Shelter Systems’ Portable Outdoor Classroom Yurts, Domes, and Tents have been helping teachers around the world by providing dry and bright classrooms that can be set up in minutes. Shelter Systems’ Portable Outdoor Classroom Domes offer the best value because they are strong, durable, watertight, wind-resistant, pleasant to be in, easy to set up, and affordable.
Worlds Strongest Dome Tents Since 1976
Shelter Systems’ Portable Classrooms are dome-shaped Geotensic™ shelter structures. A dome is stronger than any other shape of the same volume, because of its curved shape with no corners so there are no weak points. Our patented structure is drum tight, waterproof and wind-resistant. Known for their lightweight construction as well as for the large amount of light they let in, these domes are made with a strong, tear-resistant fabric and non-puncturing tarp fasteners. They are truly portable and guaranteed to be leakproof.
Easy Set Up
The 18′ Shelter Systems’ Portable Classroom Dome can be set up by most people in 30 minutes without tools. Insert the interchangeable poles into factory-attached connectors spaced evenly over the cover. The poles bend slightly when inserted, tightening the cover into a wind- and waterproof shelter. The cover is freestanding requiring no guy lines and can be moved into the desired position or location without disassembly. The Portable Classroom Dome can be taken down in 5 minutes: just remove the poles and roll up the covering.
Sturdy Design
Shelter Systems’ patented Portable Classroom Domes are very strong and well supported in multiple locations for balanced freestanding strength. Their drum tight domed shape sheds the wind well and offers the minimal surface area for the wind to push against. They are the strongest structure available for the materials used. We strive to make a durable, highly portable shelter at an affordable price that will out preform all tents except those made of much heavier and expensive materials.
Portable Classroom Domes have the poles on the outside with the covering suspended under the frame via Shelter Systems’ own Grip Clip tarp fasteners, such that the frame and the covering are not in direct contact. Because the covering is under constant and even tension, the tent will not flap or shred in high wind, pole cannot rub against the covering, which would eventually wear holes in it, and water and leaf debris cannot get caught in dips between poles.
The shingled panels of our Portable Classroom Domes overlap each other by 6″, making the structure very strong and completely leak proof (we have a leak-proof guarantee for all of our domes). The shingling design allows the structure to breathe for excellent air circulation and so moisture is driven out by vapor pressure, preventing condensation. Shelter Systems’ patented Grip Clips™ tarp fasteners are used to join the dome’s cover to the pole frame and to fasten the shingled panels together. Grip Clips remove the need for sewn seams or grommets that puncture the cover, which would allow rain to enter.
We do not rate our domes for wind because wind comes in gusts. Still, Shelter Systems’ domes have withstood storms that gusted in excess of 60 mph for two hours (https://shelter-systems.com/burning-man-wind/). We do not recommend our domes for constant or extreme wind or areas known for extreme wind like some hill tops or valleys. Wet snow can be very heavy, thus snow build up must be brushed or melted off. Our domes most often recover from failure in high wind or heavy snow, but cation must be taken. If a well anchored dome fails from extreme wind what usually happens is that a small number of poles fail and the cover collapses. After the storm passes the broken PVC poles can be easily field repaired or replaced and the dome put up again with little harm to the covering. This information is included in our user manual: https://shelter-systems.com/lighthouse-manual/. Read our important Wind and Snow Warning here.
Durable Materials
The covering is made wholly of a superstrong, tear-proof, white multilaminate woven ripstop film which will not rot or mildew. It is UV stabilized to withstand up to 3 years full sun exposure and treated with fire retardant. The fabric is a super strong, high tensile strength, rip-stop, completely waterproof, mildew resistant, and cannot be torn by hand even after it is cut. The white color of the covering reflects the heat of the sun and provides 40% shade. This US made, proprietary material is the finest material we could find to make our tents from.
The Poles are of high quality US made PVC that is admirable for its strength, resiliency, long life, natural UV stability for a long sun life, and its strength to weight and cost ratio. The poles we use are Class 200 PVC tubing.
Shelter Systems’ Patented Grip Clips that we use to join the domes cover to its poles are molded of a UV stabilized resin blended specifically for it high strength and durability.
Affordable
Shelter Systems Portable Classroom Domes are reliable and affordable shelters. Our waterproof design does not require a rain fly and the particular geometric shape utilizes material efficiently, so Shelter Systems’ domes use less material, lowing cost. The high performance covering is affordable and our Grip Clip tarp fasteners are labor efficient to build.
Comfortable Space
Shelter Systems’ Portable Classroom Domes are light filled and well ventilated. The white covering creates a pleasingly bright interior. Over each door is a translucent skylight window which allows 90% of the sunlight to pass through it while preserving privacy within.
The dome shape has other comfort features: The interior can be divided into “rooms.” The tent has more volume than a flat-sided one and therefore feels, and is, more spacious. The shape is more heat efficient requiring less fuel to heat it. Air circulates more evenly in the dome shape than any other shape. The cover of the dome is easily cleaned with a damp cloth.
Complete and Adaptable
Shelter Systems’ Portable Classroom Domes come complete with poles, high quality 12″ Durapeg stakes, guy lines for extreme wind settings, ventilation tubes, spare parts (Grips Clips and pole connectors) and a Instruction Manual that details floors, site selection, anchoring, cooling, winterizing, and stove installation. Shelter Systems’ Prepare Shelters are ideally suited for most climates; however, they can be further adapted for use in extreme climates. Shelter Systems offer a range of accessories, including net doors, sunshades, rain porches, and floors.
Shipping and Storage
All Shelter Systems’ Portable Outdoor Classrooms are shipped by UPS and pack up into compact packages that one person can move around or store.