The panels provide excellent views on cloudless nights, but these will be lost with the attached rainfly. Although there is only one doorway on the Sundome, it is quite large and should allow for easy entry and exit for one person at a time. There’s no room divider for the Sundome, nor is there a vestibule. We can certainly live without the former, but the lack of a vestibule means that there’s no mudroom to store your dirty stuff, which can come in particularly handy when the weather gets wet.
There is a removable extension on the bottom that we assume helps keep the bag small for shipping but, once removed, allows a little more breathing room. It also comes with a fantastic vestibule with a door that can be propped up to form an awning. The sheltered living space in this tent is the advantage it has over the .
The inside corner seams are taped with what looks to be really flimsy version of duct tape that was already peeling up at the corners. While I have yet to sleep in this tent, I was able to pitch it several times and get a feel for the overall quality and functionality. Plan B was to set the tent up on the BSA summer camp standard issue wood platforms covered by an old canvas tent. That plan was ultimately thwarted by all the missing slats in the most level platform I could find.
However, it isn’t the design that is at risk — it is the construction. The use of weaker materials like cheap plastic clips, elastic connection points, fiberglass poles, and the tarp floor is where the coleman instant tent Sundome could fail after harsh use. This tent can be put up fast and easily thanks to the simple three-pole design. Two poles run diagonally between corners to give the body of the tent it’s dome-shape.
This may not seem like a big issue as your car likely will be parked nearby, but we appreciate a good vestibule and it’s an unfortunate omission here. Are you struggling to decide between the Coleman Sundome and Skydome tents? This comprehensive guide will break down the differences between these two fantastically popular camping tents to help you decide which is best for your next outdoor adventure. We’ll begin which a quick look at each tent’s key features and capabilities.
The small awnings on the front and on the back look great, but they only protect the windows and do not give any extra covered space for the gear. Formally, this is a 2-person tent, but the reality is that all these tents are too small for 2 people. On the other hand, it is very heavy, so you can use it as a solo tool only in places with a car access. I did seal the seems when I bought it, a practice I do with all my tents. So, in the couple of rain storms I’ve experienced I haven’t any bad leaks.