Coleman - Skydome 4-Person Tent

Our Troop has been using 4-person and 6-person Coleman Skydome tents for the last several years. The boys are rough on tents, so priorities are cost and ease of repair. Positives: - The tents themselves are quick to set up and pack away. - They are well ventilated. - Inexpensive and reasonably durable. Negatives: - They are not especially light, weighting between 8 and 13 lbs. - Poles are attached to the tent, which makes them easy to pack but could be a problem if a pole needs to be replaced. - Can handle rain when set up correctly, but may allow in water in a severe storm. On that last point, it's hard for me to provide a completely objective assessment because we have had Skydome tents become soggy in very bad weather, but this may be because of boys leaving the vent on the door open rather than issues with the tent itself.

Funny, I literally just bought a Coleman Skydome 4-person for a camping trip my son and I took. Granted I've only used the tent the one time, and it was dry conditions, but I was pleased with it out of the box. Setup legitimately took less than ten minutes, and I was setting it up myself. Some people have grouched about the pre-attached poles but I had no issue with them. Just snap the two sets of poles together, run them corner-to-corner, and hook the tent itself to them. I found the doorway zipper was pretty easy to use -- it has a flap covering the entire zippered length to prevent insect/water entry, which is a nice feature but you just have to be careful about not getting the zipper snagged. The entire roof is mesh and not very thick mesh either, so I could see it ripping easily if you're not careful. But otherwise, great bit of kit. Lots of airflow, good footprint, easy setup, some internal wall pockets for quick storage. The amount of mesh really helps cut down condensation -- it was a humid night from the weather so we left the rain fly off entirely, was still very comfortable. Hell, I even managed to get the thing back in the carry case without issue. It folds up easily to about 3 foot long.

That's why I got a 4 person Coleman Skydome though I camp solo. I’m 5’4” and can stand almost straight. Got a beach chair and bucket toilet in there too. Couldn't stand up in my 3 person. Mine has a substantial covered foyer. Not all models have it. This is mine: [https://www.coleman.com/camp-sports/tents-by-size/skydome-4-person-camping-tent-with-full-fly-vestibule-evergreen/SAP\_2206946.html](https://www.coleman.com/camp-sports/tents-by-size/skydome-4-person-camping-tent-with-full-fly-vestibule-evergreen/SAP_2206946.html)

I have a Coleman Skydome. I really like it, and can set it up from in the bag to staked down within 10 minutes by myself. I like that it is basically a screen tent with a secure rain fly over it. Eliminates condensation being inside the tent. If it is hot, just take the rain fly off. Mine is a "4 person", but I wouldn't plan more than 2 people with their gear in it.

I love this tent!

We have the 4 person tent for just two of us. It perfectly fit a queen size air mattress with enough room for personal bags and 2 small dogs. We have a 1 year old now, so we’re going to size up. The tent is super easy to set up/tear down. I usually did it by myself. We’ve camped in the rain and woke up dry with just the fly, no additional tarp needed. It’s a great tent.

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.

There are many great luxurious 4P tents such as Marmot Halo, but since you have a dog I'll recommend the Coleman Skydome 4P - [https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-4-Person-Weatherproof-Headroom-Traditional/dp/B0D7QG9H85/](https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-4-Person-Weatherproof-Headroom-Traditional/dp/B0D7QG9H85/) \- as its 'cheaper' material is actually tougher and more durable to tearing than the expensive tents. The tent may not be luxurious in appointments but it is extremely luxurious in space. It is also cheap to replace if and when your dog damages it. If you have a big truck to transport your tent, you can also look at the Gazelle T4 - [https://www.amazon.com/Gazelle-GT400GR-Portable-4-Person-Overlanding/dp/B08B2FGLV8](https://www.amazon.com/Gazelle-GT400GR-Portable-4-Person-Overlanding/dp/B08B2FGLV8) \- which is very quick and easy to set up, but is very big when folded down. For lantern, the one to get is Sofirn BLF LT1 - [https://www.amazon.com/Camping-Lantern-Rehargeable-Runtime-flaslight/dp/B097MN6P1B](https://www.amazon.com/Camping-Lantern-Rehargeable-Runtime-flaslight/dp/B097MN6P1B)

I had considered mentioning the 4p skydome. It’s held up for me 50mph gusts, 20-40 sustained.

Either a Coleman basic model or Core tent from Costco. I got a Core from Costco about five years ago for about $125, use it all the time, and still love it. I think it’s a six person although only three of us use it with plenty of room and the ability to stand up.

6 person tent is nice and roomie but you only need a two 4 person tents. I'd go Coleman as a basic tent it comes with everything but a tarp to lay under it. Scouting they usually tent two to a tent with smaller kids having an extra person in their tent.

Coleman makes an affordable black tent. After 25 years of avid camping, we are really enjoying the first season with ours! We never wanted or needed one, but I feel like I'm alot less exposed? The dark tent makes us feel cozier, and it's great in the bright mornings. There's less light/shadow figures at night, (think Austin Powers scene) but the main reason we liked this tent is that it has a full fly and covered vestibule. We live in a rainy climate, so this was important And was in our budget. Here's the Canadian Tire link, but we bought ours on sale from a sporting goods store. Coleman Skydome 3-Season, 4-Person Easy Set-Up Camping Dome Tent w/ Rain Fly, Vestibule, E-Port & Carry Bag | Canadian Tire https://share.google/N9zRHwYqXgwz91RLK

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how the boat destroyed my tent!!! I'm sure this will make a great story once I have the details. My Coleman was good to us, too. It was going to need another waterproofing, but it did a great job. I'll consider another one for sure.

I agree that the Coleman is a great value. I have a 8p one and use it for troop outings. When it’s just my son and I, I opt for my smaller 4p one as it is easier to set up and tear down.

Our family camps at assateague regularly most recently Labor Day week-into the weekend. We also love assateague even though it can have harsh conditions. We got stuck in a couple days of high wind last October. Fortunately the Coleman 4 person tent held up just fine. That’s terrible peoples set ups are breaking. The only thing I see here I would do differently if I was worried about the wind is possibly keeping your vestibule canopy down. It will provide less lift if the wind blows in that direction. It sounds like you’re well experienced and know what you’re doing. Happy camping!

We went from a Coleman 4 person tent to a Coleman 12 tent. We also have a queen blow up mattress & having the extra room is amazing. Since I'm not carrying it, I don't care how much it weighs

Remember, when tents say sleeps, 4, 6 etc. Its never realistic. Im camping now in a Coleman 4 person tent. 1 is comfy, 2 is cramped. 4 if we were midgets.

I camped for years with 50' of Paracord and a 10 x 20 4 mil plastic sheet. I see tents in thrift stores often. I have 2. Watch out for broken zippers. That's the most common fault. Easy to fix with the tool ($10). The tent I use most often is a 4 person Coleman I bought new for $40 about 20 years ago. I'm very pleased with it. It gets about 10 days of use a year, so 200 days total so far

Agreed. Coleman dome tents are a great starting point for family camping. If you end up going more frequently or decide you want specific features (weight/temperature ratings/etc), you can always upgrade later. I love my Coleman Skydome tent. It's a little more expensive than the standard dome, but still affordable. It sets up quick, is a little more square shaped to give more headroom, and has large mesh panels that are great for airflow or watching the night sky when the rainfly is off.

I love my Skydome. There are fancier tents out there, but it was affordable and has stood up to rain and wind, as well as being pretty breathable on hot nights. On clear nights (and in less crowded campgrounds) you can remove the rain fly and look at the stars through the fully mesh top.

We have the skydome...we are returning it. Leaked in moderate rain and ruined our week. I think the issue is at the manufacturing level. About half the reviews I've read are good and half say they leak or otherwise tear/rip at seams. So you are gambling with the quality.

A Sundome or Skydome is still easier to set up and a lot more waterproof. The fact that they added an extra sold separately rainfly to the Instant shows it’s bad.

Coleman Sundome and Skydome are both super easy

Coleman Sundome or Skydome. Check out an Ollie’s if you have one. The other Coleman tents will probably be just fine too. But I would avoid the instant up - sets up fast but leaks so badly they made an additional rainfly for it.

Try a Coleman Sundome or Skydome from Ollie’s, blackout if you can get it. I’ve bought both to festivals with multiple severe thunderstorms and was much dryer than people who brought much more expensive tents. The bathtub floor will be much better in bad weather than this tent. Sometimes you can get a dud Coleman that leaks in one spot, but that’s only happened to me once. Just set it up and test it in rain before your event. I will say avoid the instant tent, that thing is so bad they sell an aftermarket rainfly to fix it.

I didn’t bother to buy it after testing the instant tent in the rain. But my Sundome and Skydome are great in bad weather

Poor design. The Sundome and Skydome don’t leak like that

I had an older version of the skydome and didn’t particularly care for it. The porch ceiling was low and it offered nearly no rain protection so you couldn’t keep gear there.

I actually own BOTH of these exact tents. AMA. The Skydome is way tougher than it looks. I have camped in in the summer and literally on a mountainside in a blizzard. Survived all. Lots of people don't know that it's CRITICAL for a tent to properly stay dry and drain water away from you, nothing should be touching the sides of the tent. if you follow this rule you will love it. I dare call this a 3 season tent. cabin: a fun summery light tent to see the stars. gigantic. have leant it to a couple families. fits a king bed. Is absolute dog crap in the wind. It's also nice in rain. I did an extended rainy weekend in this one and we were able to sit under the little porch area and stay dry and enjoy the rain I've never put a tarp over either of these and just used the included rainfly. Again, not touching the sides of the tent is key to stay dry. Always used a tarp underneath.

My 4-man Coleman has weathered some beatings over the past 10 years. Solid tent.

Several recommendations for the Coleman tents. Of the two models mentioned, Sundome and Skydome, the Skydome is the far better tent in my opinion. The Skydome has an all clip suspension, while the Sundome has partial pole sleeves. An all clip suspension tent is much easier to pitch solo than a tent that uses sleeves. Stake the corners, assemble the poles, insert poles in the corners. Unzip the door, take off your shoes, step into middle of tent, clip the top clip over both poles. Attach the rest of the clips and add the fly. The Sundome, you'll have to raise the tent body as you insert the poles in the corners. That adds weight and resistance. Lastly, the Skydome has a full coverage rainfly, while the Sundome only comes down halfway. Spend a little more and get the superior tent.

Look and see if there is an Ollie's discount warehouse near you. You can get a Coleman Skydome for half that price.

Well Coleman Skydome is a tried and true tent you should have no trouble with.

Check out the coleman site, think they still have a sale and with a 15% email coupon you can save like 30%. I'm 6'3 and found the skydome to be great.

The Coleman skydome I have the same one but dark technology which I would recommend. But the screen room was great for keeping all my stuff clean and dry, camped out in the rain for 5 days with it and my tent was the only one still bone dry on the inside when we were packing up.

I got the Coleman skydome last year (finally got over borrowing dad’s old Eddie Bauer tent 🤣) and it’s been an absolutely worthy investment. The porch has drainage holes / mesh to let water escape if needed, it makes the sleeping area of the tent much easier to keep bug and rock free, gave the dog somewhere to lounge and was over all an easy set up. Definitely recommend it!

I have a coleman skydome, and personally haven’t had any issues in rain. For the price it can’t be beat. If you’re going to pick something to splurge on, a comfortable sleeping pad is a must.

They often get flak for being on the cheaper side or being a "dad tent", but Coleman makes great, sturdy tents for the average car camper. If you're not camping in extreme weather they will suit your needs very well. I just retired my 5+ year old Coleman Sundome after 60+ nights due to a tear and will be replacing it with... a Coleman Skydome.

If you're not using it much, go Coleman. They have a lifetime warranty, plenty of size options, easy to set up, and you won't have a $450 tent in storage for 362 days of the year!

You don’t need a big Agnes tent for 2-3 trips. Coleman will do you wonders. Save your money.

Get a Coleman. They’re sturdy for their price. When it wears out, upgrade. I have a sky dome. The vestibule is awesome. It’s a good tent. So many people blow so much money on camping gear when they’re new.

Coleman or core. I’ve used both regularly and in some bad weather without problems. I like core instant tents for the quick setup and breakdown. Coleman Skydome are also great for a mix of dome and cabin style. Will likely want a 8 person or more for the space and headroom.

Go with the Coleman. You are a beginner that plans on camping a couple times a year. It’s fine. When the forecast calls for significant rain put a tarp under the tent (no exposed tarp) and a large tarp string over your site. The hat not only gives your tent extra protection but gives you useable space out of the rain. This is all presuming it is camping near your vehicle and weight is not a significant factor.

Will best to get an 8 person tent but maybe you can get by with a 6 person. Consider the size of your mattresses to see if the floor dimensions will work. Something like the Coleman Skydome or Northface Wawona. I think it’s nice to have a vestibule so you can dry/clean the dogs off before getting in the tent. For technique, don’t set up in the lowest spot on your site/depressions in the ground even if that seems the flattest. Get a tarp or a specific tent footprint to go under your tent. If it’s a tarp, fold it up so the edges are just under the tent. That way water will go under the tarp and not between the tarp and your tent.

I have the coleman skydome tent, and it DOES get rather wet and puddles, however, i camped in Assateague where the horse flies and mosquitos were abhorrent and this thing saved my entire trip. Its a nice lil bonus room, i dig it.

We just got back from camping in the Coleman skydome (same model shown) and it was easy to raise and dismantle as well as comfortable for me and wife (both 6’ tall)

I'm happy to see the Coleman Skydome on here. We just got an 8-person for our family of 4 after using a 6-person Ozark for three last 16 years.

By the way I’m a member of r/snowpeak and thought your question asking about the Alpha Breeze entertaining to a bunch of Snow Peak nut jobs. lol I’ve had various tents for various situations over the years. Earliest memory was using a Coleman four man tent with my family when I was a kid, an acceptable tent for a child, but I also didn’t know any better. I would say any sub $200 tent now probably falls in the same quality of cheaper tent fabric and lower quality poles. In my teens and throughout my 30s, I got big into backpacking so it was with brands like MSR and Big Agnes. In that time of lightweight backpacking tents, I really loved the original MSR Mutha Hubba (3p), it was lightweight and very packable and was spacious relative to its total weight. I’ve since gotten a newer MSR Hubba Hubba (2p) which I like, slight lowering in quality since the 2000s era of MSR quality. Which brings us full circle to the Alpha Breeze, it’s now my dedicated car camping tent, having also slept in and seen other tents that friends bring on car camping trips. It’s something I view as a long term investment that features thoughtful tent design along with the durability that comes with quality. Last thing, the price is high, but I’m seeing this as something that will last me +10 years, if not 20. Which over time breaks down to about $60/year if using 10 years.

I've had a couple of the instant set-up cabin tents throughout the years, I will keep buying this type until I make the jump to travel trailer. However, I cannot recommend the 10p Core with the built in screened porch. The porch is basically useless in the rain, it doesn't detach & holds the front part of the rainfly. If you decide to keep the screen open it just collects bugs that quickly make it into the tent when you unzip the doors to get in. This is my first Core & probably my last, will probably go back to the Coleman in the same size for my very last tent. Choose Wisely.

Dude, my first two tents were coleman. Shit man, I still got them and they still work great. Oldest one close to 15 years. I went from a 4P Coleman to 6P Coleman when I had kids. So if you can get one in good condition or buy it.. go for it. I got my coleman sundome for like a 100 bucks. If you don't want a coleman, you can sang one of these from costco for a 100 bucks - https://www.costco.com/core-6-person-lighted-dome-tent.product.100892929.html Now a days I have a Marmot 6P, recognize that this is 500$ tent. Don't spend this kind of money for your first tent unless you have money to spare or plan on going a lot of camping. The difference between a 100$ tent vs a $500 tent are: - More indoor pockets - High quality tent poles - No snag YKK zippers - Easy to pack bag - better ventilation But from a core tent/sleeping POV, its the same. IF and WHEN you are ready to go backpacking, it would be good to invest in lighter smaller gear. A decent backpacking tent is pretty expensive.

And Coleman has a super popular four person tent, that will accommodate two comfortably, has that expanding bag, and easy set up and take down. The stakes are junk of course.

I picked up a used Coleman four person tent for my boys for $40 on eBay. They started sleeping in it when they were 4 and 6 years old.

Both of my kids have them and use them often. I have borrowed them a couple of times and really loved the fact that they block that unwelcome morning sun. They don't seem heavy, they are just coated with a different material that maybe adds ounces. I am speaking of the Coleman 4 man tents however.

If you're trying to tiptoe into camping, I wouldn't necessarily recommend high end gear, although if you do get into it, higher end gear is better in the long run. For now, if you have nothing, start simple. I'd recommend something like a 4 man Colman tent. Coleman make great car camping gear that isn't going to break the bank, and if you really get into it, you can splurge for the higher end tent later. Get a tarp that is about the same dimensions of the floor of your tent and put it under it for protection. Also, the stakes that come with tents usually aren't all that great, so you may want to get something heavier duty, and get sand stakes if you plan to camp on the beach. For cooking equipment you can find some great deals on Marketplace, but a simple two burner propane stove is cheap and easy. Some folks really like the Blackstones, and so do I, but I find them heavy and find a two burner to be a little more versatile. It's really a personal preference. For cooking equipment, if you want to save money, just grab stuff from your kitchen and put it in a storage container to take with you. GSI makes good cooking gear and I personally like stainless steel stuff from Stanley, as it compacts for storage and I can be rough with it. Go with compostable paper plates to save yourself some cleanup. Start making a list of the small stuff as it pops into your [head.Med](http://head.Med) kit, flashlight, headlamps, towels, etc.

I have the green and gray Coleman Skydome. Very nice tent with very bad design flaw. When you put the rain cover on top it blocks all of the openings leaving very little air flow. When it is hot at night it’s pretty miserable in there. The only thing you can unzip is the front door to the porch and if it rains that night congrats you are hot AND wet. I’d go another direction.

If you’re looking for an affordable tent, get one of the coleman dome tents.  Keep in mind that a 6 person tent will be very tight for 6 full grown people. If the boys are 15+ get at least a 8 person tent.