Coleman Sundome 4 Tent Assessment

Backside Line

The Coleman Sundome 4 prioritizes affordability above all else. Nevertheless, it nonetheless affords a very good worth for these trying to discover a no-frills tent. The Sundome 4 lacks fashionable options, makes use of common supplies, and has an outdated design. That mentioned, we have been pleasantly shocked by how practical it’s, particularly given its budget-friendly worth. It additionally fills a distinct segment that’s changing into more and more uncommon within the out of doors business – good $100 tents.

The Sundome 4 is simple to arrange, packs away with out problem, and affords ample area for 2 campers, with the power to squeeze in 4 if wanted. Regardless of its restricted rainfly protection, the tent performs admirably in numerous climate circumstances. Nevertheless, it’s not constructed for heavy or frequent use. 

This tent is greatest fitted to occasional campers who need an reasonably priced possibility for a number of household journeys a 12 months. If that sounds such as you, the Coleman Sundome 4 could possibly be simply what you’re searching for.

To discover extra of our top-performing tenting tents, try our gear information for the Finest Tenting Tents of 2024.

Consolation

The Sundome 4 is marketed as a four-person tent. Though it could technically accommodate 4, it’s a good match. At 9′ x 7′, it really works higher as a roomy two-person tent with area for gear. In case you do match 4 individuals, count on minimal room and no area for gear inside. When Gear Analyst Ben Dawson examined this tent along with his spouse and two younger youngsters, it felt cramped, they usually needed to retailer gear outdoors to save lots of area.

With a peak peak of 4′ 11″, most campers can sit up comfortably however gained’t have the ability to stand. Nevertheless, there’s sufficient room to kneel and transfer round with out feeling overly restricted.

The Sundome 4 is greatest fitted to delicate climate. Air flow is restricted, even with its home windows, and it could get uncomfortably scorching inside.  If tenting in heat circumstances, set it up within the shade to maintain the inside from changing into stifling.

Sturdiness

The Sundome is a light-duty tent, and there’s no denying that. It’s not low-quality, however Coleman made it with lower-cost supplies that aren’t designed to face up to heavy or frequent use. That mentioned, we haven’t encountered any main points with the standard of our tent, except for a number of bent stakes. Nevertheless, that is widespread when tenting on rocky Colorado soil. In case you’re in a campground and take care when pitching your tent, you possibly can possible keep away from bending the stakes regardless of their lack of sturdiness.

The weakest level of this tent is its skinny fiberglass poles. Fiberglass has its place in tenting tents, however we’d prefer to see thicker poles included with the Sundome. Utilizing an excessive amount of pressure throughout setup or teardown can simply end in a damaged pole.

Total, if you happen to deal with the Sundome with care and restrict its use to occasional summer season weekends, it ought to final for a number of seasons.

Climate Resistance

After we first examined the Sundome 4, our expectations for its efficiency in a rainstorm have been fairly low. We even introduced a backup tent, anticipating the Sundome would possibly flip right into a swimming pool when the rain hit. With unsealed seams, seen daylight by means of the nook stitching, and minimal rainfly protection, it didn’t encourage a lot confidence.

Then the rain got here—and the tent stayed dry! Even after one other wet day, it nonetheless held up, which was actually shocking. We assumed water would seep by means of the corners, however by some means it stayed utterly dry. Effectively, nearly.

It’s not all sunshine, although. The small rainfly left the home windows weak to blowing rain throughout wind gusts, forcing us to shut them completely and sacrificing the already minimal air flow. Talking of wind, the Sundome doesn’t carry out nicely. The skinny fiberglass poles wrestle in opposition to even reasonable winds, inflicting the tent to flex and the fly to whip noisily. For windy circumstances, it’s greatest to pitch this tent in a sheltered spot.

Ease of Setup

The Sundome 4 is likely one of the best tents we arrange throughout our facet by facet exams of the perfect tenting tents. It options two principal poles that join on the corners and slide by means of pole sleeves close to the highest of the tent. Plastic clips then safe the tent physique to the poles. The rainfly is small, with minimal materials, making it straightforward to connect as nicely. A 3rd, smaller cross-pole suits into webbing on the fly to maintain it taut. Moreover, two guylines might be staked to additional safe the fly. The fly attaches on the corners utilizing massive plastic hooks, finishing the setup course of.

At a comparatively low peak, this tent can simply be arrange by a single individual in about 5 to 7 minutes, and even sooner with a companion. Its easy design and minimal elements make it a wonderful possibility for these searching for simplicity of their tenting gear.

Options

The Sundome 4 isn’t precisely full of options like among the extra premium tents we’ve examined. One space the place it falls quick is storage. In case you’re tenting with 4 individuals, discovering a spot to retailer your gear inside might be a problem. Like us, you could find yourself preserving your gear outdoors, but when so, be ready for good climate. The tent lacks vestibules, and we’ve needed to transfer our gear into the automotive greater than as soon as when rain rolled in whereas tenting in Colorado’s foothills.

Contained in the tent, you’ll discover two small mesh pockets, every simply sufficiently big for a headlamp, cellphone, and possibly a charger or two. There’s one pocket on both sides, together with a single loop on the tent’s peak for hanging gear or a light-weight. Air flow comes from two half-moon-shaped zip-down home windows—one on the door and one on the rear wall reverse it.

The Sundome’s most original function is Coleman’s E-port, a flap within the nook of the tent that permits you to run an extension wire inside if you happen to’re tenting close to an outlet. Although the options are first rate for the worth, we’d like to see extra inside storage choices.

Ought to You Purchase the Coleman Sundome 4 Tent?

The Coleman Sundome 4 fills a selected area of interest that not many tents cater to. It’s a light-duty possibility, which means it’s not designed to face up to heavy use or harsh circumstances. In case you camp steadily or in difficult environments, this isn’t the tent for you. Nevertheless, for infrequent campers who plan to enterprise out a number of instances a 12 months to campgrounds or well-established backcountry websites, it could possibly be a wonderful match.

For summer season tenting and rare journeys, there’s little must spend some huge cash on a tent that can spend most of its time in storage. The Sundome 4 is right for 2 campers however can accommodate a household of 4, offered two of them are young children. In case you’re trying to benefit from the open air a number of instances a 12 months with out breaking the financial institution, the Coleman Sundome 4 is perhaps the right selection for you.

What Different Tenting Tents Ought to You Contemplate?

For extra choices, please see our full information to the greatest tenting tents.

Kelty Wi-fi 6 – The Wi-fi 6 is a good various, providing more room and higher-quality supplies. Though it’s costlier than the Sundome, it’s a wonderful selection if you happen to plan to camp extra steadily or want further area and twin vestibules for gear storage.

Marmot Tungsten 4 – In case you want a four-person tent with an identical footprint to the Sundome however need higher-quality supplies that may higher face up to the weather, the Marmot Tungsten 4 is price contemplating. It options absolutely taped seams, 7000-series aluminum poles, and two vestibules for gear storage.