Have you heard of the Coleman Touring Dome ST? It is Coleman’s well-known solo tent and is often said to be the strongest tent for solo camping debuts.
In this article, I, who made my solo camping debut with the Two-Length Dome, will summarize what makes this tent the best, including its surprising shortcomings. I hope this will be helpful to those who are not sure about choosing a tent for solo camping.
- 5 Reasons Why Solo Camping is the Strongest Debut
- Surprising drawbacks of the Touring Dome ST
- Camping gear to buy with Touring Dome ST
- summary
5 Reasons Why Solo Camping is the Strongest Debut
①Exquisite in sizeSize is arguably the most important factor in choosing a tent, and the Coleman Touring Dome ST is a bit wide for a solo tent, with an inner size of 210cm x 120cm x 100(h) cm.
It is a little small for two adults to lie down, but it is spacious enough for one person to sleep with luggage beside them.
There are plenty of tents that are wider than this, but wide does not necessarily mean comfortable, and this moderate narrowness gives you a sense of security. It also gives you a sense of romance, like a secret base.
②Easy to set up even for beginnersIt is easy to set up and can be set up in about 10 minutes once you get used to it.
The inner tent is set up by crossing the two main poles. While most tents have poles that are inserted into end pins, two of the four corners have pockets, making it easy for one person to set up the tent.
Furthermore, the fact that the inner tent stands on its own is very much appreciated. Even if you need to move the tent due to poor drainage, slanting ground, or sun exposure, you can move the tent while it is still up before you peg it.
This is very useful for beginners, as it is difficult to choose a base.
![[商品価格に関しましては、リンクが作成された時点と現時点で情報が変更されている場合がございます。]](https://hbb.afl.rakuten.co.jp/hgb/2d1df40b.6e2bd49c.2d1df40c.b59978ef/?me_id=1207922&item_id=10352301&pc=https%3A%2F%2Fthumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp%2F%400_mall%2Falpen%2Fcabinet%2F241203%2F1_10%2F7005103511_8.jpg%3F_ex%3D240x240&s=240x240&t=picttext "[商品価格に関しましては、リンクが作成された時点と現時点で情報が変更されている場合がございます。]")
The inner tent has mesh in the front and back for good ventilation and can be used comfortably for three seasons.
The flysheet has a rear opening mechanism and can be rolled up on the front sidewalls, allowing wind to enter from any direction in a 360° direction.
④The front room is spacious and can be flipped up, so a tarp is not necessary
The front room is wide and can be flipped up to provide a large living space even without a tarp.
Many people find it troublesome to go to the trouble of setting up a tarp when camping solo. However, many people may find a tent that is too large to be used as an overnight shelter. The Touring Dome ST has a somewhat spacious front room, so you can enjoy camping comfortably without worrying about the weather if you are a solo ground level camper.(High chairs are tough).
I have used it myself for rain camping and had no problem camping without a tarp.
⑤Can be purchased inexpensivelyThe regular price is about 20,000 yen, but it can be purchased for about 15,000 yen on some sites. I have also seen used ones on the market for around 10,000 yen.
Considering that the mont-bell Moonlight 2 with similar performance costs around 40,000 yen, it is quite inexpensive.
However, the recent camping boom has dramatically improved the performance of cheap camping gear. Many cheap and high-performing tents made in China are now available, so please consult with your own camping style and budget to make a decision.
Surprising drawbacks of the Touring Dome ST
①Tough to use in winter campsAs I mentioned in the good points, the Touring Dome ST is quite breathable.It does not have a skirt to block the cold air outside from entering, which makes it quite tough to use in winter camping.
It is not recommended for those who do not have a mat that can block the cold air well or a down sleeping bag.
②Cots are not usable when they are added
Many people are introducing cots to improve the quality of their sleep. So I am wondering if a cot can fit in a Touring Dome ST.
As it turns out, if you assemble it inside the inner tent or push it a little, you can get in, but it will be less comfortable.
Most cots are about 60cm to 80cm wide. the inner tent is 120 cm, so even if you put the cot in, there is no problem at all for putting luggage on it.
However, since the height is only 100 cm and most low cots have a ground height of 10 cm to 20 cm, the ceiling height is about 80 cm once the cot is placed. Because of the dome shape, it actually feels even lower. It makes it difficult to organize your belongings and change clothes, which reduces the comfort level.
This may not be a problem for those who do not change clothes in camp.
③Surprisingly heavy, inconvenient for touring or walkingAnother drawback is that it is a bit heavy, weighing about 4 kg.If you are camping on foot, +4 kg will feel quite heavy.
Nowadays, there are many UL tents that weigh less than 1 kg, and we recommend other such tents if you are mainly planning to camp on foot.
For those who want to reduce the weight of the Touring Dome ST, there are aluminum poles for the Touring Dome ST. This can reduce the weight by about 600g, and is highly recommended for campers who want to lighten the weight of their touring camps, etc.
Camping gear to buy with Touring Dome ST
The Touring Dome ST has been a favorite tent for many years. Therefore, there are many exclusive custom parts and compatible camping gear.
①Aluminum Pole Set/STThe pole of the Touring Dome ST is made of aluminum material as it is. By using aluminum material, the weight is reduced by approximately 600g, making it even easier to use.
However, it is currently no longer sold on the official website, and is a little harder to find on Rakuten and Amazon, where it is priced at around 15,000 years.
However, weight is a major drawback for those who use it for walking and touring camps. For weight reduction, we highly recommend this product, even if it is a bit expensive.
②Inner mat about 200cm x 100cm
To increase the comfort level inside the tent, you should buy a set of inner mats.The inner tent size of the Touring Dome ST is 210cm x 120cm, so you can choose a mat about 200cm x 100cm to fill the inside of the inner tent and be very comfortable.
A one-person mat is fine, but by filling the inner tent, the entire floor will be soft and fluffy. This is highly recommended because you can rummage around without having to turn over on the spot.
If you are not particular about it, you can try a silver mat sold at home centers that is about this size. The silver surface reflects heat from the ground, so it can also reduce the cold from the ground.
③groundsheetThe tent itself is water resistant enough, but you should have a groundsheet to protect it from dirt and scratches.
To be honest, a cheap one will do since it is intended to protect against dirt and scratches.
Just a note of caution, choose a tent that is a little smaller than the actual tent size. It is often thought that larger sheets are better for preventing dirt. However, if the sheet is larger than the tent size, water will collect between the sheet and the tent when it rains, causing flooding. It would be very difficult for the luggage and sleeping bag inside the tent to get wet, so be careful about the size of the groundsheet.
④Pole for flip-upTo get the most out of the Touring Dome ST, you need to flip up the tent entrance. This is because by doing so, a large living space can be secured even without a tarp.
However, this tent does not come with flip-up poles. If you want to enjoy camping without a tarp, you will need flip-up poles.
Cheap ones are fine as long as you can flip them up.
Coleman sells a steel canopy pole set/145 for less than 2,000 yen, so I recommend it to anyone who wants peace of mind.
I use the poles from a cheap tarp that I no longer use.(If I forget, I substitute a fallen tree.)
summary
It is clear that the Touring Dome ST is the strongest level in solo camping debut. However, it also has some drawbacks. Be sure to examine them in light of your camping style and budget before making a purchase.
We hope this article has been helpful in selecting a tent for solo camping.
By the way, please take a look at this article for more information on the author’s recommendations for solo camping!
back to homepage
