How Badly Will the Best Selling Tent On Amazon Leak? Coleman Sundome 2 Tent - Test Night

[@davemartin1365]

I would take any Coleman product over Stansport any day. Coleman makes good "basic beginner" gear in my opinion for the price point

[@lorraineeagle4009]

100%agree I've camped most of my 56yrs.I have always slept in a Coleman tent. Although I prefer the cabin tents they have never fell to hold up in any weather. And yes I've used mine in 4 seasons.

[@robjones8733]

Same here. I've got a Coleman Hooligan, used it maybe six times. Nice inexpensive setup. I got trapped in my Hennesy hammock last trip. 😹

[@redneckreviews3016]

@@robjones8733 I love me some Coleman. It's affordable and holds up pretty well. Best of both worlds

[@themocaw]

At least with Coleman, you can be assured the product will at least work.

[@seancostello26]

@Suck me hotdog ozark trail is just walmart's cheap chinese coleman knock off brand lol

[@misterneckbreaker88]

being in a tent when it rains is great feeling, hearing the rain pelting against the tent walls and knowing your coazy inside warm.

[@Jfree441]

This was actually my first "backpacking" tent. Yes, I backpacked the smokies with this tent for 4 days. It poured all 4 days and was windy and it never soaked through. I was very pleased.

[@mannymm7887]

How was it carrying that kind of weight around? I know it’s not really a heavy tent but for backpacking it might be a different story.

[@Jfree441]

@@mannymm7887 The tent performed well but as soon as I got home, I purchased a lighter weight tent as it was the bulk of my weight by quite a bit. It doesn't pack down too small either so I took a 65liter pack just to fit everything. Nowadays with a new tent and everything else being the same, I can get away with a 45liter pack easily and drop 6+ lbs of weight for the same trip. It did the job but certainly not a recommended backpacking tent. It has since been retired due to wear and tear but my experience with the tent over about 6 or 7 years was quite favorable in general.

[@kevinmendez8443]

I have the same tent and been in thunder storm with this and it held up

[@noahcizzio]

I took it on my first hiking trip too. Didn’t get any rain but it held in strong winds on a mountain ridge really well. And yes, I’ve bought another lighter hiking tent since them as well.

[@T25de]

I had had very good experiences with Coleman tent

[@BillBogan]

If it leaks it gets a Harbor Freight tarp over it. A cheap life saver.

[@jdedmnds1]

Been there; done that!

[@Dusther210]

The good ol HFT tarp has been my ground cover for years. I’m sure it would do just as well above the tent as it does below

[@freestang6662]

Don't go camping without one.

[@jdedmnds1]

@sheparddog117 There is a boat cover fabric that is resistant to UV rays and it comes in various colors. I believe it is called sun forger or something like that. There are also different grades of canvas that are UV resistant. Both of these require sewing and a good machine. Good luck.

[@imxploring]

@sheparddog117 Unless you're planning on leaving the tarp out in the elements and the sun for weeks or months on end UV damage really shouldn't be an issue.

[@akshargupta5880]

I've used this tent at least 5-7 times a year for 5 years in a row. It's been through a ton of rain and wind and I have never had a leak. Highly recommended for a budget tent.

[@sidewyndersshed1676]

Today is 7 July 2021, I am in Virginia, we have a hurricane hitting us tonight. I am camping with the wife in our homemade truck camper. I hope it doesn't leak. God bless you Luke! I love your channel! 👍

[@kennysharp9230]

Great review. I love Coleman products. I bought the 6-person, green Sundome tent in 2012. I've used it several times every year since then. I set it up a few days ago to air it out before a camping trip I have coming up in a few weeks. I forgot to stake it down and a storm came through yesterday and it blew the tent about 50 yards across the yard, across a gravel drive way, and into a tree line. Even after all the years of use and the abuse it went through yesterday, it is still in excellent condition. It has never leaked, ripped or broke. It has without a doubt been the best tent I have ever used.

[@Spivonious]

I've got the 6 person version of this tent. I've taken it out twice now. First time it rained all night and we stayed completely dry. Second time it was hot in the 90s during the day and the "sun dome" lining kept the inside nice and cool. For a car camping tent, this is a fantastic choice. For backpacking it's way too heavy.

[@notablediscomfort]

Or pack it between different people.

[@RandallsLittleAdventures]

I like Coleman tents for what they are. I have owned several. I always setup a tarp over it when expecting rain. Its might not fail today but it's going to. Still don't think it makes it a bad tent, just know the limitations.

[@bushcraftoz2]

We do the same. Inexpensive Tent under inexpesive tarps = cheap family camping = more money for food & fuel :-)

[@epiccollision]

Yeah Coleman tents are great, for a week or so, then they are just “meh” and need a tarp

[@prmath]

Nothing beats a 10ft canopy over any tent during a rainstorm….. NW Florida Gulf coast

[@innawoodsman]

Oh yeah for sure. I own the 4 person one and use it as a car camping tent. It's fantastic for a $60 tent. It's got limitations for sure, but it's good for what it is and for the price point. Mine held up to about 6 inches of snow one night. I did get up in the middle of the night to knock some snow off, but it didn't buckle or fail. The snow even helped insulate it somewhat and made it stay warmer than the outside.

[@4bangerlove]

I sprayed my coleman tent with auto scotch guard after it had leaked on me, It hasn't leaked on me since. I gave it a really good soak and let it completely dry before packing it back up.

[@m1t2a1]

I set mine up in the yard and Scotch Guarded it before it was ever used in the wild. It is such a good idea.

[@1ChevyGuy375]

Did you spray inside and outside and the same with the fly guard? Why did you use the auto version instead of the regular scotch guard? Thanks, I'm just wondering.

[@4bangerlove]

@@1ChevyGuy375 That’s what I had at the time. Sprayed the outside only

[@1ChevyGuy375]

@@4bangerlove OK, Thanks

[@wesmorrell3052]

I’ve owned dozens of Coleman tents over the years from small to huge. I’ve never had one leak. I knew it would hold.

[@kevinismawayoflife4660]

Same

[@ZebraActual]

Yep

[@alanclarkson1921]

Hi Luke! Recently found your channel, and have watched about 40 of your posts so far. I bought a Coleman Sundome 4P. I'm 63, and have camped since I was 5 or 6 years old. Lots of experience. Your opinion of Coleman is the same as mine----good. So, right off the bat, I purchased StarBrite Waterproofing. I apply 2 coats to the entire tent and rainfly with a sponge, for neat, uniform coverage. Works great. So far, 7 trips with this tent. Three times had sufficient rain. Not one drop of water anywhere inside the tent. Just my waterproofing method, for added security. Thanks for your work, great reviews, and a great channel!

[@ctroze]

I just used this exact tent on an overnight trip in. the east jordan river valley. a thunderstorm rolled over us around 11pm and didn't budge until 8am. Tent held amazingly! only issue was a small hole from a branch snag on the hike in, patched from the inside with gorilla tape, woke up dry! Problem we had was our gear had to be stored against the walls for us to sleep comfortably and ended up wet by wicking water from the tent walls.

[@donaldmcmillan5529]

Many years ago (early 70's) I bought Coleman "pup" tents. On my first night out in it it rained between 2 to 3 inches that night and everything was fine UNTIL I touched the sides. Where I touched it a small drop of water formed and then began running down the inside of the tent. Later using it again it didn't rain but when I bumped into the side water from dew started leaking into the tent. Before this I had never heard of a rain fly before so I used a tarp to cover the tent and even supplies next to the tent and never woke up cold or damp ever again. My thought then were, why hadn't I done this earlier? I love how you really put these things to the test! I am glad I found your channel. Now the worse rainfall I have ever seen was about 15 inches in about 4 hours. NO tent would hold up to that because you would find the water to be 4 or 5 inches deep all around. It was unbelievable how much water there was and how normally dry areas looked like ponds. BTW it was during a tropical storm that had stalled over the area. I have heard of other places getting more water then that during one of them.

[@jtmcgee]

I appreciate what you're doing for us (the consumer). After my time in the Army I always ensure my tents are sprayed with a silicone waterproofing spray at least once before I start any camping. I know people should not have to on a new tent but IDK I never assume a tent will hold out the water unless I have inspected and sprayed it. the seams being exposed is a NO-GO for any tent for me at least. ty for the work you do.

[@flamewave000]

Now I don't know if this is something that has since been corrected, but when I was young I was always told not to let anything touch the walls of a tent during a rain storm. Basically, having something like a sweater touching the wall would allow water to wick through the membrane and be absorbed by the material instead of just running off. I did experience this strange issue myself on many occasions with Coleman tents. If nothing touches the wall, everything stays dry, but where ever something was touching you would get water ingress.

[@shawntame45]

Nope it's still true to this day

[@VancouverDave]

That’s probably what happened with those scouts he mentioned.

[@sarahschreffler5407]

@@VancouverDave YEs I wondered if the reason so many have problems with leaking has to do with new/inexperienced campers.

[@ezaf-bayleaf9043]

Back when I was in the Scouts we all used these tents (Or a least a similar Coleman one) and they never leaked, but the condensation was definitely an issue. The walls of the tent were pretty much always soaked in the morning from 3-4 people being in it especially if you closed up the tent in the winter or had hot muggy weather.

[@anthonysarabia5058]

I have had several Coleman Tents. I have not had one leak.. I seam seal them. Also, I have a 6 person Coleman Montana tent that withstood 60 pmh winds earlier this year, and light snow.

[@Big-Government-Is-The-Problem]

well thats the difference between expensive and cheap tents, for whatever reason the cheap tent manufacturers dont seam seal them even though it would probably only cost them a few dollars to do so. if a cheap tent is seam sealed its probably not going to leak unless the fly material just isnt waterproof and it gets saturated. ive literally seen $400 tents that are not seam sealed and that just blows my mind, and thats from one of the good tent companies which is tarptent

[@ivsciguy]

Same. I camped near Mt. Blanca in Colorado and we got hit by a big storm and it stayed up and dry.

[@gregchadwick8428]

Kind of hard to have mesh any lower with that tiny little fly.

[@anthimatter]

I know. That fly is the tent version of a thong 😂

[@Opethfeldt]

At least it has one.

[@earlshaner4441]

This is why I have a lot of tarps for ground cloth and extra covers for any tents that I use

[@Chris_at_Home]

If you’re packing in you need lightweight tarps. I used to carry two and keep the whole site dry.

[@jeromeknasinski3862]

I agree... Redundancy is Key

[@Chris_at_Home]

@@jeromeknasinski3862 Exactly, when you are out in the wilds even a failed bic lighter can be a bummer if backup isn’t available. They also don’t work well in the cold.

[@alexdetrojan4534]

Now you know what many of us have known for years, Coleman makes good tents. I've always seam sealed and re waterproofed mine, and never a leak. One doesn't have to be a tent elitist that will only sleep in a Hilleberg and other high end tents. Had mine for years through some pretty extreme weather...flawless.

[@wanderer5183]

I grew up using Coleman products and have never had any issues with them. Got drunk one camping trip a few years ago, tripped over a rock or something in the dark and snapped the pole on my Hooligan 2P tent. Ripped a good size hole in the tent body which I patched with some heavy strength vinyl tape. Contacted Coleman for a replacement pole and they sent me one free of charge, something I wasn't expecting just goes to show how awesome their CS is, and that tent's still kicking leak-free to this day. Only thing I dislike about it is the fact that it's not free-standing, you have to stake it down/tie out guidelines.

[@eric4369]

Honestly I've been using Coleman tents ever since my first tent leaked. The new tents with the tub design and inverted seams are very impressive. Have yet to have one leak on me and I have been in heavy storms with them.

[@realdealz39]

Thanks!

[@TheOutdoorGearReview]

Thank you for the support John! S&H - Luke

[@smokinggar714]

My neighbor also bought 12 of these tents for his daughters girl scout troop and not one of them leaked he told me they used them 4 times in the rain and 2 girls got up in the night to pee and on the way back 2 of them fell on their tent and he and another dad had to get up in the rain and reset it up and it still didn't leak. In Joy

[@sahamal_savu]

Speaks to the poor quality control if those 12 didn't leak but the 10 that Luke was talking about did.

[@smokinggar714]

I'm wondering where the 10 were bought my neighbor got his from the company up in Utah online.

[@ErnestoJSilva]

I've had this tent for years now. No leaks or condensation problems. Used it during heavy rain and wind, cold and heat. And it hasn't failed or given me issues at all. I'd definitely recommend it.

[@michaelbrunner6654]

I'm impressed the floor was dry.

[@Chris_at_Home]

The big test is to be in it putting weight on the floor. Personally I hate a tent where the rainfly doesn’t extend beyond the tent so water can get between the groundcloth and tent floor.

[@bradymayfield7969]

I have one of these tents. I got it on Amazon for $40. I have spent 21 days over 3 different camps. One was late spring, early summer here in Florida and that means rain. I didn't have any issues with leaks. For it's price, I can't find any fault with this tent. It's easy to put up, it stayed dry and I didn't feel too warm in it. I actually like the mesh only at the top for privacy reasons. I will keep this in my collection for some time to come. As always, I love the videos and really get a lot from them. Thanks Luke!

[@BHarris25]

I just rode out a wicked storm in one of Coleman’s dark room tents stayed dry, can’t complain. Actually i can, it was still a little cheap I ripped the rain fly just setting it up but it still didn’t leak when I got dumped on that night.

[@T25de]

Obviously user error

[@BHarris25]

@@T25de lol, it ripped super easy, not the first tent I’ve set up.

[@richardfitzgerald1235]

Love this channel. Love this tent. Thank you. Perfect for overlanding. Bought a green 2P one on sale (ugly LOL), rain on Gila River NM, bone dry, perfect. Loved it so much bought a blue one (beautiful), Eastern Sierras CA, 10k feet 25 deg, snow, Buddy heater, awesome Bought usual nail stakes upgrade, sprayed with Scotchgard outdoor water shield. Good to go. Tough full tarp tub, no footprint, priceless, quick n easy. Sleep alone in 2P. Plan to order a 4P darkroom version for wife and I on southern Utah trip this spring. All bear country so wish it had more 360 deg vis at night but good enough.

[@TrailToughTrailers]

Luke, as always.... thank YOU for your honesty!!!

[@danielstrachan8988]

Ours is 5yrs old, have not camped in the rain yet but it has a lot of mesh on all sides from half way all the way to the top. Two can be zipped up but not the other two. We really enjoy it.😁😁👍👍

[@elvismikel2271]

I've always considered Colman tents to be good budget-friendly, family car camping/backyard tents; not designed to perform in the backcountry or extreme weather conditions. They are pretty "bulletproof" base on the material and design.

[@JRMcDowell]

My wife and I camp in a GP Medium. We bought it from her Army UNIT when they were updating to new gear and were trashing the old. Sure its a bit of work to set up, and I admit we don't hike to a camp site. So it is not an issue to hump it in and out.. because that would be a no go. I have never used a COLEMAN, but "the Wife" (TM) says that Coleman was the name in camping when she was a kid.. so she is thinking its quality must of gone down due to the many negative comments. Recently we made a VIKING Tent out of a tarp... and a Viking bed... again not something we have to hike into or out of a camp site. Loving your con-TENT. Keep it coming!

[@allout-we7tj]

I got a coleman darwin 3+ and bin in big rain so far had no leaks

[@creefab5924]

Danke!

[@awh5773]

The way I see it. I will buy the best tent that I can afford. And I will always. Seam seal it and water proof spray it with 2 coats. Before I ever take it out camping. I guess it is a habit from my youth in the 1970s. I do have 2 walmart dome type tents. And I have seam sealed and water proof sprayed them. And they have been pretty good. No leaks. I use the Walmart ones for camping close to home. I use the better ones away from home. Look on KZbin to see how to make homemade seam sealer. It works really good. And go to Walmart and buy the water proofing spray in the can with the orange cap. For me . That stuff lasts about 2 to 3 years. Stay safe yall

[@davidjac36]

I have a Coleman 3man like this one, and an Ozark Trail 3man, about 1ft smaller, $60 and $50, I've had both for over 20 years, and they're equivalent quality. Both have been good.

[@Valorius]

I got the six person version of one of these open box on ebay for like $79 for my 9yo. I set it up on my homestead (videos on my channel if youre into that sort of thing) next to my wife's garden boxes, my daughters love to play in it while mom is gardening. Seems well built and well designed. It has a ton of room, and very good ventilation.

[@wildsoul420]

Thank you! was waiting for this review.. Bought thr 4 person a couple of weeks ago for car camping.. happy with the review but definitely going to seam seal and also waterproof the tent before my trip even though it may not necessarily need it but just in case..peace of mind thanks..

[@DavidCantatore]

After watching your videos I was fearing the worst from my cheap Coleman Skydome 8 but we spent a week with the fam in the woods and it kept us dry in total comfort despite heavy storms. For the price it's unbeatable.

[@sp4282]

I've been looking for a "good" tent and value as a ameture camper. I've just purchased the coleman sundome 4P cause of your review. Did buy water repellent and seam tape for it as you recommended. Thanks Luke P.s. Great channel

[@T25de]

Adding spray on waterproofing helps a lot

[@massivedynamic2339]

I camp in a budget tent year round. Nowadays, if ventilation is an issue, it's because the user isn't smart enough to go buy a 5 dollar usb fan and put it in the tent. I am camping tonight. Temps in the mid 90's during the day and mid 70's at night. A little dry ice and a fan takes care of most of the issues that concern you about the tent. Thanks for the always great content!

[@rachaelmorrow6669]

Nice! I love comfort. But some would say you are "glamping". Carry on.

[@massivedynamic2339]

@@rachaelmorrow6669 true, but camping during the summer in the deep south can be challenging. It almost becomes a safety issue during the summer months.

[@rachaelmorrow6669]

@@massivedynamic2339 I agree.

[@waynesorrells3761]

It's about time you did this and I've been waiting for you To give the test in the rain and condensation it's been a few weeks and I watched the 1st one they set up And I was getting concerned you're just doing Half of the testing and going on Thank you

[@helidude3502]

No kidding It’s not like Luke has a life, job or stuff to do besides playing with tents.🙄 I’ve also heard that he’s a wizard and can schedule rain storms ⛈

[@nealrehm6895]

I like these reviews you do. I bought one of those Amazon two person tents. I was not happy! The fiberglass poles that go together keep coming disconnected and can barely stay together until there tied in the middle. Of course I made a mistake of trying to set it up in the dark for the first time and the flying blood sucker’s were attacking with vengeance. It leaks, but worse of all I was afraid it would collapse in a thunderstorm. And lastly you have to crawl into it and no room to stand up. This is not a problem until you reach older age. So a good buddy of mine had bought the Gazelle T 4 hub tent and I had a chance to look it over real good. I was super impressed. This is a tent for truck or van camping. Set up is quite simple and so is disassembly. The tent stakes are terrible and you need 12 of them. 8 around the 91” square perimeter and four side guy cords. I have been in this tent in very hi winds! It’s a expensive tent for 300.$. If you ever get a chance to review it I think you may like it. I use it when I attend model airplane events where I stay two to five days. I have the green one but I like the orange better.

[@sailor-rick]

This is my experience: Where you buy a Coleman Sundome tent makes a big difference. WM has a different version of the Coleman Sundome that is made exclusively for them. You can actually see and feel the differences. Even though they look very similar and have the same name, they are not the same. I have bought them and returned them. So, don't assume the Coleman Sundome tent from WM has the same specs. Technically, they are a Coleman brand, just made cheaper. I suspect that many of the commenters who have leaky Sundomes bought the WM, Sam's, or CC version, even if they bought it from another source. I suspect that if you buy the Sundome that is sold BY Amazon and not some other Amazon based store (cheaptentsRus) then you will get a dry tent. It's what I did and not only does the Amazon version not leak, it is also made noticeably better. So even on Amazon, check that "sold by" name and make sure it says "Sold by Amazon." I'm pretty sure that the one sold by Dick's Sporting Goods and other real camping stores are the real-deal, too,... but I haven't tried those for myself.

[@caseysmith544]

This is true there were some Coleman Stoves that got sold at Walmart in mid to late 2000's until early 2010's that were unsafe and would catch fire to the point people had to shut the item off and close the lid. Also there was a Coleman Lantern Also from Walmart either the multi fuel or the Colman Propane one that had no regulator so when one set up the machine just got hotter and hotter in the burning part to the point one could set the mesh things to catch fire and char up. Same goes for a red cooler sold at Walmart that other places there is same as the Walmart but has an actual drain port on the cooler that the Walmart model is missing as well as the other more expensive version of the model having more plastic between the panels.

[@talloncusack]

Wow. I got mine from Meijer a year or so ago. Looks just like the one in the video and doesn’t leak.

[@sailor-rick]

At Meijer, what you see is what you get. Meijer buys its tents directly from Coleman. Meijer doesn't coerce Coleman into using chinese sweatshops to make knock-off tents and label them as Coleman. They don't have the clout. Meijer has a pretty good reputation. At WM, what it appears to be may not be what it actually is.

[@caseysmith544]

@@sailor-rick What Walmart does is sells this lower version due to the price the tents want to sell at they are made cheaper. This happens with most brands. Worst is it with a few of the Colman gas lanterns and stoves that had to be recalled for selling in the USA in early to mid 2010's due to lack of safety and same most countries except really India and Parts of China where they were allowed them to be sold.

[@stephenmorrissey1254]

This is good information

[@darrencouncell4946]

My best and favorite Coleman tent is the 4 person Coleman highline 2 . I always put tarps over them, spray them down when setting up a new one with waterproofing spray . Stayed in two of them for about 6 months each when I was homeless in 2017, 2018. And it had plenty of room

[@davidjac36]

I have a 3 person version of the same tent which I paid $60 for, and I've had for over 20 years, and it's been pretty good. Roomy, easy setup. Usually if it leaks, it's because of setup or the type of ground. What people refer to as good quality tents tend to be $300.

[@ericacanapp9211]

No leaks!! Always the best reviews, honesty of the product! ✅✅👍🏻👍🏻

[@davidlee2204]

I'm happy with the test results with this one, since I just bought the sundome dark technology tent. As others have said, when they start to leak just put a tarp over it and call it a day, better than packing up a wet tent anyway anyday! I had definitely been patiently waiting for this one, I thought you had forgotten 🙂

[@derekrosenberg6466]

I own a 9v coleman tent. Its a big 3 room geodesic dome. It might sleep 9 small people without to much gear but my family of 5 fit nicely with all our gear. It was an easy choice to buy this tent, we went to a tent, campervan and outdoor living warehouse. Tents and campers were set up outside so you could see them inside and out to get a feel for the tent. We looked at lots of tents, big canvas tents with no floors and lots of domes and square tents with floors. The next day was a wet day and a huge storm blew through in the night, we arrived and the outside was a mess of flattened tents and a couple of mangled campervans. The coleman was still standing and dry inside. It has a really neat fly that stretchs out at the ends to allow air flow through the bottom of the tent and kepts it cool up to about 35 C, after that it does get hot. All that being said we have had this tent for about ten years and it went to Tasmania this year and held up well. I am looking to get my kids, now teenagers, some small hiking tents as they want their own space, not sure what to get them but maybe this tent you reviewed could be a starting point.

[@mikeweber3441]

Knew it. Coleman’s generally do pretty well. Their bigger tents don’t do so hot, but their 2 and 4 person tents are awesome.

[@johnzimmerman6516]

My 6 person is awesome for “no leak”. Not so hot for air movement.

[@Raine-97]

I have the two person Hooligan tent and it’s awesome.

[@Zsigmund]

Camped overnight solo in similar temperature and all night constant rain. There were no leaks or condensation. It got a little muggy because there was not even a breeze, but keeping all the window panels open helped a lot. I'm happy with it especially for the discounted price I paid (under 50). Thanks for the great review it helped a lot when I was initially considering this tent!

[@Kerrsartisticgifts]

"Sundome" doesn't sound like it was made for the pouring rain.

[@whicks3]

I have a 2P and a 4P Sundome for family camping. When you are ready to put on the fly, let the fly pole on now, so much easier than trying to do it when the fly is on already. When you start setting up the body, thread the long poles in the sleeves before you stake out the corners. Much easier to slide the poles in.

[@hosank]

Yeah I've had this exact tent for about 3 years now and used it at least once a month in all sorts of weather. Never leaked once on me; but the ventilation is an issue.

[@vindivergilio3482]

Never had any leakage problem with any of the three Coleman tents I've owned over the past 10-15 or so years. But, then again, I make it a habit to use a waterproofing spray on all my tents before I use them. I started doing this after I bought a 2 person tent (can't remember the brand. An Ozark, I think) that was supposedly "guaranteed waterproof right out of the box". Let me just say, it was not a pleasant weekend. After that, any tent I bought got a spray. Can't wait for your final review. Thank you for honesty.

[@dragon3831]

My feeling about all tents regardless of make and price is....I don't trust any of them, I always put another tarp over and have it extend several feet passed the entire tent

[@sailor-rick]

I take an extra 12x12 silnylon tarp, just in case, but also for shading the tent on hot summer days. Running a ridgeline 12 inches over the tent allows me to do that AND fabricate a front porch-like overhang. Of course, for the ridgeline you'll need a tree or two... but I have used long sticks, too.

[@paulahavens2764]

what do you use for tarps and how do they stay on the tent?

[@isoSw1fty]

@@paulahavens2764 guidelines and above the tent Edit: Guidelines to surrounding trees

[@ccupp2]

Thanks for doing the review. I've bought/used two of the Sundome FOUR person tents as well as one of the Sundome SIX person tents. All three have kept us bone dry with zero leaking. The 4 and 6 person tents have more mesh screen for ventilation than the 2 person. Also, as I write this, the two person version is now $69.99, however I've found that they go on sale quite often. In fact, I actually caught all three of the tents I bought on sale at Amazon.

[@leonwashburn4747]

I've always liked coleman

[@leonwashburn4747]

I've had the four person sundome in pretty ruff conditions no major problems or leaks except the one time I forgot the pole for the hang over barely even leaked in the front

[@ccupp2]

@@leonwashburn4747 Well, all I've done is glamping with mine. Still, I've seen some major downpours along the way. Once I camped at an RC Airplane Flying Event in West Virginia. I set up the six person Sundome, installed the rainfly and unzipped the window on the front of the tent to let everything air out.. Shortly thereafter our group went out to a local restaurant for dinner. While we were dining, it came a local flash flood. Rain came down in buckets. After it stopped we arrived at the rc flying field to find water still standing about 2 inches deep. My tent was setup on a rise that was ever so slightly higher than the flooded field. I was truly dreading the worst because I knew I had left the door window unzipped. To my total amazement, there wasn't a drop of rain in the tent! I guess I lucked out that the rain wasn't blowing hard to the side where the window was. Now when I go camping, I actually hope for a slow relaxing rain through the night.

[@bryantdavis3710]

I expected it to leak. I think it's always best to use a tarp, (sil-nylon) tent combo, so you are guaranteed waterproofing as well as not having to be stuck in a tent on a rainy day, because you can set the tarp high enough to stand. Carrying a tarp also gives alot of other benefits I.e. increased versatility and variable camping style, essentially makes a tent a 4 season in winter if set right, etc. A 10" by 10" sil-nylon tarp packs down small and is light, for the advantages it creates, by carrying both.

[@thisandthat7402]

I had bought a coleman tent, had couple seams holes and was cold. Sent back and ordered a qomotent and to my surprise was not only nice but warm and held up to bad winds and couple rain storms and no leaks.

[@JorvikBerserkir]

Took your swet time with this one, Luke!

[@ThePhatz3]

I got the review from someone else who did a pretty good job. I dont think spreading out the videos over a month is a great buisness model

[@JorvikBerserkir]

@@ThePhatz3 i think its more for fans than anything, i guess storm season is a main reason too

[@tacoma_jon]

@@ThePhatz3 he’s got 338 thousand subs and been at it for years. I think he’s doing ok

[@StelmansLT]

I have a Coleman Darwin 3 tent for several years now and that tent hasn't dissapointed me yet. No leaking ever. A great budget tent for camping and outdoor festivals.

[@pmue437]

I would never consider a Tent without a proper full size Rainfly

[@kalilay]

Why? It dumped rain and didn’t leak

[@deltanovember1672]

There was very little wind there. Full fly sheet keeps you dry when it’s rainy and windy.

[@kalilay]

@@deltanovember1672no

[@pmue437]

@@kalilay Usually after time 2-3 years the tent coating weakens compared to Day one. Therefore a full Rainfly is a huge help. The second reason is that a Rainfly increases the temperature at lest by 5 C. When you’re camping in Northern parts. My experience Narvik, Kiruna, Oulu. Even in late Sommer temperature drops to 0C degrees. It it’s windy and your close to the Sea it would become very unpleasant. Not to mention that a single Tree can make a small hole and the security level of that tent is gone.

[@russlehman2070]

I have a Coleman Sundome 4 person tent (too big for backpacking but fine for car camping), which is just about identical in design to the one in this video but bigger. It's a pretty decent tent, but the one time I used it in snow (in Wyoming at about 7500 ft. above sea level in the last week of August in Wyoming, it was collapsed by three inches of wet, slushy snow.

[@michellesanders4720]

I have used Coleman tents for 25 years and never had any leaks. We have a 10 person tent and it stood up to winds and 6 hours of rain.

[@azatecas]

thanks for this, i know nothing about tents and amazon didnt even show me this tent when i searched tents, only a bunch of overpriced generic brands, because of this video i searched specifically for this tent and bought it for $40. first night i used it started raining and i stayed dry. very happy with it

[@RossPotts]

I’m sure it will leak. That being said, every Coleman I’ve owned has been bombproof but just needing a good dose of seam-sealer.

[@kalilay]

it didnt leak...

[@angelusway]

No condensation, good ventilation.

[@abolethslayer117]

This is by far the best review of a coleman tent I've ever experienced.

[@woolymittens]

Unless Coleman's quality control on the assembly line is atrocious, there's no reason why some of the Sundome 2 tents would leak and others wouldn't. If the design is sound and the materials used are consistently of sufficient quality, every copy should be leakproof. I don't understand why some are ok and others not?

[@xBINARYGODx]

user error can come into play - it is generally not a good idea to push thing up against the sides as that can allow water to come throw - and plenty of people will stupidly do that or other things with the idea of "this is reviewed well and is suppose to be water proofed so I get do whatever I want... oh wait, some water - WAAAAAAAAAA!!!!:

[@kalilay]

I think Luke is clearly exaggerating or mis speaking....he said there are 3 people with leaks for everyone one person who stays dry.....that’s just not true based on the comments and Amazon reviews.

[@hugbearsx4]

@@kalilay Besides, people that have problems with a product are much more likely to complain, while people that have no problem might jut go on with their lives, leaving no comment at all.

[@davidjac36]

Some people set them up in a bad spot where they get slightly immersed. It's a tent, not a boat.

[@kevinismawayoflife4660]

I always have at least 1 Coleman Sundome tent in my gear. They are cheap, easy to setup & I usually get a dozen or more nights in them before they leak/rip/zipper probs. Great for car side camping

[@ruanvosloo2465]

When is the naturehike mongar 2 test night coming out?

[@prwoolrich]

I am also glad it did not leak for $65 bucks its a positive performance but watch your conditions and know your weather situation before using in a more humid area it would be good to go with something with more vents and mesh. Thanks Luke.

[@michaeltillman886]

All I can say I is "wonders never cease, I was wrong so far."

[@johnzimmerman6516]

Luke you hit the nail on the head with this tent. I have this tent. Very inexpensive, very easy to set up, poor ventilation, excellent in rain. We survived a pretty intense windstorm at Lake Superior. The only complaint I have with this tent is the fact that we cooked inside. They need to address the ventilation down low like you mentioned. It is also very sturdy. Overall, it is a better cool weather tent. Cheers.

[@mrwes100]

Exactly my experience with the 4 person version. Bone dry.

[@SherrieAllen]

My experience also. I bought the 4 person because the size of the 2 person seemed to me to be cramped for 2 adults. The 4 person fits us just right. Room to stretch out. Room for our clothes and equipment. Room to not get mad every time your sleeping buddy turns over. And we did all this with room for a queen sized air mattress. Hey, cut us a little slack. I'm 64 and my husband is 70 - our days of walking into the woods with nothing are over. With a few creature comforts we can still enjoy camping and the outdoors! Went camping in Tennessee earlier this month. No issues with rain or condensation but I agree - would have been nice to have some ventilation at the bottom for sleeping comfort. For the price, I am well pleased with this tent.

[@SherrieAllen]

Sorry for the name mix-up. One of my sons signed in on my computer and I didn't notice. - Sherrie Allen

[@Juniperrrrrr]

I've used their 4 person tent. It *can* be quite warm if you do some modifications. I was camping late in the year a couple years ago, and was very cold until I threw a blanket over the top of the tent, staked it down (just tie a slip knot around each corner of the blanket), then a tarp over that. Was very warm and felt like enough ventilation.

[@ThisWontEndWell]

My history with Coleman tents tend to make me consider them as showerproof, prolonged rain for many hours tends to overwhelm them and cause some leaks but on the positive side the groundsheets tend to be bulletproof, they make for good fair-weather tents for novice campers in summer and the last part of spring and the first half of autumn I'd consider them a campground tent.

[@chicagochris1988]

I have spent 3 days of nonstop rain storms in a Coleman tent as a teenager and have never had a Coleman tent leak! We are actually about to purchase a CARLSBAD this week for a weekend concert camping event down in Bristol next month. Bringing my dual Fuel powehouse lantern as well and I have no doubts in Coleman products for this adventure!

[@hkjuhucampbell4005]

Sometimes your warm is other people's just right. You didn't say what the temp was in the tent. Your wife would be a better judge as she gets colder than you.

[@lessharratt8719]

My wife sleeps warm. Like a furnace.

[@alecs6492]

I have had good luck with all my Coleman tent purchases. We do your basic family camping, we we are not in any extreme conditions, but for cool weather and moderate rains, the Coleman tents have been good to us. I did have a little two person Coleman tent back in my Boy Scout days. I took that one everywhere and never had a leak or any other issues. Yes definitely a middle ground “good” tent.

[@boomersoutdoors8898]

I bought one last year and put it up as soon as I got it in the back yard . It rained on it for two days straight and it did not leak. It is a good tent , but it is heavy at 7.5 lbs. It is spacious, however it does not have any vestibules and only one door.

[@pjaypender1009]

I have that tent. It does not leak. I weathered severe thunderstorms on a causeway. One time, I looked out the tent window and was in a 4 inch deep flooded campground. High winds and hail. Not one drop got in. This is an amazing tent and I highly recommend it.

[@MFitz12]

I have an older version of basically this same tent (mine is called an "Eagle Rock" but the design is essentially the same in all but small details) which I think I have had for a few decades. I don't even remember how long I've had it. Stupid easy and quick to set up. The only time it ever leaked was when I wasn't careful about keeping my gear off the walls. The bottom is completely waterproof, which is great. I don't bother with tent pads. It has done well with heavy wind too and I never had a problem with condensation. I mostly use it in the cooler temps of spring and fall since I no longer camp much in _tourist and bug season_ so the admittedly limited ventilation has not been an issue for me. If it is warm out and no rain in the forecast I often just leave the rainfly off - plenty of ventilation and great views! Not a hard-core campers tent but great for a couple or family that just wants to get out a few weekends a year and don't need the end-all, be-all. That said, my camping habits have changed. The wife won't sleep in a tent anymore, the kids are out of the house and I now almost exclusively solo camp at hike or cart-in sites, so I am actively seeking this tents replacement with something a bit more flexible, modern and a lot lighter.

[@TheChromeRonin]

I’ve had this tent for a couple of years, and camped about a dozen times with it. What I like is it’s fairly light weight, I can just strap it to my pack and have carried it several kilometres with no issues. It’s generally colder here in NZ, so as long as I’ve setup with some mid day sun cover I’ve had no real problems with this tent getting too hot, and in fact is fairly comfortable overnight. No leaks detected so far.

[@2fuzy]

I picked up a $20 tent at the coleman outlet store and used it motorcycle camping for about 25yrs now and it has never let me down

[@bradman91usa]

I own this tent and I love it. Never has leaked and I even let my dogs inside too. Very nice build and quality.

[@7Heist7]

Back when I was in Boy Scouts we had a bunch of these Coleman Tents, there was never any leaking but as you said the ventilation was terrible. It didn't help that we only had a limited amount of tents and we had to have 4 people to a 2 person tent.

[@CynthiaWard-p6l]

I have a this tent in 3-person, 4-person, and 6-person models. I seam-sealed and Scotchgarded all of them before taking them out.The three-person has needed a few re-coats to get it completely waterproof. The four-person only needed the initial treatment. The six-person needed a second treatment and has been fine since then. However, a shock cord broke on the six-person about the fourth time it was set up. That has been repaired, and all is well. I am only 4'11", and I can set up each tent by myself. I was able to get the 6-person one from Amazon as "Used, Like New" for about $54 (a return that was never taken out of the original packaging). I do like the dome design. It handles strong wind well. All have been on several camping trips and have had lots of rain experience. All still doing well.

[@ralphwatten2426]

we had a Coleman canvas cabin style tent when we were first married about 40 years ago and it did not leak unless you touched it while it was raining. It was very heavy and smelled like a canvas tent water proofing. I would say it was a very good tent.

[@stevesweeney7892]

Here I am again,frequenting your channel for advice. I rely strictly on your judgment for many outdoor purchases. Thank you for your service. Stay Sharp Sgt.SteveRet 🇺🇲

[@Dr.MalcomsBrokenLeg]

I purchased the 4 person version of this tent, I'll be honest. I saw a lot of the issues you were skeptical of before about the water proofing not looking good. I haven't had any serious issues with the tent so far though. I will say though it definitely does get hot in the tent for sure. However, during the night when I tested it out in the backyard with my daughter. We were not getting too hot at all, it felt great and when we woke the next morning around 7am. We felt pretty good too. But, again I could feel the heat building in the tent as the morning pushed closer to noon. I will bring a portable fan with us in case it gets too muggy on our camping trip. This way there will be some option for air flow to get circulated through the tent and cool down the bottom area. Otherwise, 4 person is spacious for sure. I can say that yes, you can fit 4 normal sized people in the tent. With their gear? Probably not unless you were extremely light packers xD. But, It works great for 2 people with gear and maybe a dog too :) I got mine on prime day, so 4 person for $60...couldn't really complain. Super simple to set up as well.

[@mrwes100]

Good point on the tent’s lack of mesh. In the summer, I drop the fly and use a tarp, or I run a small usb fan and hang it from the loop in the top of the tent. The usb fan on low is just enough to pull in some air to circulate.

[@kleinespika]

I can understand why people like your videos. I cant understand why i cant stop watching them.

[@paulahavens2764]

I believed it would because the fly is too short and does not cover the full tent. I guess I was wrong but I still would want the fly to cover the whole tent and yes it would be nice for it to have full mesh. Thanks for this video it was great. Happy hiking and camping.

[@p-wigginz7161]

I have two of these tents. Camped in the pouring rain twice, stayed completely dry. Great entry level tent.

[@ProfessorLX]

I have one of these for summer camping when the wife and kid aren't coming. It's a little too big for hiking but for car camping with a friend it fits the bill perfectly. I would say for the money with realistic expectations its actually a very good value. When I go hiking or take the family we stay in a Eureka, when I'm doing a 1-2 night in good weather by myself, I take the Coleman.

[@joes3703]

The first half of this video perfectly depicted every camping trip I’d ever been on.

[@matthewguilfoyle7854]

Had a Coleman family tunnel tent for 18yrs camped in storms on the west coast of Ireland and South Wales just made sure it was maintained and waterproofed every few years finally had to replace with a Berghaus Air pole tent as the wife was struggling to help putting it up

[@geonerd]

I had one for several years. It never challenged a proper storm, but light rain and drizzle were easily repelled.

[@earlshaner4441]

Hi from Syracuse NY brother and thank you for your thoughts and adventures and sharing your thoughts and adventures with your family