There are different designs and styles of tents available in the market. But what makes the dome-shaped tent stand apart from the others? The answer is simple. The dome style tents work better to stand against high winds and when a perfect model is chosen then it can withstand a strong storm also.
The dome tent has got the aerodynamic design along with the slope-shaped architecture which makes these tents advantageous when compared to the cabin style tents. This design of the dome tent prevents the water from collecting at the top of the tent during the rainy season and helps in countering the heavy winds.
Considerations To Be Kept In Mind While Choosing The Dome Tents
While making a choice between different dome shape tents, some of the important qualities of the tent must be checked. That tent must be purchased which is most suitable in accordance with your camping needs. Hence, just keep in mind the following basic considerations while buying the dome tent:
1. Strong And Durable Poles Along With Ground Spikes
The weather conditions can change at any point of time and one must be prepared to deal with any situation beforehand.
To let your tent stand strong against winds and rain, high-quality sturdy poles and ground spikes must be used. Obviously, you don’t want your rainfly to fly away with the wind or your tent’s corner to come out. Hence, always using strong poles and ground spikes, to hold your tent in position, is a better option.
2. Waterproofing
Hydrostatic head rating is the rating which actually defines the waterproofing level of a material. The minimum level of rating is 1,000 mm. After this rate, as the rating goes higher, higher will be the level of water-resistance.
1,000 mm rating is the lowest rating and it will be judicious to go for a tent having a rating of 2,000 mm to be on a safer side. A material is considered as full-proof water-resistant fabric when the rating is between 2,500 mm to 3,000 mm.
Although, if you are living or camping in an area where rain doesn’t happen frequently or heavily, it will be wise enough to have a tent with a 2,000 mm rating. Picking up a tent with a very low water-resistance rating can leave you wet and soaked in water when sudden rain happens.
3. A Balance between Sturdiness and Weight
Which tent must be chosen, a heavy one or a light one? The answer to this question varies from situation to situation. If you are going to hike on a long route to reach the campsite then it will be better to pick a lightweight tent because, with an increase in each pound of tent weight, the hiking will become more difficult and tiring.
On the other hand, the heavyweight tent will be good when sturdiness is the prime objective. In a situation where you don’t have to carry the tent for long distances like when you are camping in your backyard or some rented space, then you can pick a heavier tent which is strong and sturdy providing you much-needed warmth and waterproofing facility.
4. Choosing Between Three Or Four-Season Tents
There is a huge money difference between the three and four-season tents. The three season tents usually focus on higher airflow and are made from thinner fabrics to facilitate adequate ventilation. These tents cost lesser than the four-season tents and provide less warmth too. Less warmth means higher chances of hypothermia if you remain wet for a longer period.
Higher warmth is provided by the four-season tents and the ventilation level is also less. As far as the pricing is concerned, the four-season tents are much costlier than other tents. If you are planning to camp in the winter season, it is wise to invest some extra money and buy a four season tent that can give you enough warmth and protection against the cold.
5. Designing
When you are camping at a site where the temperature becomes freezing overnight, then special care must be taken in choosing sturdy poles as these poles will be exposed to the freezing temperature and they may get wet. Other things like hanging light or an electronic port may also be of some importance.
Hence, just think about the things that must be present in your tent before making a buying decision. Once you are clear about the things you want in your tent then search for a dome tent that has got all the features you are looking for and pick your ideal tent.
Best Dome Tents – 2020
Following are the dome-shaped tents which are highly-rated in the market, have got the best quality, and are budget-friendly too. Pick one of these tents that have got all the features you need:
1. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2-Person Dome Tent
The ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2-Person Dome Tent is made to accommodate two average-sized people. This is an amazing tent when it comes to airflow, almost half of the tent walls are meshed which facilitates high ventilation. The rainfly is sturdy and is also UV-resistant.
Assembling this tent becomes very easy with the help of the pole clips which are attached to the aluminum pole. The pole clips easily grab and stick into the place with ease. There are two entrances along with dual vestibules which make the movement inside and outside the tent very comfortable and convenient.
The ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 2-Person Dome Tent is an average sized tent that has dimensions measuring 5’ x 7’6” and has got a center height of approximately 3’8”. It is a lightweight tent which weighs around five pounds. This is a nice tent which can be considered ideal for the beginner or intermediate level of camping trips.
Pros:
- Easy to set up.
- Two entrances make it easier for the camper to move around.
- A proper storage facility in the form of small pockets and lofts.
- High-quality fabric is used which is UV-resistant as well as water-resistant.
- Tightly sealed seams make the tent leak proof.
- The floor is made of 75D 185T poly taffeta.
- Super-sized zippers.
- Dual vestibules prevent water from getting near to doors.
Cons:
- Center height is very low.
- Cannot accommodate large individuals.
2. Coleman Four-Person Sundome Tent
The Coleman Four-Person Sundome Tent is manufactured by a well-known company which is making high-quality camping tent from years. This tent is one of the most reputed and 4.5 stars rated tent having over 2,500 positive reviews. With such a high rating and a large number of positive reviews, this tent is one of the most demanded tents.
In the initial stage of development, dome tents used to have snagging poles which are really difficult to be handled. Now, this tent has got snag-free poles which make it convenient to set it up. The built material of this tent is very durable. As far as the ventilation is concerned, the tent facilitates sufficient airflow through its screened windows. One screened window is present on the roof of the tent through which you can cherish the view of nature’s beauty.
The Coleman Four-Person Sundome Tent is a cost-efficient tent which comes with a warranty of 1-year. This is an amazing tent which can be used as an RV trip shelter or is a good option when you are camping in a campground or for backyard camping with your kids gazing at the stars and enjoying.
Pros:
- Ease in setting it up.
- The floor remains dry due to the ground vents.
- High-quality sturdy rainfly.
- Available in three color variants.
- Can choose from two or six-person size.
- Sufficient airflow vents along with a meshed ceiling for a great view.
- A torch or lantern can be hung using the hook in the ceiling.
- Affordable Pricing.
Cons:
- The quality of the stakes is average.
- Center height is very low.
3. CORE Six-Person Dome Tent
If you are looking for a tent that has sufficient occupancy space to accommodate your small or mid-sized family then the CORE Six-Person Dome Tent is the right choice for you. This is a spacious tent which can easily fit one queen-sized air mattress leaving some extra space which can be used for other purposes.
There is a unique mesh loft-style storage space present at the top side of the tent which can be used to store small-sized lightweight items above the ground.
The tent is worth its price after seeing the interior space and quality of the fabric. There are lots of positive reviews about this tent which says that the tent is capable enough to stand strong against the stormy rains.
This six-person tent has dimensions of 11 x 9 feet with a center height of approximately 6 feet. So, the tent has enough space to store your camping gear and equipment and a person with a height of less than 6 feet can stand conveniently in this tent. Setting up this tent is not a burdensome task as it can be easily assembled in 10 minutes by a person who has some experience in setting up tents. So, this dome tent is the right choice for a person who is looking for a roomy tent under the price of $100.
Pros:
- The fabric is water-resistant.
- An electronic port is available.
- Lantern hook is present on the ceiling.
- Mesh loft along with the interior pockets can be used for storage purposes.
- Proper ventilation through roof and floor vents.
Cons:
- Zipper quality is not that good.
4. NTK Cherokee GT 8-To-9 Person Waterproof Family Camping Tent
The NTK Cherokee GT 8-To-9 Person Waterproof Family Camping Tent is known for its high waterproof rating and large space. Mostly popular for its gigantic space, this tent is not manufactured in any smaller size by the company.
The tent features a No-See-Um polyester mesh fabric which is mainly used in the premium tents and has great customer review. The fabric is capable enough to prevent even the smallest of the insects from entering the tent. The No-See-Um mesh gives a nice outside view better than the traditional screens used in some other tents.
Assembling this tent becomes easier using its pin and ring system. This large 8-9 person tent has base dimensions of 10 x 12 feet with a center height of approximately 6.1 feet and weighing around 18.7 pounds.
Pros:
- Poles come with lifetime replacement facility.
- Available in small as well as big sizes.
- High waterproofing rating of 2,500mm.
- Two entrances make it easy to come inside and go outside.
- Fabric is anti-fungal.
- The rainfly is laminated by polyurethane.
- No-See-Um mesh fabric used.
- The CPAI-84 fire-retardant rainfly is used.
Cons:
- Material is too thin, not favorable for cold weather.
- The tent is a little bit costly.
5. Chillbo 2-3-Person Dome Tent
The Chillbo 2-3-Person Dome Tent is a five-star rating tent ideal for music festival camping or for hunting purposes. One can select from the 6 different designs available in the market.
The tent has got a lot of features including a nice 2,000 mm waterproof rating, a rainfly which can easily cover the whole tent, and it is strong enough to even withstand stormy weather. This is an eight pounds lightweight tent which is easy to set up using the cross-wound poles. The tent is equipped with the highly sealed seams which provide added water-resistance to the tent.
Pros:
- A nice waterproof rating of 2,000mm.
- Positive reviews.
- Budget-friendly.
- Can choose from six color variants.
- Protection from bugs through the invisible mesh.
- Storage space in the form of interior pockets.
- Ease in setting it up.
Cons:
- A tarp is needed for the base of the tent.
- Some people have problems with the quality of the poles.
Final words
We recommend Coleman Four-Person Sundome Tent as the best dome tent because of its nice quality and high customer ratings. It is available in 2 to 6 person sizes and is a complete package of outstanding features which fulfills almost all the basic needs of a camper.
Whichever tent you choose, just refer the above points first so that you don’t forget to check any main consideration while buying your ideal dome tent.
Last update on 2025-03-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API