Gear Box: Eureka Apex 2XT Tent

Living in Texas, where we've already had more than a dozen days of triple-digit heat y this year, we're always looking for gear that performs well in warmer temperatures. After all, it isn't much fun to be uncomfortable in extremely hot and dry weather. In fact, while most of the U.S. is just getting their camping gear onto the store shelves, ours is being put in storage until fall, when it is actually safe to go back outside again.

Fortunately, there are some gear manufacturers that go to great pains to design gear that works well in warm weather, ensuring we don't have to cancel our camping trip just because the mercury starts to climb. One of those companies is Eureka, who makes a variety of tents for backpacking, family outings, and even mountaineering expeditions. I took one of their newly designed Apex 2XT tents on a recent weekend outing, and found that it was a fantastic option for summer campers.

One of the biggest challenges of testing out a new tent is trying to figure out how to set it up. Sometimes they are simple, straight forward affairs, and sometimes it requires a rocket surgeon to help you figure it out. In the case of the Apex, it was a real breeze to put it together, taking just a few minutes to get it set up and ready for use. That's greatly appreciated at the end of a long day on the trail or when you're trying to out run a sudden storm.

After setting the tent up, I climbed inside to check out my sleeping space and was surprised to find a very spacious interior. The Apex 2XT is rated for two campers, which it can fit comfortably with room to spare for gear as well. In fact, its large enough that two adults and even a small child could probably get away with sharing the space for weekend outings.

As is typical with Eureka tents, the Apex is well constructed and durable. It also includes a fly that covers the entire tent and creates two vestibules that are helpful for keeping gear dry in inclement weather. A gear loft and interior pockets helps you to keep your important items close at hand, and a "bathtub" floor helps to keep the water out.

The Apex is most definitely designed for warmer weather, and the twin side-opening access points help to keep the interior well ventilated on summer nights. If you use the tent in those kinds of conditions, you're likely to be very happy with its performance. This is a late-spring to early-fall kind of shelter, and anything much colder than that will probably leave you wanting something a bit more substantial.

Speaking of substantial, the tent is a bit on the heavy side as well. Light and fast backpackers will want to look elsewhere as well, as the Apex 2XT has a pack weight of 6 pounds, 5 ounces. That's a fairly heavy load for a two-person tent that doesn't offer better protection in colder temps. But on the other hand, it is hard to beat the quality, size, and performance for the price.

One other item of note is that I've read that this tent has issues with keeping moisture out, particularly in heavy rainfall. I can't confirm or deny these issues, as it was warm and dry when I used the tent. I can say that it seems that Eureka has taken great strides to incorporate design elements that should help to keep all but the heaviest of rains out. The bathtub floor, included fly, zipper covers, and other items seem well thought out and incorporated to keep us dry, but perhaps there is something I'm overlooking.

Warm weather campers will find the Apex 2XT has everything they need for their summer outings. With plenty of interior room and good design elements, tt is an excellent and affordable option that should serve you well, provided you don't use it in cooler weather.

MSRP: $129.99 (But it at TravelCountry.com)

National Geographic Adventure Names Gear of the Year!

In what has become a yearly ritual, National Geographic Adventure has released their picks for the Gear of the Year, with 35 items earning that distinction for 2010. Each of the items incorporates great design and technology to improve their functionality in the field, while making our lives easier in the process.

Amongst the items that make the list are the Kistwar Jacket from The North Face, which earns kudos for being a versatile piece of gear that can be used all over the mountain, whether you're climbing, hiking, or skiing. Gerber's Ultimate Knife gets a nod as well, and not just because it's endorsed by Bear Grylls, and the Earthmate PN-60 from DeLorme and SPOT continues to garner attention for its ability to keep us in contact with friends and family even while on the go.

Of course, there are plenty of other great items on the list as well, including a point and shoot camera from Canon (Powershot S95) and a DSLR from Nikon (D3100), as well as the popular Vibram's FiveFingers Bikila "barefoot" running shoes. As someone who has been using the Bikila's for a few months now, I can attest to how fun they are to run in.

There are a couple of other very intriguing pieces of kit that caught my eye. For instance, the new Tikka XP headlamp from Petzl seems really interesting, which seems like an odd thing to say for a headlamp. But this one incorporates some very cool technology that allows you to use the lamp's rechargeable battery system with special software that runs on your computer, to accurately set the light so that it burns at the right level to maximize battery life for what ever activity you are doing. Seems like an ingenious design and I'd love to test one.

As is typical with these kinds of lists, there is far too much great gear for my wallet to handle. But, if you're in the market to upgrade some of your gear items, and you're looking for suggestions, this is a great place to start. You'll find everything from packs to gloves to sleeping bags on the list, but be warned, you're also likely to find some things you didn't even know you needed or wanted. Gear lust is in full effect here!

The Adventure Life Launches The Gear Stash

The Adventure Life, one of the best online resources for outdoor and adventure news, has launched a new site dedicated to one of my favorite topics – gear!

The new site is called The Gear Stash, and it promises to offer updates on the latest and greatest gear, with multiple blog-style posts per day keeping all of us gear hounds in the know about what's on the horizon. The posts are designed to be short,informative, and to the point, while the more in depth, content heavy articles will remain on the Adventure Life.

There are already a number of good posts up on the Gear Stash, including a look at a new tent from Marmot, a review of the Petzl Tikka XP 2 headlamp, and sneak peek at the Breezer Lightning Team mountain bike, which is of special interest to me, as I'm in the market for a new ride.

The new site looks like it'll be a good source of info for all of the latest news in outdoor and adventure gear, and definitely a worth addition to your browser bookmarks. You can also follow the site on Twitter at @thegearstash.

Gear Junkie: Five Innovations In Gear

Face it. We all love new outdoor gear, and it seems that the manufacturers are always coming up with new things to lure us into buying yet another pack, tent, or jacket. The gear we use continues to get lighter, warmer/cooler, more environmentally friendly and more useful through the use of new technologies and better design.

No one knows gear better than the Gear Junkie, and on this Daily Dose Blog today he has posted his picks for the five best innovations in gear over the past five years. Those five items include, in order:

1. Merino Wool Base Layers
2. Bare-foot Style Running Shoes
3. Energy Food That Tastes Good
4. Single-Speed Bikes
5. Hip Pockets on Backpacks

Looking over that list, there are certainly plenty of things I can get behind. I'm always appreciative of hip pockets on my backpacks, especially when I DON'T have them! I'm also thankful for the fact that energy bars have made giant strides in the area of taste. They can still be improved mind you, but they are miles better than they once were. And anyone who has used wool base layers can attest to how warm and comfortable they are.

I have yet to try the bare-foot style running shoes however. I'm an avid runner, run nearly every day, and go through shoes like mad, but for some reason I haven't tried these yet. Is anyone out there a proponent of these shoes? What's your favorite brand? Am I missing the boat?

I do get the attraction of single speed bikes, although I don't happen to own one. They certainly change the nature of a ride and probably offer a more pure experience, but I'm in the market for a new mountain bike, and I know I definitely need my gears in that department. ;)

What would be on your list of innovations over the past few years? Personally, I enjoy the fact that everything seems to be getting smaller and lighter, making it easier to carry our gear. It is amazing to see how small and light normal items like tents and sleeping bags have become. I'd also have to say that the use of technology has improved greatly too, with SPOT trackers and other emergency locator beacons making it safer than ever to head into the backcountry.

What has become indispensable to you?

Outside's Gear of the Year (Summer Edition)

Outside Magazine has posted their selections for the 2010 Gear of the Year for summer items, and just in time for the weather to really start warming up. As usual, they pick some really amazing stuff that we'd all love to have, if our pocket books and gear closets could support it all.

Some of the gear that earned nods this year include the Ultra Light Super Spiral Down Hugger #1 from Montbell, which is a sleeping bag rated for 15 degree weather, which weighs in at just 2.3 pounds. Of course, you'll want to climb inside that bag while resting comfortably in a tent, and Outside recommends you go with the REI's Half Dome 2+ tent for your backpacking shelter needs. And when you're ready to hit the trail, pack all of your gear inside the Infinity 50 Backpack from Black Diamond.

If backpacking isn't your thing, perhaps you'd like to hit the road on the new Gary Fisher Cronus Road Bike or if you'd prefer the trail instead, than the Blur LT Carbon SPX Mountain Bike from Santa Cruz may be more to your liking.

Whether you're in the market for new light jackets, kayaks, or even luggage, you'll find a little of everything on this list. A word of warning though, it may induce a healthy dose of gear lust, from which the only cure involves your credit card and going shopping.

Backpacker Magazine Does the Editor's Choice Awards Too! On Video No Less!

A few days back we got the Editor's Choice Awards from Outside Magazine, and not to be outdone, Backpacker has followed suit. In fact, Backpacker has done them one better, offering their selections in video format, which is a great way to not only present reviews on gear and other products, but also give us a real, first hand account of what the gear looks like, how big (or small) it is, and how it all operates.

You can check out an example of one of the videos below, and then view all of them on the Editor's Choice webpage. There is plenty to view there, so this should keep you busy for awhile, and there are some great products, with more coming soon.

Warning: The author of the Adventure Blog is not responsible for you draining your bank account to purchase all of this gear.

Winter Outdoor Retailer 2010 Underway

The annual Winter Outdoor Retailer gear show is currently underway in Salt Lake City. As usual, the show is hosts all the major gear manufacturers, as well as plenty of minor ones too, as they show off all their new products that will be available later this year.

For gear hounds, the week of the show, and it's summer counterpart, are generally a lot of fun, as there are always new and interesting pieces of gear to get excited about. You'll find new tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and a whole lot more. And of course, I can almost hear my bank account weeping in anticipation.

As always, there are some good websites covering the event, and showing off the new stuff. I always appreciate the coverage over at Trail Space, as they do a good job of showing off the latest trends. True to his name, the Gear Junkie does a good job of hitting the big stories too, and his coverage can be found in the Daily Dose. Also, The Goat blog from Backcountry.com is showing off all kinds of goodies too.

So far, I haven't seen a lot of stuff that has blown me away. It seems like most of the gear is more evolutionary than revolutionary. There is a continued focus on being more eco-sensitive and making products that respect the environment. There are updated fabrics and materials being applied to clothes, bags, and so on, making the gear lighter, stronger, and more resistant to the elements. All good things of course.

Stay tuned. If I see something is particularly interesting, I'll be sure to spotlight it. :)