Coleman Sundome 4 Tent Overview

Backside Line

The Coleman Sundome 4 prioritizes affordability above all else. Nevertheless, it nonetheless gives 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 The Sundome 4 lacks trendy options, makes use of common supplies, and has an outdated design.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 had been pleasantly shocked by how purposeful it’s, particularly given its budget-friendly worth. It additionally fills a distinct segment that’s changing into more and more uncommon within the outside trade – good $100 tents.

The Sundome 4 is simple to arrange, packs away with out problem, and gives 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 varied climate situations. Nevertheless, it’s not constructed for heavy or frequent use. 

This tent is finest suited to occasional campers who need an reasonably priced choice for a couple of household journeys a yr. If that sounds such as you, the Coleman Sundome 4 might 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 decent match. At 9′ x 7′, it really works higher as a roomy two-person tent with house for gear. In case you do match 4 individuals, anticipate 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 outdoors to avoid wasting house.

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

The Sundome 4 is finest suited to delicate climate. Air flow is restricted, even with its home windows, and it could 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 couple 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 may seemingly 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 drive throughout setup or teardown can simply end in a damaged pole.

General, for those who deal with the Sundome with care and restrict its use to occasional summer season weekends, it ought to final for a couple of seasons.

Climate Resistance

Once we first examined the Sundome 4, our expectations for its efficiency in a rainstorm had been fairly low. We even introduced a backup tent, anticipating the Sundome may flip right into a swimming pool when the rain hit. With unsealed seams, seen daylight by way 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 stunning. We assumed water would seep by way of the corners, however someway it stayed fully dry. Properly, virtually.

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 properly. The skinny fiberglass poles wrestle towards even average winds, inflicting the tent to flex and the fly to whip noisily. For windy situations, it’s finest 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 checks of the most effective tenting tents. It options two foremost poles that join on the corners and slide by way 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 will 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 peak, this tent can simply be arrange by a single individual in about 5 to 7 minutes, and even quicker with a accomplice. Its easy design and minimal parts make it a wonderful choice for these looking for simplicity of their tenting gear.

Options

The Sundome 4 isn’t precisely filled with options like a few of 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, it’s possible you’ll find yourself holding 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 large enough for a headlamp, telephone, 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 lightweight. 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 characteristic is Coleman’s E-port, a flap within the nook of the tent that lets you run an extension wire inside for those who’re tenting close to an outlet. Regardless that the options are first rate 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. In case you camp continuously or in difficult environments, this isn’t the tent for you. Nevertheless, for infrequent campers who plan to enterprise out a couple of occasions a yr to campgrounds or well-established backcountry websites, it might be a wonderful match.

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

What Different Tenting Tents Ought to You Think about?

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

Kelty Wi-fi 6 – The Wi-fi 6 is a superb different, providing extra space and higher-quality supplies. Though it’s dearer than the Sundome, it’s a wonderful selection for those who plan to camp extra continuously or want further house and twin vestibules for gear storage.

Marmot Tungsten 4 – In case you favor 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 totally taped seams, 7000-series aluminum poles, and two vestibules for gear storage.