This Coleman 6-Person Sundome tent review is about a popular 3-season family camping tent that is freestanding, lightweight, and affordable.
Key features and advantages
- Extremely affordable.
- Extremely light.
- Freestanding.
- Very simple to set up.
- Opening the floor for ventilation.
- There are two mesh pockets for storage.
- There are two windows.
- Electric cable port with a zipper.
This is what kind of tent it is.
In the truest sense, the Coleman Sundome 6 is a freestanding tent. This means the environment won’t limit you, and you can pitch it anyplace, on sand, concrete, grass, or rock. You can turn and shift it after you set it up. As a result, this is one of its best features. However, for the vent to function correctly, you must stake it out so the air can flow freely. The same goes for the fly; stake it out to keep it from blowing away in the wind.
It is officially referred to as a 3-season tent, and it will undoubtedly do the job well, but I would only use it in enjoyable weather and avoid heavy rains. Because the ceiling is all mesh and the fly is not full coverage, this is a 3-season tool. This means that the tent will not retain heat, and if it is cold, it will be uncomfortable. However, this is typical of any summer tent. Because the fly only covers the top part, it sits far above the ground and may not perform well in strong winds.
If you need a tent for such a stormy and rainy environment, you’d be far more successful with a full-coverage fly like the Kelty Trail Ridge 6 or the Marmot Limestone 6. But look at the prices, especially the second one.
This is an excellent representation of a dome-style tent with all its advantages and disadvantages. The benefits are that they are simple to set up, pack down to a small size, stable, and usually lightweight. The burden is that a dome profile implies less volume inside, fewer window options, only one door in many of them, and so on.
Who is it intended for?
The Sundome 6 is precisely what its name implies: a tent for six people. Its floor area of 100 sq ft (9.3 m2) allows for placing six narrow pads on the floor, which is impossible. Because all the equipment must be kept inside, you’ll have to limit the number of people to 3 – 4 if you want at least some essential comfort.
The packed size is excellent, measuring 27 x 8 inches (69 x 20 cm), allowing it to be transported even on a motorbike; keep this in mind if you are going on a cross-country tour with your friends.
The weight is 16.3 lb (7.4 kg), so even if the pieces are shared among users, this isn’t something to carry in backpacks. Consider it as a standard camping tent.
The floor size and height allow any size double bed to be placed inside. You can even use bunk beds to save floor space; there are models for adults and children, which you can see here.
Overall, I believe this tent is best suited for the following situations:
- A summer tent is required for occasional use.
- You want to spend only a little money.
If you recognize yourself here, look no further.
Building and materials
The poles
You’ve got three shock-corded fiberglass poles. It should be noted that fiberglass requires some maintenance and is less durable than aluminum. The two main poles form an X-shaped dome structure, with a third shorter pole added to raise the two awnings and provide clear views through the windows.
Fabric and weather protection
The floor and lower body of the tent are water-resistant, while the upper body is mesh. So, the fly is only there to protect the ceiling. They claim it has been tested to withstand winds of more than 35 miles per hour.
This tent’s waterproof rating is only 600 mm. An ordinary umbrella is typically 400 – 500 mm in diameter. So, if you use this tent in mild summer weather with little rain, you’ll be fine.
They use the WeatherTec patented system for the floor, which implies welded seams. If you are still getting familiar with it, this is the best seaming system in general. If done correctly, such welded seams can be stronger than the surrounding fabric.
The setup
You saw it in the video above; another video is below to give you a better idea. Everything can be completed in less than ten minutes.
There is no hub component here; the tent stands independently because the poles are held upright by sleeves, as seen below, typical of numerous family camping tents.
Ventilation
You ought to have no issues with ventilation. The ceiling is entirely made of mesh, as are the two windows. There is also a ventilation opening above the floor on the back side of the tent, as shown in the image below. As a result, all of these elements work together to allow air to circulate freely.
The awnings on the front and back play an essential role, which is why you can leave the windows open even when it is raining.
The interior of the tent
- Only two small mesh pockets are available, one shown below. I’m curious why they didn’t include more.
- On the ceiling, there is a lantern hook.
- A zippered port for an electrical cord is a valuable feature.
- The D-shaped door has a window with a mesh layer and a protective pane. On the other side, there is one window with the same structure.
Specifications
- Best use: camping.
- Type: freestanding, 3-season.
- Capacity: 6 people.
- Weight: 16.3 lb (7.4 kg).
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 10 x 10 ft (120 x 120 in; 305 x 305 cm).
- Floor area: 100 ft² (9.3 m²).
- Area per person: 16.7 ft² (1.55 m²).
- Peak height: 6 ft (72 in; 183 cm).
- Packed size (L x D): 27 x 8 in (69 x 20 cm).
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty.
- Doors: 1.
- Windows: 2.
- The WeatherTec system features patented welded floors and inverted seams.
- Poles are made of fiberglass.
- WeatherTec is a weather prediction system.
- Tub floor with protected seams and patented corner welds.
- A patented pin-and-ring system aids in the prevention of slipping corner pole connections.
- The tent is suspended from the poles using Insta-Clips.
- Polyguard fabric is a long-lasting fabric.
- Carry bag that expands.
Final thoughts, rating, pros and cons
Thank you for reading, and if you have queries or comments, please use the comment box below. I wish you a pleasant day.
