Pros: Easy set-up, even in wind. Self supporting dome design even omitting the rainfly.
Cons: I haven't found them yet.
The Bottom Line: About as good as it gets for a single-room, family tent. For easy of set-up, stability, and free standing dome design, its an amazing value.
In 1999, I wrote about my Tetragon 7, my home away from home during a 6 week, 3,250 mile bicycle trek across the USA. I had a love-hate relationship with that tent. I think it was a steal at the price I paid for it, and it performed every bit as well and better than some of the much pricier tents that my neighbors had. I hated it because it was my home for so long....
The Tet 7 really is still in great shape, and I use it from time to time, but I've had a recent addition to my family, and decided I could use an extra 15 square feet in my tent -- and for only $80 on sale, I upgraded from the Tertragon 7 to the Tertragon 8. Dixie, a beautiful female (and rare) German Pinscher adopted me after I rescued her from running around in traffic in Houston. At 64 sq feet, The Tet 8 has room for me, Dixie, Bo, my gear, food and water for the dogs, and any cute available female epinionator who looks good in a bikini. :) There’s probably even room for another four legged friend.
The Tetragon 8, like the Tetragon 7 can be used without stakes, and on the beach, even in high winds, I have not bothered to use the stakes once (I put gear in the tent corners to keep it stable). I also have not used the rainfly, because the sky is beautiful 25 miles up the beach, away from all civilization. In light rain to medium rain, it has not been necessary.
I can set up the tent by myself, even in high winds (though you probably could fly it as a kite!!) The sand presents a unique problem, since it sometimes fills up the ends of the poles -- since the metal ends easily pull completely off, this situation is easily remedied in the Tetragon 8.
The Tetragon 8 has two windows, on the side of the tent. This allows air to flow through. My tetragon 7 had one window, across form the door, also allowing flow through, but only if the door was not completely closed. The Tetragon 8 allows a little more privacy for that reason. It also allows you to see out of the tent in 3 directions instead of 2 -- Dixie tells me its good for coyote watching. Bo still prefers looking out the front door.
The Tet 8 has a built in "mud mat" -- I usually leave a pair of sandals underneath it so they are easy to find. The door is located towards the side of the tent, instead of in the center. This is supposed to improve access -- though I would have to wonder how 2 (or 4!) people sharing the tent would have improved accessing by the door being moved to the side.
The Tet 8 is rated for 4 (the Tet 7 was rated for 3). I believe 3 would be comfortable in the Tet 8 -- I always felt the 7 would be somewhat of a squeeze for more than 2.
In my epinion, Eureka has done it again. The Tet 8 gives you so much value for the money. It has many features that tents costing 3 times as much have, yet it is suitable for all but the most extreme conditions. I believe the Tet 8 is about as good as it gets in a single room, small family tent.
I have a house in Houston, and rent one on South Padre Island, but my best nights are spent in my Tet 8, nestled between the sand dunes, 25 miles north of the city limits with my two best friends.
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