Eureka Hiking Shop

Though the exact year is unknown, Eureka’s long history begins prior to 1895, in Binghamton, NY, 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, of course, camping tents.

The company increased production of its custom canvas products locally throughout the 1930s, and during the 1940s, 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, 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 none other than world renowned Sir Edmund Hillary–the first person documented to summit Mt. Everest only six years earlier. Then in 1963, Eureka made history during its own Mt. Everest ascent, with over 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, the 1970s were a time for “getting back to nature.” For them, Eureka introduced its legendary Timberline® tent. Truly the first StormShield® design, the completely self-supporting and lightweight backpacking tent became one of the most popular tents the entire industry had ever witnessed, with sales reaching over 1 million by its ten year anniversary.

While Eureka! tents have traveled as part of several historic expeditions, including the American Women’s Himalayan Expedition to Annapurna I in 1978; the first Mt. Everest ascents by a Canadian woman, 1986; and by an American woman, 1988; they have also stayed closer to home with some very historic families. Close cousins to its camping tents, the large party rental tents made by Eureka! have appeared at lavish Kennedy family parties, while a Eureka! camping tent was reported to be the only purchase made during a July 4, 1991 visit to a Missouri sporting goods store by then President George Bush.

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.

On April 28, 2004, world-famous adventurer and geophysicist Pasquale Scaturro and his international team of explorers completed the first-ever single, uninterrupted navigation of the entire Blue Nile. The team chose Eureka! K-2 XT and Kahuna tents as their exclusive shelters during their 4 month, 3,060 mile journey. The historic voyage, including battles with crocodiles, hippos, bandits, and numerous arrests will be chronicled in a large format movie titled “Mystery of the Nile,” scheduled for release in February 2005, produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films and Orbita Max.

Our Shop Admnistrators hand pick products and these are our Eureka Hot Picks: