Positives
Noiseless power anywhere. With the addition of a 110 invertor, you can run most any gadget without worrying about finding an outlet.
Compact size. Too heavy by far for backpacking, car campers will love this if they've always wanted to be able to run their computers in their tents. Or tailgaters who have a TV to hook up and only a small spot left to pack in power.
Negatives
Eureka customer service. Don't expect them to respond to questions posed via email and be prepared to wait a while for phone support.
Very small charge in the end. It takes 8 hours (when using your wall outlet) to charge and less than an hour to drain. They don't mention that part in any of the pre-purchase materials. If you are running a laptop off of it, expect just under an hour. If you are running a TV, plan on 30-45 minutes, depending on the size (13 or 15 inch). Power tools get about 15 minutes. All that is spelled out clearly on the paperwork you get only after you buy.
Summary
If you are looking to power a small lamp or fan in your tent or be able to re-charge your cell phone, this works fine. If you want to use it for laptops, digital cameras and such, plan on getting less than an hour of power for an all night charge.
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Eureka E Power Pak for Nergy TentsProduct Description: Would you like your roughing it to be a little less rough? Consider the Eureka E! Power Pak, a safe, durable power system that lets you bring reading lights, fans, and other 12-volt powered accessories on your family camping trips. Compatible with Eureka's N!ergy tents, the E! Power Pak plugs easily into your tent's factory-installed E! Power wiring system, with three built-in outlets providing all the portable power you need. Even better, the system is a breeze to charge: simply plug it into any home outlet or your car's 12-volt power supply before you leave for your vacation. Once charged, the internal battery maintains its charge for up to three months when not in use, with a sealed battery that's guaranteed not to leak or spill. And there's no guesswork involved with the E! Power Pak's charge, as the battery includes easy-to-read status LEDs that indicate when the unit is at full power, 75 percent charged, or 50 percent or less.
Housed in a durable rust- and corrosion-proof polypropylene case that resists fuels and solvents, the E! Power Pak includes a sure-grip handle for easy carrying and an easy-access 12-volt cigarette lighter outlet with a rubber safety cover. The item measures 8 by 7.5 by 5.25 inches (W x H x D), weighs 8 pounds, and carries a one-year limited warranty.
About Eureka Though the exact year is unknown, Eureka's long history begins prior to 1895 in Binghamton, New York, where the company still resides today. Then known as the Eureka Tent & Awning Company, its first wares were canvas products--most notably, Conestoga wagon covers and horse blankets for nineteenth century American frontiersmen--as well as American flags, store awnings, and camping tents.
The company increased production of its custom canvas products locally throughout the 1930s and during the 1940 and even fabricated and erected the IBM "tent cities" just outside Binghamton. The seven acres of tents housed thousands of IBM salesmen during the company's annual stockholders meeting, which had since outgrown its previous locale. In the 1940s, with the advent of World War II and the increased demand for hospital ward tents, Eureka expanded operations and began shipping tents worldwide. Ultimately, upon the post-war return of the GIs and the resultant housing shortage, Eureka turned its attention to the home front during the 1950s by supplying awnings for the multitude of mobile homes that were purchased.
In 1960, Eureka's new and innovative Draw-Tite tent, with its practical, free standing external frame, was used in a Himalayan Expedition to Nepal by world renowned Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person documented to summit Mt. Everest only six years earlier. In 1963, Eureka made history during its own Mt. Everest ascent, with more than 60 of its tents sheltering participants from fierce 60+ mph winds and temperatures reaching below -20°F during the first all American Mt. Everest Expedition.
For backpackers and families, Eureka introduced its legendary Timberline tent in the 1970s. Truly the first StormShield design, this completely self-supporting and lightweight backpacking tent became one of the most popular tents the entire industry with sales reaching over 1 million by its ten year anniversary.
Eureka tents have also traveled as part of several historic expeditions, including the American Women's Himalayan Expedition to Annapurna I in 1978 and the first Mt. Everest ascents by a Canadian and American woman in 1986 and 1988. In recent history, tents specially designed and donated by Eureka sheltered Eric Simonson and his team on two historic research expeditions to Mount Everest, this time in a quest for truth regarding the 1924 attempted summit of early English explorers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine. During the 1999 expedition, the team made history finding the remains of George Mallory, but the complete mystery remained unsolved. Returning in 2001 to search for more clues, the team found amazing historical artifacts which are now on display at the Smithsonian.
Amazon.com Tent Guide Selecting a Tent Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Expect the Worst In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.
Three- and Four-Season Tents For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.
For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.
Domes and Tunnels Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.
Size Matters Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.
Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.
Buy cheap Eureka E Power Pak for Nergy Tents now Get 29% OFF
This is a great 3 season tent with 2 large vestibles and plenty of ventilation. It is of course over rated for capacity as all tents are but it will comfortably house my wife, my dog and me with some gear. Easy to set up, re-pack and very durable so far, just remember to always use a tent footprint. You can buy better tents but for the money this one ranks high in value.
