Eureka Timberline Outfitter 4 9-Foot by 7-Foot Four-Person Tent

by Eureka

Product Features

• Classic A-frame style tent sleeps four (8' 9" by 7' 2" floor; 63 square foot area)
• Heavy-duty bathtub floor made of 4 ounce 210D oxford nylon that repels water
• Hooded fly at the front and rear allows windows to remain partially open during rain
• Shockcorded eaves increase stability and tear resistance in wind
• Center height of 58 inches; weighs 10 pounds, 12 ounces

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

One of the world's most popular tents (with over a million sold), the classic A-frame Eureka Timberline Outfitter 4 offers room enough for four sleepers and an industrial, heavy duty design. Ideal for car campers or using as a base camp, the three-season free-standing Outfitter 4 will stand up to the toughest of conditions. Set up is quick and easy, thanks to a sturdy shockcorded 0.5-inch aluminum frame, ring and pin attachments, and clip attachments.

It features a breathable nylon wall, polyester fly, and a heavy-duty bathtub floor made of 4 ounce 210D oxford nylon that repels water. The High/Low door vents from the top and/or bottom, providing options for moderating air flow. The hooded fly at the front and rear allows windows to remain partially open during rain for ventilation. Shockcorded eaves increase stability and tear resistance in wind. Other features include two mesh gear pockets, loops for gear loft, flashlight, clothesline, and closable windows.

Specifications:

• Area: 63 square feet
• Floor size: 8 feet, 9 inches by 7 feet, 2 inches
• Center height: 4 feet, 10 inches
• Wall fabrics: 1.9-ounce breathable nylon/ 1.9-ounce permeable taffeta nylon
• Floor fabrics: 4-ounce Oxford Nylon with 1200mm coating
• Fly fabrics: 2.2-ounce 75D Ripstop polyester with 1500 mm coating
• Pack size: 7 by 24 inches
• Weight: 10 pounds, 12 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

This tent is a favorite amongst scouts and outfitters. It's industrial strength coatings, zippers and floor have proved time and again this tent is up to the task of heavy duty use.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 27 x 7.9 x 8 inches ; 11 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 13 pounds
• 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: B000EQAU50
• Item model number: 2601881
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Boy Scout Tent.. Hands Down, June 2, 2006

By 

G. Wood (Sullivan, IL.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eureka Timberline Outfitter 4 9-Foot by 7-Foot Four-Person Tent (Sports)

I am a Scoutmaster. We have purchased many tents in the past for trials. Mostly Eureka tents but we have some Coleman, North Peak, ect... The last set of tents we purchased were the Eureka Timberline 4 (NOT THE OUTFITTER). This is a HUGE mistake. We camp between 1 - 3 times a month rain or shine, cold or hot. We have two other outfitters that were purchased back in 1988 that are still in full operation. Every other tent (including the regular timberlines from Eureka) just do not hold up to the use we put these things through.

The extra heavy flooring that is factory sealed does not allow water in PERIOD. The first time we took the four new ones out that we recently purchased, there was literely a stream of water three feet wide going UNDER the tent. In one night, we had 2.8 inches of rain in a 3 hour period. Not one drop got through the new Eureka Timberline Outfitter 4's Rainfly or door/window zippers. The kids stayed in their tents and I was really suprised that there was not even condensation on the inside of their tents from their breath. HOWEVER, the boys that were in the old Timberline 4's (not the outfitter series) were DRENCHED. We had seamsealed the tents (something for which the outfitters you NEVER have to do) but it still got through because of the rough use we put them through split the seamseal resin We had just applied it in March but had went on 4 campouts since then. I called the company about it, I didn't know that EACH time you put up and take down your tent, you are supposed to seamseal.

Anyway, best tent ever made for a Boy Scout Troop or anyone that does a lot of camping. If you need a bigger tent, go with the Timberline Outfitter 6. That is what I use. We fit two adults with cots in it comfortably. The only water that got into it was when I dragged in my drenched body from the rain.

Sincerely

Owl Patrol Memeber

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Timberline?, April 23, 2009

By 

Ben "Ben" (Western USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eureka Timberline Outfitter 4 9-Foot by 7-Foot Four-Person Tent (Sports)

There are many reviews on the long-lived Timberline series and the Outfitter model features. The toughness, durability, reliability, and weather resistance of the tent is well established, so the question is why choose the a-frame Timberline instead of one of the alternatives? The 3 and 4-man alternatives I looked at were: inexpensive tents (under $150), high-quality ultralight tents (Bibler, Black Diamond, and Eureka for example), outfitter-class dome tents (Eureka Assault Outfitter), large recreation tents (Copper Canyon and Cougar Flats) and walled tents. Each tent has fitness for a different purpose, and my purpose was to suit my family of four with two adults and two toddlers for public campground car camping, wilderness car camping, and short backpacking. Here's what I looked at:

For the part-time outdoor travel life, tents are much less expensive than motorhomes, RV's, trailers, and slide-ins. They also take much less land to store when they're not being used and I have a scarce amount of land. Comparatively, I would consider a $1000 tent a bargain, but nobody wants to pay for something they won't use or benefit from, especially if it's actually counter to their criteria (too heavy or too fragile for example). I ruled out walled tents and hardcore mountain tents (Bombshelter) because the cost was so high for something I didn't need and wouldn't use.

Rec tents (Copper Canyon, Cougar Flats) are also fairly expensive, but at least under $500. They're big and comfortable (near vertical walls and standing room), but they're not as tough or durable as Outfitter class tents (Pine Lodge maybe but then you're getting into bigger bucks). Rec tents are also not as weather proof. They're heavy (sometimes as much as 40 lbs) which makes them impractical to backpack with (I would need a two-tent plan). Ultimately, I decided against them because despite their comfort, I see a tent as a necessary evil. I would much rather do without a tent, but when you need one, you need one. No matter how enjoyable a tent is, it's still a tent and I would rather be outside.

Inexpensive tents might seem to fit the bill because I certainly don't want to lavish money on something where I just crawl in and fall asleep. The problem with cheap tents is they fail when you need them most, and they need to be replaced over and over again making the economy false. I expect frequent camping for many years and an Outfitter will outlast a cheap tent more than the price multiple. I need a tent most when it's windy and percipitous and that's when the cheap ones fail. For me, they're no bargain.

I am formerly a hardcore backpacker, and trekker. I also mountaineered in North America. I was an Alpine-style minimalist. Tents were nonsense. I would use at most a bivy sack in the snow or on a glacier or in a rainstorm. I still carried a lot of weight because I needed a lot of food calories for many days. Nevertheless, a man's got to know his limitations. If I had to carry a wife and two toddlers, not even a mosquito net would be light enough. However, within their range, a 10 pound tent is cake.

For my criteria, the other tent I really like is the Eureka Assault Outfitter. It's basically a dome version of the Timberline Outfitter, but it's about $100 and 3 pounds more. Undoubtably it's roomier (as is the Timberline Outfitter 6) but the Timberline Outfitter 4 meets all my needs.

One shortcoming of this tent is that the fly is not freestanding -- it must be guyed out to stakes or it will fall against the tent wall. This is not normally a problem but in deep snow or on solid granite you would have to get creative. The instructions suggest burying gear, using ski poles etc. I believe dome type tents (Assault Outfitter) with pole pockets or clips will hold the fly away from the wall without stakes and guy outs. If I was planning a lot of snow camping, this is not the best tent as the broad walls are also not the best for heavy snow loads. I am sure it would readily suffice for occasional snow use, even deep snow.

Another note is that cord is not included to guy out the tent walls when not using the fly. The fly clips to rings on the wall sides and bungee cords fixed to the fly are pulled out guy the tent to stakes. Without the fly, there's nothing to guy out the sides. The solution is to add your own guy lines. I used bungee balls. Additional guy lines and stakes, possibly heavier ones (if you're not backpacking) will improve the tent. I don't mark it down for not including these because it's an easy thing to solve. The fact that the tent/fly requires stakes to complete the pitching is however, in my opinion, a real shortcoming.

It's a no-frills tent that does what a tent needs to do real well and nothing else -- because ultimately I'm not out there to dwell in a tent.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can't go wrong with this one!, January 4, 2006

By 

Andrew J. Riemer "Andrew James Riemer" (Winsted, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

These tents are well worth the price and will give you many years of service. The tub floor helps keep outside rainwater from seeping in, and the fly coverage on the sides is excellent.

I've been a fan of Eureka Timberline tents for over 22 years. Why such a fan? When my Boy Scout troop finally replaced their old canvas tents, they bought 2- and 4- person Timberline tents. I tented in those Timberlines every month for six straight years, and for weeks at a time each summer. They were exceptionally durable, light enough for backpacking treks, and fantastic for all seasons.

I'm pleased to say that the you'll find the same great workmanship and durability in a Timberline tent today. When I was younger, the 2-person tents were fine and the 4-person models were a luxury. Today, being older and larger, I favor the 4-person models. Adding a vestebule (purchased seperately) is a great way to add some storage space, allowing you to keep your pack and other goods outside the main tent, yet protected from the weather.