Item: Eureka Spitfire 2
Rating: 4.5
Author: Paul Turner

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If you’re looking for a solid backpacking tent, it can be difficult to find one that is the perfect combination of portable, comfortable, and durable. It can definitely be a mixed bag with backpacking tents. You don’t want to be disappointed in your tent in the middle of the wilderness. If you peg yourself as an adventurer, then the results of my Eureka Spitfire 2 review tell me that this tent is most definitely the tent for you.

Our Rating:

Pros

Fits in an 18 inch long storage bag
Lightweight
Strong water resistance
Good ventilation
Two big side doors

Cons

Not free standing
Not much headroom
Factory packed pegs are weak

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Key Features

Bathtub Floor

If you’ve been doing your research on tents, you’ve probably encountered the term “bathtub floor” a fair amount. It’s true that many tents that advertise this feature define this phrase creatively. But, you can rest assured that the Eureka Spitfire Tent is not one of them.

A bathtub floor demonstrates seams that aren’t present on the base of the tent but are instead raised a few inches above the ground in order to keep out water from rain and dew from the interior of the tent. With this feature built in, the Eureka Spitfire Tent adds to its case of being a very strong performer in wet weather. If you plan to take long backpacking adventures with the possibility of inclement weather, your tent needs to be exceptional at keeping water out of your sleeping area.

Two Large Side Doors

One of the most annoying things that I have found when using traditional two person backpacking tents is that there is only one door, and it is usually positioned at the front or back of the tent. This might not be a problem if you’re camping alone, but if you camp with a partner, you will practically have to smother them to get yourself out.

Refreshingly, the Eureka Spitfire 2 has two large doors on either side of the tent. Not only does this mean that you can easily get out of the tent when a partner is present without climbing over them, it also means that you won’t have to resort to gymnastics to pull yourself out of the front or back of the tent with a low ceiling clearance.

Rain Fly Vent

When you camp long enough, you will know that using a rain fly can make a tent unbearably hot and humid. A rain fly cuts off any ventilation from the windows and doors and trap the moisture from sweat and make the inside of the tent incredibly muggy and uncomfortable over time.

The makers of the Eureka Spitfire Tent were obviously aware of this problem when they added a poke-out vent on the rain fly. This vent won’t solve all the problems that a rain fly causes, but in a world where most tents provide no such feature, it is definitely a step in the right direction.

Detailed Review

Portability - 4/5

Ironically, one of the criteria I forget to consider in a backpacking tent is how well it can be carried on a backpacking trip. But as the name suggests, this is one of the most important features that your backpacking tent can have.

Even if you get the most waterproof and spacious tent that fits five people; if it weighs 40 pounds, you’re not going to be happy carrying it.

This tent loses a few points on the portability score because it weighs around six pounds, a weight that is on the heavier side of a backpacking tent.

Despite the weight, the Eureka Spitfire 2 Tent is still a strong performer as far as portability metrics go. It fits easily in a small 18-inch bag, so it won’t take up an inordinate amount of space in your backpack.

Ease of Setup - 2.5/5

After a long day of hiking, it is a major pain to have to spend a lot of time setting up a tent. While backpacking, it’s best to find a tent that has an easier setup so you can get to sleep faster.

The Eureka Spitfire 2 doesn’t perform especially well in this area. It’s a tent that relies on pegs in the ground to hold up the tent’s body.

This may not present too many problems for you if you’re an experienced camper, but it may be difficult for you to figure out at first if you’re relatively new to camping.

Another issue present in tents that are not freestanding, such as the Spitfire 2 Tent, is that in some terrains the tent will be difficult to stake down.

You should approach cautiously in terrains heavy in sand or rocky topsoil if you choose the Spitfire. Paired with the fact that the pegs that come with this tent are notoriously weak, you could have some problems unless you really know what you’re doing.

Size - 5/5

Another tent metric that will traditionally take a hit when backpacking is size. You can’t expect to stand up in a tent you put into your backpack.

You’re lucky if you even carry a tent that you can comfortably sit in! For most two person backpacking tents, this small size means that your space will be very limited as far as length, width, and height of the tent are concerned.

Among backpacking tents, the Spitfire 2 Tent’s size is a step above most that I’ve seen. It has a very large ceiling for its class; depending on your torso size, you will most likely be able to sit up comfortably.

If you’re on the taller side, you can finally rejoice! The length of the Spitfire 2 won’t require you to contort your legs to fit. In regards to the Spitfire Tent’s ability to fit two people, you can rest assured that the width of the tent can comfortably fit two adults. You will even have some extra room for your gear.

Wet Weather Usage - 4/5

If you’re looking for a durable tent that will hold up in rainy weather, the Spitfire Tent is most definitely for you. The tent’s bathtub floor, combined with excellent rain sealing design on the rest of the tent ensures you won’t get wet when the heavens open.

One problem that you might experience with this tent’s lack of a freestanding design is that the ground might soften during rain and cause pegs to loosen.

This could possibly cause the tent’s ceiling to sag a bit, but it definitely isn’t a problem if the stakes are nailed far enough into the ground.

Hot Weather Usage - 5/5

In regards to its performance as hot weather tent, the Spitfire Tent is a very strong performer. The tent’s large side windows will ensure that you won’t get hot on summer nights. Unfortunately, the tent decreases its circulation almost entirely when the rainfly attaches to the tent.

Luckily, rain fly circulation restriction but this is a problem that almost all backpacking tents face. The saving grace of the Spitfire Tent is that there is a vent on the rain fly that can be poked out to release some of the heat that is built up while the rain fly is in use.

Cold Weather Usage - 0.5/5

As a cold weather tent, the Spitfire Tent does not perform well at all. I would not recommend using three season tents in winter; this tent is designed to expel heat, not to keep it in. If you’re looking to do backpacking during the late fall or early spring, do so with caution!

The temperature tends to wildly fluctuate during these times. This tent performs badly in cold weather but we don’t factor it in the overall performance as it is advertised as a three season tent.

Overall Score:

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How Does It Compare To Others?

Yodo Lightweight 2 Person Backpacking Tent

The Yodo Lightweight Tent is designed to be as light as possible, as the name implies. For this added portability, you lose a great deal of weather protection. You will also find that the bag that the tent fits in is quite long, at a length of almost 2 feet.

In spite of these design issues, the Yodo Lightweight tent has a weight of only 3 pounds. This is about half the weight of the Eureka Spitfire 2 Tent.

If you tend to pack your backpack on the heavy side and want to cut down on the weight of a tent as much as possible, you should definitely consider the Yodo Tent.

On the other hand, if you think you’ll be camping for a longer period and expect the possibility of rain, the Spitfire Tent would be a better bet for you.

Topnaca 2 Person 3 Season Backpacking Tent

In terms of performance in inclement weather, the Topnaca tent and the Spitfire Tent are comparable. The Topnaca Tent is quite a bit easier to assemble than the Spitfire Tent. This would make it perfect for you if you’re a beginner to backpacking or think you might do backpacking in an area where pegs are tough to nail into the ground.

Though the Topnaca Tent is easier to assemble, it does have a much smaller size than the Spitfire 2 Tent. Calling the Topnaca tent a two person tent seems like a bit of a stretch.

If you’re looking for a tent that won’t require you to cram yourself in with your partner, the Eureka Spitfire is the tent you should be looking at.

ALPS Mountaineering Mystique 1.0 Tent

The Mountaineering Mystique Tent, like the Spitfire 2, is not freestanding. It is quite a bit lighter and smaller than the Spitfire Tent. This isn’t altogether surprising considering the fact that the Mountaineering Mystique Tent is rated as a one person tent.

Regardless, if you are traveling alone, you would have a much easier time carrying the Mountaineering Mystique Tent over the Spitfire 2 Tent. Don’t torture yourself by carrying a two person tent by yourself just for the sake of having a larger sleeping area!

The Mountaineering Mystique Tent has its fair share of issues with rainwater. You should look more towards tents that have features to prevent water getting in. Especially if you plan to do serious, long-term backpacking. In these cases, the Spitfire 2 Tent would be best suited to your needs.

Should you buy?

The Eureka Spitfire 2 Tent is a very solid backpacking tent. Especially, if you’re looking to combine a lightweight, compact tent with durability and strong weather protection.

This tent has issues based on the fact that it isn’t freestanding. However, careful setup and planning can easily address these issues.

This tent might not be the one for you if you are a first-time backpacker. On the other hand, the Eureka Spitfire 2 Tent is for you if you been have backpacking for some time. It fits everything you could need in a three season backpacking tent under one small canopy roof.