We must receive the product in Holly, MI in 60 days or less. To initiate a return you can contact us for a return merchandise authorization. If the hitch was purchased during a FREE shipping promotion, $290 will be deducted for any returned hitches. Investing in some waterproofing sealer is DEFINITELY a good idea – not even just for this model, but lower budget tents in general.
It does provide a little support but not nearly enough, especially with the small 8.5mm poles. It should have 4 structural guy out loops about half way up the rainfly, 1 loop on each pole. Of course if I were to replace the fiberglass poles with aluminum poles this would strengthen the structure considerably. This is a great option for first-time campers and budget-wise campers as myself.
This freestanding tent is in my opinion designed for car camping. It weighs around 22 lbs in the bag so it’s not a tent I would want to have to carry for a long period of time. What differentiates the Elite Model from the regular Sundome is the Elite is a little larger and comes with an LED lighting system and hinged door.
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 instant tent 6 offers a budget alternative to its high-end competitors, while still managing to squeeze in a few bells and whistles.
This 4-Person dome tent also comes with guy-lines to support the fiberglass poles. Unfortunately, there isn’t a hydrostatic head rating for this tent. We reached out to Coleman for more information and their advisor told us that their tents “don’t stop water but will stop UV”.
Unless you are planning to use the tent just for sleeping (and keep your gear stored somewhere else) it’s going to be too small for a family of four. Also, if you’re expecting the Skydome to be a quick-pitch, well it’s not. And the last disadvantage is that it’s also more expensive than your regular classic Sundome Tent. Sadly though, my Skydome Tent didn’t have an e-port, while all my Sundome tents came with e-ports. But I could still easily fit 4 regular sleeping pads, or 2 double pads, inside the tent without leftover space, or 1 queen-sized bed with plenty of leftover space. In my opinion, the Coleman is the best waterproof tent on the market.
I have used this tent in the wind, rain, snow, and sun without any problems. We bought a replacement pole for the tent when we got home, but have since turned this into the backup/extra tent for when we take friends. For ourselves, we did what we should have done all along – Spent the money on a quality tent that will last us many years of camping (We bought the REI Base Camp 6). coleman instant tent Now even with those cons I’ve mentioned this is still a worthy tent and I am pleased with my purchase and the tent’s performance so far. If one of my poles breaks I could spend $36 dollars on some aluminum poles and still only have a hundred dollars invested and even at that price this tent’s still a bargain. Provide additional weather protection over front door and back window.
I can see it being easy to form cracks and break, although in over a year of use I haven’t done either as of yet. I still carry materials to make a repair though, just in case. I haven’t got caught in a strong storm yet in this tent, but I imagine it will be easy for the wind to blow the tent in on itself because of the poles. The low wide profile and included guylines hold up well in the wind, and the tent floor has a tub design. As long as you can avoid a tear or puncture, you should stay dry. However, it isn’t the design that is at risk — it is the construction.
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 coleman ice chest 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.
It handles rain very well in my opinion and winds of up to 20mph. 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 Coleman Sundome. This tent can be put up fast and easily thanks to the simple three-pole design.