Coleman - Sundome 4-Person Camping Tent

The sundome is a solid tent

The coleman sundome was my go-to for 2 decades of car camping. Great ventilation and it’s waterproof for at least the first few years, after that either spray it or replace it.

Honestly if your just car camping get them a Coleman sundome 4. It’s not an amazing tent but they aren’t by any means bad. Kids are rough on equipment so getting something that’s solid at a good price, but won’t break the bank if it gets destroyed is key. Plenty of space for friends if you ever take people with you or need to loan it out. If you’re doing backpacking trips then the trail made should be perfect. Keep in mind though that 3 1/2 pounds is only for minimum trail weight (rainfly, footprint, poles). The whole package is over 5 pounds.

Love my Coleman 4 person sundome. I use it for solo camping and sleep on a cot in colder weather. Never had any water leak in.

We got the coleman sundome on rollback for $70ish Super easy setup and fast.

We've been seeing it everywhere in national parks. Great little tent value for the cost.

The Coleman sundome is a 4-person tent, so it fits 2 people comfortably. It runs about 70$ and sets up quickly and easily. (We carry with us in case we arrive at our site and need a fast setup because of the weather) It stands 59 inches center height, so depending on how tall you are, you may have to bend over a little, but at least you can stand. I'm not sure how many 2-person tents are available that you can stand in.

I’m 5’2” and can stand it Coleman Sumdome 4 person with my head titled a bit not in direct center. The 6 person I could have stood straight up in but I wanted the smaller footprint since some campsites close to home at a challenge finding a sites with a flat enough spot for the 6 person.

How many people will be sleeping in the tent. Make sure you go big enough. A 4 person will fit 4 people right next to each other with no room for anything else. I use a 4 person just for myself, but I also want to be able to stand up inside. (I’m short so do slightly tilt my head but my back thanks me for upgrading from a 3 person where I had to stand over hinged at my hips). I use a Coleman Sundome 4. I also looked at the Flatwood II (also at Ollie’s) and felt the Sundome was better (rainfly longer and an extra zip up window maybe??). Buying used, for any tents make sure the poles are still good (this is a weak point on low priced tents). They shouldn’t be split and the inside elastic should be intact. The ends shouldn’t have a bunch of dirt stuck inside. I make sure mine is cleaned out when repacking. You can clean it out but to me it shows if the tent was well cared for. The Sundomes are good bang for your buck tents and always go on sale so you may want to consider new in case you don’t see any holes in the fabric, issues with poles, no bag or needing to buy stakes. The fact that the Sundome is bundled with a queen mattress could be a bonus but it’s going to take up most of the floor and if it’s just an air mattress it’s going to be cold sleeping on it as they don’t insulate from the ground (a self inflating foam core pad is better). I don’t know anything about the Hooligan or Columbia tent so can’t speak about them but a dome tent will be easier to set up and take down.

Coleman Sundome provides good bang for your bucks. They go on sale often too. Definitely get a bigger tent than for the people listed. That number is for the people right next to each other and no space for anything else. Do you like what you borrow from family? If so use that tent style, size and brand as your starting point.

Sundome is not the best tent on the market but I think it is a best value. Skydome is slightly different configuration but similar. Can t beat the price at Ollie’s, but if you don’t have one nearby the Sundome goes on sale a lot of different places. I have a 4 person Sundome and it’s easy to put up a take down. I’ve used it about 25 days over the last 2 camping seasons and this year plan on applying seam sealer (so far no leaks but I consider this regular maintenance).

Yep. Get either of the 4p tents (1 man tents suck when it rains). Also grab a few extra tent stakes. Then head over a department or two and grab a tarp (significantly larger than the tent footprint) and some lightweight cord (paracord or light clothesline). Use the cord, stakes, and tarp as an additional rainfly/awning and you'll be fine.

My vote is for the Sundome. It was my first tent when I got into camping. I've upgraded to a bigger tent, but I still have it. Great tent for the money.

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.

If you have an Ollie’s, they will probably have new Coleman tents for less than Facebook. I just got a 4 man Sundome for 39.99

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.

If you check out the Sundome on Amazon, I think it’s the most reviewed tent they sell

And IMO, the difficulty of putting it away offsets the ease of setting it up. Gimme a basic Coleman any day.

Coleman tents are generally VERY waterproof. I’ve used one many times in severe thunderstorms. Check out the Amazon reviews for the Sundome.

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

Honestly for the durability and price I love my old Coleman sundomes, I have a 2 man and a 4 and they haven’t let me down in over a decade of use.

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