One of the favorite pastimes of millions of Americans is camping in the great outdoors. Like most Americans, when I do think about camping and camping gear I naturally consider Coleman products. Thus, when we decided to pick out a new tent we choose a Coleman model.

We decided on a Coleman Sundome model 2000000136, which is a ten foot square tent. This is one of the newer styled dome tents that have really become popular lately. The Sundome series is new for 2008 and is available in five different sizes varying from a seven by five foot model all the way up to a ten by twelve foot version.

All the tents look alike, both in color and shape/design. I liked the earth tone pumpkin and gray color scheme, which really fits well into the woods or any camp ground. The tent came packaged in a green zippered bag and was provided with simple easy to follow instructions.

Upon un-packing the tent, the camper notices that there are very few pieces which is nice. There is the main tent body, a rain fly, three poles, a door mat and a package of hardware. As far as I am concerned the fewer the parts the better. (Less items to get lost)

The instructions were simple and straight forward. Unroll the tent; place the door portion where ever you please. Next, simply slide the two long poles through the seams on the top of the tent, while attaching the shock corded pole sections together. Simply extend the poles and place the ends into metal rings sewn into each corner and the tent is nearly done.

Next, slide the short pole (again extending and attaching the shock cord poles) through the top of the rain fly. Place the rain fly over the top of the tent and attach the elastic cords to the metal rings. Stake out the corners and place the door mat in front of the tent entrance and that’s it!

Coleman uses a 450mm polyester material in the construction of the tent body. Floors are a coated material similar to a common tarp; lightweight but sturdy. The weight of the entire package was eighteen pounds, which isn’t bad and would be acceptable for all campers, except those on back packing excursions deep into the wilderness. Those campers would probably choose one of Coleman’s custom made light weight back packing tents.

The Sundome tent was really spacious inside. As stated the interior measured ten feet square and was entirely one room. Inside dimensions listed the interior height as seventy inches, although it was tight for a six foot man. Additionally, although the specifications list it as being capable of sleeping five adults, which would be a tight fit. We found it perfect for three humans, but four probably wouldn’t be a problem either.

Large mesh windows and a front door allowed a decent amount of air to circulate and should keep out most insects. The stitching looked nicely done and all seams were finished. We did not have any rain during our maiden trip, so we could not attest to the waterproof capability of this tent.

Since the poles run along the top of the exterior, the interior of the tent is free from snags and foreign objects, which is really nice. In the ten foot model we had, there was a mesh pocket sewn into one wall, which would be an ideal place to store a flashlight or similar object.

Take down was quick and easy. Simply reverse the process, pick up the tent pegs and store them and the poles in their own little gray pouches. Fold the rain fly and door mat up then incorporate all of the above items into the main body as it is folded up. Unfortunately, as is often the case, we could not get the package back into the green carrying case.

Overall, we were very impressed with the performance of the Coleman Sundome Tent. For less than a hundred dollars, any family can pick up this nicely made tent that should last several years with just a bit of care. Additionally, any novice camper can set it up in minutes with ease! Our only issue was with the storage bag, which wasn’t large enough to allow the tent to go completely back into the bag. Another three inches of material and the bag would be perfect. Still, it was a minor complaint.

Should you be in the market for a new tent, the Sundome series would be the perfect companion for your weekend trips afield. Check out all the Coleman tents and innovative camping supplies on their website at www.Coleman.com