Keep in mind that as you size down in capacity, you do lose a significant amount of headroom. The Sundome 2, for example, has a maximum peak height of just 4 feet compared to 6 on the Sundome 6, and that’s a very significant difference. The Coleman® 6-Person Sundome® Dark Room™ Dome Camping Tent blocks 90% of sunlight so you can put the kids to bed early or sleep in past sunrise. It also reduces heat inside the tent (vs. a comparable Coleman tent) for more comfortable rest at any time. The Coleman® 4-Person Sundome® Dark Room™ Dome Camping Tent blocks 90% of sunlight (vs. a comparable Coleman tent) so you can put the kids to bed early or sleep in past sunrise.
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 won’t come as a surprise to those who go camping regularly that the capacity of a tent is based on the maximum number of people you could squeeze in, rather than a size that prioritizes comfort. Since then, have used it in various weather conditions ranging from hot humid temperatures to heavy rain storms. I can now recommend this tent as a good choice for summer. However, I didn’t quite like that the rainfly pole over the front of the Skydome Tent doesn’t extend outward enough, and that I needed to add seam sealant on my own. As for the Skydome Tent, even though 3 sides of the tent have a decently long rainfly length, the front of the tent has a much shorter rainfly length. The 59-inch peak height in the 4-Person Skydome is about the same as a regular Sundome, but surprisingly you get 1 foot less in length.
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.
We made sure the Sundome 3-Person Camping Tent’s WeatherTec™ system helps protect against rain and wind whether you’re at the campground with family or in the backcountry with friends. We made sure the Sundome 6-Person Camping Tent’s WeatherTec™ system helps protect coleman sundome against rain and wind when you’re at the campground with family and friends. They made sure the Sundome Camping Tent’s WeatherTec™ system helps protect against rain and wind whether you’re at the campground with family or in the backcountry with friends.
With two people there is enough room to set up a queen size inflatable mattress, and still have room for extra gear you may want to store in the tent with you. There is a mesh gear pocket to store things like you wallet and phone in to keep them off the ground. You’ll also find a zippered opening near the door to run an electrical cord through so you can run a fan, or C-PAP machine in my case.
From within Coleman’s own lineup, we also like the Instant Cabin 6. Both tents can fit two queen-size air mattresses, feature a single door for entry and exit, and boast 6 feet of headspace. That said, the two Coleman tents differ in a few key areas. To start, the Instant Cabin’s speedy set-up time (a claimed 60 seconds) is a standout feature and impossible for the Sundome to match. Second, the Instant Cabin doesn’t include a rainfly, although the tent body is said to be waterproof without one. And finally, the robust and quick-deploying frame of the Instant Cabin adds significant weight—it clocks in about 10 pounds heavier than the Sundome.
Even with the added privacy vent, I find ventilation for this tent to be a little less than impressive. The front and rear windows are fairly small, only covering the top portion of the tent. There is good size ventilation mesh on the ends of the tent, but once the rain cover is in place those are also covered. With the rain fly off, it will be difficult to maintain privacy since those mesh areas will not be covered.
Having said that, most casual campers who take decent care of their gear should see many summers of camping with the Sundome. The coated polyester fabrics on the fly and walls are rugged and durable. The interior of the Sundome 6 measures 10’x10’ (100sqft) with a peak height of 6’ in the center. Although these numbers by themselves would make this tent quite appealing compared to other 6-person tents, the dome-style structure of the Sundome means that there is limited verticality in the wall.