft and two detachable storage pockets which can be left at home when weight is a factor. The tallest part of the doom is four feet off the floor, which does not allow too much space for moving around, but about as much as you would expect to find in a two-person tent.

The Tetragon 5 at Codorniz Camprgound above Eastman Lake

Beyond its commonsense design, the Tetragon 5 is also durable and has shown no signs of wear after two years of regular use. Readers of my camping reviews should recognize Eureka’s tetragon 5. This little green tent that has appeared at campgrounds across the state from Malibu Creek to Mineral King, and I fully expect it serve as home-away-from-home for years to come.

When car camping, I fill the 7 foot by 5 foot floor with a luxurious 8 inch tall queen air mattress that provides a comfortable nights sleep for two. When backpacking, the Tetragon Five has plenty of room for my bedroll and gear, and the minimum weight of 5 lbs. 13 oz. is not too much to carry. This tent is a good option for a pair of campers, whether it is being strapped to the top of a backpack or thrown in the trunk of a car.

• To find out more or to order the tent, visit Eureka’s official website.
• To contact the writer of this and other gear reviews, comment below or e-mail hikeographer@gmail.com.

	Campgrounds where you can test the Tetragon 5:
	Sequoia National Park Buckeye Flats Campground provides great spring camping in the western foothills of Sequoia National Park. Nearby Paradise Creek is the perfect place to relax after a day of hiking or vising Giant Sequoias.
	Giant Sequoia National Monument South of Sequoia proper, Quaking Aspen Campground provides great access to the Sequoias and trails of this national monument.
	Golden Trout Wilderness The campgrounds at Horseshoe Meadow are a good place to acclimate before hiking to the beautiful lakes and peaks in the Inyo National Forest and eastern Sequoia National Park.
	Los Padres National Forest Just a short drive from the city of Ojai, Wheeler Gorge Campground lies at the base of the beautiful Los Padres Range. Backpackers may prefer to camp at nearby Sespe Creek.
	Joshua Tree National Park This national Park has several great campground and even more great trails.