However, with its full-length rainfly (on the sides of the tent) and seam-sealed construction, the Meramac 6 is superior in the weatherproofing department. Furthermore, we like that the Meramac features two doors as opposed to the Sundome’s one, making entry and exit easier should you need to get up in the middle of the night. And finally, the materials used throughout the Alps Mountaineering Meramac 6 are noticeably better. For us, the combination of increased weather protection and nicer materials make the more expensive Meramac 6 well worth considering. Although it has a relatively durable floor and a decent choice of materials for the canopy and rainfly, the fiberglass poles cause concern. For occasional use, this tent should serve its intended purpose, but we’d recommend you prepare yourself for potential issues down the line.
I used duct tape to keep the poles from splintering more. This quick fix bought us one more summer of fun with our old Coleman tent. As I packed our Coleman tent away after our last camping trip I knew it was time to part ways, we couldn’t find any replacement parts for it. The 2 only has one door, which isn’t a big deal If you are camping solo. However, for two occupants, getting out will require some gymnastics to avoid stepping on your tent mate.
However, the Sundome doesn’t come with Coleman’s Dark Room Technology like some other Coleman tents which would make this dome-shaped tent even better in the summer. When compared to other low-budget models, the coleman ice chest does an impressive job of keeping the tent free from condensation. We’ve looked at every size of this tent in detail as well as some other popular tents from Coleman to give you as well-rounded an analysis as possible. Gear.com orders can be shipped from multiple warehouses across the United States and can be shipped using FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc. Some brands have shipping restrictions and cannot ship to USPS PO BOX or Freight Forwarding addresses and will be noted on the product page description. The Bullet Blocker NIJ IIIA Drop-Down Shield is the first of its kind, offering portable full-body ballistic protection in a matter of seconds.
While I didn’t take a sharp stick and try to recreate a Houston mosquito trying to get inside, the bug mesh felt pretty sturdy. Now as for the fiberglass poles I think they are the weakest point on this tent. The two main body poles are 8.5mm fiberglass the same size Coleman uses on their Sundome 2 and Sundome 3. On the Sundome 6 they use an 11mm fiberglass pole which is the right choice for that size tent. At the least with fiberglass poles on this Sundome 4 they should have used a 9.5mm pole for strength. So far I have not had one break, but I am very careful when I set up.
For groups in the two to three-person range, we think the Sundome four-person should be just about right. If you are camping solo or with a furry friend, we’d recommend opting for the three-person or two-person models. Keep in mind that as you size down in capacity, you do lose a significant amount of headroom.
James has been escaping to the outdoors for as long as he can remember. This first started in family camping trips but soon turned into adventure camps and hiking through the Scottish Hebrides. Now he has turned towards trying to make camping more comfortable and accessible. However, like the Sundome the mesh windows in this tent mean that without the rain fly on, users lose all sense of privacy. The floor is also best used with a footprint or trap underneath to make sure it isn’t damaged.