Due to their light-weight and trouble-free setup, dome tents are a
mainstay of backpackers. Dome tents are self-supporting, and do not need
to be staked down in order to be compiled. They can even be completely
set up inside or on concrete. However, after one has set up a dome tent,
it should be staked down to prevent a strong wind from blowing away the
tent. The dome tent has the ideal shape for adverse weather
conditions-it's sloping profile is aerodynamic, and sheds wind and rain
better than any other design. The outer edges of a dome tent, where the
walls angle into the floor, are ideal for storage.The early dome tent design consisted of a freestanding dome with a hexagonal base. Though this design didn't offer much greater floor space than the previously used other tents, the dome shape was easier to assemble and provided more headroom. Contemporary dome tents are rectangular or square domes and use only two pole sections to support them. Though this design may not have quite the strength of a hexagonal dome, it has greater usable floor space for a similar sized tent because of the parallel walls.
There are also some other kind of dome tents, which are similar to hexagonal dome tents in the layout of the floor, but they have one or more additional pole sections that cross the tent around the sides and at angles. Some tents are designed so that the rainfly extends out well over the windows and doors of the tent, allowing them to remain open during a rainstorm for continual cross-ventilation.
Dome tents are the best selling, most popular type of tents. There are two basic kinds of dome tents, the single room dome tent, which generally sleeps between two and eight people in a single dome-shaped enclosure, and the family dome tent, which has several rooms and practically elevated peaks. A design attribute found almost exclusively in dome tents is the "rainfly," which is an additional piece of fabric, separate from the tent that forms a water-resistant cover.
The dome shape has other comfort features as well:
- The interior can be divided into "rooms."
- It has more capacity than a flat-sided one and is, more spacious.
- The shape is more heat efficient because the heat circulates more evenly and less fuel is needed.
- The covers of the Domes are easily cleaned with a damp cloth.
The family dome tent is great for families and other groups who would enjoy having a bit of privacy. The best ones have heavy-duty taffeta walls and clear view windows in addition to mesh windows. A single room dome tent is better for smaller groups who don't mind sleeping together in the same shared space. Single room domes come in a variety of shapes, including square, hexagonal and octagonal. Different shapes allow for varying configurations of sleeping space and storage space.
Who Should Avoid a Dome Tent?
If one is going for trecking and need something very light that will fit in a backpack, a dome tent may be overkill. On the other hand, if one decides to go for car camping, and want something with lots of stand-up room, one may find a cabin tent more to your liking than a dome tent.
