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Is The Eureka Solitaire AL Tent Really That Bad? (Full Review for 2020)

Posted on September 21, 2016January 29, 2020 by Brandon

Last modified on January 29th, 2020

There are a lot of purchases for this tent, and I have noticed there are a huge number of mixed feedback for it as well. My Eureka Solitaire AL Tent Review will answer any questions and concerns you may have.

Is this tent ONLY worth the 4.2 stars that it has acquired, or are these just from people that know it is small yet purchase it anyway and still complain about not fitting in it comfortably?

That’s what it looks like to me, after I set out on a mission to find the real value of this affordable, lightweight tent – I decided to write down my findings in this article. I hope you enjoy my Eureka Solitaire Tent review!

Eureka! Solitaire AL One-Person, Three-Season Backpacking Tent

Features

What does this thing do? The Eureka Solitaire AL Tent is strictly created for 1 person use. This tent is capable of holding up in strong winds while keeping heavy rain out. It’s very lightweight which makes it a good choice for long hiking trips.

What ultimate benefits does this specific product provide? I find that this tent is the best for hiking trips, the lightweight item can be carried by one person so if you enjoy camping alone this might be something to consider. Some tents at this size can’t even keep rain out, I really like that this one can AND it will hold up in tough winds.

What are its specifications?

Tent Style: 2 Hoop tent
Weight: 2.9 pounds
Frame Material: 6.3 mm fiberglass
Pole Sleeve Material: Nylon
Seasons: 3
Capacity: 1
Floor Area: 21.33 square foot area
Center Height: 2’4″
Wall Panels: Mesh room

Who It’s For

The Eureka Solitaire Tent makes a brilliant idea for solo campers, or a couple of friends that want to go camping or hiking on long trips but want to camp ultralight and want their own privacy in their own tent.

This tent only weighs 2.9 pounds, so it might be something to consider. If you are a newbie camper and don’t want something too difficult to set up on your first couple of nights in the wilderness then this is for you.

 Eureka! Solitaire AL One-Person

Pricing & Purchase Details

This tent is now available on Amazon.com, the price varies between $75 and $95. This includes a limited warranty. If any pieces of the tent breaks, the manufacturer will replace it.

They will not replace long term damage of the tent though (eg. UV damage, overuse of zippers, alteration or misuse)

Pros

  • This product is a perfect choice for long hiking and camping trips, especially if you are aiming for the ultimate in lightness. It also packs up very small
  • Even though it is a 1 person tent, there is still some spare room to move around. The floor length is 8 feet long, and 1 and 1/2 person wide. If you are 220 lbs you will still fit in this tent with no problem and still fit your gear inside
  • This tent has a bathtub-styled floor! These types of floors are great for keeping the rain out from underneath the tent.
  • Most tents this size are only good for backyard camping overnight, this tent is good for wilderness use because of the waterproof capability and able to stand up in strong winds even with nonstop, hard rain. This is without additional waterproofing or seam sealer
  • I really like how you can have the rain fly off in the summer for a view of the stars and keep the breeze coming through, or you can put the rain fly on in the winter and stay toasty inside (it’s capable of keeping hot air in)

Eureka! Solitaire AL One-Person

Cons

  • Yes, there is a problem with condensation. Although this can be avoided if you keep it tight and taut
  • The poles might start to split after 100 nights or so
  • If not pitched correctly it can sag in the middle
  • It is not a self-supporting tent. So you will need to find soft ground to stake it down

Please read: There are 2 poles to keep this tent up, one for the entrance and one for the other end. Please don’t mix these poles up or you run the risk of them snapping. << Most of these people are the ones giving negative feedback about the tent, when they could have avoided it by setting the tent up correctly.

Alternative/Similar Products

This tent isn’t ideal for 2 or more people. However if you want a tent that will last for years to come and capable of holding in 2 people then I think you’ll like the ALPS Mountaineering 2 person tent, only slightly pricier.

If you are after something that will fit 2 to 4 people comfortably, still able to keep the rain out and hold up in tough winds, then the ALPS Meramac 4 tent might be for you.

Do I Recommend This Tent?

If you KNOW it’s not a large, family cabin tent, and it’s not going to hold more than 1 person unless you want to be really squished together then this tent is recommended for you.

If you are on the fence, and you’re not liking that it is really small then I wouldn’t recommend it for you, I’d prefer you choose one of the other tents above.

I’d recommend the Eureka Solitaire Tent for anyone that’s looking for a 1 person, ultralight backpacking tent though.

Eureka! Solitaire AL One-Person

My Final Opinion

If you still want this tent but not sure that it will fit you and your gear inside, I find that having a large trash bag comes in handy to keep your gear outside of the tent while keeping it waterproof and virtually takes up no additional space.

I would recommend that you make sure you do NOT get the 2 poles mixed up, which will ultimately break them.

When this is not the quality of the tent, it is because people don’t take precautions. The small pole goes at the feet, the long pole goes at the head.

If you can understand that, and you don’t mind sleeping in a 1 person tent, and you want something that’s waterproof and going to hold up in strong winds – then this tent is highly recommended for you.

Click Here To See If This Tent Is Still Available On Amazon

7 thoughts on “Is The Eureka Solitaire AL Tent Really That Bad? (Full Review for 2020)”

  1. udoh says:
    September 21, 2016 at 3:04 pm

    For a very long time I avoided comping mainly because I did not think camping tents were safe enough. I also did not think they could withstand winds and heavy rains.

    Now reading this article that points out the pros and cons of the tent and your suggestion of others put my mind at ease. Now I may give this tent a chance and see how it works.

    Quick question, what is (are) the most important thing(s) to look for when purchase a tent?

    Thank you,

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 21, 2016 at 4:40 pm

      Hi Udoh, thanks for reaching out to me.

      Mainly, what you want to look for is the weatherproofing capabilities. Can it actually keep the rain out? Will it stay standing in case you experience a rainstorm?

      These are the questions you should ask yourself when you look for a tent. A tent is suppose to keep you safe from the elements, that’s it, it is not there to keep you warm – that’s what your sleeping bag and clothes is for.

      Without being able to keep you safe from the elements, the tent is worthless IMO.

      Those are the main ones I look for, any other features will just be an added bonus!

      Hope this helps,
      Brandon

      Reply
  2. Kohei Saruta says:
    September 21, 2016 at 3:34 pm

    Awesome review! I’ve been looking around for tents since I plan on going on a hiking trip myself. I plan on bringing my dog with me though, from your review it seems like there is some space for the pupper but what is your input for that?

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 21, 2016 at 4:43 pm

      There will actually be SOME space for your dog, however your gear will need to stay outside. I would also recommend you to keep your equipment in a trash bag to keep it waterproof just in case it rains through the night (that’s if you choose to have your gear outside and your dog inside the tent).

      Hope this answer your question Kohei, and thanks for the comment!

      Kind regards,
      Brandon

      Reply
  3. Ralph says:
    September 22, 2016 at 3:02 am

    Great Review! I am usually hesitant going camping due to me not really being comfortable sleeping outdoors, but your review has definitely eased any fears I have about doing so. Also based on your pros and cons, this tent looks like it can get the job done.

    Thanks for the Review!

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      September 22, 2016 at 7:59 am

      Your are right Ralph, this tent isn’t the best one one the market, nor is it the most expensive so it is at an affordable price and fully capable of getting the job done IF looked after properly.

      Glad you found this post helpful.

      -Brandon

      Reply
  4. Jamie says:
    March 1, 2021 at 7:38 pm

    I had an older version (previous model) of this tent a few years back. The only reason I got rid of it was that my wife and I were moving abroad and we got rid of a lot of stuff.
    From my personal experience, I loved it. I’ve been in this tent through a thunderstorm in the Smokies with driving rain where it poured buckets for like an hour. My buddy, who a had a different type of tent, got soaked. Me and all my stuff stayed nice and dry.
    One of my favorite features is the roll back rain fly which makes for perfect summertime sleeping on a warm, clear night. And like the specs above say, it is light an compact. As an occasional backpacker, this tent fit my needs perfectly when I had it.

    Reply

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