Kelty Tents
Kelty's current line includes 11 two-person tents, 12 four-person tents, and eight six-person or basecamp tents. Kelty uses DAC aluminum poles, a lightweight, strong pole that can withstand heavy weather. The tent bottoms are a sturdy, ArcEdge bathtub design for additional waterproofing on the floor; this design ensures there are no seams on the floor. Kelty tents have vestibules, for additional storage, and many have a color-coded clip design, simplifying the process of attaching the clips to the poles. Kelty tents are also freestanding designs, and all Kelty tents have aerodynamic venting systems to help minimize condensation on the interior walls.
Eureka Tents
Eureka makes a huge variety of tents, from basic family shelters to sturdy four season designs. Some Eureka tents use fiberglass poles. These poles are less expensive, though they do not have the durability of aluminum poles. Some of these tents also have a straight wall design so you bring a cot into the tent. While Eureka tents have rainflies, some are only partial coverage rain flies.
What to get
For the occasional family camping trip, Eureka offers a lot of performance at a good value. Some of their high end designs are also very good for backpacking. However, Kelty specializes in designs for backpacking and mountaineering, designing their tents to maximize interior space while having a lot of strength to withstand the elements. Kelty tents also have interior storage pockets, and some come with gear attics for additional storage.
