Best Dome Tent 2024 (13 Dome Tents for Every Budget & Size)

Dome tents have many advantages over other styles of tents – they’re strong and stable, and can even be easier to set up than other tent designs.

Because of all this, they’re also the most popular tent type, so there are plenty of models for you to choose from.

With all the variety, picking the best dome tent for your needs can be tough, but that’s why we’re here today.

Here are the best dome tents on the market today:

• Best Overall Dome Tent: Kelty Grand Mesa Tent
• Best Budget Dome Tent: Coleman Sundome Tent 
• Best Dome Tent for Families: CORE 9-Person Extended Dome
• Best Backpacking Dome Tent: ALPS Mountaineering Lynx Tent

If you’re looking for something even more specific, we’ve broken down the best tents by type by overall best, for backpacking, for couples, and for 4-season camping. Read on!

Best Dome Tents – Our Top Picks

Best Overall Dome Tents:

• Best Overall Dome Tent: Kelty Grand Mesa Tent
• Best Budget Dome Tent: Coleman Sundome Tent 
• Best Dome Tent for Families: CORE 9-Person Extended Dome

Best Backpacking Dome Tents:

• Best Overall Backpacking Dome Tent: ALPS Mountaineering Lynx Tent
  Best Premium Backpacking Tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL Tent
  Best Value Backpacking Tent: REI Co-Op Half Dome SL 2+ Tent With Footprint

Best Dome Tents for Couples:

• Best Overall Dome Tent for Couples: Kelty Grand Mesa Tent
  Best Premium Dome Tent for Couples: Marmot Limestone 4P Tent
  Best Budget Dome Tent for Couples: Core Equipment 4 Person Instant Dome Tent

Best Dome Tents for Families:

• Best Dome Tent for Storage: The North Face Wawona 6 Tent
  Best Budget Dome Tent for Families: CORE 9-Person Extended Dome
  Best Extra Large Dome Tent: Coleman 12-Person Skydome Tent XL

Best 4-Season Dome Tents:

• Best Overall 4-Season Tent: The North Face Mountain 25 Tent
  Best Premium 4-Season Dome Tent: Marmot Lair 8-Person 4-Season Tent
  Best 4-Season Dome Tent for Large Groups: Mountain Hardwear Stronghold Tent

Kelty Grand Mesa Tent

Size: 4 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Dome | Weight (lbs): 7 lbs 7 oz | Max Inside Height (in): 55 | Floor: 53.3 sq ft | Setup Time: 5 mins

Our top pick, the Kelty Grand Mesa, checks all the boxes – it’s durable, lightweight, easy to set up, weather-proof, and affordable.

Kelty really nailed it with this tent, as they do with all of their tents!

This double-walled tent has a 68D polyester fly with a PU rating of 1200 mm, which makes it able to handle most rain conditions.

And thanks to aluminum press-fit tent poles, this tent can withstand winds up to 45 mph.

And, thanks to color-coded clips, extended pole sleeves, and fly attachments, this tent is pretty quick and easy to set up.

Pros

• The Quick-Corner technology allows for easy setup.
• Comes in both 2 and 4-person sizes.
• Aluminum poles make the tent stand up against strong wind conditions.
• The large side vestibule provides decent storage space for your gear.

Cons

• The side vestibule doesn’t protect the front of the tent, so you can get wet from rain when entering and exiting the tent

Best for: An all-around great camping tent.

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Coleman Sundome Tent

Size: 4 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Dome | Weight (lbs): 8 lbs 8 oz | Max Inside Height (in): 59 | Floor: 63 sq ft | Setup Time: 5 mins

Coleman Sundome is proof that a high-quality tent doesn’t need to cost a pretty penny.

This 3-season tent doesn’t let the weather destroy your camping trip. The WeatherTec™ system’s welded corners and inverted seams allow you to stay dry even in heavy rain.

And, thanks to large windows and a ground vent, you won’t have to worry about condensation.

The Sundome tent comes in 2-, 3-, 4- and 6-person tent sizes, so it’s great for couples and families.

Coleman also makes a Dark Room version of this tent that we recommend as well. 

Even though this is a budget tent, this model has some cool features including multiple mesh pockets and an E-port for adding electrical plugs and other features to the inside of the tent.

Pros

• WeatherTec™ system prevents water from getting inside the tent.
• Large windows and a ground vent ensure there’s enough airflow inside, even during rainy weather.
• Insta-Clip pole attachments make setup easy and ensure the tent can withstand wind of over 35 mph.
• Features an E-port for added electric capabilities.

Cons

• Ventilation can’t be adjusted, which makes it unsuitable for camping in cold weather

Best for: Camping during warmer months.

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CORE 9-Person Extended Dome

Size: 9 | Season: 2 – 3-Season | Tent Type: Dome | Weight (lbs): 18.21 lbs | Max Inside Height (in): 72 | Floor: 144 | Setup Time: 20 mins

If you’re camping with family (even if it’s a big one) then Core has got you covered with their 9-person extended dome model.

This family tent has a center height of 72 inches, so it allows most campers to easily move around the tent without bumping their heads.

And talk about space! This CORE tent is large enough to fit up to three queen mattresses. It also features a gear loft with a lantern hook and wall pockets to keep your stuff organized.

What’s also great about this tent is the Block Out technology, which blocks 90% of sunlight from getting inside your tent, allowing you to sleep for longer.

Pros

• A center height of 72 inches allows campers to easily move around the tent.
• Gear loft and wall pockets allow your party to keep items organized and off the tent floor.
• Water-repellent fabrics with a fully taped rainfly and sealed seams keep the rain out of the tent interior.
• Adjustable air intake vents on the ground allow hot air to escape and cool air to get inside the tent.

Cons

• Compared to other models on this list, the CORE 9-person extended dome can take more effort during set up.

Best for: Large families and groups of friends.

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ALPS Mountaineering Lynx Tent

Size: 4 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Dome | Weight (lbs): 8 lbs. 7 oz | Max Inside Height (in): 52 | Floor: 64 sq ft | Setup Time: 6 mins

When it comes to backpacking tents, the Lynx is a hard one to beat. It’s feather-light, without sacrificing quality.

The fly is made of 75D 185T polyester, which is durable, UV and water-resistant. The inner body is half-covered in mesh, providing decent airflow inside.

While there’s not much space inside this 1-person tent, mesh storage pockets and gear loft allow you to keep things organized and the floor mess-free.

Furthermore, the large front vestibule allows you to keep your backpack and dirty clothes outside of the tent.

Pros

• A large vestibule keeps the door protected from rain and allows you to keep your gear outside.
• Thick fabric, along with PU coating and factory-sealed seams ensure the tent stays dry in a heavy pour.
• Half mesh walls ensure there’s enough ventilation, even during rain.
• Gear loft and mesh pockets keep your gear organized and off the floor.

Cons

• Tall people can feel constricted inside

Best for: Solo backpackers.

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Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL Tent

Size: 3 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Backpacking, Dome | Weight (lbs): 3 lbs 8 oz | Max Inside Height (in): 43 | Floor: 41 sq ft | Setup Time: 5 mins

If you’re a keen backpacker, it’ll serve you to invest in a premium tent model that will last you a long time.

The Copper Spur HV UL comes in capacities ranging from 1- to 5-person tents, so you can choose the one most suitable for the size of your party.

The tent features a vestibule that expands into an awning to create a covered living space.

This allows you to enjoy the day outside even when you need shelter from the sun or rain.

For a dome tent, this model provides decent interior space, thanks to pre-bent poles that make for steep walls.

Pros

• A rainfly door can be erected into a large vestibule awning, creating a covered living space.
• The Tiplock buckle makes for easy set up,even during solo trips.
• Pre-bent tent poles increase available interior area.
• This tent comes in a variety of sizes, ranging from 1 to 5-person tents

Cons

• This tent is on the more expensive end of many budgets.

Best for: Long backpacking trips.

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REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ Tent With Footprint

Size: 2 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Dome, Backpacking | Weight (lbs): 4 lbs 11.5 oz | Max Inside Height (in): 42 | Floor: 33.75 sq ft | Setup Time: 5 mins

This model by REI Co-op strikes a perfect balance between price and quality.

This is an “upgraded” 2-person tent, meaning it provides more interior space than an average 2-person tent.

This model has two doors, which makes it easier for you and your camping partner to get in and out of the tent.

Each door has a vestibule that offers additional covered storage for your dirty boots and gear at both the front and the back of the tent.

What’s also great about this model is that it comes with a footprint. The footprint will prolong the life of your tent, keeping the bottom safe from damage caused by harsh terrain.

Pros

• A bit wider than regular 2-person tents, this model offers additional space inside.
• This tent has two doors, which makes it easier for two campers to enter and exit.
• Each door has a large vestibule for weather protection and additional storage space.
• This modelomes with a footprint, which protects the tent bottom from damage.

Cons

• This tent can be less stable in high wind conditions.

Best for: Backpackers who need extra storage space.

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Marmot Limestone 4P Tent

Size: 4 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Dome | Weight (lbs): 11 lbs 11 oz | Max Inside Height (in): 61 | Floor: 60 sq ft | Setup Time: 15 mins

If you don’t mind stretching your budget, the Marmot Limestone offers amazing shelter for you and your camping buddy.

There are two D-shaped doors at the front and one at the back of this model, so moving gear in and out of the tent is extremely easy.

A large vestibule covers the front doors, providing additional weather protection and storage space for your equipment.

Zone Pre-Bend construction creates almost vertical walls, so there’s extra headroom, peaking at 61 inches.

It’s our favorite of all the Marmot tents available today!

Pros

• Vertical wall structure creates additional headroom.
• A large front vestibule offers additional weather protection and covered outdoor storage.
• Doors on both sides of this tent provide easy in-and-out access.
• The Lampshade pocket allows you to use your headlamp to light up your living space.

Cons

• The included stakes wear easily and may require replacement.

Best for: Camping in unpredictable weather.

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Core Equipment 4-Person Instant Dome Tent

Size: 4 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Dome, Instant | Weight (lbs): 12.1 lbs | Max Inside Height (in): 54 | Floor: 63 | Setup Time: 1 min

Being on a budget doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort, and this tent by Core Equipment is proof of that.

This is an instant tent, meaning it has a pre-assembled pole system that can be set up in just 30 seconds.

Like other Core Equipment tents, this model has H2O Block Technology features, which include water-repellent fabrics with a fully taped rainfly and sealed seams.

And, thanks to lower air intake vents and mesh ceiling, condensation is not an issue with this tent.

Pros

• Pre-assembled pole system allows you to set up a tent in just 30 seconds.
• A center height of 54 inches lets campers sit upright in the tent.
• Comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
• Features an E-port, allowing you to use the power inside the tent.

Cons

• The zippers can catch on fabric.

Best for: Couples on a budget.

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The North Face Wawona 6 Tent

Size: 6 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Dome | Weight (lbs): 20 lbs 15 oz | Max Inside Height (in): 80 | Floor: 86 | Setup Time: 15 mins

If you’re camping with your family, the Wawona 6 will make you feel like your own second home.

With a peak height of 76 inches, this tent allows you to stand upright and move around comfortably.

Its huge vestibule can serve as a seating area when the weather isn’t suitable for an outdoor hang out.

The tent features ceiling pockets for lamps and phones, as well as side pockets for your other necessities.

Even though it’s huge, this tent is easy to set up. Thanks to pre-bent, color-coded poles and trims, you can pitch this tent solo in just a few minutes.

Pros

• A large vestibule provides a seating area protected from weather elements.
• Plenty of storage pockets allow you to keep the floor of the tent tidy.
• A peak height of 76 inches allows you to stand up inside the tent.
• Color-coded poles and trims make setup quick and easy.

Cons

• This tent is one of the heavier models we reviewed.

Best for: Large camping groups in need of additional storage space.

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Coleman 12-Person Skydome Tent XL

Size: 12 | Season: 3-season | Tent Type: Dome, 2-room | Weight (lbs): 33.6 lbs | Max Inside Height (in): 84 | Floor: 180 sq ft | Setup Time: 5 mins

When it comes to large family tents, this model by Coleman is one of the best on the market.

Thanks to pre-attached poles and color-coded sleeves, it takes only five minutes to set this tent up, with the help of another camper.

And, even though it’s large, this tent’s frame is stable enough to withstand winds of 35 mph.

One thing that stands out about this tent is that it features a room divider, which allows you to create a separate space for the kids or your gear – and you can even use it as a movie screen!

Pros

• Nearly vertical walls and 7-foot center height provide more headroom inside the tent.
• Features two wide doors, making it easy to move gear in and out of the tent.
• Comes with a room divider, allowing you to separate the interior for additional privacy.
• It can easily be set up with the help of another camper.

Cons

• The vestibule is rather short

Best for: Camping with a large group or family.

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The North Face Mountain 25 Tent

Size: 2 | Season: 4-season | Tent Type: Dome | Weight (lbs): 9 lbs | Max Inside Height (in): 41 | Floor: 32.3 sq ft | Setup Time: 10 mins

This tent by The North Face is an amazing shelter for both casual and more experienced winter campers.

This 2-person tent features DAC aluminum poles, which have an amazing strength-to-weight ratio.

Thanks to guylines with equalizers at multiple attachment points, this structure stays stable even in the windiest weather conditions.

The tent fly is made of nylon and features polyurethane port windows, keeping you safe from weather elements, no matter how bad.

It also features snow flaps on the vestibule, which keep snow from entering inside.

Pros

• Glow-in-the-dark, color-coded zipper pulls allow you to enter and exit the tent at night with ease.
• High-low venting allows you to keep constant airflow inside the tent, no matter the weather.
• Plenty of hanger loops and interior pockets help you organize your essentials.
• DAC aluminum poles and stakes ensure the tent stands still in high winds.

Cons

• This tent is one of the heavier models on this review list.

Best for: Camping in the snow.

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Marmot Lair 8-Person 4-Season Tent

Size: 8 | Season: 4-season | Tent Type: Dome | Weight (lbs): 26 lbs | Max Inside Height (in): 96 | Floor: 165 sq ft | Setup Time: 30 mins

This is, hands down, the BEST tent for mountaineering expeditions.

It’s spacious enough to accommodate up to eight people, but not too big to diminish its stability in strong winds and heavy snow.

In addition to the floor area of 165 square feet, the tent has an additional 40 square feet under the vestibule for storing gear and dirty boots.

Inside, it has plenty of interior pockets for keeping your essentials close.

This 4-season tent has quite an impressive ventilation system. Multiple fly vents, together with large doors, allow condensation to escape and ensure there’s enough airflow at all times.

Pros

• Has a peak height of 94 inches, so you can easily move around the tent.
• Features a large vestibule that provides additional space for storing gear.
• Comes with a removable floor, which allows snow to be dug out from beneath the tent.
• Purchase includes a lifetime warranty.

Cons

• This tent is one of the pricier tents we’ve reviewed in this category.

Best for: Mountaineering and arctic expeditions.

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Mountain Hardwear Stronghold Tent

Size: 10 | Season: 4-season | Tent Type: Dome | Weight (lbs): 46lbs | Max Inside Height (in): 77 | Floor: 171 sq ft | Setup Time: 30 mins

This large 4-season tent offers enough interior space for you to hang out, cook, and sleep during extreme winter weather.

With a center height of 77 inches, the tent offers decent headroom for a dome tent.

With DWR, silicone and 2000-mm PU coating, this tent is as waterproof as it gets.

The dome shape allows it to divert incoming wind, while multiple vents provide enough ventilation to keep the air moving inside.

Pros

• Multiple vents ensure there’s always enough airflow inside.
• Perimeter snow flaps and DAC poles keep the tent in place during heavy wind conditions.
• Features ten storage pockets for keeping your gear organized.
• Multiple UVX windows let light into the interior during the day.

Cons

• Weighs over 40 pounds.
• This tent is fairly expensive.

Best for: Winter camping for large groups.

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Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dome Tent

To find the perfect dome tent for your next camping trip, you should think about what features you want to prioritize.

In this section, we’ll address some of the key characteristics of dome tents, so you’ll know what to keep an eye out for.

Size and capacity

Dome tents come in all sizes, so finding the one suitable for your group size won’t be an issue.

However, you should keep in mind that dome tents have sloped walls, which make interior space less usable the closer you get to the edges.

So while the center height might be 72 inches, for instance, there’s much less headroom around the walls.

So, when you’re choosing the right tent size, take into consideration the actual usable interior space, not just its dimensions. Sizing up often may be a better option if you have a lot of gear.

Weight and portability

Do you plan on using the tent for backpacking or camping in a drive-in campsite?

You should keep weight and portability in mind if you plan on carrying the tent on your back for a certain distance.

However, if you’re driving up to the campground, these two factors aren’t that important, since you likely won’t be required to pack the tent, or carry it any large distances.

Weather resistance

Every tent we’ve reviewed has a certain degree of weather resistance.

Waterproofness is measured in millimeters, with the lowest rating considered 1000 mm. A tent with this rating can remain dry in light drizzle but is mainly designed for use in dry weather.

If you actually plan on camping in rainy weather, you’ll need a tent with a waterproof rating of at least 2000 mm.

Another aspect of weather resistance includes UV ray protection. UV rays can pass through tent material and cause damage to your skin and the tent fabric itself.

When you’re in the market for tents, make sure the brand mentions UV resistance on the product material description.

Also See: Best Tent For High Winds: Top 9 Reviewed

Material and durability

You can definitely notice the difference in materials used for budget and premium tents.

Premium tents are made with high-quality materials, which often have a better strength-to-weight ratio. This is why backpacking tents typically come with a higher price tag.

On the other hand, budget tents are often required to have a fair share of trade-offs to keep their prices low.

In most cases, they’ll need to use thicker and heavier materials to achieve the same material strength as premium tents.

If you’re an avid camper who spends most of their free time outside, getting a premium tent can be a good investment.

These tents are built to last, so you’re investing in something that you can use for many years to come.

But if you only camp one or two times a year, you may not need all the features included in premium tents. In this care, it’s more worth your money to invest on a budget tent.

Ease of setup and takedown

When you get to your campsite, there are way more interesting things to do than set up your tent.

This is why dome tents are so great! They’re generally pretty easy to set up.

Depending on their size, they may use between two and four poles which are intersected and either inserted through sleeves or clipped to the tent body.

In most cases, you can set up a dome tent by yourself, but it gets more difficult the larger the tent is.

With that being said, some models include features that make your job easier, including color-coded poles and extended pole sleeves.

If you absolutely hate setting up a tent, consider getting an instant tent. While heavier in weight, these tents have a single-pole system, which allows you to set them up in less than a minute.

Ventilation and breathability

Ventilation and breathability are important factors, regardless of the weather you encounter on your camping trip.

During warm summer nights, proper ventilation ensures there’s enough airflow inside the tent to keep you cool.

This list includes tents that have both double and single-walled structures. Double-walled tents with mesh bodies are very convenient because you can remove the fly during dry nights to enjoy the breeze.

Double-walled tents are also more breathable in general, as they allow the air to pass between the rainfly and the tent body.

So even if you keep the doors and windows closed during rain, there’s enough space for condensation to escape.

However, that doesn’t mean that single-walled tents are necessarily bad.

Even though this type of structure has less ventilation, you can still use their well-positioned vents to ensure there’s enough decent airflow inside the tent.

Additional features

Sometimes, it’s the little things that make all the difference. And when several tents have similar main characteristics, better additional features are what usually determines the final pick.

Storage options, like mesh pockets and gear loops, are definitely something to keep an eye on.

By keeping your tent’s interior organized, you have more space to sleep comfortably.

Not just that, but you always know where your essentials, like your phone or headlight, have been placed.

A vestibule is also a nice feature to have. Smaller tents usually have side vestibules that offer just enough space to keep your backpack outside.

Larger models may have ample vestibules that create a covered living area.

Faqs

What is the best dome tent?

The Kelty Grand Mesa Tent is the best model on the market when it comes to dome tents. It strikes the perfect balance between quality, weight, and price.

What is a dome-shaped tent called?

Dome-shaped tents are sometimes called geodesic, but it’s worth noting that they’re actually a subtype of dome tents.

Geodesic tents typically have more poles compared to regular dome tents for better stability in harsh weather elements.

How do you assemble a dome tent?

To set up a dome tent, you need to cross the poles and insert them into grommets at each corner of the tent.

Depending on the model, the tent will have either sleeves to slide the poles through, or clips to attach the tent body to the frame.

What is the biggest dome tent?

Coleman’s 12-person Skydome Tent is among the largest dome tents on the market. It has a center height of 7 feet, so you can stand up straight while moving around the tent.

What is the difference between a cabin tent and a dome tent?

As the name suggests, dome tents are shaped like half of a sphere, meaning they have the highest ceiling at the center, sloping down towards the edges.

Cabin tents, on the other hand, have vertical walls and taller ceilings than dome tents.

How much does a dome tent cost?

Dome tents come with different selling prices, depending on their features.

Affordable 2-person dome tents can cost as low as $50, while more premium 4-season models can have a four-digit price tag.

Can you stand up in a dome tent?

That depends on the size of the tent. Most 1 to 4-person tents are tall enough to sit upright, while you can stand up in larger, 8+ person models.

What is a modified dome tent?

A modified dome tent is a cross between a dome and a cabin tent. Basically, it gets the best of both worlds – it’s easy to set up like a dome tent, but features a tall, cabin-like ceiling.

What is a half dome tent?

A half-dome tent has a narrower width and longer length compared to regular dome tents.

But while there’s less interior space, that’s typically compensated by having a larger vestibule for storing gear outside.

To Sum Things Up

Dome tents come in all shapes and sizes, and there’s a model for every price range.

Among them, the Kelty Grand Mesa Tent offers the perfect balance between price and quality. It’s durable, easy to use, and lightweight, yet it doesn’t cost a pretty penny.

It also has decent weather protection capabilities, making it a suitable pick for camping in spring, summer, and fall.

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