Review Date
June 27, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.40 of 5, 5 votes

Reviewed by: capntrip ,  Car Camper

Price Paid:  $169.00 at Outek

Summary:
Free shipping and arrived in 2 days from Outek. Bought this tent as the design was similar to a gander mountain tent I had. The hooded rainfly and the windows on all 4 sides and roof vents make this a very well ventilated tent. I purchased the 11 and it is very large and perfect for just me! Set-up is tough when doing it yourself but I can usually find someone to help. Tent is heavy but packs up easily into the carry sack. Not for backpacking. I know my friends are going to want one when they see mine. Price was after 30$ rebate.

Customer Service:
Not needed as yet

Similar Products Used:
gander mountain dome similar style

Review Date
September 5, 2002

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.20 of 5, 5 votes

Reviewed by: hiker33(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $129.00 at Campmor

Summary:
I bought the Sunrise 8 for car camping with my "better half" who is not a backpacker. I chose it mainly on the basis of the other reviews posted here. I've now used it on two trips and had moderate rain both times. The tent ventilates well even in rain because of all those windows, and there's plenty of room for two people to move around and still store some clothing gear.

Some negatives: the "patented high-low vent" in the bottom of the door is only usable when it's not raining as the fly doesn't extend far enough out to protect the lower third of the door. It's a potential source of leaks and a real pain to seal because of the zippers, netting and flaps. The only time this type of vent might be useful is ironically in wet, windy weather if all the windows had to be closed up tight, and the lack of fly coverage prevents this. Likewise, when opening the door in wet weather, opening the bottom zipper causes the door to droop into the tent and funnel water onto the floor unless care is taken to hold it out beyond the sill. Extending the front of the fly another 8-10 inches or so would reduce these problems. The corners and sides have a total of eight stake loops attached, and all were very prone to leakage the first time I used the tent. Light was actually visable through the stitch holes in the corners even after sealing. My advice: don't bother with the water-based sealant supplied with the tent and go with the old-fashioned urethane stuff, the kind that smells like model glue . Put a couple of good thin coats on both the inner and outer seams using your finger, not a new-fangled applicator. The seams stretch when under tension from the poles and stakes and reopen the holes if sealed with non-flexible sealer.

These caveats aside, it's a great tent for the price and a good choice for weekend family camping in sheltered locations.

Customer Service:
Not used.

Similar Products Used:
Eureka Timberline, Sierra Designs Light Year CD, Moss Starlet, Sears Hillary, Alpine Designs.

Review Date
June 29, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: Rob(Unregistered User) ,  Car Camper , from MS

Price Paid:  $200.00

Summary:
Last fall I bought a Sunrise 9x9, and it's turned out to be a great summer & light weather car camper tent, which is exactly what I got it for. Good ventilation, even in medium rain, because all four (*FOUR*) windows on the four sides are shielded by a fly that serves as an awning over each window. Leave'em open, let the storm breezes blow through. Works great.

OK, so the thing's about as bulky as a case of beer. In glass bottles at that. It turns a hot, rainy, buggy afternoon in the woods with my two pre-teen kids into a comfortable living room session of Go Fish. 100% worth the cost, and also worth the out-sized hauling requirements. Also, when it's just me off for a mtb weekend with friends and rain sets in, this big tent turns into the campground social hall. Beats playing poker with 4 other guys squatting in a 2-man tent. Again, I stress the importance of good ventilation.

The tent's construction is good for something in this price range. Not overbuilt, but it's plenty durable for years of reasonable use in places a car can reach. Nothing exotic here, just quality materials and stitching. The two poles don't give enough rigidity for tropical storms, but they are sufficiently strong for most any weather I'd take my kids camping in. Not flimsy, but they do have their common-sense limits.

Trying to think of some beefs with this tent... When it's just me going off for a weekend, it's too darned big; no, wait, that's not what I bought it for. The dual zipper on the door can be a little much for a 10yo to figure out at 3am; a single curve zipper would have been better. It does take patience to set up; nothing bad, but it is on the large-ish side. Hmm, even the color's good. Nope, not too many problems with this one. I only gave it 3 stars on value because Campmore chopped the price right after I bought it; if you can find it under $180, it's a steal.

Backpackers and Everest hounds can look elsewhere (or buy another tent for that purpose, which is what I'm about to go do). This beast is raw comfort when I'm trapped in a Chevy Chase Vacation Disaster in the hot woods of south Mississippi. Somebody ad Eureka is a genius.

Similar Products Used:
Some "American Camper" (but made in the PRC) K-Mart dome crap.

Review Date
February 7, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Dave Braunger(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Minneapolis, MN

Price Paid:  $180.00 at outek.com

Summary:
I love this tent! I just bought my second Sunrise 9 after the first lasted me 10 years. After 10 years, heavy rain will start to get through the fabric. One HELL of an investment though. Very durable, stable and GREAT ventilation.

I do distance biking and this thing is a dream.Weighing in at a total of 13lbs it is not the lightest tent around but I am able to fit the tent on my back rack I wish the poles were in shorter segments but I can live with that. 2 people, our bikes and all our gear can all fit inside the tent, in addition, at 6' I can stand!

This would be an ideal tent for families.

Similar Products Used:
2nd sunrise9
Eureka Timberline

Review Date
January 5, 2001

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Russ Abbott(Unregistered User) ,  Car Camper , from Yorba Linda, CA, USA

Price Paid:  $149.00 at mvp.com

Summary:
Sunrise 9 - Tons of room for 3 people and gear (rated as a fiver, and could do it easily). Awesome ventilation from 3 walls of no-seeum windows, huge screened door, and roof vents. We took great care in seam sealing and have had no leaking. The fly provides great shelter for those huge windows. High cieling and steep walls make it a joy for family campers... and it's tough! Floor could be a bit sturdier but the custom footprint has kept us in good shape on some scrabbly terrain. Setup is a snap though the pole sleeves can occasionally bind. Broke a pole and Eureka immediately replaced it. Heavy, but no monster. Great car camping tent.

Similar Products Used:
None