Eureka Aurora Tents Review

Review Date
June 7, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: rs_rogers(Unregistered User) ,  Car Camper

Summary:
Purchased this tent a couple of years ago after my first child was born. Had previous good experience with Eureka backpacking tents. The Aurora 6 is a nice tent and well worth the $170 I paid for it. Plenty of floor space and head room. This model has fiberglass poles instead of aluminum.

I must say this tent can take some abuse. I set it up in the backyard a few days ago to air and check it out for an upcoming camping trip. Left it set up for an afternoon and lo and behold a large dustdevil was seen coming through the neighborhood a few hours later. In NM it is a common thing, but I just didn't expect one to come through my backyard that afternoon! You guessed it. Our tent was found in someone else's backyard 4 houses down perfectly placed there and set up just like nothing happened. Did check it out later and found one pole had a little crack in it and will need to be repaired. I consider myself lucky to have even FOUND the tent. I think it would have been neat to have seen it happen.

Overall. Great tent for the money. A little heavy, but you will not be backpacking with this tent anyway.

Customer Service:
Great experience with Eureka for service. Upgraded previous tent with more durable, full coverage fly (not availble with my tent at retail). Eureka sent it to me at wholesale cost.

Similar Products Used:
Eureka Pinnacle 3. Upgraded with Summit 3 XT fly. Perfect full coverage fit.

Review Date
May 21, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: noworries(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Summary:
Aurora solo: I looked long and hard for this tent. I had just finished a thru-hike of the AT and read the Backpacker review on it. However, they had already discontinued the solo model when that review came out. I did find it after some searching. Up until last year it was available in Canada. I think you can still buy the the 2-6 person ones at hilton's tent city even though they are dis-continued also. Anyway, i love the tent. It is heavy for a solo tent, but could survive just about anything the weather could throw at it. My only problem was it could use a little more head room. The vestbule is huge, easy set up, the ventilation is excellent As close to perfect as you can get. It's too bad they never really gave it a chance. Hopefully they come out with a lighter one.

Customer Service:
never had too use this yet

Similar Products Used:
2 Sierra clip flashlight, TNF Tadpole

Review Date
February 1, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: atrox(Unregistered User) ,  Car Camper

Summary:
I had an original Aurora (circa 1988) until a few weeks ago when during a trip the main cross brace broke on me prompting me to go ahead an buy a new tent. Overall I loved that tent. It had lasted 15 years and was still in excellent shape. Never a leak nor was condensation a problem. It was heavy but I camp out of my jeep.

Customer Service:
A little disappointed in them when they replyed to my e-mail request about possible coverage under the life time warrenty for my tent. It turns out life time is not my life but that of the tent and poles. their words "The warranty is for the life of the tent. That usually runs 7-10 years on average. Fiberglass will have a life span of about 3 - 5 years."

Similar Products Used:
I just purchased a Sierra Design Alpha CD, hope it last as long as the aurora did.

Review Date
February 20, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: jbosma(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Kensington

Summary:
Great tent at a reasonable price. It is a little heavy, but for the extra few ounces you aren't cramped for space and don't ever get wet. I can't really think of a way to improve on this tent.

Customer Service:
No exp.

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
July 30, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.44 of 5, 9.00 votes

Reviewed by: JWAnderson(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Johnson City, TN

Summary:
The Eureka Aurora 1 is an outstanding solo backpacking tent.
I just spent the weekend in the tent near the Appalachian Trail as it
goes through the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. Although
the July weather was a steady torrent of rain during the entire trip, the Aurora 1 did not leak one bit. Others on my trip were soaked, but this tent
performed superbly.

The Aurora 1 is very easy to set up---just criss-cross two poles, raise the
tent, and then thead the pole for the fly. It packs down very small to approximately the size of a small loaf of bread. Yes, it does weigh right at 5 pounds, but I'd rather have that extra pound, given the tent's performance, than some other solo tents that don't ventilate well or are absolutely claustrophobic. Ventilation is not a problem, and there wasn't any condensation even in a very wet, humid environment. The Aurora 1 has sufficient room for me (6'2"), but you are buying a one-person tent. I'm not aware that Eureka makes any claim whatsoever other than this being a one-person tent. Some others will try to market their products as 1-2 people tents, but forget about that in my experience. Backpacker Magazine reviewed the tent in 2000, and the great review there was right on target, in my experience and opinion.

The rear vestibule is good for gear storage. Workmanship and craftsmanship are excellent. The zippers slide smoothly. Headroom can be just a tad tight when you sit up, but in my view even that doesn't downgrade my score from 5 stars for a great product. Like the other reviewers here, I'd say buy the tent when you can find it IF you are in the market for a solo backpacking shelter that provides more room and more overall usefulness than a bivy.

Customer Service:
No need for customer service to date

Similar Products Used:
Kelty tents