Skydome 4-Person Screen Room Camping Tent with Dark Room Technology (SAP_2206839)

I camp with my son in a Coleman Skydome tent, I got the 4 person dark room + screen room version. The Wawona 6 was also my dream tent but was not at all in my budget when I bought a tent. I love this Coleman though! Since you are also camping with a little one, I just want to highly recommend considering the “dark room” feature (my son sleeps well past sunrise - it’s great), multiple companies make blackout tents like this and it’s a nice feature to have. I also LOVE the screen room on the tent, it was very easy for my kid to get in the habit of kicking his shoes off in there so the big room / bedroom part stays clean. It also has plenty of room for storing things like the tent bags / our sleeping mat bags / shoes, and on this past trip I even set up a little folding potty in there which came in so incredibly clutch for last minute late night needs when it would have honestly sucked to have to trek to the bathroom. I just unzipped the tops of the lining in the screen room part when so it was just screen and ventilated, and then zipped up the inner room fully, couldn’t smell anything and I’m a super sniffer. Also the tent has plenty of room inside for two expedite megats (the medium size), a storage bin (doubles as a table), and some big tote bags. It’s very easy to set up, their marketing says 5 minutes which is b.s. but it doesn’t take me long at all. I’m going on and on but I really do think this tent is terrific for a parent/child camping team.

I just finished my first cub scouts campout in a Coleman Skydome tent, the kind with the "Dark Room Technology" which I \*highly\* recommend if your child is on the younger side (mine is 7) because it really does stay nice and dark in there, great for kids being able to sleep even with late sunsets and early sunrises. We were not the only Coleman "Dark Room" tents in our pack. We have a 4-person and we fit two cots in there with some room in the middle, but if you go with [the 6-person version](https://www.coleman.com/camp-sports/tents-by-size/skydome-6-person-screen-room-camping-tent-with-dark-room-technology/SAP_2206907.html) you'd absolutely have plenty of room - it'll be downright spacious if you get the screen room. Setup is a breeze. I've only ever set this thing up by myself or with the help of my 7-year-old, which probably makes it take a few minutes longer but it's good for him to help. ;) I do have the one with the screen room, which is great for extra storage and keeping the sleeping area clean (our system is shoes don't go past the screen room), and the Skydome model has zip-up panels so the screen room stays dry even if it rains (which it did this past trip). The Coleman Carlsbad Dark Room has a fully mesh screen room which I'd imagine would basically trap water along the floor when it rained. Honestly the WeatherMaster pictured in your post looks like it would also let rain inside the screen room area, I'd make sure it has panels to zip up behind the mesh. I \*love\* having that extra screened in area though so I do recommend that.

I really like my Coleman Skydome, too. I have the 4-person "darkroom" model and rather than the vestibule I have the screen room and I'd be loathe to give up a screenroom feature now! I'd only consider it for a tent that had a good vestibule. It's just SO nice to have the extra space outside of the main sleeping area. I'd definitely go for a 6-person tent at least for a family of 4. Maybe even 8. My son and I are comfortable in our 4 person now, but he's only 7 yet and it would be really tight with two additional people in there.

I have the Coleman Skydome Darkroom (the version with the screen room). I live in New Mexico so probably dealing with weather not too far off of yours, albeit less humid. I'm always camping with my son, who wouldn't wear a sleep mask or keep it on, so the dark room is honestly clutch. The first time we tried it out in our backyard, he slept in way later than he does regularly! I do recommend some sort of fan for circulation on hot days, because they don't have a second door or anything for breeze (the design definitely prioritizes keeping out the light) but honestly it gets so hot here I'd want a fan in any tent. This is a great solid tent, easy to set up, durable.

I'm a fan of Coleman 4 person tents. I have no problem setting mine up in about ten minutes by myself. This is my current deluxe version - I like having the little porch for storing my shoes, having a place to sit if it's raining or insanely buggy and what not. [https://www.coleman.com/camp-sports/tents-by-size/skydome-4-person-screen-room-camping-tent-with-dark-room-technology/SAP\_2206839.html](https://www.coleman.com/camp-sports/tents-by-size/skydome-4-person-screen-room-camping-tent-with-dark-room-technology/SAP_2206839.html)

We got a new 6P tent that turned out to be huge. It’s fine when we take 6 grandchildren but just cavernous for us as a couple. Camp Coleman Dark Room Skydome 4P is a very appealing tent. But I purchased the Eureka Space Camp 4P for the same price (on big sale) because it offered front/rear vestibules and formed metal poles providing more headroom and stability. We love the Eureka! (The Eureka brand has been discontinued by Johnson Outdoors. However, there seems to be plenty of inventory in the supply chain.)

I second this tent.

A Coleman skydome would be a good tent for you. To save money, I would suggest using as much stuff as possible that you already have. Use blankets instead of buying sleeping bags. Instead of buying a camp stove, you could get a small grate to go over the campfire and cook hotdogs. Premake some wraps for lunch and breakfast with eggs, bacon and whatever else you want. Wrap them in tinfoil and warm them over the fire. If you guys love fishing, you'll probably spend most of the day doing that anyway. I know my son will fish for hours. I'm lucky to live in a location with lots of public land that is free to camp on. If that's an option for you, it saves some money as well. You can also look on marketplace for cheap used gear. Basically all you need is shelter, sleep comfort and food. A couple of activities during the day and you'll have a great time.

We’ve car camped with a Coleman instant up (I think a Skydome 4) for 11 years. It survived a derecho at high elevation in 2020, and it has seen lots of rain and hail. We still use it for car camping a few times a year. There’s one pole on it that’s taped, couple patched up holes, and when it quits we’ll buy another one. For the price I don’t think we could ask much more out of it. Not saying you can’t do better, but they’re definitely not junk.