Coleman - Skydome Dark Room Tent

Coleman makes decent lower cost tents. I had an 8 person that withstood several crazy winter storm fronts in florida while island camping (60-70 mph)...I did use all the guy lines and they were secured to trees or tree roots. I have also had a 4 person 10x10 dome tent from coleman that worked great https://preview.redd.it/f61egic2lptf1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7894d5619f7bcf8c2db3f933bfa9419af460dc4

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.

Blackout and waterproof. I rock a Coleman 8 man Skydome or a 4 man Sundome

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

Coleman 8 man Darkroom Skydome. The shorter rainfly works just fine. A tent doesn’t help you stay warm in cold months; they are not insulated.

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

These are what I use the most: \- Tent: Coleman SkyDome Darkroom Tech 8-man cabin tent. Very sturdy tent and stands up to elements well. Darkroom tech, rain fly means it stays nice and dark in there, even during daylight hours so if you're the type that likes to sleep in, not a ton of light gets into the tent (just through the lower vents through the mesh, so makes for a nice dim light in the mornings. It's also room and I, as a 6'2" guy, can easily stand up in it with room to spare. \- Cot: Cabela's Alaskan Guide camp cot. I opted for a HEST foamy pad to go on top of it, and the cot organizer that attaches to the cot with velcro. The cot is sturdy and the HEST pad makes a perfect combo on it. I just bring some regular bed sheets, a blanket, and my regular pillow and sleep like a baby on there. \- Camp chair: Cabela's Outdoorsman XL camp chair. It's comfortable, folds up easily, and doesn't weigh a ton

I have an old Coleman 10’x 10’ that I used for truck camping and took it to Alaska and I’m 6’.

We’ve had our darkroom 6p for 4 years and it’s still going strong!

I think I had the Aussie version - looks like the same tent but it’s called the coleman quickdome darkroom. See my other comment for why it’s the worst tent I’ve ever used.

I have owned one blackout tent in my life, a coleman quickdome darkroom. Worst tent I’ve ever had. Tore open on the 3rd day of a 2 week camp. The dark did not make it cooler. If anything it was hotter in there than a beige or grey tent. I hated needing a damn torch just to find something in the tent in the middle of the day. In 20km/h winds you could hear the fabric screaming as it slowly broke apart, and many small holes were visible in the fly by day 4. On day 7 the door zip separated from the main tent, meaning the tent could not be zipped fully. I’d already used all my patches and hand sewn several running tears in the tent walls where stray threads had just unravelled. At this point we went into town to a different outlet of the store we purchased from, with a timeline of photos of the clusterfuck, and asked for a refund. Unfortunately to do that, we had to hand the tent over before they could give us the store credit to buy something else. So we had to go back to camp, pack it all down, go get the refund and new tent, and then setup again midway through the trip. Really soured my opinion of coleman tents.

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

We bought a Coleman Dark room 6 person tent from Costco about 5-6 years ago and it is still going strong. It’s super easy to put up. My man and I can assemble it in under 5 minutes without any bickering. A single person could probably assemble it if they practiced and weren’t in a rush. I love that we can stand up in the center, it’s dark so we’re not woken up super early in the morning by the sun. It has screens on 2 panels that don’t zip up but when you put the rain cover over it covers the windows so privacy and retaining inside tent temperature isn’t an issue. We’ve camped in the rain with it (put an extra tarp over top) but it didn’t have any leaking on the sides or bottom. It’s was fairly cheap in price as well. Most likely under $100. I’m sure there’s a newer version now but we would definitely look into this same model again once our current one screw the pooch. As for our set up, my man and I like to sleep on 2 separate twin pads against the walls with room in the middle for standing and moving around. We each put our bags at our feet with plenty of spare room. We’re very comfortable in it. But for 3-4 people you’d be nice and cozy. For 3-4 people I’d actually look for an 8+ person tent to make sure there’s enough room.

My partner and I have been using our 6 person Coleman dark room tent from Costco for about 5-6 years now and we love it. It’s easy to pop up and take down. Takes about 7 minutes total to put up and even less to take down. It works for spring to early fall months.

I second this but say go for the "skydome" version which has extra headroom that's clutch for changing and mid-night bathroom trips.

The Coleman 6-person Dark Room tent would be a great option for you. Easy to set up, handles weather well (we had a nasty storm blow through the Peach a few years ago and it did great), has enough room for a queen inflatable mattress plus stuff. The link is directly from coleman but I believe we got it cheaper elsewhere [https://www.coleman.com/camp-sports/tents-by-size/6-person-dark-room-skydome-camping-tent/SAP_2207025.html](https://www.coleman.com/camp-sports/tents-by-size/6-person-dark-room-skydome-camping-tent/SAP_2207025.html)

I’ve used a 6P Darkroom year round, including in/on snow, including an 8” overnight drop. I do use a cot and either alone or with 1 other person, also on a cot.

I have the 4p and 6p and they definitely block out the light

I actually have the Coleman Skydome Dark Room model. I'm not sure if it's comparable but I'm conflicted on it as the performance in the rain was fine, but it retained heat and a section of the fly tore on the first hour. I cannot rule out if it was human error or if my expectations of remaining cool should not be placed on the tent but rather on my equipment to keep me cool (fans, portable ac units, water).

I love the Coleman 6 person dome tents. I use them for my Girl Scout troop. If you want to use them in colder temps, I recommend the Darkroom over the Sundome. The rainfly goes lower and provides more insulation.

I love the Coleman 6 person dome tents. I use them for my Girl Scout troop. If you want to use them in colder temps, I recommend the Darkroom over the Sundome. The rainfly goes lower and provides more insulation.

My first 2 tents were 6 person Coleman dome tents and I really miss having that huge tarp like bottom because they always kept us dry. I agree with the other comments to get 2 four person tents because 6 people in one tent sounds a little cramped. Pair those tents with a good tarp above and it will keep the water away no problem.

We have a Coleman tent and love it! It’s not a cabin tent though, it’s the 6 person dome tent (I think). It’s spacious enough for the two of us and our belongings (we keep our kiddos bags with us too) and it keeps us dry. Our kiddos had a Kazoo tent and it leaked from the bottom. We didn’t have that issue with the Coleman so we bought another Coleman for the kids.

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.

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.

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.

Love my Coleman Darkroom for car camping. I need to use a lantern to see during daylight hours with the rain fly on. I've had it for about 5 years with no major issues.

Get the cabin tent!!! I work stage crew for festivals, so I live out of my tent in the summer. My issue with the other tents is the flimsy poles that split and break with use. I got caught in heavy storms in a field with a Coleman darkroom tent last year, it completely flattened and the poles split on two sides. I sprung for a cabin tent and have lived through at least a dozen storms (did you see what happened at Secret Dreams last month?) with no issues at all. That tent cannot be bothered!

My Coleman sky dome is tall enough i can stand, and I'm 6'1"

I have the Coleman sky dome. It has lasted me over 6 years. No problems at all. Would highly recommend. Keeps me dry and there is plenty of space. However, six people would definitely be super tight in there. Would not recommend going over four people

Got the Coleman sky dome used, it was awesome! Very roomy. No rain fly for the porch though.

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.

Good buy! Man I had a dark rest tent for a while and freaking loved that thing

Are you saying there's no point in camping if you don't want to be up with the sun?

So you've kind of answered your own question. It doesn't make sense to you so don't buy one. I've been camping for going on 30 years and we bought one and it's fabulous. I don't find that it adds any extra bulk or weight, it wasn't really more expensive, and we enjoy the extra sleep in. Don't buy one if you don't want one but leave everybody else alone about it if they do.

Then it isn't a good one. My dark rest tent does not let any light in whatsoever except a few specks where the zippers are.

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.