Sundome is much lower quality than the other options. If you're looking at Coleman, step up to at least the Skydome.
Funny enough I was going to recommend the Basecamp. Ventilation isn't great with the fly on but that's very common with cheap tents. I like wooded campsites anyway where you can angle the mesh portions of the tent into the trees and keep the non-mesh facing the walkway for privacy.
Kelty kinda owns the cheap-but-mostly-quality space. The Discovery Trail 3P is very meshy which helps with ventilation but still a lack of fly vents. If you can stretch the budget or find a good sale, the Kelty Rumpus 4 is a killer deal. Lots of ventilation, vented fly, and a great vestibule that you can keep wide open to help with ventilation.
The Teton looks fine. I like the look of the higher denier fabric and vented fly. Teton has historically been a cheap crap brand but they've really made some improvements in the last few years. I don't love that their "lifetime warranty" explicitly mentions that things like bent poles are considered normal wear.
The marmot is an excellent option if you can get it at a good price and you're genuinely okay with a 2p.
Kelty Rumpus, 4 or 6 person models check off most of your needs and desires. Huge porch area for the doggo. Partially orange in color. Easy to setup even single handed( i have experience at this). Fits your budget pretty close, 4 person is under $300, 6 person size a little over if it's not on sale. Strong aluminum alloy poles.
Can not recommend Kelty enough!! A few different styles to choose from & can be found on a variety of websites like REI, Backcountry, etc. if you like to hunt for sales. We have the Rumpus 6p (my sister has the 4p and really enjoys it as well) & it has a great balance of features for the price. It’s tall enough for me (5’9”) to stand upright, but my partner (6’3”) cuts it close. Pockets on both sides to store items while you sleep & some internal loops to hand string lights or a lantern. My biggest kudos has to be the rainfly tho! It can be really tricky to find a budget tent with an adequate rain fly. Most Kelty’s come with fly’s that cover to the ground (even on 6p models) & spacious vestibules that make leaving shoes or other gear outside of the tent a nonissue.
I would also second a previous commenter’s note about considering two 4p tents as 6p can take up quite of bit of ground space without a ton of flexibility.
I read reviews and watch YT videos. I got a Kelty Rumpus 4 last year, took it out once and it was perfectly fine. I wanted it bc of the larger vestibule and needed to get a bigger tent in general.
AcingSpades
