Coleman Sundome 4 Tent Assessment

Backside Line

The Coleman Sundome 4 prioritizes affordability above all else. Nevertheless, it nonetheless provides an excellent worth for these trying to discover a no-frills tent. The Sundome 4 lacks trendy options, makes use of common supplies, and has an outdated design. That mentioned, we have been pleasantly stunned by how practical it’s, particularly given its budget-friendly value. 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 straightforward to arrange, packs away with out trouble, and provides ample house for 2 campers, with the flexibility to squeeze in 4 if wanted. Regardless of its restricted rainfly protection, the tent performs admirably in numerous climate situations. Nevertheless, it’s not constructed for heavy or frequent use. 

This tent is greatest suited to occasional campers who need an inexpensive choice for a number of household journeys a yr. If that sounds such as you, the Coleman Sundome 4 may very well be simply what you’re on the lookout for.

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

Consolation

The Sundome 4 is marketed as a four-person tent. Though it might probably technically accommodate 4, it’s a decent match. At 9′ x 7′, it really works higher as a roomy two-person tent with house for gear. For those who do match 4 individuals, count on minimal room and no house for tools inside. When Gear Analyst Ben Dawson examined this tent together with his spouse and two younger kids, it felt cramped, and so they needed to retailer gear exterior to save lots of house.

With a peak top 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 suited to gentle climate. Air flow is restricted, even with its home windows, and it might probably get uncomfortably sizzling inside.  If tenting in heat situations, 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 frequent when tenting on rocky Colorado soil. For those who’re in a campground and take care when pitching your tent, you may probably 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 power throughout setup or teardown can simply end in a damaged pole.

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

Climate Resistance

Once 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 someway it stayed fully 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 fully and sacrificing the already minimal air flow. Talking of wind, the Sundome doesn’t carry out properly. The skinny fiberglass poles wrestle in opposition to even average winds, inflicting the tent to flex and the fly to whip noisily. For windy situations, it’s greatest to pitch this tent in a sheltered spot.

Ease of Setup

The Sundome 4 is without doubt one of the best tents we arrange throughout our aspect by aspect assessments of one of the best tenting tents. It options two essential 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 simple to connect as properly. A 3rd, smaller cross-pole matches into webbing on the fly to maintain it taut. Moreover, two guylines may be staked to additional safe the fly. The fly attaches on the corners utilizing giant plastic hooks, finishing the setup course of.

At a comparatively low top, this tent can simply be arrange by a single particular person in about 5 to 7 minutes, and even quicker with a companion. Its easy design and minimal parts make it a wonderful choice for these in search of simplicity of their tenting gear.

Options

The Sundome 4 isn’t precisely full of options like a few of the extra premium tents we’ve examined. One space the place it falls quick is storage. For those who’re tenting with 4 individuals, discovering a spot to retailer your gear inside will probably be a problem. Like us, it’s possible you’ll find yourself holding your gear exterior, but when so, be ready for good climate. The tent lacks vestibules, and we’ve needed to transfer our gear into the automobile 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 large enough for a headlamp, cellphone, and perhaps 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 lets you run an extension twine inside in the event you’re tenting close to an outlet. Regardless that the options are respectable for the value, we’d like to see extra inside storage choices.

Ought to You Purchase the Coleman Sundome 4 Tent?

The Coleman Sundome 4 fills a particular area of interest that not many tents cater to. It’s a light-duty choice, that means it’s not designed to face up to heavy use or harsh situations. For those who 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 yr to campgrounds or well-established backcountry websites, it may very well be a wonderful match.

For summer time 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 babies. For those who’re trying to benefit from the outdoor a number of instances a yr with out breaking the financial institution, the Coleman Sundome 4 may be the proper selection for you.

What Different Tenting Tents Ought to You Think about?

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 in the event you plan to camp extra steadily or want further house and twin vestibules for gear storage.

Marmot Tungsten 4 – For those who choose a four-person tent with an analogous footprint to the Sundome however need higher-quality supplies that may higher stand 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.