Eurohike Backpacker, 2 person tent (pic heavy)

[Adam Savage]

the blurb...

After a long and gruelling day on the trails, the Eurohike Backpacker 2 Man Tunnel Tent will make a comfortable place to retire to.

With its lightweight and space saving design, this Eurohike tent is designed to meet the needs of those backpacking, hiking and trekking.

Weighing just 2.47kg, the tent will far from make a dramatic increase to the weight of your kit, leaving you free to concentrate on carrying plenty of other items of equipment.

With a lightweight design however, doesn’t come a loss in performance, the Backpacker Tent is designed to be taken to the extreme, with a hydrostatic head of 2000mm, the tent is more than equipped to tackle the downpours the UK experiences in all seasons.

What’s more, outer pitch first means you don’t have to wait until it is dry to pitch the tent. With the outer getting pitched first, the inner is kept protected, remaining nice and dry even in downpours.

Once back at base camp, after a hard and gruelling day on the trails, the last thing you want to be doing is working out the tent schematics, instead colour coded poles make pitching the tent an absolute breeze. No need to work out which pole goes with which tab, just match the colours, simple.

If you are after a lightweight tent that is designed to go the distance without weighing you down when backpacking, hiking and trekking, the Eurohike Backpacker 2 Man Tunnel Tent is the answer.


The specs...

Tent Type 2 Person
Weight Kilos 2.47
Tent Height 1 cm 105
Tent Height 2 cm 95
Pack Length 60
Pack Width 16
Sleeps 2
Fly Sheet Polyester Taffeta 68D 190T, Fire Retardent, Water Resistant, PU 2000mm
Inner Material Polyester Taffeta 68D 190T, Breathable, Fire Retardent
Groundsheet Polyethylene 130g/m2, Fire Retardent
No of Compartments 1
No of Doors 1
Colour Coded Poles Yes
Hydrostatic Head 2000
Poles Fibreglass
Tent Design Tunnel

The review...

My sister was kind enough to let me pitch in her garden, as I we had arranged to head over the local nature reserve, to see if we could find any tracks, and maybe take a few photos, but that's another story. I packed up an overnight kit with the Backpacker in my trusty Karrimor Hot 30. Surprisingly everything I needed, except water, fitted in (or on) the pack. The tent went inside, with USAF sleeping bag, shemagh, hat, mess kit, kettle, headtorch and spare batteries, roll mat strapped to the outside, and a fleece blanket to the top (just in case it got nippy in the night).

The tent itself, packs down to decent size, in it's own bag. If you wanted to use your space a little better, you could ditch the bag, fold the inner and fly, so they fit in the top of your pack, and slip the poles down the back or side of your pack inside.

Here's a photo of the tent packed up, next to most of my overnight kit, except roll mat and sleeping bag.

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/08042011578.jpg

The Backpacker took me around 10-15 minutes to set up, as It was the first time I pitched this tent (or even took it out of it's bag for that matter) and read the instructions, like a good little boy. The instructions, by the way, are stitched inside the carry bag and printed on waterproof material, so you won't loose them and they won't turn to mush when it rains.

Photos of the tent set up

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/IMGP1940.jpg

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/IMGP1922.jpg

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/IMGP1927.jpg

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/IMGP1933.jpg

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/IMGP1931.jpg

It's simple to erect, with outer first construction, followed by attaching the inner with toggle/loop and hooks. It was at this point I realised, quality control may be an issue with Eurohike (made in China) tents, as they had not sewn one of these toggle loops in.

I didn't manage to take a photo until later in the evening, but here is an example of a complete toggle/loop, followed by a "loopless" toggle.

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/08042011587.jpg

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/08042011586.jpg

This didn't effect the inner too much. It just sagged in a little on one side, but at least it held away from the outer.

Inside this 2 person tent, was just enough room for a regular sized sleeping bag, roll mat, and a minimal amount of kit (small items really, that could fit between you and the sides, without pushing the inner onto the outer).

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/IMGP1936.jpg

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/IMGP1935.jpg

The porch was big enough to store cooking equipment, boots, axe, and the tents own carry bag. You could have stored your pack in there, once you had zipped up the door and made yourself comfy for the night, with no need to use the entrance again.

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/IMGP1939.jpg

And a quick photo, before I put any kit inside the tent.

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/IMGP1924.jpg

My sister's cat, Herbie (don't ask) offered her assistance for size comparison.

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/IMGP1925.jpg

During the night, the temp went from warm, in the evening, to quite cold, in the middle of the night. At first I slept with the mesh window, in the door, covered. This made things very warm, too warm in fact. The moisture was building up a little on the inside of the tent, but it was building up even more on the inside of my sleeping bag LOL.
I decided to unzip the window covering (and the sleeping bag), which helped maintain a decent temp. No more condensation, yay. I woke at 3am feeling chilly, so pulled the blanket over and zipped up my bag. This kept me happy for the rest of the night.

in the morning, I woke dry, and fairly well rested. The grass was heavily dew covered and so was the inside of the porch. Having no groundsheet in the porch, seemed to allow quite heavy moisture build up on the underside of the outer. It didn't effect the inner at all though, which is the main thing.

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/09042011593.jpg

The conclusion...

All in all, I'd say the Eurohike Backpacker, is worth every penny of the £24.99 I paid for it when it was on offer, but only as a solo tent, on a fairly light trip. After turning inside out in the sun, it dried off very fast, ready to be packed away. this put with the possible 5-10 minute set up (after you know what to do for subsequent pitching) it's reasonable for a budget backpacking weekend, where you don't want to either spend a fortune for a great tent and/or spend half your day erecting and dismantling your living quarters.
Would I pay the current price of around £60 for it? Probably not, knowing how small it really is and the fact 2.47 kg is far from the lightest tent you can buy, for a true super lightweight backpacking trip.
Yes I will use it again, but only if I don't have trees to hang from, and I haven't managed to get a well priced, more efficient, tent in the mean time.

Sorry if this review is a little all over the place, with photos and information. I'm still getting the hang of write ups LOL.

Hope you found this of some use. Please feel free to ask any questions, as usual.

Adam

[Ben Casey]

I'm going to start copying how you do write ups :D Have you got a right up for the portable drier in some of the pics LOL

Oh I like the write up you do good ones

[Adam Savage]

LOL, I'll have to ask the sister for her input on the drier haha. I need to do a write up for the Hi Gear inferno. only used it a couple times so far though, so want to give it a proper shake down. LOL

[luresalive]

good review, it would seem to be a good offer for the price you paid.

[Adam Savage]

good review, it would seem to be a good offer for the price you paid.

Thank you. Would be good to see how it does in good wet weather to test the HH. It's a shame they put the price back up now it's camping season. Money grabbing corporations LOL.

[GwersyllaCnau]

Sorry if this review is a little all over the place, with photos and information. I'm still getting the hang of write ups LOL.

I thought it was a very comprehensive review

[Adam Savage]

I thought it was a very comprehensive review

Thanks GC

[swkieran]

top review adam :),been trying to make up my mind up on buying a smaller tent for a while now,looks versatile.

[Adam Savage]

I used it the weekend just gone. Took a hammering in a Dartmoor thunderstorm, keeping me and my kit dry, even the kit in the porch area without a groundsheet. Didn't suffer any condensation at all with the door vent/window unzipped. A great little tent.

[fish]

big cat or small tent?

[Adam Savage]

Small tent and perspective of camera lol. The apex at the front is just over 1m tall and around 1.4m wide. tapering in both height and width, to 0.95m tall, 1.1m wide

[swkieran]

ill get one i think :) based on what youve said adam ,i might wait a while till summers over chances are it might be alot cheaper

[Adam Savage]

Yeah, I picked mine up for 25 ish about 2 months ago, just before start of season. Well worth that. Like I said in the review, I'm not so sure it's worth the current price. It's done me well though.

[swkieran]

thx m8,i dont really want to spend a fortune either,as ive got 2 tents already my trusty 4man coleman,as good as it is for holidays its way to heavy,and ive also got a highlander forces 3 which is another good tent but not light enough.i usually use the mill com basha as a storage area as it folds down in the side pocket of my pack.

[Adam Savage]

I'm the same. Have four or five tents of varying sizes. The other weekend I took the backpacker for myself and a friend used my lichfield apache for her and her daughter. have a photo for size comparison, the apache is a 3-4 person by the way.

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/Ivans%2029th%20April%20to%201st%20May/IMGP2247.jpg

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/Ivans%2029th%20April%20to%201st%20May/IMGP2249.jpg

[swkieran]

quite a considerable difference adam,nice pics btw.im going to keep my eye on the price,once the holiday season is over end of sep/oct time it should be at a bargain price:).Whats the lichfield tent like,ive always had coleman.ive heard good reviews on lichfield and i think argos sell them

[Adam Savage]

quite a considerable difference adam,nice pics btw.im going to keep my eye on the price,once the holiday season is over end of sep/oct time it should be at a bargain price:).Whats the lichfield tent like,I've always had coleman.I've heard good reviews on lichfield and i think argos sell them

It's a good size for two with loads of space for kit, comes in at 3.5-4 kg though, so a little on the heavy size. Simple to erect, but sliding the poles into the sleeves can be fiddly at times, and in high winds can be a bit of a nightmare. I found the fly doesn't quite seem big enough for the inner, making the pegging points a little tight, and could have done with a guy line half way down each side. When it rains heavy, and the wind blows, it can make the fly touch the inner, which isn't good. Bought it from Argos about 3 or 4 years ago for £49, so was a decent price for an alright tent. I would expect the Colemans as being a better tent to be honest. Have an old Lichfield combat 5 too. A 6 foot high ridge tent, which I have had for 11 or 12 years. Repaired a small groundsheet tear, but other than that it's been perfect. Heavier again than the Apache, it's not great for mobile camping, but for a fixed camp it's hard to beat.

[Kieran]

I have that tent... But with a slightly bigger porch.

[Adam Savage]

I have that tent... But with a slightly bigger porch.

Which one? the backpacker or apache?

[Kieran]

"Tay" :)

[paul standley]

Great review, looks like an OK tent for £25.

As others say... You is good with the words buddy :-)

[Adam Savage]

Great review, looks like an OK tent for £25.

As others say... You is good with the words buddy :-)

Thanks Paul. I tried to be informative LOL

[lruggier]

Funnily enough, I was up in the loft the other day to remind myself of which of my tents was still there and hadn't been 'borrowed' by friends who hadn't returned it yet, and lo and behold there was my eurohike backpacker - as per your review. So it will be coming into service again beginning of next month. Bought it quite a while ago and can't remember how much it cost at the time, but it was a lovely little tent to use as I recall, if a bit snug. No problems with condensation that I remember either. It will be nice to give it an airing.

[Humakt]

I have a Eurohike Backpacker that I've never used.

If anyone would like to buy it then contact me via PM - I don't want much for it.

I live down in Kent, so it'd be best if you lived that way too, or willing to come and collect, because by the time we've added postage to it then you may as well go to Millets and buy a new one!

But if anyone wants a cheap, unused, Backpacker then PM me.

[kINGPIN]

Great review mate. That tent looks like it has come a long way from the old design of it I used to have.

[Adam Savage]

Great review mate. That tent looks like it has come a long way from the old design of it I used to have.

Thanks kP. I think I preferred the look of the old one, don't know why.

[markal17]

cool tent pic look good iv got the eurohike tamar great little tent in the rain stayd dry for all the time it was up in the garden lol
just testing out me gear

[Adam Savage]

cool tent pic look good iv got the eurohike tamar great little tent in the rain stayd dry for all the time it was up in the garden lol
just testing out me gear

A very sensible option. People tend to just buy stuff, then go straight out to use it (I'm also guilty of this) and only find out if it works or not when it's too late.

[markal17]

i am not only testing my gear i test my self aswell lolol

[Adam Savage]

i am not only testing my gear i test my self aswell lolol

Also a good idea lol

[markal17]

yer thanks it gives the kids a bit of out door fun with out saying go out side lolol

[Martin]

A very sensible option. People tend to just buy stuff, then go straight out to use it (I'm also guilty of this) and only find out if it works or not when it's too late.

Just like the chap who walked over to us in the middle of Dartmoor asking if we had any spare tent pegs because he hadn't unpacked his new tent to discover that there weren't any pegs included with it!! Doh!!!

Martin

[markal17]

lol i check every thing before i go down the road drives the wife crazy

[Adam Savage]

Just like the chap who walked over to us in the middle of Dartmoor asking if we had any spare tent pegs because he hadn't unpacked his new tent to discover that there weren't any pegs included with it!! Doh!!!

Martin

I remember that. You should have shown him how to make his own from the timbers he was burning lol.

[Kieran]

Just like the chap who walked over to us in the middle of Dartmoor asking if we had any spare tent pegs because he hadn't unpacked his new tent to discover that there weren't any pegs included with it!! Doh!!!

Martin

They were probably in the bottom of his rucksack lol :p
I actually had 4 spare tent pegs because I didn't bother putting my guide lines out. :p

[Martin]

They were probably in the bottom of his rucksack lol :p
I actually had 4 spare tent pegs because I didn't bother putting my guide lines out. :p

And, when you consider that him and his wife were camping in an enclosure surrounded by trees, it wouldn't have taken a genius to work out where he had an almost endless supply of tent pegs. :D

Martin

[Paralex]

Adam you are an absolute star. I bought one of these today and wanted to know a little about it. Couldn't put it up in the back garden cause it was raining but your 14 photos gave me the picture. I think this tent is an absolute bargain for what I paid for it and hope to use it for one night in Inverness in a few weeks time. Thanks for taking the time to give such a full review.

[Adam Savage]

Adam you are an absolute star. I bought one of these today and wanted to know a little about it. Couldn't put it up in the back garden cause it was raining but your 14 photos gave me the picture. I think this tent is an absolute bargain for what I paid for it and hope to use it for one night in Inverness in a few weeks time. Thanks for taking the time to give such a full review.

No problem Paralex, hope the tent meets your needs. Like I said, it is a little cramped for two with kit, but if your on your own, you should be fine.

Adam

[tinkers]

great review, and great pics too, and as you say its great for 1 person with all your kit stored inside out of the weather, but as you say not really suitable for 2 people with a lot of kit unless of course the other person is your partner cos its gonna be awfull cosy in there:wink: the weight is not to bad as well, unless your one of the ultralight gram weenies. you'd have to spend a lot more money to get something that will give you that level of comfort and space and reduce the weight noticeably, and great that you can put the flysheet up first if the weather is bad, a feature usually found in more expensive tents. so all in all a great buy for the money.

tinkers

[Adam Savage]

great review, and great pics too, and as you say its great for 1 person with all your kit stored inside out of the weather, but as you say not really suitable for 2 people with a lot of kit unless of course the other person is your partner cos its gonna be awfull cosy in there:wink: the weight is not to bad as well, unless your one of the ultralight gram weenies. you'd have to spend a lot more money to get something that will give you that level of comfort and space and reduce the weight noticeably, and great that you can put the flysheet up first if the weather is bad, a feature usually found in more expensive tents. so all in all a great buy for the money.

tinkers

My thoughts exactly. Glad you liked the review and thanks for the comment.

Adam

[GeekyNick]

I bought one of these on Saturday after reading your great review. I was initially worried about the quality at such a low price but I was reassured after reading this and other reviews. Having put it up in the garden I am happy with it - it was very easy to put up and was a little larger than I expected . I would even go so far as to say that it might fit two people at a real push for a few nights.

The price was the key thing for me - I paid £17 after applying my 15% group discount to the sale price of £20.00 ! With such a low price I decided to splash out on some "Y Beams (http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16471&category_id=287)" - lightweight aluminium pegs from www.Alpkit.com to bring down the weight a little .

Thanks again for helping me pick such a great value tent !

[Adam Savage]

I bought one of these on Saturday after reading your great review. I was initially worried about the quality at such a low price but I was reassured after reading this and other reviews. Having put it up in the garden I am happy with it - it was very easy to put up and was a little larger than I expected . I would even go so far as to say that it might fit two people at a real push for a few nights.

The price was the key thing for me - I paid £17 after applying my 15% group discount to the sale price of £20.00 ! With such a low price I decided to splash out on some "Y Beams (http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16471&category_id=287)" - lightweight aluminium pegs from www.Alpkit.com to bring down the weight a little .

Thanks again for helping me pick such a great value tent !

Much thanks Nick. Glad I could help. I also replaced the pegs with Xsection plastic tough pegs, but not so much for the weight, more for effectiveness in softer ground. As with all tents supplied with "cheap" pegs, they normally turn in the ground (releasing your guy/loop) or pull out completely.

Thanks again for the kind comments. T^

Adam

[jgavigan]

Wow, GeekyNick, I thought I was doing good with my £20 purchase until I seen the price you have paid! I also popped my new purchase up in the garden and it's a grand little tent. I'll be heading off to Donegal late this week and will be camping out on a coastal jaunt. I expect that the Atlantic will dump some rain on us so the tent may well get tested!.......

[Adam Savage]

I'll be heading off to Donegal late this week and will be camping out on a coastal jaunt. I expect that the Atlantic will dump some rain on us so the tent may well get tested!.......

Sounds great. Remember to leave the little fly screen window in the door open, so condensation doesn't build up inside. And as with all double skin tents, avoid pushing the inner into contact with the outer, when it's wet. All the best with your trip.

Adam