Today’s tent review centers around the ever-popular CORE 9 Extended Dome Tent. With an unbelievably affordable price and a compact pack size, this is a great option for family camping on weekends and holidays.
It’s rather lightweight for such a large capacity, and it has lots of cool features that make it an obvious choice for modern campers.
The extension of a standard dome shape isn’t something new, but the construction for this model is one of the best qualities you can find on the market.
Even though it has a reasonable price tag, we have some lingering questions like, is this worth your hard-earned cash and what makes it so special when you compare it to similar models from competing brands.
We’ve conducted an in-depth analysis of this popular family dome tent so that you can see if it will truly suit your needs.
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CORE 9 Dome Tent Review
Our First Thoughts
If you go camping with a family of 4, this tent has a massive amount of space to accommodate for everyone. We can easily see it fitting a twin mattress and a queen airbed inside with room leftover for a cooler and other gear. It has a traditional set up instead of instant, so it takes longer, but we don’t see this as a negative.
The assembly process is still quite simple, where there are extra poles for the extended sides. For first timers it would take around 20 minutes, but if you practice, we think it could take under 10. As a warm weather shelter, we like that the fly has good coverage. It doesn’t reach to the ground, but it’s decent plus you have the extended canopy cover over the door.
Being able to use electricity is just another reason why this is a great family tent. It adds to a comfortable experience that brings some of the luxury that you’re missing from your home. This is certainly a clever choice for vacation camping.
Important Specs at a Glance
| Type
Extended Dome Tent |
Dimensions
192“L x 108“W x 72“H |
| Weight
18 lbs |
Price
$110 or over depending on where you purchase from. |
| Capacity
9 People |
Extras
21 7” Steel Stakes Carry Bag |
| Season
2-3 Season |
Materials
Polyester & Mesh |
| Pack Size
27.2” x 10” x 10” |
Rainfly and Carry Bag
Included |
Overview of Features
- Patented H2O Block Technology for weather resistance
- Tall 72” height
- Rainfly with small front awning
- Straightforward 15-minute assembly
- Full mesh roof
- 4 screened windows
- Large floor space
- Zipper storm panels
- Electrical cord port
- Adjustable ground ventilation
- Gear loft & storage pockets
What We Love – Our Top 3 Features
GOLD QUALITY – Plenty of Mesh
This tent presents summer camping at its best. The roof is completely made from mesh, and there are several big mesh windows at every turn. Not only does this let heaps of airflow come through, but it gives some beautiful panoramic views of your surroundings.
Meshed Pockets Prevent Condensation Buildup
You can hang out inside, eat your meals, and enjoy the breeze and outdoors without being interrupted by bugs. It gives such a wonderfully airy feel, and makes the inside feel bigger than it is, even though it’s already very large.
SILVER FEATURE – Very Spacious
Many campers have said that this model is so much larger than they expected. Especially when it’s used by 4 to 5 people, there is so much extra space leftover. The extended ends are perfect for adding room, as they slope down and don’t add too much to the overall weight.
Staying Connected is a Cinch with AC Access Port
They’re just the right size for putting mattresses under, so you can place two mattresses on either end and leave the middle as a living and storage area. You could also get a table and chairs and relax inside with the rainfly on or off depending on the weather.
BRONZE HIGHLIGHT– Organization Options
Larger capacity tents should have as many storage options as possible, as more people living inside means more gear to store. The gear loft attached to the ceiling is big and made from mesh so you can easily see through it and know what you have stored there.
Meshed Storage on the Center Hub
It’s at the perfect spot to keep valuables safe, but at close reach. Several mesh pockets can be found scattered around. Some of them are large enough to fit bigger items, like toiletries and books.
Main Overview – Breaking Down Every Detail
Lightweight, Sturdy Framework Sits Under the Rainfly
Weather Resistant Materials
Although this is ideally meant for warmer conditions without a lot of rain or wind, this model does a decent job at weather resistance. The rainfly has partial coverage, where it covers until about halfway down the body.
Except for the front door, where you have a mini awning extension. This is the main reason why it won’t do well in harsh rain, as it could still get through to the door. But for light rainfall, you’ll stay dry inside.
Be Content with the Kids Inside the Weather Resistant Shelter
Bathtub flooring is another great design choice for keeping you dry. It stops any leaks coming through from puddles forming beside or under the tent. The floor also looks like a much thicker tarp than the rest of the fabric, so it’s more durable.
A fiberglass frame isn’t the most heavy-duty out there, but the rounded dome style and sloping side sections allow this to hold up well against winds. Air is able to breeze past without catching onto sharp edges or blunt walls. You can use more heavy-duty stakes to ensure higher stability, which we recommend.
Ventilation
Getting enough air circulation in this tent isn’t a problem. Even with the fly on and all window panels closed, any hot air can escape through the roof and out of the sides.
Air Circulation from Top to Bottom with Ground Vents
The ground vent at the back is another great addition. It draws any cool air that travels on the ground and pushes it through the inside of the tent.
Spacious
As I mentioned in the Top Features section, the vast floor space is definitely a standout element of this tent. with 4 to 5 campers, you’re getting a spacious area that’s made for storing gear without taking up the whole floor. The front D-door is massive, and when you roll back the flap everyone can get in and out with ease.
Portability
At 18 lbs, this certainly isn’t the heaviest 9-person tent out there. In fact, this weight is quite surprising, and makes it much easier to transport around. The carry bag it comes in has 2 long nylon hand straps, making it even more portable to carry around.
Most Asked Questions – We’ve Got You Covered
How Well Does it Hold Up in Rain?
With the CORE H2O Blocking Technology, all the fabric is polyester with a durable PU coating. All the seams are taped, including on the rainfly, and this combination helps to prevent significant leaks.
All the windows and the door close with storm flaps using zippers, and the ground vent is covered with a hood. This creates great protection against light precipitation, but if you want to be extra safe you can always use sealant for added protection.
How Do You Make the Set Up Easy?
You can assemble it easily in around 15 minutes, or less once you get the hang of it. Unpack the tent and lay it flat. Stake all the corners, put the poles together, and insert the longest ones into the middle section.
The shorter poles go on the ends, and all the poles are attached using the ring-and-pin system. Next, some bungee cord is attached to the rings and Velcro loops under the rainfly attach it together. Pull the guylines out, insert the stakes, and tighten.
Our Final Thoughts of the CORE 9 Dome Tent
Your next family outdoor adventure can have a little more luxury with this comfortable and roomy CORE Extended Dome 9 Person Tent. Best used in warmer environments due to the full mesh roof, but it certainly has great weather protection if it does rain or gets windy on your trip.
We think you’re getting amazing value with this model. This tent is made to last for years, with a smart construction and top-quality materials from the trusted CORE brand. When you look at the large capacity, huge floor space, extended shape, and modern features, the price is truly a great deal.
