Eureka El Capitan 3 Plus Outfitter Tent
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Glenn's Review of Eureka El Capitan 3 Plus Outfitter Tent
I am a second-time buyer of Eureka tents. My previous tent was a 1990s-era Denali Expedition, which is still functional after 33 years, but has seen better days. To replace it, I wanted something that would handle modest winter weather, but would be easier to set up, have more room, and be usable in warmer weather as well. I figured another Eureka tent would fill the ticket, and with the Eureka tent line sadly ending after 2024, now is the time.
Quality:
Overall, the quality of the El Capitan 3+ Outfitter meets my high expectations.
The fabric and poles seem very strong, the stitching looks precise, there are no random loose threads, and all the seems that should be taped are taped.
Zippers are beefy, smooth, and snag-free.
My only quality complaint is that the included tent stakes are the mediocre aluminum shepherd's crook style; the kind that easily bend. I immediately bought better replacements.
Flexibility:
I love that the tent has features that make it good in most weather conditions.
The rain fly extends nearly to the ground but has closable vents in the roof and a few options for venting the vestibules (low vent only, toggled half open, or toggled fully open).
The tent has two doors, both with mesh windows that can be closed with zippered fabric panels. Clever placement of toggles allows you to secure the fabric panels rolled up to the half-open or full-open positions.
The two mesh windows in the upper part of the walls can also be opened or closed with zippered fabric panels.
Venting should be good in all but the warmest weather, and the tent should remain reasonably warm in all but the coldest weather.
Eureka considers this a 4-season tent for use below the tree line, and I agree with this assessment.
Specs:
Eureka claims the floor of the tent measures 90" by 82", but these are the pole-tip to pole-tip measurements.
The usable floor space inside the tent measures about 82" by 76".
The roof height maxes out at 50" as stated by Eureka.
Max weight is about 11.4 lbs; this includes the inner tent, rain fly, 3 poles, 14 stakes (4 for the tent, 6 for the fly, and 4 for the included guy-lines), and the optional (but highly recommended) footprint.
Let-downs:
I mentioned the stakes are not great.
The optional footprint is expensive and is sub-par in my experience. There are no grommets to lock the poles tips in place, just flimsy cord loops with plastic tensioners. If they had included grommets, it would be easy to pitch only the rainfly and footprint as a tent-less shelter. It would also make it easier to pitch and take down the tent in the rain with the rainfly in place to keep you and the tent dry. The footprint does seem to be treated for water proofing, and it does extend below the vestibules to create an extended floor.
The stuff-sack could be bigger as it barely fits everything when you include the footprint; the footprint has its own bag, but why carry two?
Continued support for these tents is up in the air given that Johnson Outdoors sold the Eureka tent line (but not the Eureka name) to a Polish company that makes military tents, large fabric buildings and shelters, but no recreational tents.
Value:
Prices are always in flux, but in March 2024, the tent was deeply discounted from several online vendors. I paid about $320 (with tax and delivery) for the tent, footprint, and upgraded stakes. That's not bad at all for a tent with so much to offer and so few flaws.
Quality:
Overall, the quality of the El Capitan 3+ Outfitter meets my high expectations.
The fabric and poles seem very strong, the stitching looks precise, there are no random loose threads, and all the seems that should be taped are taped.
Zippers are beefy, smooth, and snag-free.
My only quality complaint is that the included tent stakes are the mediocre aluminum shepherd's crook style; the kind that easily bend. I immediately bought better replacements.
Flexibility:
I love that the tent has features that make it good in most weather conditions.
The rain fly extends nearly to the ground but has closable vents in the roof and a few options for venting the vestibules (low vent only, toggled half open, or toggled fully open).
The tent has two doors, both with mesh windows that can be closed with zippered fabric panels. Clever placement of toggles allows you to secure the fabric panels rolled up to the half-open or full-open positions.
The two mesh windows in the upper part of the walls can also be opened or closed with zippered fabric panels.
Venting should be good in all but the warmest weather, and the tent should remain reasonably warm in all but the coldest weather.
Eureka considers this a 4-season tent for use below the tree line, and I agree with this assessment.
Specs:
Eureka claims the floor of the tent measures 90" by 82", but these are the pole-tip to pole-tip measurements.
The usable floor space inside the tent measures about 82" by 76".
The roof height maxes out at 50" as stated by Eureka.
Max weight is about 11.4 lbs; this includes the inner tent, rain fly, 3 poles, 14 stakes (4 for the tent, 6 for the fly, and 4 for the included guy-lines), and the optional (but highly recommended) footprint.
Let-downs:
I mentioned the stakes are not great.
The optional footprint is expensive and is sub-par in my experience. There are no grommets to lock the poles tips in place, just flimsy cord loops with plastic tensioners. If they had included grommets, it would be easy to pitch only the rainfly and footprint as a tent-less shelter. It would also make it easier to pitch and take down the tent in the rain with the rainfly in place to keep you and the tent dry. The footprint does seem to be treated for water proofing, and it does extend below the vestibules to create an extended floor.
The stuff-sack could be bigger as it barely fits everything when you include the footprint; the footprint has its own bag, but why carry two?
Continued support for these tents is up in the air given that Johnson Outdoors sold the Eureka tent line (but not the Eureka name) to a Polish company that makes military tents, large fabric buildings and shelters, but no recreational tents.
Value:
Prices are always in flux, but in March 2024, the tent was deeply discounted from several online vendors. I paid about $320 (with tax and delivery) for the tent, footprint, and upgraded stakes. That's not bad at all for a tent with so much to offer and so few flaws.
Pros:
- QUALITY
- Value
- Flexibility
Cons:
- Weak tent stakes
- Optional footprint lacks grommets
- Stuff sack could be bigger
Best Used for:
- 4 seasons below the tree line
- Two larger adults with full-sized sleeping pads
- Three smaller people with backpacker-sized sleeping pads
Would Recommend:
Yes
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