Eureka! Sunrise 8 - Tent (sleeps 4)

by Eureka

Product Features

• Spacious square, dome-style tent sleeps four (8 by 8 foot floor; 64 square foot area)
• Heavy duty bathtub floor made of 4-ounce 210D oxford polyester
• Multicoated StormShield polyester fly won't stretch when wet and resists UV breakdown
• Includes corner organizer, wall organizer with mirror, two water bottle pockets
• Center height of 59 inches; weighs 11 pounds, 2 ounces

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Spacious enough to comfortably sleep four campers, the Eureka Sunrise 8 dome-style 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: 64 square feet
• Floor size: 8 feet by 8 feet
• Center height: 4 feet, 11 inches
• 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: 8 by 25 inches
• Weight: 11 pounds, 2 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.

Product Description

Spacious, self-supporting tent with 4-way ventilation

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 25 x 7.8 x 7.5 inches ; 13.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000EQ8296
• Item model number: 2628332
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,598 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #32 in Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Camping & Hiking > Tents

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one terrific tent!, August 25, 2006

By 

dry man "NC tenter" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eureka! Sunrise 8 - Tent (sleeps 4) (Sports)

this tent is really built! first time out we were in a 12-hour downpour--extremely heavy rain. absolutely no leaks, drippage, or any problem at all. everything was extremely well-sealed right out of the box. the ventilation system is also outstanding--4 very large windows, large ceiling vents and the lower vent in the door panel real helps the air flow! generally very easy to set up with 2 people. this is an outstanding tent--very well constructed, easy up and down, tight, waterproof, and practical. we use it for 2 people. 3 or 4 would be really pushing it, in term of interior space, but it's very well suited for 2 adults plus gear. enjoy!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect family camping tent, January 29, 2009

By 

JOHN KNOWLES (Sharonville, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eureka! Sunrise 8 - Tent (sleeps 4) (Sports)

I have two Sunrise 8 tents by Eureka. I chose Eureka because they are the company that produces two-man tents for the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Sunrise 8 is a very well made tent, with quality stitching all around. The floor material is durable and water proof. With 4 large zip windows there is plenty of ventilation options, along with the "Hi/Low" venting on the door. I have found this traditional design of tent with roof peaks on all sides to be very resistant to heavy rain. It will sleep two luxuriously, three comfortably, and four decently. When sleeping four, since it is square, this allows sleeping bag arrangement to be easy, with your travel bag at your feet or your head. The inside height of the tent is pretty tall, so getting dressed in the morning isn't complicated. The zippers are not cheapies, so they glide smoothly and don't get stuck. There is also a mesh organizer included, but I have found I don't use it.

Assembly is super simple, easily done by yourself in 10 minutes or faster with a partner. There are two tent rods and two roof rods. You don't even need to pull out the instructions. That's why I like this design. Take down is just as easy, and the air escapes quickly. The storage bag is plenty big and you will not have a problem fitting it into the bag. NOTE: As with any tent, always fold and roll your tent, then put it in the bag... don't just stuff!

This tent is more expensive than, say a Coleman of the same size, but you get what you pay for. I would highly recommend this tent to families or individuals that do "state park" style modern camping a few times a year. This durable tent should last a lifetime.

Also there is the Sunrise 9, which is 9x9ft in the same design.

May 8, 2011 - Both of the tents are still in great shape, zippers fine, no leaks, no tears. After many camping trips they held up very well.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First and probably last tent :), June 2, 2009

By 

Anh (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eureka! Sunrise 8 - Tent (sleeps 4) (Sports)

After doing an insane and probably unhealthy amount of tent research (read: obsessing) leading up to our recent Sequoia National Forest trip, my girlfriend and I decided on the Sunrise 8, partly due to a few of the reviews here on Amazon. The thing that struck us the most was that pretty much everyone who owns this tent has had great things to say about it. This was our first tent purchase, coinciding with our first camping trip together, so we wanted to set ourselves up for success and many more years of camping to come.

I would have to unequivocally say that we made the right choice. There is absolutely nothing that we don't love about this tent. As others here have stated, it is well built, easy for even novices to build up and tear down, a cinch to pack, and perhaps above all is the fact that you have so many different options with those huge mesh windows -- they actually zip up when you want privacy, and along with the mesh top panels, provide more than ample ventilation and beautiful views all around.

The 8 x 8 tent was perfect for us. We were able to comfortably fit a full-size rollup mattress (which we covered with a zippered waterproof mattress cover) as well as all our gear. The provided mesh organizers were also perfect. The corner and "loft" organizers hold plenty, and they are smart in design and footprint.

Even with our mattress and gear, I'd say a third person would have been able to join us with no problems - a fourth might start to get a little too cozy...

All in all...a fantastic tent, a fantastic buy, and many, many more amazing camping trips ahead.

(Check out the customer pics for some inside views)