Initial Report

Eureka!
Zeus 2EXO
Initial Report
5/25/2004

Personal Information:

Leesa Joiner
ljo@midmaine.com
Southwestern Maine
42 years old
Female
5'7" (1.7 M)
150 lb (68 kg)

Background:

    My camping, hiking and backpacking experience has included trips varying in length from one day hikes to 2-week trips. My experience hiking began with my father, when I was about 6 years old. We hiked along the river pathways in northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. During cold weather, I backpack, hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, go ice fishing and winter camp with friends and family. Although I am not a lightweight backpacker, I am trying to ‘lighten up’ and even have converted to using a hammock while camping.   I find that I spend almost as much time outside during the long Maine winters as I do during the summers.

Product Information:

Product: Zeus 2EXO (2 person tent)
Manufacturer: Eureka
Manufacture Date: 2004
Manufacturer URL: http://www.eurekatent.com/
Listed Minimum Weight: Tent and poles: 3 lb 10 oz (1.6 kg)
Actual Weight: Tent and poles in stuff sack: 3 lb 14 oz (1.8 kg)

Floor Dimensions: 4 ft 10 in (147 cm) wide x 7 ft 5 in (226 cm) long.
Center Height: 3 ft 6 in (107 cm)
Packed Size: 18 x 7 in (46 x 18 cm)
Poles: 7000 series Aluminum
Tent Walls and Vestibule: 40D ripstop nylon
Tent Floor: 70D nylon taffeta
Tent Floor Area: 32.7 sq ft (3.04 sq m)
Vestibule Area: 12.25 sq ft (1.14 sq m)

Description:
    The Zeus 2 EXO tent is designed as a single walled, three season tent. It is free standing with a small vestibule. The tent is a light green color, with an exclamation mark on one side. I believe the exclamation mark is Eureka's symbol. There are ventilation openings at the top of the tent and on the lower portion of two sides, which are provided to keep the moisture level down.
    The opening into the tent is controlled by two zippers - one across the bottom of the opening, and one that is in the shape of an upside down horseshoe. The screen in the opening provides a large amount of ventilation. The vestibule consists of a piece of tent fabric that continues out from the main tent body and slopes down to the ground. It is held in place by two stakes. The vestibule area is large enough for a pack or a medium sized dog, but not both!
    The set up of the tent is extremely easy. I was able to set it up in less than five minutes, which included reading the directions. The poles unfold, the ends fitting together quickly and smoothly. Once opened, one end of a pole sits in the grommet at one corner of the tent. The other end is then placed in the grommet diagonally across from the original one. The same is repeated with the other pole. After this, the vestibule can be staked out. There are carabiners attached to the tent that attach the tent to the poles.
    The tent arrived with a bottle of seam sealer, which will hopefully keep moisture out of the tent.

Initial Impressions:
    The tent arrived in a long, narrow box. Inside the box was the tent and its stuff sack, poles and stakes, along with their stuff sacks and a container of seam sealer. It was easy to set up and take down. I am impressed by the weight of the tent, and how easily it fits into my pack. My concern is how well it will keep out moisture, as the fabric appears very light and thin. Further testing will clarify this concern.

Test Plan:

    During the next six months, I have planned 3 weekend trips in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, along with a weeklong trip in June to the same location. I also plan on spending a few days hiking and camping in central and northern Vermont. I also spend at least one weekend a month camping in Maine. I have trips to Ohio and Missouri planned for later in the summer. During the summer, my children and I take off for a few days and head into the White Mountain National Forest in Western Maine.    I plan on using the Exo2 Zeus on all these trips, along with overnight hikes closer to home. I will be observing how well the tent holds up to frequent use, and how well all the tent features work.    Because I usually set up a 'base camp' and hike out from there, the tent will be used on overnight and multi-day trips. During these trips, I will be either sleeping alone, with my 8 year old daughter or with my husband. That should give me a good feeeling about comfort level and roominess.

Test Conditions:

       The majority of my testing will be done in northern New England, where current day temperatures are in the 40 to 60 F (4 to 15 C) range, with night temperatures falling to the low 30s (approx. 1 C ). Over the next six months the temperatures I backpack in will rise to close to 100 F (38 C) at times. We are due for a lot of wet hiking this spring, now that the frost has started coming up out of the ground. Most of my hiking is done below 3000 ft. (914 M), but the trips to Mt. Washington will be at over 4000 ft (1219 M). There is a wide range of types of terrain on these hikes. Everything from well maintained trails to hiking through heavily wooded areas. At times, the trails follow the rivers' edges, which makes for some wet hiking also. Some trips will involve backpacking into campsites and at other times I will set up camp and hike out from there.

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