Coleman Sundome Tent (10-Feet x 10-Feet)

This tent is only good for very hot weather. If you are *only* going to use it in a very hot place, then this tent offers really great ventilation (it is almost like being outside), but if the weather is mild to a little chilly, the ventilation (or lack of wind protection) is a huge disadvantage. I am not talking about freezing snowy wheather (I know, it is a 3-seasoner, afterall...). I am talking about a mildly breezy night after a hot day in Santa Barbara! The fly does not go very low and the windows start too low (just a little above the level of our inflatable mattress) and are not closeable, so the breeze makes its way in... brrrrrr... Other than that, it is really nice and spacious and easy to assemble... but I think it is almost useless, except if you know you will only be using it for a hot Summer. (I am returning it!)

My wife and I (plus Dalmation!) have now been camping in this tent three times in the Hill Country outside Austin in Texas. Twice we have experienced serious thunderstorms (and if you have been to Texas, you'll know that I am not exaggerating when I say they were bad) and have stayed dry both times. Also has excellent ventilation for the hot and humid weather here. Thoroughly recommend this tent for the money.

Don't waste your time and money buying this tent. I was at the beach the wind was blowing and all the sand came into the tent, also it rained and the water leaks on the edges......better buy wenzel tents cheaper and better quality.

I had one of these coleman 10x10. The fly does not cover all the mesh. I moved it around and around and still could see out of it. I did not have the tent out in rain or dust thankfully. I returned it to coleman. They were very nice about it and refunded purchase price with copy of the sales receipt. I'm still looking for another tent. I don't need all that room, and I definitely will look for better fly coverage.

My husband and I are occasional campers (1-3 times per year) and were looking for a tent that was tall enough to stand up in. I got a great price on this one and took a chance on it, after seeing it set up in a retail store.

First: Yes, the side windows are open when the rain fly is off, and that could pose a challenge for campers in state parks and the like, where privacy could be a concern. I bought a few yards of super-cheap, lightweight fabric (muslin), cut it to size, and clipped it to the inner seams across the screened windows whenever we wanted privacy--problem solved, albeit inelegantly. OK, so I'm a dork: I made curtains for my tent. ;-)

Now, onto performance: This tent held up beautifully in the dusk-to-dawn, constant downpour (rainfly on--duh!) that we endured during our last trip (see photo). The tent is big enough that we were able to pull our cots and all our belongings in away from the walls, which I'm sure helped us stay rain-free all night. We literally did not touch the inner walls of the tent at all and were rewarded with dry floors and gear in the morning.

Compared to our previous tent, which measured 6' by 6' with about a 4' center height, this tent was absolute luxury. When the first showers hit during dinner, we threw a tarp over the table and finished eating in the tent. Later, when the rain became steadier, we abandoned our campfire and played cards and Yahtzee on the tent floor, cots shoved off in a corner. I swear we could have played Twister in there! Maybe next time. =)

I can see a third person, or two small children, easily fitting in the tent with two adults, even without touching the walls. Five would, I think, be pushing it, *especially* if there's rain.

Setup was simple and took just a couple of minutes when two people work together. The little port in the back was a surprisingly handy feature: keep your backpack near that corner, and you can reach it from outside, without having to take your shoes off or track mud/dirt/dust inside the tent.

All in all, I would say it's a good, solid tent for casual campers, with some nice features. At WAY less expense than other models of similar size, this tent is a good value at a good price.

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UPDATE, September 2008: My DH and I had a backyard "campout" with my two nieces (5 & 7), and the four of us slept in the tent. We fit a queen-size air mattress (on which we three girls slept abeam) and a standard single cot in there. It was fine for our purpose, but if we start taking them on camping trips, I'd like to get a bigger tent. So yes, two adults + two kids will fit, but it's VERY cozy!