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Wenzel Twin Peaks Sport Dome Tent, Red/Black

07 Sep

Wenzel Twin Peaks Sport Dome Tent, Red/Black : I have only used this tent once for a weekend trip on the Northern CA coast. Weather was in the 40-50’s with fog and the ground was damp. Tent held up well and was especially easy to set-up and take down. We had very light rain/dense fog and stayed dry. Easily fit a double air mattress and backpacks. The tent floor measures 7 feet, but if you sleep on an air mattress (which raises you a few inches off the tent floor) you may have problems if you’re over 5′8″ because the sides are sloped. I’m 5′7″ and was on an air mattress and I barely fit without having either my head or feet pushing against the tent sides. Overall: good basic car camping tent, will trust it for fair/moderate weather, came with a handy carry case, and the price was great.
Wenzel Twin Peaks Sport Dome Tent, Red/Black

 

Eureka Tetragon 5 Adventure 7-Foot by 5-Foot Two-Person Tent

07 Sep

Eureka Tetragon 5 Adventure 7-Foot by 5-Foot Two-Person Tent : I was wrong…When I opened this tent, I water proofed it first thing. Sealed the seams and the fly. Left it outside and of course, we got a healthy DUMPING of rain! It wasn’t intentional but as it turned out, it was the ultimate test. This tent does not have high marks for water resistant but let me tell you that after sealing it, it DOES! Like all other EUREKA tents, this one has the “bathtub” bottom which means they designed it to stay dry by engineering the material to have little seams AT the bottom. Instead they are sewn 3-4 inches above the ground line which creates a lip that keeps the whole bottom dry. You have to step over it to get in but … who cares! Once sealed, this tent hits a home run!
Eureka Tetragon 5 Adventure 7-Foot by 5-Foot Two-Person Tent

 

Intex Ultra Frame 18-by-9-Foot-by-52-Inch Rectangular Pool Set

07 Sep

Intex Ultra Frame 18-by-9-Foot-by-52-Inch Rectangular Pool Set : Intex’s Rectangular Ultra Frame with Saltwater System pools come in a striking new gray color. Utilizing Intex’s new Ultra Frame they give pool owners an incredible pool ownership experience that will be the envy of the neighborhood. Includes 1500 Gal per Hour Filter Pump 4545 gallon water capacity at 90% full! Ready for water in 60 minutes! Ground Cloth. Ladder. Pool Cover. Deluxe Pool Maintenance Kit. NEW – Easy to attach Pool Volleyball Set with Ball. Instructional Video. NEW – Free Pool Mat
Intex Ultra Frame 18-by-9-Foot-by-52-Inch Rectangular Pool Set

 

Eureka Solo Backcountry 1 Tent

07 Sep

Eureka Solo Backcountry 1 Tent : I do a couple of bicycle touring trips per year. I wanted a lightweight solo tent that would be easy to carry on the bike, accomodate my 6′ 3″ height and also be easy to put up and take down. I tried the Eureka Solitaire and found it to be a little too confining for me. Also tried a Wenzel Starlite bivy tent that was a little smaller than I’d like. I think the Backcountry 1 is just the right combination of size and weight for carrying on a bike or backpacking. I have used it three times now and am very happy with it.
Eureka Solo Backcountry 1 Tent

 

Coleman Hooligan 2 Backpacking Tent

07 Sep

Coleman Hooligan 2 Backpacking Tent : I purchase this tent and used it the next day. The good: Lots of interior room, enough for 2 adults and 2 small backpacks. I was even able to fit a queen size coleman inflatable mattress inside(At home to test it)with room to spare. Very easy to set up, I read the instructions and timed myself, it took me 10 minutes. With screen mesh all around it was very comfortable, even with the Texas summer heat. Comes with a 5 year warranty. The bad: At 6 pounds Is a little on the heavy side for most solo backpackers(I personally don’t mind the weight in exchange for all the room). The tent isn’t free standing, make sure to get good stakes for hard or rocky ground. It didn’t rain when I used it, so I can’t comment on how waterproof it is, but I always seal the seams on all my tents as soon as I buy them.
Coleman Hooligan 2 Backpacking Tent

 

Intex Ultra Frame 24-by-12-Foot-by-52-Inch Rectangular Pool Set

07 Sep

Intex Ultra Frame 24-by-12-Foot-by-52-Inch Rectangular Pool Set : We ordered the Intex 24×12x52 Ultra Frame pool in April of this year. It was delivered on the exact date promised. The area in the yard where we wanted to install it needed to be leveled out, so using a couple of blocks, a string level, and plenty of sweat, we managed to get it all level within about a half an inch. My stepson was home from college, so he helped us install the pool. After doing the inventory of everything, we laid out the ground cover, and spread out the liner. The instructions said to let the liner sit in the sun for a while to soften up the vinyl; however, it was HOT here that day. Thirty minutes of letting it soak up the sun was enough. (NOTE: Do not let the steel tubes soak up the sun – they get too hot to handle!!)
Intex Ultra Frame 24-by-12-Foot-by-52-Inch Rectangular Pool Set

 

Kelty Grand Mesa 2 Tent 2-Person 3-Season

07 Sep

Kelty Grand Mesa 2 Tent 2-Person 3-Season : Having now taken this tent out several times, and in plenty of rain, I’m very happy with the performance. The fly has good coverage and good seam-taping and I’ve never had a wetness problem other than some small amounts of condensation on cold mornings. I’ve used this in seasonable weather, from low 50’s to high 30’s and it’s performed well. The ventilation is decent even with the fly on and without much wind. It’s not easy to stargaze, but you can get a view if you position your head at the door. One great feature is the fly vent, which pops up and stays open thanks to a little hoop of wire in it. Hopefully it will not get mangled over time. The floor is a little thin (cut yourself a tarp groundcover) and I think abrasion could definitely be a problem. Those with dogs might want to be take extra care tht Fido’s nails don’t rip right through the floor. Condensation was slight overnight and only at the foot of the tent, not bad for the humidity in WI. Also the mesh kept the bugs out, which was very important.
Kelty Grand Mesa 2 Tent 2-Person 3-Season

 

Eureka Tetragon 8 Adventure 8-Foot by 7-Foot Four-Person Tent

07 Sep

Eureka Tetragon 8 Adventure 8-Foot by 7-Foot Four-Person Tent : Used twice so far and love it. I ride a motorcycle and use the tent on weekend trips. The tent packs well on the motorcycle, sets up easy and is plenty big enough for two plus gear. The overhead loft has plenty of storage space and tucks up out of the way when not in use. The side pockets are convenient and can be placed on which ever wall you want. Extremely well vented, there was no condensation on the inside of the tent in the morning. This is my third Eureka tent, I have been pleased with all of them and only had one fail and it was 20 years old. I would highly recommend this tent.
Eureka Tetragon 8 Adventure 8-Foot by 7-Foot Four-Person Tent

 

Intex 15-Foot-by-48-Inch Round Metal Frame Pool Set

07 Sep

Intex 15-Foot-by-48-Inch Round Metal Frame Pool Set : I bought this pool last month (July) and have been swimming in it almost everyday! I only wish I bought it sooner. I did have ground leveling issues, but that was my own fault and not the pool itself. I highly recommend completely leveling your ground before putting the pool up and filling it. I learned this the hard way. My ground was not level, so we ended up having to put bricks under the un-leveled poles. As of now, it has been working out great. Since I bought the pool so late in the summer, I figured this could be a temporary fix. But next season, I will be sure to level out the ground first.
Intex 15-Foot-by-48-Inch Round Metal Frame Pool Set

 

Eureka Apex 2XT Adventure 7′ 5″ by 4′ 11″ Two-Person Tent

07 Sep

Eureka Apex 2XT Adventure 7\’ 5\” by 4\’ 11\” Two-Person Tent : I’ve taken this tent out three times so far. Once “car camping” and two backpacking trips. Two of those trips we had very heavy rains. Both times the tent stayed completely dry. I was very impressed. This is also one of the only two person tents that I’ve camped with that is actually comfortable for two people. The dual vestibules give plenty of gear room. Set up is simple even for one person. It’s a little on the heavy side for backpacking – if that will be your main use I suggest looking at the Pinnacle Pass which is the same tent but with aluminum poles that make it about a pound lighter.
Eureka Apex 2XT Adventure 7\' 5