The easy and simplicity of set up also makes the coleman instant tent a smart choice for family camping trips. Not only does it cut down set up time and leave more time for enjoying your trip, teaching kids to set this tent up is made easy thanks to the design. Although this simple dome-style tent comes with a convenient carry bag which makes it easy for car camping, it’s a little too heavy to be used for backpacking.
A classic dome structure, single door, and vented roof make pitching this tent relatively easy, though we had issues with the rainfly. The floor is also cheap polyethylene material — you will basically be sleeping on a tarp — and we had some pole malfunction right out of the gate. However, coming in at 9.8 lbs with 63 sq ft of tent space, a family of four can certainly make due. For this review, we tested the six-person Sundome, which we think is just about ideal for families of three to four people. For smaller groups or those confined by small campsites, Coleman offers three other size options.
The tent would work for four people in an emergency, otherwise the tent is just large enough for the both of us, a small carry-on travel bag to keep our clothes dry, and a queen size air mattress. The sundome 4 person tent from Coleman is an excellent tent for beginners thanks to its low-cost and easy setup design. Being so reasonably priced means that the tent is also a good choice for more experienced campers looking for a new tent that won’t break the bank. Meet the Sundome® tents designed to make your next camping trip even better than before. 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. Get to the epic hikes or epic camp meals faster—the tent sets up quickly thanks to the snag-free, continuous sleeves.
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. As with most budget-oriented products, there are bound to be shortcomings, and the Sundome 6 is very limited in terms of storage. In stark contrast to premium models like REI’s Base Camp 6 and its 14 interior pockets of varying sizes, the Sundome 6 features a paltry two pockets. Located on both sides of the tent around waist height, these hanging and floppy pockets are constructed of cheap feeling mesh. To make matters worse, their small size is only able to handle basics like keys, a phone, and a headlamp or two.
The same day I planned to find a place to pitch the tent, a norovirus hit 13 of our 53 scouts, so the remainder of the day was spent making rounds checking on the kids. I’ll spare you the glorious details, but picture the pie eating contest scene from Stand By Me and that’ll give you a pretty good idea. Due to the outbreak, the camp closed and we went home the next day. 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.
Whilst the tent does come with two storage pockets (which is an improvement on the smaller models), there is still no vestibule with the Sundome. Even without gear, it’s going to be a fight for floor space. Groups of four or families would definitely be better off investing in a larger model – like the 6 person model.
Set up camp in a compact, yet spacious tent with the Coleman® Sundome® 4-Person Dome Tent. If it rains, the WeatherTec™ system with its patented welded floors and inverted seams will help you stay dry. A ground vent and two windows increase air circulation to help you stay cool and comfortable. The compact dome shape stands up to wind, and you’ll get extra weather protection from a door awning and an included rainfly. Setup is simple with snag-free, continuous pole sleeves. Inside, there’s enough room to stretch out on a queen-sized airbed, and storage pockets help to keep small items organized.
I did have a bit of mist blow in through the ends, since the rain fly doesn’t actually come too far down the tent. As I said earlier, I haven’t had this tent in a bad storm yet, I think heavy winds would possibly blow more rain in and make coleman screen tent water inside the tent an issue. Sure, maybe four really good friends or close family members will fit in the tent, if they are below average size. If there are four people in the tent, there will be absolutely zero space for anything else.