Set up camp in a compact yet spacious tent with the Coleman® Sundome® 3-Person Dome. If it rains, this tent Keeps You Dry…Guaranteed™, thanks to the WeatherTec™ system, which uses a tub floor with patented corner welds, protected seams, and a covered zipper to help keep water out. Meanwhile, the compact dome shape and a strong frame are tested to withstand 35+ MPH winds. You’ll get even more weather protection from a door awning and an included rainfly.
Alternatively, you can save a few bucks by opting for a tarp, which can also be cut to size if the measurements aren’t a perfect fit. Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week. We independently evaluate all recommended products and services.
To gauge livability, we brought along two adults, a portable crib, and a dog, and found that the Sundome 6 provided more than enough room for summertime adventures. 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.
So, keeping in line with what Coleman calls a four person instant tent, I went along the same lines once again while choosing our new tent. I’m not quite sure of what four people the company was referring to when they say it ‘sleeps four’. coleman sundome The upside, it still looked brand new and cosmetically didn’t really show any wear at all. The downside, the poles that support it are made of what appears to be a fiberglass material that with age have started to disintegrate.
We fit a full and twin air mattress with a little room to spare, but that didn’t leave us much extra space for bags and storage. And with only one interior pocket, be prepared for someone to lose their keys or phone. From the netting to the poles to the rainfly, many of the main components of this tent are not built to last. coleman sundome For example, the string that connects the pole sections together broke on our first pitch. Long story short, if you do decide to go with the Sundome, just be sure to have a pole patch kit available. Weighing in at 16 pounds 10 ounces, the Sundome 6 is easy to haul from the car to the campsite and store when not in use.
For smaller groups or those confined by small campsites, Coleman offers three other size options. 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.