Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have owned the Sunrise 9 since 2002 and have used it on dozens of camping trips in Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California. At the time I purchased it, I was the only one using it and it's way more tent than one person needs, although I absolutely loved having it to myself.
For those doing intensive research on their next tent purchase, I will provide as much detail as I can, as I find reviews aren't terribly helpful if someone only says "the tent is great". Details are very important. :o) Read on..
SET-UP:
First and foremost, the tent is very easy to construct and only takes me [and my now partner] 10 minutes to stake and raise. I always stake tents first (and then raise them), as I never trust a free-standing tent. I don't recall ever having read the instructions, as Eureka makes this tent about as fail-safe as it gets. Staking out the corners first also allows the sidewalls to be very taught once the poles are raised.
SIZE AND COMFORT:
The center height of 6' is adequate for me and my partner, as we're both 5'7". We generally use a king size air mattress, which takes up the majority of the center of the floor, but we have plenty of room to store bags and shoes on either side of the mattress. Head room, on the other hand, is moderately compromised on either side of the mattress, as it is a dome tent. The tent would fit a queen air mattress and two children's sleeping bags with perhaps a little room to spare. It's a fabulous and very spacious two-person dream tent.
Cross-ventilation is superior, with large windows on all 4 walls (including the door), as well as a low vent on the bottom of the door to allow cooler air at lower levels. The ceiling also contains several mesh vents. Since the fly is elevated, air circulates throughout the tent and it never becomes stuffy.
There are very handy storage pockets below each window which provide a very useful space for sunglasses, reading glasses, flashlights and other gear. The hanging gear loft is great for things you use occasionally, but wouldn't need access to at night. It's also a great place to rig up a battery powered overhead lantern.
WEATHER:
Our Sunrise 9 has seen it all - rain, shine, snow, wind, hail and sleet. As noted above, I always stake first, then raise. Since the sidewalls are always taught, wind never conerns me. The tent flaps slightly, but integrity is always good and has never been jeopardized. I've never owned a tent that remains so confident during high winds.
Since Eureka tapes most seems, water has never been an issue. As always, we did waterproof each seem and the inside floor of the tent has NEVER seen a drop of water. The fly provides ultimate rain protection while still allowing a view out any window and without limiting air flow. The fly is genious and easy as pie to install. We also always place a tarp underneath the tent to prevent floor seepage.
We've camped at sea level in California and at 12,000 feet in Colorado and the tent has never disappointed when it comes to any weather conditions. Because of the excellent ventilation, the tent is never more uncomfortable inside than it is outside - an important note, especially in very hot temperatures. I've taken a nap in the tent with 98º outside and was perfectly comfortable (albeit quite warm).
BOTTOM LINE:
Without a doubt, Eureka makes one of the best budget-conscious tents you can buy if you plan to have your tent for many years. All tents require the owner to put forth a little effort and care to maintain its integrity. It's not going to remain perfect if you don't take the time to set it up properly, waterproof the seams, take it down carefully and re-pack it in the fashion you un-packed it. If it takes 5 minutes longer to ensure you're doing it right, spend the extra 5 minutes and your Eureka tent will provide you with years of enjoyable trips with your family.
I would like to think Eureka has good customer service, as I've heard they do, but my tent has not failed me in any way, so I've not needed their assistance. They make a great product, which is evidenced by the fact that they're still offering tents they've been manufacturing for many years with minimal changes.
I've recently ordered the Eureka N!ergy Screen House and the Eureka Copper Canyon 1512 so we have more room for lounging and relaxation and will post reviews once they've been put to good use!
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Eureka Sunrise 9 4-Person 9-Foot by 9-Foot Family TentSpacious enough to comfortably sleep up to five campers, the Eureka Sunrise 9 dome-style family tent is easy to set up and very well ventilated with four large hooded windows and no-see-um mesh panels in the ceiling. It has triple-coated fabrics and a heavy-duty bathtub floor made of 4 ounce 210D oxford polyester that repels water.
The fly is made of Stormshield polyester, which won't stretch when wet and resists UV breakdown. It has a shockcorded fiberglass frame (two poles) that features a pin and ring as well as combination clip and sleeve system for quick assembly. Other features include:
Twin track D door with window for easy exit/entry
High/Low door vents top and bottom to aid air circulation
External guy points help secure the tent in high winds
Hanging gear loft/organizer
Two water bottle holders
Corner organizer and wall organizer with mirror
Tent, pole, and stake bags included
Specifications:
Area: 81 square feet
Floor size: 9 feet by 9 feet
Center height: 6 feet
Wall fabrics: 1.9 ounce Polyester Taffeta 1200mm coating/1.9 ounce breathable polyester
Floor fabrics: 4 ounce 210D Oxford Polyester with 1200mm coating
Fly fabrics: 1.9 ounce 75D StormShield polyester with 1200mm coating
Pack size: 9 by 27 inches
Weight: 16 pounds, 4 ounces
About Eureka Though the exact year is unknown, Eureka’s long history begins prior to 1895 in Binghamton, New York, where the company still resides today. Then known as the Eureka Tent & Awning Company, its first wares were canvas products--most notably, Conestoga wagon covers and horse blankets for nineteenth century American frontiersmen--as well as American flags, store awnings, and camping tents.
The company increased production of its custom canvas products locally throughout the 1930s and during the 1940 and even fabricated and erected the IBM "tent cities" just outside Binghamton. The seven acres of tents housed thousands of IBM salesmen during the company’s annual stockholders meeting, which had since outgrown its previous locale. In the 1940s, with the advent of World War II and the increased demand for hospital ward tents, Eureka expanded operations and began shipping tents worldwide. Ultimately, upon the post-war return of the GIs and the resultant housing shortage, Eureka turned its attention to the home front during the 1950s by supplying awnings for the multitude of mobile homes that were purchased.
In 1960, Eureka’s new and innovative Draw-Tite tent, with its practical, free standing external frame, was used in a Himalayan Expedition to Nepal by world renowned Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person documented to summit Mt. Everest only six years earlier. In 1963, Eureka made history during its own Mt. Everest ascent, with more than 60 of its tents sheltering participants from fierce 60+ mph winds and temperatures reaching below -20°F during the first all American Mt. Everest Expedition.
For backpackers and families, Eureka introduced its legendary Timberline tent in the 1970s. Truly the first StormShield design, this completely self-supporting and lightweight backpacking tent became one of the most popular tents the entire industry with sales reaching over 1 million by its ten year anniversary.
Eureka tents have also traveled as part of several historic expeditions, including the American Women’s Himalayan Expedition to Annapurna I in 1978 and the first Mt. Everest ascents by a Canadian and American woman in 1986 and 1988. In recent history, tents specially designed and donated by Eureka sheltered Eric Simonson and his team on two historic research expeditions to Mount Everest, this time in a quest for truth regarding the 1924 attempted summit of early English explorers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine. During the 1999 expedition, the team made history finding the remains of George Mallory, but the complete mystery remained unsolved. Returning in 2001 to search for more clues, the team found amazing historical artifacts which are now on display at the Smithsonian.
Amazon.com Tent Guide Selecting a Tent Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Expect the Worst In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.
Three- and Four-Season Tents For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.
For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.
Domes and Tunnels Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.
Size Matters Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.
Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.
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