Over the past few years there have been many technological advancements to make camping a much more pleasant experience and enabled many more people to take it up as a pastime. These have included the various camping accessories such as portable stoves, toilets, and even fully working showers. But one of the greatest changes in camping gear must be the invention of the compact dome tent, a tent which is very easy to setup, even for fairly inexperienced campers, and yet is extremely strong and can withstand even the most extreme weather conditions.
They vary in size from two-person tents up to six person tents, and gave great storage capacity as well as giving excellent shelter. If you’re going camping during the summer when the weather is generally fine then a simple family tent may be a good choice, but any other time, perhaps during the spring or fall season when the weather can be more unpredictable and you may end up with heavy rainfall, a weatherproof dome tent can be an absolute essential.
Six person tents
There are many things to consider when buying a dome tent, but one of the main things you need to look at the is the size, and this will depend on how many people will usually be going camping on any particular camping trip. If you intend on camping alone, or perhaps just two people, they standard one room tent will probably be fine, though it can be an idea to choose a tent slightly bigger than your needs in order to give you a little bit more storage. For larger camping groups, the six person tent can be a great choice and can go under the name of a family dome tent, something which is a great choice for family camping trips since it will give you all the space you need to sleep six people comfortably but also provide enough storage space.
A disadvantage to some dome tents is that they do not have an extra vestibule, since the shape is designed to be very strong and able to withstand most weather conditions. However it is possible to use a dome tent and then purchase an extra vestibule or an external storage box in order to keep camping gear and other personal belongings. As with most modern camping tents, the dome variety usually comes with excellent ventilation panels enabling the tent to keep cool during the summer, and also cut down on condensation. Other things that need to be considered are the quality of the rain fly, which will enable the tent to be ventilated even in wet weather, and whether or not you will need strong tent tiedowns in order to protect the tent from strong winds.
Easy set up
Most dome tents are really suited to sleep in and therefore not made to provide living space such as a room to prepare and cook meals, and so for this you may need a separate pop-up tent or awning in order to give you some extra space for these other activities. Before you choose a particular dome tent make sure that it has enough height for you to feel comfortable, since many are made with a fairly low ceiling height and are really suitable only for sleeping. What you need to remember is that whichever dome tent size you choose you will need to ensure it is an easy setup version, especially if you’re not a seasoned camping enthusiast. However, most dome tents are very easy to setup, and even for the novice it can be a case of just an hour or so of setup time and the tent will be ready for use.
Among the models worth considering are the Kelty Trail dome tent. Costing about $200, this is a wide tent which sleeps four people easier. The support is by four 12mm poles, with the walls being made from 70-denier polyester taffeta and the fly made from 1,800mm waterproof-rated polyester taffeta. It has an awning, supported by aluminum poles while the taffeta floor and taped seams has good waterproof protection. There are also internal pockets and a loft loops for gear storage. Another model is the Eureka Sunrise 3-Season dome tent made from nylon taffeta with weatherproof rainfly. Support poles are lightweight fiberglass with a No See-Um Mesh for bug protection. It sleeps 6 people in a single 4-window room with dimensions of 11 ft x 11 ft with a height of 84 inches.
Durable and waterproof
For those looking for a tent designed for more extreme weather conditions, the 2-meter dome tent from The North Face could be a good choice. Retailing at about $5,000, it is an 8-person 4-season geodesic tent with 125 square feet of floor space. It is highly durable and waterproof with a heavy-duty floor. Construction is with lightweight poles, while the 2-door design gives good ventilation. The canopy and fly are nylon oxford, with a nylon taffeta floor.
In the end, the type of dome tent you choose will depend mainly on the type of environment in which you intend going camping. There are many average dome tents which are fine for a normal camping trip, and for most people these will do the job excellently. However if you are thinking of camping in extreme weather conditions, or even in a place where you may get heavy rainfall or perhaps a touch of snow, you should take a look at some of the professional dome tents since these are made to cope with almost any type of weather condition you are likely to encounter, including very cold temperatures, and snowfall. Take time to look at the various styles and sizes of dome tent, keeping in mind the camping environment you will probably find yourself in, and you’re likely to find a tent that will suit your camping experience right down to the ground.
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