Now he has turned towards trying to make camping more comfortable and accessible. There are quality tents that are better able to stand up to stormy weather with sturdy poles and strong guy-line systems, but as a budget-friendly coleman screen tent tent we were happy with the performance. With a ceiling height of less than 5 feet tall, there isn’t much livable space in this budget-friendly tent. But there’s plenty of room for a queen-sized mattress and sleeping space.
Stacked up against the Sundome, the Montana 6P is smaller with 84 square feet of floor area, shorter with a 68-inch peak height, and costs a little more at $117. Where the Montana gets the edge is livability with an included awning and taller side and end walls. In the end, we prefer the 8-person version of the Montana ($220 at the time of publishing) for families wanting to spread out, while the taller Sundome is the better budget choice among 6P options. Another relatively inexpensive alternative to the Sundome is the Alps Mountaineering Meramac 6. Both tents feature a simple two-pole design, similar floor dimensions and peak heights, and generous use of mesh for airflow.
Setup instructions are sewn inside the carry bag, though I was able to figure out how to set it up without reading them. The Coleman Sundome 4, 9’x7′, dome tent is part of the classic Sundome series of tents from Coleman. The Sundome 4 sleeps 4 happy campers and includes a large door for easy entry/exit with a hooded fly to provide ventilation even in rain. A large rear hooded window also provides airflow for cross ventilation.
Excellent for Scouting, camping, and overnights at the beach. Coleman is a trustworthy name in camping that has been around for many years. Their products are generally reliable and coleman ice chest usable by anyone. This tent is right on par with its cost; however, because the poles broke on us right away, the actual value may depend on whether you get a good batch or not.
It’s not the most weather-worthy or well-built design, but it’s an excellent value for what you get. To see how it stacks up against the competition, see our article on the best camping tents. At only $136.99, the Coleman Sundome 6 offers a budget alternative to its high-end competitors, while still managing to squeeze in a few bells and whistles.
A combination of clips and nylon sleeves connect the tent body to the poles. For ease of setup, I prefer all clips and no nylon sleeves. Nylon sleeves have a nasty habit of snagging the pole joints and separating the sections as you try to set up or take down the tent. If there’s one thing I love more than spending time in the outdoors, it’s trying out new camping gear. My initial plan was to use the tent while I was at Boy Scout summer camp in Talihina, OK. However, when we arrived, I discovered that our camp site was situated on steeply sloped, rocky terrain. The ends of the poles started to splinter, so I fell to the tried and true remedy.
Even assembling the Sundome 6 solo was a smooth process, which took less than 10 minutes from start to finish at a leisurely pace. And while Coleman attaches the instructions to the inside of the storage bag, we still think it’s a good idea to do a dry run in your backyard before heading out on a trip. Despite its inexpensive price tag and overall lack of features, the is a highly durable camping tent that should have no problem standing up to years of use. The bathtub floor is made of a thick, tarp-like material, and the body and mesh don’t feel in the least bit fragile.