A popular choice among car campers and festival-goers for years, Coleman’s Sundome 6 (also known simply as “the Coleman Dome Tent”) is offered at a bargain-basement price that is tough to match. With enough floor area to fit two queen-sized mattresses, 6 feet of headroom at the center, and good ventilation, it checks coleman screen tent many of the boxes that people are looking for in a tent. It’s not the most weather-worthy or well-built design, but it’s an excellent value for what you get. Below we break down the Sundome 6’s overall performance. To see how it stacks up against the competition, see our article on the best camping tents.
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 Sundome 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.
Although the seams may lack sealing of any kind, the stitching itself is free of defects and looks neat in general. First, the zippers used on both the door and back vent feel especially cheap, often snagging while in use. Second, we’re not a fan of fiberglass tent poles—we find aluminum to be sturdier and less prone to splintering. 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.
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. 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. Check out my gear coleman ice chest page for everything I use on my adventures, from camping equipment, hiking accessories and camera gear. Inside the tent, you have two mesh pouches to keep small items, which is really useful. You also have a zippered port in one of the corners, for electrical connection. The upside, it still looked brand new and cosmetically didn’t really show any wear at all.
With the rain fly off, it will be difficult to maintain privacy since those mesh areas will not be covered. The packed size of the 4-person dome tent would be too bulky for backpacking, but is conveniently sized and shaped for car camping. The is a basic dome tent, not intended for camping in extreme weather conditions. If you’re heading into heavy winds and rainy nights, you’re best looking for something else. We found plenty of reviews from users online emphasizing the value of the Coleman sundome 4 person tent, particularly for car camping. Because of the no-frills approach to this tent build, pitching the Sundome only took 5 minutes and 43 seconds.
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.