Eureka - Timberline 4 SQ Outfitter

I'm looking for tent suggestions. We used to have a 4 person Timberline SQ 4 Outfitter tent. It didn't pack too small, and was a bit heavy, but I loved the simplicity, and strength. It was perfect for canoeing. Wouldn't take it backpacking tho. Zippers never failed, even with little boys beating on them, stayed dry in some surprising extreme weather a few times, and never had any rips or tears or pole breaks. But ours was recently stolen from our vehicle. (was visiting Duluth for a night before heading up to the BWCA. Had it in a locked tote that was cable locked to a hitch luggage rack. Someone cut open the locked plastic case. Lost a good tent and a good sleeping bag.) Went to go replace it and found the tent's been DISCONTINUED!!?!?!?! So, what 4 person tents do you recommend for canoe camping in the BWCA? ETA: Going to mostly be used for 1 adult and 2 kids. Sometimes 2 adults if my wife joins. Eventually i'll move to a second tent for the boys. I'd prefer strength over lightness, since I have young boys, and I'm not trying to do 20 mile days with them. Yet.

I'm sleeping 1 or 2 adults and 2 kids (2 and 5 at the moment). Depending on if my wife joins our trip. Eventually I'll probably move to a second tent for them once they're both grown some. The Timberline 4 is perfect for 2 adults with room enough for gear and small children or pets. But you are right, it's definitely too tight for 4 adults.

You might be right about that with kids. My experience in storms was from a microburst I experienced while canoeing the Hayes river in Manitoba with just my dad and I. Most extreme winds i've ever been in. We were lucky the winds were coming off the lake instead of behind us, or we might have caught some trees that were downed. But that damn tent took it like a champ!

If you can find one, get a Eureka Timberline SQ Outfitter 4. I've been camping in these style tents for thirty years in all seasons and they always hold up. The Assault Outfitter 4 is also an excellent choice. My personal tent is a Timberline SQ Outfitter 2 though, plenty of room for just me plus my gear. Unfortunately, Johnson Outdoors is discontinuing the Eureka line so their tents are becoming harder to come by. The good news is the new ones that are still out there are priced for clearance. It's really too bad though, Eureka tents have always been a "buy it for life" item.

I've been using them almost my whole life, and I swear those Outfitter A-frames are some of the best god damn tents ever made. It's a damn shame Johnson killed the brand. Eureka gear is legit.

Sorry to see Eureka! go. They built solid tents for reasonable prices. I'd put my Timberline 4-person up anything that cost twice as much, especially in a windstorm. I happened on an REI tent-testing session at a local airport some years ago. The testers were tying various tents onto a flatbed trailer, then driving up and down the runway ar speeds varying from 20-50 mph. Testers sat inside the tents to measure deflection and wind noise. If I remember correctly, a North Face got the best score.

I also have a Timberline. I had the 2 man and it fell off the back of the motorcycle after owning it for 25 years. I replaced it with the 4 man version. I wish somebody would keep manufacturing them. [Backcountry.com](http://Backcountry.com) has their own brand now, Stoic, and one of the tents is very similar to the Timberline. The downside is that the poles are fiberglass vs. the original aluminum.

If you like this tent just snag a Eureka Timberline and be happy with a much better tent.

True but being the standard issue boy scout tent for a very long time means six billion of them exist which makes them much easier to find.

Eureka Timberline tents are great, very durable. For tent stakes, I have gone to using 8" timberlick type lag bolts. Use an impact driver to install and remove. Unless you are right on a rock, they work great. I also have a few 4" in the bag.

I love this thing. Saved up for it and bought it on sale as a gift for my wife before she was my wife. It has served us admirably (and will for as long as I can keep repairing it)

Alps Mountaineering offers similar value and BSA discounts. Facebook marketplace is full of smoking deals on Eureka tents. I just got a Timberline for $30. It was missing one of the end poles. $16 from eBay got me two of them.

Same, I’ve had mine since 1995ish and it’s held up great!

Same - have the green as well! I discovered that tent bc my dad actually had the same one for years, too. It’s a classic.

I wanted a Tadpole so much. I just couldn’t afford it. I ended up with a Eureka Timberline. But in my mind, the Tadpole was a ‘real’ backpacker’s tent.