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. And although it has a rather durable floor and a decent choice in materials for the canopy and rainfly, the vulnerable fiberglass poles give cause for concern. In addition, Coleman’s somewhat infamous build quality gives the Sundome a questionable lifespan. However, for occasional use this tent should serve its intended purpose.
We were able to move around comfortably, the sleeping space easily accommodated the aforementioned crib and a double-wide, 52-inch mat, and the generous amount of mesh made for an airy feel overall. In practice, we almost always recommend sizing up your tent, and we think the Sundome 6 work bests with groups of three to four people. Coleman also offers the Sundome 4, which we think is ideal for two campers and a dog. The interior of the Sundome 6 measures 10’x10’ (100sqft) with a peak height of 6’ in the center.
Because of the basic setup, you also won’t have to struggle with poles or the rainfly in the hot sun for long stretches of time. This 4-Person dome tent also comes with guy-lines to support the fiberglass poles. We think this approach makes more sense for new campers. The products are low-cost but like the coleman ice chest that doesn’t mean they are low-quality. All in all, unless you have very specific requirements for your tent, Coleman’s Sundome is a great option for the everyday camper. I mentioned earlier that there were only two fiberglass poles for this tent, the old tent used four plus small ones for the rain flap.
Before Mike and I’s recent camping trip to Letchworth State Park in Upstate New York, I was looking to purchase an affordable but durable tent for us to use. After some heavy research, I landed on the Coleman Sundome tent. Coleman is a tried and true brand that’s been around for over 100 years and I own several other Coleman products.
Once inside, Silke commented on how well ventilated it was. This is nice in the summer, but we’ve camped in the late fall before and we were freezing. We will need to bring some extra blankets along from now on. A combination of clips and nylon coleman ice chest 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.
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 coleman ice chest 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.