Camping is an activity that people of all age groups enjoy. I still remember my very first camping trip when I was 8 years old. When I was young, my family and I would drive up to a new location every time and set up our tents.
I was ecstatic when I found the Coleman Sundome since it was the perfect size for my small family.
In this article, I’ll give you the Coleman Sundome 4-person tent review along with other alternatives that suit any person’s needs.
Coleman Sundome 4-Person Tent Overview
Camping until today is one of the most fun activities a person can participate in, and who’s better to trust with your outdoor activity needs than Coleman.
Coleman products were first introduced back during World War 2 when the first gas-powered lantern was lit during an evening football game in Mississippi.
Coleman tents have been around for a long time. They’re known for their fantastic design and durability.
Fitting 4 people wasn’t a hassle for Coleman, as they have tents that can fit up to 10 people!
Pros
- Spacious
- Waterproof material
- Affordable
- Sturdy construction
- Durable
Cons
- Not recommended for snowy weather
- Not for heavy rain
- Not suitable on unlevel terrain
Things to Consider Before Buying a Tent
The Coleman Sundome 4-person tent is made for the camp lovers. It’s an excellent option for groups of 4 or 5 people.
If you’ll be using the tent alone or with sharing it with one person, then this tent may be too big for you. It would be ideal to choose a smaller tent that would be lighter and more affordable.
The tent is perfect to be used during most weather conditions. However, you should try to avoid extremely heavy rain though and snow.
Here are a few things to look out for before buying a tent:
- Are the ventilation windows enough for you?
- How do you intend to use the tent? (hunting, hiking, beach camping, etc.)
- In which seasons are you most likely to use the tent?
- Will you be able to use the stakes in the place you’re planning to set up camp?
- Is it easy to go backpacking with this tent?
- How many people will be using the tent?
Coleman Sundome Features and Benefits
There are a couple of things that caught my attention in this tent. Let’s check them out.
The Design
Coleman made this tent to suit most weather conditions. It’s able to sustain rain, wind, and hot summer days! Thanks to its great polyester material, this tent would be there for you for 3 seasons.
Sundome also offers an effective ventilation system. It has a window that allows air and sunlight in.
Something that makes this tent exceptional is the shade. During extreme heat, when you sit inside and open up the window, you’ll feel that it maintains cooler temperatures inside.
The size of the tent fits 3-4 people comfortably with plenty of space for your things. You’ll also find that there’s a built-in storage pocket that keeps most of your things secured inside.
Even though this tent is designed to fit 4 people, it fit 5 of us when my family and I used it on a camping trip.
To get a better idea of how big the tent is, you can easily fit a queen-sized mattress. You’ll still have plenty of room inside for your bags and personal belongings.
For those of us who can’t survive long without our electronic devices, Coleman Sundome offers an E-port that lets you charge any of your devices with ease.
With all the things this tent offers, I was really worried about the weight! I was happy to see how lightweight it is. It only weighs around 9 lbs, so you’ll be able to carry it around if you plan on changing locations at any time on the trip.
Even Though it’s lightweight when compared to other tents, I found that it may be a bit too much when carried with other things for a long time. I came to the conclusion that it’s best to assign one person who carries the tent and just divide the rest of the stuff among other people on the trip.
You should keep in mind though that it’s best to use this tent on flat grounds. When placed on uneven terrain, it might be somewhat uncomfortable for you while sleeping.
Setting Up and Taking Down The Tent
If you’ve been a camper for some time, you know the hassle of setting up the spring bars. Getting one side through the second loop is the worst part of setting up.
What Coleman did is that they designed the sleeve to go from one side to the other without the headache of separation like in other tents.
You’d pretty much just need to hook up the spring bars. and you’re all ready to go. If this is your first time setting up a tent, it might take you somewhere between 10-15 minutes to set it up.
For more experienced campers, it can take you around 5 minutes to set it up.
To take down, you’d just need to remove the fiberglass spring bars, and it’ll fit in the bag with ease. You don’t have to worry about stuffing the tent vigorously to fit!
WeatherTech Features
One of the perks of this tent is that it has the WeatherTech feature. What that means is that the bottom of the tent is made of a material similar to a tub’s floor.
The corners are also patented and all seams are covered. These features keep all water out and keep you dry while it’s raining outside.
It’s made with a double-thick fabric which guarantees that it’ll stay with you for years to come.
The tent is designed as a 3-season tent. It’s best if it’s not used in winter in the areas where it has snow or hail.
Although this keeps water out, the reason it’s not suitable for snow and heavy rain is that water build-up may start going through the top seams.
That’s why it’s best to use it during light rain.
What Others Think of the Coleman Sundome Tent
Before I buy anything, I like to take the time to find out what other buyers think of it.
I wasn’t surprised when I found out the number of positive reviews of this tent. Most people pointed out that the tent was made of excellent material and that it comes at a great price.
There were also a few reviews regarding the WeatherTech features that made them enjoy their trip to the max!
What are the Other Options?
If you think the Coleman Sundome 4-person tent isn’t the one for you, here are some awesome alternatives.
Mountain Smith Conifer
This tent is spacious enough to fit 5 people comfortably. It’s also suitable for all weather types, and it has internal storage pockets.
Mountain Smith created a tent that is so easy to store and set up in just a few minutes.
Although it’s a bit expensive, I think the material it’s made of, and the number of people it can fit makes it worth it.
KAZOO Family Camping Tent
KAZOO made a tent that doesn’t look like ordinary tents. Its cabin shape makes it one of a kind!
The best thing about this tent is the automatic set up feature. You’ll have the tent up and ready to use in as little as 30 seconds. It can also fit 4 adults inside.
The tent is suitable to use during most weather conditions since it’s made with durable waterproof material.
Ezone Waterproof Tent
This Ezone tent is waterproof but won’t sustain heavy rain. It fits 3 to 4 adults.
It has a two-way ventilation system, which will give a nice breeze on hot days. A great option Ezone added to the tent is the skylight piece.
| Mountain Smith Conifer | KAZOO Family Camping Tent | Ezone Waterproof Tent |
| Fits 5 people4 standing poles Can sustain heavy rain On the expensive end | Fits 4 adults Suitable for 3 seasons 2-year warranty Automatic set up On the expensive end | Fits 4 people Easy setup Waterproof Not suitable for windy daysBudget-friendly |
With everything I’ve mentioned above, I think that Coleman Sundome is a fantastic choice.
You’ll be able to go camping in most of the weather conditions. It can sustain wind due to its sturdy material, which isn’t an option you’ll find with many 4-person tents.
Not only would it keep you dry, but it would also keep you cool on hot summer days.
Check out the Coleman Sundome 4-person tent here.