Eureka Zeus Exo 2 Review

"I've used this tent 4 times now in the Beartooth mountains in Montana. I guess you have to expect condensation with the low temps and a German Shepherd in the tent. I am very pleased with the ease of setup and the weight. Another bonus is it packs the size of a loaf of bread. The poles are light and high quality but you need to let it dry out for and hour or so in the morning."

"If you are looking for ample interior space in a lightweight tent look no further than the Zeus EXO line. My personal tent is the EXO 2 which weighs just a shade over three pounds. The tent is incredibly easy to set up due to its external frame. In addition the tent is very well ventilated yet provides sufficient shelter from chilly winds. It is an exellent buy at around $140-$150."

"if you are looking for a free standing lightweight easy set up tent you are looking in the right place even though it is a 3 season tent it is still good for 18 degrees outside. it is a reliable and durable tent and is great for high winds."

"I bought this tent during the heart of the "lightweight revolution" for its unearthly low space-to-weight ratio. Well, the tent, by-golly, is a light one, but its breathability is nothing to rave about. While camping in moderately cool conditions, the top of the tent kept more water in than it did out. As stated in other reviews, as soon as the roof vent cover becomes damp, it lowers and falls onto the mesh vent and cuts air flow off resulting in the restriction of air circulation to the lower half of the tent only. When I crawled out of my tent that morning and bumped the side-wall,let's just say I had a great chance to test the DWR on my new sleeping bag. If you are a lightweight fanatic, this tent is for you. But for those of us who like to keep a light pack indeed but are willing to sacrafice a few ounces for a more breathable tent, I'd look elsewhere.
Weight: 5.0
Breathability: 2.0
Weatherproofness: 4.0"

"I loved this tent until I woke up soaking wet from condensation. Lightweight, easy setup, waterproofness and price are the only things I can say good about this product. I used 4 time in various conditions and every time I was wet in the morning. Eureka has to go back to the drawing boards to refine the breathablity of the tent. I exchanged it for a Northface pebble."

"Do not waste time even considering it. White Mountains 6/7/03--6/9/03:
Saturday night with no rain, just cool damp temps...tent was soaked on the inside from condensation--& I mean soaked. Gear, sleeping (down) bags etc. WET from condensed breath. This is not a "single-wall" tent in the Bibler sense, it is the old single wall rip-stop non-breathable nylon used in the cheap K-mart versions with supposed "patented" improved ventilation. Does not work, waste of my money."

"I dont know who has been weighing this tent but I weighed it on a digital scale at 4 pds 15 ounces. The tent weighed 3 pds 8 and 1/4 ounces the poles weighed 1 pd 2 and 3/8 ounces and the stakes weighed 4 and 1/2 ounces. When Eureka put on the box that it weighed 3 pds 6 ounces they must have meant the tent alone and they still lied. I expect every company to shave ounces off of their product but Eureka shaved over a pound off of theirs. Even though the product held up for a week of camping in the Ruby mountains of Nevada I was looking for a lighter tent. I guess I wont be buying eureka products anymore."

"I loved this tent until I woke up in the morning and found it soaked on the inside. In forest it seemed to gather less condensation, but beach camping is out of the question. No one seems to have mentioned this design fault, but the flap on the vestibule with the velcro on it just hangs there when the vestibule is unzipped. The velcro then attaches itself to the mesh screen, and, you guessed it, snags the screen when you pull the velcro off! I'm still looking for the perfect tent..."

"Completely unhappy with this tent. There is no ventilation in and the inside is SOAKED each night. I suffered through a rain storm in the Boudary Waters and had to rig a tarp over the tent because it leaked so badly. So, poor ventilation and it doesn't protect against the elements...."

"I found the tent, light and extreamly easy to set up, but did notice condensation problems on the BRT in AR. I think placement in relation to wind direction and lifting the lower side vents could help. But for light weight, ease of setup and roominess i Rate it at 5. 2 for ventilation though."

"Bought this based on the remarkably light weight. I confess I was skeptical because of past experience with single-wall tents. I've found them to be fairly effective until you inadvertently touch the inner surface of the tent. Then a drip often begins where the fabric was touched. Took the tent backpacking in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in October. Encountered four straight days of freezing rain. Despite my idiot dog constantly pressing against some inside tent surface, it never leaked. Whatever moisture was inside the tent, the two of us had brought in. As a simple shelter, very good. RE: condensation inside the tent and ventilation ... didn't really get a fair test because the wind never blew less than 20 for four days. Plenty of air passing through under those conditions!"

"The Zeus 2 is luxurious space-wise, extremely easy to set up even in the rain (just remember to zip it all up each time you pack it). Only two issues: zippers snag (tho once you get the hang of it there's a technique to eliminate that so it's a non-issue), and then there's the condensation issue. In all but the driest environment, there will be some--maybe more than some. Carry a few of those reuseable Shop Towels to wipe down the interior in the morning and it's no big deal. All-in-all, I like this tent."

"Have had this tent since it first came out 2 years ago. Very quick to set up (3 minutes tops), very sturdy for windy conditions. Good size vestibule and plenty of space considering the weight. Never had much problem with condensation since I follow the directions and point the door into the wind, but I still do have some. Anyone that buys a single-wall tent MUST accept that they will get condensation. There is no way around it. The various vent flaps do sag when wet, so ventilation suffers when that happens, too.

My huge complaint is when I finally had an all-night downpour to test the waterproofness, well lets just say after the first 20 minutes it wasn't very waterproof from above. No problems down below, I seam-sealed everything well and the floor is a different material that works well. But the rest of the tent allowed the downpour to be a light drizzle inside. Not just a little misting here and there, but drops were hitting my bag all night. Used a flashlight and carefully looked at everything, the seams were dry, the fabric panels were soaked. Ended up draping a 5X8 silnylon tarp I carry over the top to stop the leaking. Came home from that trip and silicone sprayed the whole thing. Haven't had another rainy night since then to see how it worked. Plan on buying a silnylon tarptent soon so I may never find out."

"Mixed feelings about this tent. Easy to set up,light, roomy, good vestibule space but like everyone else...condensation. In relativly warm/dry weather it worked pretty good but once you have a cold night you'll be swimming in condensation. Then again that is the inherent risk of these single walled tents. If eureka provide some more ventilation points this could be avoided. I think I will be looking for a new tent."

"Good as a light, quick, spartan shelter. Good because it is cheap.

But, as with most things, you get what you pay for. There are some quality and attention to detail issues. The door zipper is impossible to use with just one hand, it always seems to grab fabric with every attempt. Also condesation is pretty bad due to insufficient air flow. This didn't bother me as much as some folks. Condensation is what you get with a single wall tent. Especially a very inexpensive one. Even the best can have problems in certain climates and they can be four times the price.

One other complaint - at 6' 2" and using a long sleeping bag, I was always rubbing up against one end of the tent. Not good when there is condensation.

All in all, a good tent for the price.
I feel that it does what a light, extremely packable, single wall tent should. You should definitely water proof the fabric and go over the seams as well. I did and had no leaking problems what-so-ever.

Set-up is the easiest I have experienced with any tent."

"I bought this tent because I also have a Apex and have been very happy with it. This tent is not good for much other than setting up quickly in a desert climate. It will drip on you in the morning. If you have a down bag in cold weather then you may die from the dampness. completely unreliable tent for certain climates."

"I love this tent,If you leave the door zipped you can set it up in a downpour if you come to a camp after dark even. But I only close the doors if its rainning once set up.
For wind exposure, rain, fastest set up of any tent or tarp made in the dark.Buy one.
Its to small for 2 people and over 6 foot you have to sleep corner to corner. And the zipper sticks some. And I got a total weight of 4lb 6oz with everything."

"I have been backpacking for many years and I have never had such a tent. I took it on a trip that I took to Alaska and it was great....the only problem I had was the condensation"

"DO NOT BUY THIS TENT! Yea, sure, the lack of weight is tempting. Coupled with the inexpensive price and appealing color, this tent sure looks good. But this was the worst tent I have ever slept in. The ventilation was HORRIBLE, the condensation worse, and in rain it is a nightmare (and that is with extra water-sealing). Save yourself some grief if not necessarily some money - don't buy this tent!"

"Borrowed this tent for a 4 day trip and the first night, the temp dropped to 20 F. I was the sleeping alone and by the middle of the night I was soaked from condensation. My bag was soaked, the walls were dripping. Around 5am, it began to rain and I had a hard time telling if it was leaking or just more condensation. I had a few friends stuck in a Timber Creek puptent and they were as soaked as I was. I am glad I didn't pay the 100+ dollars for this when I could have just as well bought a 20 dollar tent and got wet all the same. Needless to say, we went home.
The tent sets up fast, I could fit three pairs of boots in the vestibule. Zipper got caught several times. I have to say, it kept out the bugs, oh wait, it was below freezing. Maybe it doesn't, I don't know."

"Very easy tent to use. Condensation is a bit of a problem sometimes, but the tent’s usually pretty good.. It seems to collect at the bottom of the tent where my feet go for some reason. This can make the bottom of my bag wet in the morning. The vent on the roof doesn't open very much which slows down venting. I'm going to put a stick with Velcro ends on it in the vent to open it up. Headroom's a bit small for playing cards, but there's definitely enough floor space for sleeping. Completely waterproof once you use the complimentary seam sealer on the floor seams. Any moisture inside has always been condensation. My biggest complaints are that the vestibule gets a lot of condensation in it. The moisture from the ground really collects on the inside. You could probably fix this by extending your ground sheet under the vestibule. Also, it’s hard to get in the tent when it’s raining without getting the inside of the tent wet. The vestibule door opens overtop of the inside door so the rain pours right in. But these are all relatively minor problems which can probably be fixed at home."

"Took this tent on a 2 month backpacking trip in Scotland and Ireland. I silicone sprayed it and seam sealed it before use, so cant vouch for "out of the box" results. I would have to say this is a great SINGLE WALL TENT. Yah there is condensation, but if you get a single wall tent and do not think you are going to get condensation, you havent used a single wall tent before. I used a stick to keep the top rear vent open to prevent it from sagging. There were only a few nights where the condensation was bad, but in the morning it was just wiped down with a pack-towel. The largest problem I have had with this tent was the seams in the corners are pulling out (but that also might be from the 70+ MPH wind storms we were stuck in a few times)"

"I bought this tent for my son who is a Boy Scout. He took it on a campout this weekend. The temp got down to 35 degrees F. We had a light wind. I got up the next morning and there was no dew on my tent, N F Boulder but his was dripping wet inside. Dry on the outside. His sleeping bag was soaked as well as everything else in the tent. I will say it is easy to set up and he liked that part. But the idea of a tent is to stay dry. I called Eureka this morning and the person I talked to said I suppose you are complaining about the condensation. They must know they have a problem."

"I love this tent. It is light and durable. Only problem I have is, as everyone else said, the condensation. This isn't even a problem if its over 40 degrees or so. Definitely worth it if you're looking for a light-weight tent."

"This is a very lightweight fast-setup tent and I love it for those features. There is always some condensation on the inside but it can be kept to a minimum if the ceiling vent is propped open with a stick and the side vents open maximally. It also helps to face tent into the wind if possible. A lot of the condensation comes from the bare ground under the vestibule so if you cover that with an extension of your groundsheet, you have that problem licked as well. I love this tent."

"Used the tent for two years now. Great setup and durability. Condensation is a real problem. Both my son and I took this tent on seperate occasion backpacking in mountain of N. New Mexico. There wasn't a morning in which the tent was not wet. A wet tent is no joy to backpack with. I plan cutting the rear panel and put in a mesh screen. Let's see if that works. I would not recommend this tent as a buy."

"After buying the tent several months ago and never getting the chance to use it. I read all the reviews on it and had to try it out. I waited until last night when the Florida thunderstorms were rolling through and set it up in the backyard. It rained hard as hell and the wind blew like crazy. I stayed snug and dry all night long. I didn't even take the time to use the complimentary sealer. Although I will apply it today for good measure. Condensation was not a problem, there simply wasn't any. I just made sure the vents were all open fully. For a 120 bucks and the ease of use and all...I think its a good deal. You get what you pay for in equipment. I don't need a bombproof 4 season expedition to Everest tent, just a simple 3 season. I like this tent, although I haven't experienced the cold in it yet."

"Used this tent extensively in AZ and CA Sierras with no problems. I open all vents and tie vesibule ends to sticks/trees for more air. I also use something to prop open the roof vent all the way. No condensation with two inside. In the S.W. U.S. at least? Tough, easy,easy, to set up, fold, roll, etc. Very strong but flaps a bit in the breeze and they should have sewed a vent stay into the roof. The door zippers aren't great but still work fine."

"I have used this tent in summer- Colorado and New Hampshire, and winters in New Hampshire. I sleep with the vestibule zipped but with the door unzipped. Also, I pull out the sides to get good ventilation. I have never had any problems with this tent even in 25 degrees below zero, heavy wind, sleet, and rain. I had the tent almost collaspe under snow weight but this is not a winter tent and I should not have camped out in NH alone in a blizzard. I have not been in extended rain and humid conditions so I do not know about the condensation people are speaking about. Also, I seam sealed the tent really well and reinforced the pole clips with seam seal. My friends make fun of my cheap funny looking tent - but I like it. I would not bring it above tree line but for backpacking it is an easy set up and light. The two model is a roomy one person tent - impossible for two."

"This is a garbage bag with poles. No sense in putting up a tent when you're going to wake up soaking wet anyway. Eureka has redesigned the tent so they must know it's bad."

"This tent has been excellent for me and my family. I haven't had any problems of condensation like everyone is mentioning. If it is pitched correctly with vents open it is not a problem. I do agree the roof vent sagging is a problem. I tightened the straps with my sewing machine and this seemed to fix it. One really good feature is that you can set it up on the rain without getting the inside wet. I had to set it up in a pooring rain storm and when I climbed inside everything was completely dry. My friend set up his tent right next to me and it by the time he got the fly on everything inside was soaked. The tent has just the right amount of room for 2 people. On my last trip we managed to fit me, my wife and 6 month old son. We were cozy, but comfortable."

"I have not had the heavy condensation problems as other users have, even with 2 peoples inside. Yes there is some but I have yet to need to wipe mine down inside. Easy set up is a plus for single camper. In reality is too small for 2 campers. Annoying that the zipper gets caught EVERY TIME I used it. Is that a problem with all tents?, it happens with the bottom zipper on my Timberline 2 too. This Zeus withstood the onslaught of a popup sprinkler attack from 5 feet away at 3 am. It was in a public campgrounds and the sprinklers had a 15 foot range! I had to time 3 sprinklers and put a cooler on the nearest one to survive the night! My wife was pissed! I love the compact packability of this tent.....maybe the new design on the Zeus 3....."

"Condensation isn't a problem below 32 degrees or above dew point. Which means that it's good for summer in the west, In the fall at elevation, you'll hope it freezes or you'll be wet. It's light, Small and Cheap. But the next tent I buy will have better ventilation, and probably be a double wall with a fast pack option or a hybrid. The last time I used it my wife got soaked and agreed to let me buy another tent. That means condensation is definitely a problem, but I plan on keeping it for friends to use, and testing out some of the suggestions from others have left, on my friends of course."

"I used this tent extensively throughout the mountains of Montana. It is one of the lightest tents on the market with ample room, and a large vestibule. Some people complain about condensation, however with some diligence ensuring the vents are open it is a minor drawback. On multiple excursions, not once did I wake up wet or experience any of my gear being wet or even damp. I always let the tent air out in the morning for 15-30 minutes before I packed it up though. I did notice a light dampness on the inside material. I use a tyvek ground cloth, which weights nothing, and protects the bottom from moisture and puncturing. If you’re looking for a light weight tent, ample room, large vestibule then this is the best one out there. If you’re concerned about a little condensation, you might want to check out other options. Hope this helps. See you under the Big Sky."

"the tent was rather easy to set up in high winds and performed well through 50+ mph wind gusts rain and even snow all in one night at the dolly sods i would recommend this tent for the price weight and ease of use."

"I have owned this tent for about 4 or 5 years. I never completely gave up on it, but allow me to now.

I was looking for something ultralight and that is the only plus I can see in this piece of trash. It is very light, however when I got it I was never able to get it as light as the specs said. I replaced the cheap pegs and string that comes with it and tried to clean it up a bit by waterproofing the bottom tub, but I have found its hard to polish a turd.

I used to live on the east coast of Canada and well instantly from the get go condensation was a problem. Its hard not to wake up in the morning with the inside covered in it. Be careful not to touch the walls or your pillow, sleeping bag, or anything else you have inside will be soaked by the instant rain shower.

This was obviously a major design problem. It is supposed to have a high/low ventelation system, but please there is no way this thing has a chance. Through a tiny little opening in the front of the vestibule and a small vent in the bottom of the door, enough air is supposed to come in to move your heat out the useless top vent at the back which in no way stays open and quickly sticks shut when wet.

The only time I didn't have condensation with this thing was when I was able to set it up directly into the wind with a constant wind speed of about 20-30 mph...very windy.

Then I moved to the American Southwest where I thought I might be able to use it in dryer conditions...big surprise...no luck. Even in the deserts of Arizona, Utah and Nevada this tent was as wet as a hurricane inside after a nights sleep.

Don't buy, its all smoke and mirrors."

"I bought this tent for $71.00 plus sales tax 2 days ago at the Eureka Outlet store. It is a refurbished Class B tent. From previous posts I am aware of condensation problems with this tent. The price is what persuaded me to give it a try.

Yesterday morning it started raining. Monsoon proportions. I set the tent up quickly in the yard during a slight let up in the rain. Easy and quick set up and getting no water inside is a definite plus. The side vents were staked out. The vestibule staked out fairly tight. The four corners staked without tension.It did not take long for the fabric above the upper vent in the rear to sag and hold a puddle of water. A drip started over the rear edge onto the fabric below but well away from the mesh. After a few hours the weight of the water sagged the rear vent completely shut. It causes the poles to move inward adding slack.

I called Eureka.I was told I could return the tent and purchase a Zeus LE (discontinued) after discounts for about $55 more. Yikes.

The sagging of the panel above the rear vent in the roof of the tent appears to be a design flaw. I have read in reviews of folks keeping it open with sticks.

Before darkness set in I checked the inside for leaking. It did not leak even though it was still raining and it had rained hard all day long.
The zipper on the vestibule will snag but running fingers over the edge tensioning the fabric away from the zipper seems to take care of that.

I like this tent for the price and the very quick and easy setup. The size of the vestibule is a plus. I should be able to lick the problem with the rear vent not staying open.
I am going to experiment with a piece of (styro)foam and velcro to keep the rear vent open for airflow.
Interior condensation occurs at times in other types of tents as well.

I will also cut a piece of tyvek as ground cover for the tent and the vestibule together."