While we love the idea of setting up a tent super fast, we’re not convinced the Instant Cabin is worth the extra cost and questionable rain protection. Having tested a number of six-person tents of late, we’re happy to report that the Coleman Sundome 6 was among the easiest to set up and take down. The two simple and identical poles were quick and painless to put together, and the lack of color coding between them and the tent body minimized any type of confusion or missteps along the way. Further aiding to the straightforward set up was the relatively small rainfly, which was easy to toss over the tent.
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. Sign up for our T+L coleman instant tent Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week. We independently evaluate all recommended products and services.
We fit a full and twin air mattress with a little room to spare, but that didn’t leave us much extra space for bags and storage. And with only one interior pocket, be prepared for someone to lose their keys or phone. From the netting to the poles to the rainfly, many of the main components of this tent are not built to last. coleman screen tent For example, the string that connects the pole sections together broke on our first pitch. Long story short, if you do decide to go with the Sundome, just be sure to have a pole patch kit available. Weighing in at 16 pounds 10 ounces, the Sundome 6 is easy to haul from the car to the campsite and store when not in use.
The storage bags for the poles, stakes, and tent are all great. I like the make of the storage bag, it is zippered instead of being made like a stuff sack with a draw string. With the zipper open it is easy to fit the tent, poles and stakes back inside. This is a decent 3-season tent, it’s not great, but it’s not bad either.
The 4-Person Sundome® Dome Camping Tent is ideal for camping in warm weather with large windows and a ground vent that help push warm air up and out to keep you comfortable. Enjoy superior weather protection thanks to an included rainfly, welded corners, and inverted seams to keep water from getting in. Although it has a relatively durable floor and a decent choice of materials for the canopy and rainfly, the fiberglass poles cause concern. For occasional use, this tent should serve its intended purpose, but we’d recommend you prepare yourself for potential issues down the line. For its reasonable price, Coleman does a respectable job in this department. Although it can’t be set up in the rain as easily as their single-layer tents, the same can be said for many of the camping tents in this year’s review.