Coleman Skydome XL 8 Review

The Skydome XL 8 is our favorite tent for families or large groups. Its most distinctive feature is its sheer size: measuring a whopping 201 inches from end to end, this tent takes up space, so you'd best have a decent-sized campsite.

Space and Comfort

The Skydome XL 8 earned some of its best scores in this metric. Not only is this tent super spacious, but it also boasts some key features that make it comfortable to use. Although it can sleep eight (on basic sleeping pads), we like that this tent can also sleep six more comfortably on three queen-sized air mattresses.

At more than 16 feet wide, the Skydome takes up more real estate than any tent we've studied. However, during our testing, we also liked that its head-to-toe depth is more than seven feet, so even taller campers can sleep comfortably without having to sleep on an angle.

Despite its lower cost, we were impressed by the comfort features Coleman incorporated into the Skydome XL 8. This tent is well-vented and has six large mesh pockets for gear, several gear hooks, string lighting, and a small electrical port, which makes it easy to bring electrical cords into the tent without keeping the main door unzipped. The manufacturer's website also claims a room divider; however, our tent did not ship with one, and we saw no evidence of where a divider would attach on the interior.

Although this tent's durable tarp flooring is super tough, it's also super loud. It magnifies the sound of every nighttime twist, roll, or pillow replacement, creating quite the symphony, crackling and crinkling. On the plus side, no one will be sneaking out of this tent at night without being heard.

Our favorite comfort feature is this shelter's massive mesh rooftop. It runs the full length of the tent, making warm-weather camping a literal breeze. On clear nights, we loved sleeping without the rainfly. The mesh top allows cooler nighttime air to pass easily into the tent's interior, and it is also thin enough to enjoy a fair amount of stargazing.

Weather Resistance

The Skydome XL 8 is perfect for basic fair-weather camping. It could even withstand short-term wind and rain from a passing mountain thunderstorm. However, after weeks of examining our Skydome, we weren't convinced that it could really hold its own against more severe weather. Our doubts led to lower scores on this metric.

We doused the Skydome XL 8 with gallons of hose water for more than five minutes, and were pleased that none of it made its way into the Skydome's interior. Basic rainstorms were never much of a concern to us, but the rainfly isn't full-length, so we don't think it would perform as well against blowing rain or snow.

Our testers felt the rainfly is also a little too thin, and they collectively didn't like the bungee-and-hook system that secures the fly to the tent. The consensus was that this system isn't as reliable or secure as staked or buckled options on other tents, and it also cannot adjust or tighten the rainfly when it's time to batten down the hatches.

Our biggest concern with the rainfly is its small awning over the door. We felt the awning worked perfectly if rain or snow was falling vertically. However, we didn't like this design during blowing precipitation because the awning directly exposes the tent's mesh rooftop. Wind-driven rain or snow could easily penetrate beneath the awning and instantly make its way into the interior of the tent.

Finally, due to its size and design, the Skydome XL 8 isn't very sturdy and relies heavily on ground stakes for stability. During our wind tests, we noticed the tent bowing and moving in very moderate winds. Performance improved greatly when all stakes and guylines were properly anchored, but at its core, we felt the Skydome had a lot of room to be more wind-resistant and sturdier.

Ease of Setup

A lengthy setup process, catchy zippers, and a very annoying rainfly were among the key reasons we awarded the Skydome XL 8 lower scores on this metric. It's also a little more difficult and time-consuming to roll up and stow into its stuff sack.

We did not like the setup process for this tent. The poles are very long and awkward to handle, and the tent itself is large and tends to bow and twist out of position throughout the process. During our timed tests, most of our reviewers required between 6 and 10 minutes to complete the task (not including the rainfly). All four lengthy poles are permanently attached to the tent at one end. Although this design feature is supposed to streamline the setup, we actually felt it did the opposite, and we feel the process would be easier if the poles were unattached.

We loved all of the zippers on the Skydome. All are constructed from high-quality material and have a smoother glide than those on many of the more expensive models in our lineup. However, despite their buttery zip, we did have consistent trouble with the main door. Regardless of our efforts, the zipper slider routinely bound in the storm flap fabric, creating a stop-and-go pattern every time we opened or closed the tent. We didn't feel this was a huge construction flaw, but it was annoying.

Family Friendliness

An unmatched ability to sleep for several people resulted in top marks for the Skydome XL 8 in this metric. This gargantuan shelter is perfect for families and their pets. It is also a great choice for organized youth camps or other events with many campers.

When it comes to meeting basic criteria for family use, there was a lot that we loved about the Skydome XL 8. Although loud and crinkly, we loved this model's tub-style tarp flooring (flooring that continues up the sides of the tent). It's super durable, waterproof, and easy to clean, making it ideal for spills, messy kids, or even a muddy paw print or two. As stated, the Skydome can sleep eight on regular sleeping pads, but it's also large enough to accommodate three queen-sized air mattresses. This lowers its sleeping bandwidth to about six snoozers, but you'll be sleeping in luxury. Our favorite feature of this metric is the Skydome's interior string lights. They aren't overly necessary, but they're a fun accessory that kids love, especially when night falls, and the monsters come out of the forest.

Quality

After weeks of testing and use, we awarded the Skydome XL 8 so-so scores for quality. This tent is well-made, and with proper care, we feel it's tough enough to withstand years of basic use. However, we don't feel it has the right to go up against on-the-go campers who like to be outdoors on a regular basis. Our consensus was that intense use by large families, or similar groups, could prove to be more than the Skydome can handle. However, we still love this tent and feel it performs very well in the lane it was built for

Both the tent and rainfly of the Skydome are double-stitched, reinforced, and sealed with seam tape. The tarp flooring is very rugged, and all of the connection points (clips, loops, zippers) are solid enough to stand the test of time if used with care. This tent's skeleton (four long tent poles) is fiberglass, not aluminum, so they are a bit heavier, but still very strong. In fact, we feel fiberglass poles may be a better option for families because they can handle more abuse without denting, bending, or breaking. Another quality feature we loved was a thoughtfully placed exterior awning that shields the Skydome's floor vent from rain and snow.

This tent is built as a free-standing shelter, but its size and weight make it virtually impossible to use. Our testers quickly discovered that without ground stakes, the Skydome will not stand on its own, especially in breezy conditions. Given this, we were very disappointed with the quality of the stakes. They are thin, cheap, and average at best.

Should You Buy the Coleman Skydome XL 8?

If you camp in large groups or enjoy the great outdoors as a family, the Skydome XL 8 is a great, less expensive option that offers the space you need for rows of sleeping bags. This tent has many thoughtful features and is resilient enough to handle an occasional storm or gust of wind. However, everything has its price, so don't expect the Skydome to perform like a $600 tent. It certainly has its limitations, but for basic family camping on a budget, you can't go wrong with this mega shelter.

What Other Camping Tents Should You Consider?

The Skydome is the only eight-person tent in our lineup — tents this size are somewhat rare. However, we've tested several tents that can sleep six. Our favorites are the The North Face Wawona 6 and REI Co-op Base Camp 6. But if you're on a budget, the Kelty Wireless 6 will do the trick. For families, we also highly recommend the Gazelle T4 Hub because it's super durable, self-contained, and locks into place in under a minute. On the other end of the spectrum is the super-expensive Zempire Evo TM V2 Inflatable Air Tent. It's worth every penny — but it will cost you a lot of them.