Eureka Performance Spitfire 2 10- by 5-Foot Two-Person Backpacking Tent
Customer Review: great light-weight 2-person tent
I've done quite a bit of searching around, and this is by far the lightest 2-person tent I've found... well, aside from a couple ultra-lite specialty companies... but they're harder to find, and MUCH more expensive. Plenty of room inside for two people and quite a bit of gear (depending on how tall you are) as there is a good sized area at the head end that, because of the way the tent tapers, isn't much use for adult people... but you can store a couple mid-sized packs there... or if you're camping with the pooch, it can curl up in that spot nicely. I like the layout with the 2-door design. Makes night-time "nature calls" much easier on your tent-mate. One can get up and exit the tent without worrying about kicking the other. Also, if it's a clear night, the fly ties up over each door to give you a pretty good view of the sky through the HUGE mesh panels. Actually, pretty much the whole upper section is mesh which is great for ventilation on warm nights, as well as keeping down the condensation on cooler nights. The only thing I would suggest is getting a better set of stakes for it. The ones it comes with are the basic steel wire hook type. Fine for plain-ol dirt, but not so good if it's a bit rocky or root-laden. Plus, they tend to bend a bit easily. I'd recommend a set of either the "MSR Ground Hog" aluminum stakes, or a titanium stake of similar design (angle or tri-leg... not the wire type). The alum and titanium are both lighter, the angle or tri-leg will be stronger. Other than the stakes (which are perfectly usable, though they won't last long), this is a great tent package... right around 4 lbs complete, straps nicely to a pack, and unlike other tents I've had in the past, it's actually pretty easy to get back into the bag if you're careful to roll most of the air out (I've had many tents where the bag was just too tight and made repacking a chore). Happy camping.
Customer Review: Make Sure to Pull it Nice & Tight
I bought this tent when I was in the Montana Conservation Corps. I carried it on several long backpacking trips. It is a very nice tent, high quality materials, but there are two things that I wish I'd have known before ordering it. The first is that the tent is not free standing. You have to stake the tent to the ground at five points for it to stand upright. You also have to stake the fly. It's hard to set up at night or on a tough surface because it's not free standing. Make sure to buy plenty of replacement stakes, because with this tent, you'll need 'em. The second is that if you don't stake the fly tight enough, it has a flat surface on the top where water can pool and drip into the tent during the night, getting your down sleeping bag nice and wet for the 5 days ahead of you. When you stake the fly very very tightly, this can be avoided. Beyond that, It is very lightweight and roomy for its weight, I'd reccomend it if you know what you're getting into.
The question of whether to hold a wedding reception indoors or outdoors has bothered many couples. Various arguments have been put forth as to why it is a good idea to have an outdoor reception and the same has been done for indoor ones. But does one really have an advantage over the other or each suits a particular purpose? Let's take a look at this issue in this article.
Having an indoor or outside wedding reception will depend on many factors. You will have to examine the nature of the wedding, its theme, place and guest volume. You should also consider the weather. A snowy weather or stormy weather will not favor an outside reception. An outdoor wedding reception is totally ruled out in an area with frequent rains.
The next important factor to consider is the price you have to pay for each option. The amount been charged should conform to your budget. Can you still be in budget if you choose an outdoor reception? Will you need extra amenities? Can you afford the cost of hiring extra hands and facilities to make you guests comfortable in an outdoor reception environment?
Can you readily have tents available? Are you prepared to hire them? Even in the best of weather, you will need to provide enough shade for your guests. You will have to rent elegant tents for them. You will also have to rent extra seating and sometimes, special tables.
You will also have to consider the environment. Is the scenery attractive? Remember this is a wedding reception and the scenery must be fitting. It should be nice to view and there should be no distracting machinery and other forms of noise. So holding a wedding reception in or out will depend on the particular circumstances of the couple and the environment.
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