Note that you really do not have any vestibule like in the other tents which I mentioned in the table above. The small awnings on the front and on the back look great, but they only protect the windows and do not give any extra covered coleman instant tent space for the gear. The rain fly covers only the top section of the tent, basically protecting only the mesh openings, as you realize from the picture. So you can only pray that the lower portion of the tent body is indeed waterproof.
This may not seem like a big issue as your car likely will be parked nearby, but we appreciate a good vestibule and it’s an unfortunate omission here. The exclusive WeatherTec system is guaranteed to keep you dry. Inner tent has a mesh vent for increased ventilation as well as a rugged floor with inverted seams.
But then in view of this, it is hard to understand why they did not make it larger. There is not enough space for 2 people and equipment, and you may not be able to leave your stuff outside. Note also that it has only one door and this is the side door, in fact, therefore not so convenient for 2 people. The patented keepsake pouches always came in handy coleman instant tent for car keys and wallets in the past. There’s no included footprint with this tent, and we’d recommend purchasing a 10’x10’ footprint, which you’ll need to find from a third-party supplier since Coleman does not make one. Alternatively, you can save a few bucks by opting for a tarp, which can also be cut to size if the measurements aren’t a perfect fit.
I measured my poles and I did find some aluminum poles online that are the exact size to fit my tent for $36 for the pair so that’s an option I would take if I break a pole. With two people there is enough room to set up a queen size inflatable mattress, and still have room for extra gear you may want to store in the tent with you. There is a mesh gear pocket to store things like you wallet and phone in to keep them off the ground. You’ll also find a zippered opening near the door to run an electrical cord through so you can run a fan, or C-PAP machine in my case. The 4-person version of the Coleman sundome tent is affordable and easy to set up, making it a fantastic option for new campers. Much like with all Coleman tents, their main selling point is often the overall value of the tent rather than special design features that make it stand out.
Since the 4 person size was on sale, I decided to go for a bigger tent even though it would only be the two of us on our trips. Here I’ll detail some of the pros and cons of the Coleman Sundome 4 Person Tent. Once the tent was pitched, I did a walk around and noted any prior damage from the previous user. Tent poles are constructed of fiberglass, which is heavier than their lightweight aluminum counterparts. The Coleman Sundome 2’s tent body and fly material seemed fairly durable. The bathtub floor is thicker and more rigid than floors of other tents I own.
So, keeping in line with what Coleman calls a four person instant tent, I went along the same lines once again while choosing our new tent. I’m not quite sure of what four people the company was referring to when they say it ‘sleeps four’. Plan C was to venture out beyond the bounds of our campsite for a little stealth camping and maybe some smoother ground.