Yet, should you want to be sure that you will be dry in a Coleman tent, you might want to use the brand’s seam sealer spray, which will increase your Colemans tent waterproofing further. Polyester Coleman tents are not as durable as nylon Coleman tents regarding sun exposure and damage. When exposed to sunlight and UV rays often, polyester Coleman tents break down faster, which causes them to lose their elasticity and strength. Which fabric is used for the tent you’re interested in will depend on the type of Coleman tent you buy and from which range.
But with car camping, you’ll likely be parking right next to your campsite and unloading. If you won’t be carrying your tent more than a couple hundred feet, more space means more comfort (as well as more room for your stuff). Coleman has been manufacturing tents for decades, coleman cabin tent and generally speaking they’ve got the whole “quick and easy set-up” thing down to a science. Instant-tent models are particularly easy to pitch, especially those with integrated rainfly designs that don’t require any additional preparation for weatherproofing.
The last Coleman tent we had made it through five years of regular use and abuse before it started leaking, and we probably could have gotten even more life out of it with a proper refresh of its waterproofing. Tent manufacturers make lofty claims about how quickly a tent can be set up. You’ll see a lot of “60 second” tents out there, but most folks find any tent takes about 5-10 minutes to set up properly. The added bonus included in the family model is the integrated screen room, which uses four full-zip windows to convert the second room into an open porch (that still keeps the bugs at bay) when the weather is at its best. It makes an ideal choice for families and those looking for a tent that will last many years.
Furthermore, we like that the Meramac features two doors as opposed to the Sundome’s one, making entry and exit easier should you need to get up in the middle of the night. And finally, the materials used throughout the Alps Mountaineering Meramac 6 are noticeably better. For us, the combination of increased weather protection and nicer materials make the more expensive Meramac 6 well worth considering. It’s a step up in price from the Discovery above at $230, but you do get a number of upgrades, including a lighter weight (14 lbs. 1 oz.), taller peak height (72 in.), and smaller packed size. However, the Tallboy boasts considerably less floor area at 86 square feet, and its rainfly only offers partial coverage (like the Coleman, it leaves most of the door and some of the lower tent body exposed to the elements).
Built using the same structure as the standard model (it’s only offered in 4P and 6P sizes), the design utilizes a special fabric on the tent body and rainfly that blocks a claimed 90% of light. For one, it has serious potential appeal among late sleepers or parents that are hoping to enjoy an uninterrupted cup of coffee in the morning. The dark fabric also helps keep the tent cooler, which is a nice plus in the hot summer months.
In particular, I believe that the Coleman Elite Sundome 6 person tent is going to give you the best bang for your buck. It’s got all the bells an whistles, including an e-port and LED lighting, without compromising on durability and waterproofing. In order to create an attractively priced tent, compromises need to be made somewhere. It can be hard to know if you are comparing apples with apples when you are a new camper. The other changes REI made in the 2018 models of both Base Camp tents include the addition of a low side vent and more stuff pockets on the walls and ceiling.
Thankfully, Coleman has a wide selection of family and group camping tent options. As with most budget-oriented products, there are bound to be shortcomings, and the Sundome 6 is very limited in terms of storage. In stark contrast to premium models like REI’s Base Camp 6 and its 14 interior pockets of varying sizes, the Sundome 6 features a paltry two pockets.