Showing posts with label kelty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kelty. Show all posts

9/03/2011

Kelty Pavilion 6-Person Tent (Navy/Grey) Review

Kelty Pavilion 6-Person Tent (Navy/Grey)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Appology for my poor English. Been using it for about 50 overnights, in Australia, with my wife and two kids. Had a 3P Sierra Designs before.

Pros:
The tent is large, water proof and quite well built, but that's about it.
Cons:
The mashes can't be covered, so you have to put the fly in order to be protected from sun, rain, wind and having some privacy. The fly requires 6 pegs at least, and since the tent is totally pointless without the fly, it is not a truly free standing tent. This means, too, that when the weather gets cold, you can't limit the air flow, so it gets cold inside, and if you need to build or fold it when its raining, the rain will get in.
Same when the hit is on- as the fly has no windows at all, the day's hit stays inside.
You end up with a tent that requires about 40 minutes to put up and with a poorly inside temp control in all weather conditions.
There is more-
you can't open the fly's door from the inside without bending under the fly's angled exit wall, and at morning time this means that you'll get wet and it is almost impossible to put-up the fly over the tent with no 2nd person's help.
There are tents out there that can be built in few minutes (Australian's "black-wolf turbo lite FS"), and that have a close-able windows in the tent's body as well as open-able windows in the fly (many types and brands) so you can control the inner temp much better.
Keep on looking.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Kelty Pavilion 6-Person Tent (Navy/Grey)

Offering a highly durable aluminum frame that will withstand the harshest of weather conditions, the Kelty Pavilion provides luxurious sleeping space for six campers as well as a large screened vestibule area with room enough to store gear or set up chairs for watching the sunset. It offers three-season usage, and a freestanding design that enables you to move it around your campsite to find the optimum position. It also includes mesh ceiling and side-wall vents to prevent condensation build-up, UV resistant polyester rain fly, and color-coded poles for quick-and-easy setup. Weighing 26 pounds, this six-person Pavilion has a 121 square foot floor area, and an 83 square foot vestibule area.
The aluminum DAC DA17 poles offer more strength for improved durability and a more wind-resistant pitch. They use a color-coded clip construction that eliminates the hassle of feeding poles through cumbersome tent sleeves--just slide the shock-corded pole sections together and attach the clips. The tent also offers post and grommet type assembly with locking pole tips for convenience and security. Kelty's ArcEdge construction lifts floor seams up off the ground, preventing water seepage around the floor and wall seams. Other features include gear loft loops, mesh interior pockets for gear storage, external guy points for added stability in windy conditions, and noiseless zipper pulls.
Specifications
Dimensions: 162 x 108 x 79 inches
Floor area: 121 square feet
Vestibule area: 83 square feet
Weight: 26 pounds
Seasons: 3
Doors: 1
Windows: 4
Wall material: 68D 190T polyester taffeta
Floor material: 1800mm PU nylon taffeta
Fly material: 75D 190T, 1800 mm PU polyester taffeta
Number of poles: 4

About Kelty Kelty is based in Boulder, Colorado, and uses the natural backdrop of the Rocky Mountains to test, create, and continually innovate within their diverse outdoor product families of Apex, Backcountry, Trail, Basecamp and KIDS gear. Kelty combines the best in new technology with a healthy dose of common sense to create exceptionally made, affordably priced outdoor products.
Amazon.com Tent Guide Selecting a Tent Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Expect the Worst In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.
Three- and Four-Season Tents For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.
For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.
Domes and Tunnels Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.
Size Matters Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.
Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.


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Click here for more information about Kelty Pavilion 6-Person Tent (Navy/Grey)

8/24/2011

Kelty Gunnison 4.1 Tent 4-Person 3-Season Review

Kelty Gunnison 4.1 Tent 4-Person 3-Season
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Let's face it - buying a tent is like buying a house; unless you build it yourself, you are never going to get exactly what you want. That having been said, the Kelty Gunnison 4.1 4-person tent is pretty close to exactly what I wanted, and a great tent.
Packed up: The G-4.1 is at the large end of what you want for backpacking. Packed up, it measures approximately 8"x28" and weighs about 8.5 pounds, so it's going to take up a lot of room either in your pack or (more likely) strapped on the outside of your pack. But if you can hack it, that's really a pretty light weight for a tent this size. On the otherhand, it's a perfect size/wieght for car camping, if not on the small end of that spectrum.
Included in the package are (1) the tent; (2) two super lightweight aluminum poles; (3) rain fly; and (10) lightweight tent stakes with tie down lines.
Set up: This is where the G-4.1 is truly spectacular. When I got the tent, I quickly glanced at the directions for set up and decided to do a test run in my living room. If you want to do this too, make sure you have a BIG living room and lots of room to manuever the poles, cause they are REALLY long and I was constantly knocking over books and pictures. Anyway, I unrolled the tent and put it on the floor. I then put the poles together -- each pole breaks down into several smaller segments that are permanently linked together so you can't lose them. As you can see from the photos of this tent, the poles criss-cross at the apex of the tent, forming a big X from which the tent is suspended. Kelty uses a "clip" system in which the poles simply click into plastic brackets, rather than you having to thread them through anything. Each end of the pole is then fit into an anchor at the bottom corners of the tent. The rain fly was also extremly easy to put on, with the anchors for the poles also doubling as the anchors for the rain fly. The bottom line, folks, is that I think this tent took me all of about three minutes to set up. I was truly amazed at how easy it was. The best way I can describe it is that the G-4.1 is totally intuitive in the set up -- you look at the parts and you can just see how they fit together. Really an awesome design job.
I just took this tent camping for the first time last weekend and set it up in very quickly fading light conditions. I had the whole thing set up and staked down -- footprint, tent, rain fly -- in a little over 10 minutes.
One thing I would recommend is that you grab six (6) little caribiners to attach the rain fly lines to the tent. They don't come with clips and you have to tie them on otherwise. Also, make sure the fly is in as little contact with the tent as possible to prevent moisture buildup from condensation. If you have the fly on properly, this is not a problem because the design of the fly and tent take care of that for you. Also, get the foot print or a tarp for underneath.
Tent Features: The G-4.1 has a lot of really great features. First, it has a circular zip door on each side. This may not sound like a great innovation at first, but think back to your camping experiences and having to climb over people to get into the tent. Second, the G-4.1 is extremely well ventilated. There are large mesh sections of the walls, in the doors, on the top of the tent so that air flows freely through. Third, the G-4 has great visibility if you don't need to have the fly on. The afore-mentioned mesh sections let you see the stars. Fourth, the floor design keeps the bottom seams off of the floor, which will keep you dry. Fifth, there are little "gear" bags on two sides of the tent, to stash your glasses or a flashlight. Sixth, there are clips on the ceiling from which one may hang extra gear bags and the tent comes with a "shelf" that you can tie up there -- very handy for a light or for other stuff. Seventh, the rain fly creates dual vestibules in which your extra gear can be stored and, since you have two doors, both vestibules are easily accessible.
Tent Construction: Along with the "bathtub" seams, this tent is very well put together. Tape stiching at important junctures, double stiching all around, and a good, taut, solid feel to the tent. The floor material is good for soft ground, but I'd recommend the foot print just to be on the safe side. The fly fits on like a glove and provides for some ventilation as well. This is a solid tent, and once you get it set up (and assuming you put the stakes in the ground), it's not going anywhere.
Size: I think we all know that "4-person" in tent-speak really means "4 people no larger than 5'8" and 160 pounds, maximum." The G-4.1 holds true to this convention. I'm 6'2" and I barely fit in this tent the way people are suggested to lie in it (head to toe across the short side), and I don't fit in with a sleeping bag. I had my wife (5'6") and my 6-year old and 2-year old also get in the tent at the same time. Thinking to the future, the G-4.1 will be comfortable for three of us but too tight for all four of us. If we all four go camping, I'd bring a 2-man tent for the kids and keep all the gear in the G-4.1 with the adults. But if you have three or less people, this thing is spacious and feels that way.
I love this tent. Buy it!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kelty Gunnison 4.1 Tent 4-Person 3-Season

Kelty's Gunnison 4.1 4-Person 3-Season Tent loves anything from starlit summer evenings to wet autumn backpacking trips. Kelty placed the Gunnison's mesh panels strategically, providing ventilation, decreased condensation, which keeps you from feeling like you're spending the night in a cave. Even in the dark, it's easy to secure the aluminum DAC Pressfit poles to the individual clips for set-up, and the Swivel Hub System increases stability and ease of set up. Configured with two doors and two vestibules, the Gunnison 4.1 Tent's floorplan maximizes the available living space. Other features include taped seams to keep water out and internal storage pockets to help organize essentials. Kelty also added a gear loft, putting your treats, iPod, or prophylactics close at hand while you stargaze.Product Features
Material: [Fly] 75D Polyester Taffeta w/ 1800mm coating; [Floor] 70D Nylon Taffeta w/ 1800mm coating;
Freestanding: Yes
Poles: 2
Pole Material: DAC FeatherLite NSL 7001 Aluminum
Doors: 2
Clip / Sleeve: Clip
Floor Space: 100 x 82in (254 x 208cm), 57sq ft
Interior Height: 46in (117cm)
Vestibule Space: [Per vestibule] 15.6sq ft (x2)
Packed Size: 28 x 8in (71 x 20cm)
Seam Sealed: Yes, critical seams taped
Ventilation: Mesh top
Weight: 7lb 7oz (3397g)
Recommended Use: 3-season camping
Manufacturer Warranty: Lifetime

Bathtub Floor: Yes
Ventilation: Fly vents, side wall vents, mesh ceiling
Interior Storage: Internal storage pockets
Packed Size: 8 x 28"
Weight: [packaged] 8 lbs 11 oz, [minimum] 8 lbs
Recommended Use: Base camp, car camping
Warranty: Lifetime
Country of Origin: China


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8/21/2011

Kelty Green River 4 Four Person Tent Review

Kelty Green River 4 Four Person Tent
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought this tent 5 months ago and have spent many weekends this Summer living in it. I travel to a lot of music festivals and wanted something weather-proof, roomy, and tall enough to stand up in. These requirements were nicely met (and exceeded) by this tent. It is much roomier that your typical 4-person tent. At aproximately 9'X9', the interior easily fits a queen-size inflatible matteress with plenty of room on all sides for tons of gear. The nice thing about the height of this tent is that the roof is at its maximum height right inside the door - not just in the very center like most dome tents.

As far as being weather-proof, I've endured a few nasty wind and rain storms and I haven't gotten a drop of rain in it; The full-coverage rain fly on this tent is a wonderful feature. This tent also has lots of nice buckles, velcro, and elastic hooks secure everything firmly in place. Well-placed screening and vents keep air circulating in hot weather.
My gripes with this tent are few. One is that I've never been able to roll it up tight enough to fit all of the pieces back into the original carrying case. My other gripe is that the tent poles are so long, its difficult to set up in close quarters (between trees, other tents, etc.) and a bit of a struggle for one person.

I found the picture of this tent misleading and didn't understand the purpose of the ground flaps around the door until I saw it set up. The flaps secure the vestibule - a nice place to store your cooler, shoes, and chairs out of the weather or to use like a screen room to avoid insects. Go to the Kelty website to see a picture of the tent with the vestible attached.
All in all, I'm very happy I 'upgraded' from my usual department store-type tent to this much higher quality tent. Worth every penny!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kelty Green River 4 Four Person Tent

A great choice for car camping or use for a basecamp, the Kelty Green River provides a roomy interior for four campers as well as a front screenroom with room enough to store gear or set up chairs for watching the sunset. This tent sleeps up to four campers, offers three-season usage, and a freestanding design that enables you to move it around your campsite to find the optimum position. It also includes large mesh windows for good ventilation, UV resistant polyester fly, and color-coded poles for quick-and-easy setup. Weighing 20 pounds, 15 ounces, the four-person Green River has a 81 square foot floor area, and a 43.6 square foot vestibule area.
The shockcorded fiberglass poles have color coded clips that make setup a breeze. The tent also offers post and grommet type assembly with locking pole tips for convenience and security. Kelty's ArcEdge construction lifts floor seams up off the ground, preventing water seepage around the floor and wall seams. Other features include a single flashlight loop, mesh interior pockets for gear storage, external guy points for added stability in windy conditions, and noiseless zipper pulls.

Specifications
Dimensions: 108 x 108 x 71 inches
Interior height: 5 feet, 11 inches
Floor area: 81 square feet
Vestibule area: 43.6 square feet
Weight: 20 pounds, 15 ounces
Seasons: 3
Doors: 1
Windows: 2
Wall material: 68D 190T polyester ripstop
Floor material: 1800mm PU nylon-taffeta
Fly material: 75D 190T, 1800mm PU polyester ripstop
Number of poles: 4


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8/19/2011

Kelty Trail Dome 4 Four Person Tent Review

Kelty Trail Dome 4 Four Person Tent
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Price: $159.99 at local Sports Authority
Weather Conditions: Cloudy, with sunbreaks. 2 days car camping.
Weight: Fairly light. 8 lbs.
Set-Up: The strength and durability of the aluminum poles are definetly worth the investment. You don't have to worry about snapping the poles unlike the fiberglass poles. I recommend putting the poles in the base "fastex" clips first, and then attaching the plastic clips on second. It's not really clear in the instructions. If you just bought this tent, I recommend practicing pitching the tent a few times. The first run took almost 30 minutes.I was able to set up this tent in under 10 minutes by myself. Always, always use a footprint or tarp when camping to save you from damaging the tent floor and moisture from the ground. Be sure to sweep your area of pine cones and small rocks. I also recommend getting beefier stakes. I've read the MSR Groundhog stakes are nice, but I got some $3 plastic ones at Walmart for a set of 6.
Tent fly: I like how the tent fly "clips" into the fastex clips at each corner. Also, I've read complaints of how the tent fly doesn't provide a good awning if you decide to step out during the rain. Pay attention to the color coded straps that will tell you how the tent fly is installed.
Front opening: The zipper of the opening is overstretched near the top. I was nervous that the zipper couldn't handle the stress of the two poles stretching it. I had to use a fastex clip with a strap (similar to the cross strap on a backpack) to wrap around the poles and pull them together to relieve the stress on the zipper. That solved the problem.
Storage compartments inside the tent: There are 4 mesh pockets at each corner of the tent. But they're aren't any hooks near the top of the tents if you wanted to hook a lantern to the roof.
Inside Space: I'm 5'7" and I was able to stand up completely with my head crouched a little bit. This is truly a 2 person camp with gear. I was able to fit a queen size air mat with no problems. The zipper wasn't as quiet as I hoped it to be. It still sounded like a zipper being pulled. The zipper was very smooth once I adjusted the two poles with the plastic strap. I didn't see any condensation the next morning, so I guess the tent vents very well.
Suggestions for design: This would be a perfect tent if it had a vestibule to store dirty clothes, boots, etc. A 2nd door would be nice, too.
Overall, I think I'll upgrade the the Kelty Gunnison 4.1 since it has a vestibule and a 2nd door. This is a nice tent for the camper on a budget.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Kelty Trail Dome 4 Four Person Tent

An ideal family-camping tent that offers a view of the stars at the campground or in the backcountry, the Kelty Trail Dome 4 features a simple pole design and clip-sleeve construction that make it a snap to pitch. Offering spacious room for four, the Trail Dome 4 has a 55 square foot floor area (but does not include a storage vestibule). It features internal storage pockets, mesh ceiling, gear loft loops, side-release buckle tent-fly connection, noiseless zipper pulls that resist jingling when it's windy, and color-coded clip construction with DAC DA17 aluminum poles.
The DA17 pre-bent poles are made of proprietary aluminum alloy designed by DAC specifically for tents, which provides a large diameter pole with high stiffness, strength and durability at an affordable price. The clip construction provides great fly separation and increased air movement, and it makes it easier to set-up your tent but offers less strength than full-length sleeves. The clips connecting the poles to the tent are color-coded so set-up is easy and quick in low light conditions.
The Water Tight Wall (WTW) construction keeps the doors and windows from leaking, even in driving rain. All exposed walls are constructed of coated fabrics with the seams shingled downward to shed water. Exposed windows and doors have wide flaps covering the edges so they won't leak at the zipper even in high winds. Kelty's ArcEdge construction lifts floor seams up off the ground, preventing water seepage around the floor and wall seams. Taped seams on the floor and the rainfly ensure that the tent is protected from moisture and wet weather.
Specifications
Seasons: 3 seasons
Capacity: 4 person
Floor area: 55 square feet
Vestibule area: none
Pole type: Two 12mm DAC DA17 aluminum poles + two 8.5mm fiberglass awning poles
Number of poles: 4
Number of doors: 1
Number of mesh windows: 3
Wall material: 68D 190T polyester taffeta
Floor material: 1800mm PU polyester taffeta
Fly Material: 75D 190T, 1800 mm PU polyester-taffeta
Dimensions: 99 x 80 x 57 inches (LxWxH)
Weight (minimum): 7 pounds, 10 ounces
Weight (packaged): 8 pounds, 7 ounces


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8/08/2011

Kelty Yellowstone 4-Person Tent (Navy/Grey) Review

Kelty Yellowstone 4-Person Tent (Navy/Grey)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This tent turned out to be just about perfect for car camping. It's a little heavy, but it sets up very easily and is very roomy. We used it on a very rainy night and aside from a slightly damp floor, we stayed very dry.
My only complaint is that the instructions are pretty lousy. There's no information at all on how to connect a footprint or how to use the gear sling. I spent a lot of time guessing and am still not sure I'm doing it right.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kelty Yellowstone 4-Person Tent (Navy/Grey)

Nicely affordable and versatile for three-season usage, the Kelty Yellowstone freestanding tent offers a roomy interior for sleeping after a long day of hiking. This dome-style tent has a mesh ceiling and side vents for ample ventilation, water-proof rain fly with side-release buckles for easy attachment, and color-coded poles for quick-and-easy setup. Weighing 10 pounds, 2 ounces, the four-person Yellowstone has a 64 square foot floor area.
The shockcorded fiberglass poles have color coded clips that make setup a breeze. The tent also offers post and grommet type assembly with locking pole tips for convenience and security. Kelty's ArcEdge construction lifts floor seams up off the ground, preventing water seepage around the floor and wall seams. Other features include a large D-shaped door, gear loft loops, mesh interior pockets for gear storage, external guy points for added stability in windy conditions, and noiseless zipper pulls.
Specifications
Dimensions: 96 x 96 x 59 inches
Floor area: 64 square feet
Vestibule area: none
Weight: 10 pounds, 2 ounces
Seasons: 3
Doors: 1
Windows: 2
Wall material: 68D 190T polyester taffeta
Floor material: 1800mm PU nylon taffeta
Fly material: 75D 190T, 1800 mm PU polyester ripstop rain fly
Number of poles: 3

About Kelty Kelty is based in Boulder, Colorado, and uses the natural backdrop of the Rocky Mountains to test, create, and continually innovate within their diverse outdoor product families of Apex, Backcountry, Trail, Basecamp and KIDS gear. Kelty combines the best in new technology with a healthy dose of common sense to create exceptionally made, affordably priced outdoor products.
Amazon.com Tent Guide Selecting a Tent Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Expect the Worst In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.
Three- and Four-Season Tents For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.
For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.
Domes and Tunnels Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.
Size Matters Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.
Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.


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Click here for more information about Kelty Yellowstone 4-Person Tent (Navy/Grey)

8/01/2011

Kelty Teton 2 Two-Person Tent Review

Kelty Teton 2 Two-Person Tent
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I just returned from a 6-day/5-night camping trip and this is the tent I used. I did quite a bit of research before making my purchase and these were the requirements of what I was looking for in a tent:
1.) reasonably priced
2.) well made (duh--but you know what I'm talking about...something that doesn't rival one of those CHEAP 30-dollar wannabe-tents from Target and other places)
3.) easily assembled by one person--and quickly
4.) small and light
5.) could manage under high winds and torrential downpours.
Well, after whittling down my list of possible tents, this is the one that remained. Here's why I'm happy with my choice:
-At $100 (understandably, a steep price for some), for those that know that a cheap tent is nearly as bad as no tent at all, this was definitely a price that was reasonable.
-Many seams on the tent and rainfly had a pretty nice factory seal and the stitching seems tight and strong. The tent has excellent ventilation with much of the tent comprised of the fine, breathable mesh allowing air to easily come in and out.
-Excellent design for one man assembly. There are no annoying sleeves to slide the two press-fit poles through; they simply and sturdily attach to clips lining down to the four corners of the tent. I was able to set everything up within 5 minutes.
-While this can be used for two people, it would be cramped (31-sqft). It is perfect for one person and the extra gear (The previous reviewer's comment on the paltry vestibule was spot-on). The tent barely weighs over 4 lbs. which is outstanding!! In fact, on my final day right before tear-down, when I picked up the entire assembled tent to carry to another spot so it could dry in the sunlight, I was amazed at how virtually weightless it seemed to be.
-Two of the days and nights were clear with lots of sun of stars. The others were filled with a windy lightning storm--a slow, long and perpetually annoying drizzle--and a few unrelenting downpours. The tent held up extremely well allowing only a small amount of water in at the corners...which was entirely my fault (See below).
I'm very pleased with this purchase. For the purposes of my trip, viz., solo, weeklong camping--where weight, quality, and price were the major concerns--if there is a better tent out there, its existence must have snuck past me. I'm planning an anniversary backpacking trip for next spring for me and the wife, so a new tent will be necessary (for which price will become less of a factor and where ultimate quality will be of paramount importance); however, for everything else involving just me, this will definitely be my tent of choice.
A few suggestions if purchasing the Teton 2. I would strongly advise purchasing the special Kelty Teton 2 footprint along with the tent. While $30 may seem like a very expensive accessory (maybe this is why the previous reviewer opted not to purchase it), it was a tremendous improvement on other materials I've used in the past under previous tents. It will protect your tent floor against minor damage as well as keeping it dry--and because it is specially made for this tent, it is extremely light (easily packs with the rest of the tent) and you never see it when the tent is set up (as opposed to using annoying and heavy tarps). Finally, a word on seam sealing. While all of the seams on the rainfly are adequately sealed and a few on the actual tent, the seam connecting the floor to the rest of the tent MUST BE SEALED!! I recommend using Seam Grip made by McNett (others more experienced than me have spoken of simply using silicone mixed with mineral spirits)...but the one thing I ignorantly failed to do was completely seal the vertical seams of the four corners--which led to a little water seeping in at the corners during heavy rain. If one seals the tent properly, however, the first time, the tent should keep all water out.

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Lighten your load and not your wallet with the high-value Kelty Teton 2 two-person tent. The simple, easy-to-pitch three-season tent is made using Kelty's Water Tight Wall (WTW) construction, which keeps the doors and windows from leaking even in driving rain. In WTW tents, all exposed walls are constructed of coated fabrics with the seams shingled downward to shed water. In addition, the edges of all exposed windows and doors are covered with wide flaps, keeping water from leaking in at the zipper even in high winds. The Teton 2 enjoys further water resistance via the ArcEdge floor, which includes edges that rise a few inches up the sides before connecting with the tent walls. The ArcEdge floor is a superior waterproof design because none of the seams are in contact with the ground where water might seep in.
As with any good tent, the Teton 2 also keeps the interior tidy while you sleep, with mesh organizer walls, bookshelves, and storage pockets for your camping accessories. And to make setup easier, the tent includes DAC press-fit poles and color-coded clip construction. The DAC poles are used in all Kelty tents where strength is more critical than weight. The poles feature a ferrule that's pressed in rather than glued, with an extremely precise interference fit to hold it in place. This system ensures that the poles will be strong and reliable for many years to come, with no slippage or corrosion. The color-coded clip construction, meanwhile, provides great fly separation and increased air movement. The clips connecting the poles to the tent are color-matched with the poles themselves, making setup easier and quicker in low-light conditions. Other features include noiseless zipper pulls that resist jingling when it's windy; an aerodynamic venting system that regulates temperature and reduces condensation; and a side-release buckle tent-fly connection.
Specifications:
Seasons: 3
Capacity: 2 people
Minimum weight: 4 pounds 2 ounces
Packaged weight: 4 pounds 10 ounces
Floor area: 31 square feet
Vestibule area: 7 square feet
Dimensions: 88 x 40 x 54 inches (W x H x D)
Number of poles: 2
Pole type: 9mm DAC press-fit poles
Number of vestibules: 1
Number of doors: 1
Packaged diameter: 7 inches
Packaged length: 22 inches
Wall material: 68D 190T polyester taffeta
Floor material: 1800mm PU polyester taffeta
Fly material: 75D 190T, 1800mm PU polyester taffeta

About Kelty Kelty has been building affordable, reliable outdoor gear since 1952, helping everyone--from the first-time camper to the experienced mountaineer--embrace the outdoor experience with confidence. Dick Kelty launched the company after years of making backpacks in his home or garage for friends, hand forming and welding each of the frames while his wife sewed the pack bags. The original Kelty packs included aircraft-aluminum contoured frames, padded shoulder straps, waist belts, clevis-pin attachments, nylon pack cloth, zippered pockets, and hold-open frames. Dick Kelty quit his carpentry business in 1956 to focus full time on Kelty Packs, and turned an old Glendale, California, barbershop into his first retail store and factory. In the ensuing years, Kelty expanded its product line to include daypacks, luggage, waterproof clothing, child carriers, jogging strollers, and more.


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6/23/2011

ALPS Mountaineering Vertex 4 Backpacking Tent Review

ALPS Mountaineering Vertex 4 Backpacking Tent
Average Reviews:

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I got this tent on Amazon for a little under $200 and for that price it is a good tent. My wife and two kids(4 & 7 yrs old) have backpacked with this tent twice already. It hasn't rained hard yet, but so far has been easy to use seems to be well made.
There are lighter, more expensive tents out there, but this one serves the purpose for

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ALPS Mountaineering Vertex Backpacking 4 - Person Tent... easy to assemble and lightweight! Take a hike with this lightweight Tent! The Vertex is a 2 door, 4 person Tent that'll keep your pack light. Once you reach base camp, assembly is a cinch... just snap the tent clips in place over the strong and lightweight alloy aluminum poles. Mesh side panels and roof vents offer up superior ventilation and a scenic view, while the spreader section at the top of the tent gives you 52" of head room! Fast set-up, reliable performance: 2 doors with vestibules to store your gear; 2 aircraft aluminum poles are strong and lightweight; Poles are shock corded together as one continuous system; Weighs approx. 9 lbs.; Polyester fly and nylon floor are urethane coated with factory sealed seams for weather protection; Mesh storage pocket; Fly buckles to tent for secure attachment; Stakes and guy ropes included; Center height: 52"; Base size: 90 x 102"; Vestibule area: 31 sq. ft. Order Today! ALPS Mountaineering Vertex 4.0 AL Backpacking Tent

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4/27/2011

Kelty Grand Mesa 4 Tent - 4 Person Review

Kelty Grand Mesa 4 Tent - 4 Person
Average Reviews:

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I have been extremely pleased with this tent. It is spacious enough for my family of four and is very easy to set up. My ten and seven-year olds can pitch this tent almost completely by themselves. Hooks for the poles is a vast improvement over running poles through slits. The connections for the rainflap are very easy to use. The inside is pretty spacious. The one loop for a lantern is good, but would have liked one or two more. The storage compartments inside are sufficient,and between them and the space created when you close the rain flap we had all our gear out of the elements. Given the size of the tent it is not overly heavy, although I could not fit this in my pack using the bag is comes in. Instead I connected it via some extra straps on my pack and it worked just fine. We have had no issues with any component of this tent and would recommend it to other campers.

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The Grand Mesa 4 is a great value for backpackers and campers and includes high-quality DAC Press-fit poles. It is easy to pitch, includes a single vestibule for storage, and offers excellent ventilation.Specifications:Seasons: 3 Capacity: 4 person Minimum weight: 7 lb. 4 oz. / 3.28 kg Packaged weight: 8 lb. 4 oz. / 3.74 kg Floor area: 53.3 ft2 / 4.95 m2 Vestibule area: 18.8 ft2 / 1.75 m2 Dimensions:Length: 96" / 244 cm Width: 80" / 203 cm Height: 55" / 140 cm Number of poles: 2 Pole type: 11 mm DAC Press-fit poles Number of vestibules: 1 Number of doors: 1 Number of mesh windows: 3Packaged diameter: 8" / 20 cm Packaged Length: 25" / 64 cm Wall material: 68D 190T polyester taffeta Floor material: 1800mm PU nylon taffeta Fly Material: 75D 190T, 1800 mm PU polyester-taffetaTent Body Features Freestanding Color-coded clip constructionTaped floor seamsMesh panels Internal storage pocketsFly Features Taped seamsSide-release buckle tent-fly connectionFly vents Noiseless zipper pullsGuyout points

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