Best Kelty Tents Reviewed & Rated for Quality

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
Grand Mesa
Test Winner: Grand Mesa
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Camping and backpacking are activities that many people enjoy each and every year. It is a great way to get out of the grind of living in the cities or the suburbs. Of course, when you are going camping, you are going to need shelter to protect you from wind, rain, and outdoor insects. There are a few different ways that you can provide yourself with shelter, but one of the most popular and inexpensive ways to do so is to use a tent. As one of the best in the business, Kelty would be a wise choice to make if you are looking for a new tent.

Standout Picks

Outfitter Pro
The Outfitter Pro is a great choice for when you need a reliable camping structure. It has all of the features that you would expect to find such as storage vestibules, thick nylon and polyester walls, and a free-standing design. You can set it up and tear it down quickly and easily which allows you to focus on camping.
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Trail Ridge 6
The Trail Ridge 6 is for anyone who loves to gaze at the stars while they are going to sleep. It has a fly that rolls up so which will expose a clear sky but also allows you to put it back quickly should you suddenly find yourself in the rain or other kinds of adverse weather where you need protection.
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Trail Ridge
If you are looking for another backpacking or regular camping option, then you will want to look at the trail ridge. This is another tent that you can set up quickly when you need to prepare a campsite thanks to its pole and hook design. You can move it around your campsite easy in the event that you find yourself on a rock or a tree root.
Amazon Link
Acadia
The Acadia is a great choice for when you are backpacking or even if you plan on doing regular camping. It has some great features that allow you to sleep in it comfortably and get a great night's sleep. there is even room for your gear inside of it so you have more than enough room. You can set it up quickly and get to enjoying camping.
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Packs Trail Ridge
The Packs Trail Ridge is a variant of the Trail Ridge and is meant for sleeping up to three people inside of it. This is a great choice for outdoor shelter since it will give you a safe space to sleep after dark and protect you from rain, wind, and insects. When you are finished, it will back into a lightweight package that is easy to carry.
Amazon Link
TN
TN
The TN is intended to give you more interior space by using a more verticle design on the walls. This will provide you with more sleeping room as well as room for your gear while you are spending time on the inside of the structure. The tent will pack up in a compact fashion so that you can use it as a backpacking tent.
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Outback
The Venture is small and lightweight so its great for when you are going out backpacking. It has what you need to stay out of the elements and includes features such as internal storage and a D-shaped door. There is also a carry bag that you can use to store it so that you can take it with you when you break camp.
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Salida
The Salida is a great option for people who are backpacking and need something that is small and lightweight so that they can carry it on their backs. You can purchase this item in a one, two, or even a four-person model so there are plenty of choices that you can pick from. This will give you and your party the perfect sleeping space.
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Yellowstone
Here is a great option for a home that is away from home. The Yellowstone provides you with a great camping option thanks to its spacious interior design and plenty of pockets on the inside. You can have privacy while you are inside since it doesn't have to see through walls and it is a great choice for when you are going backpacking.
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Grand Mesa
The Grand Mesa is a great option for people who are spending time at the campsite. You can easily carry it on your backpack or you can store it in your vehicle since it is small and lightweight. The structure is freestanding which allows you to move it around until you find the perfect place for it so that you can sleep great.
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Criteria Used for Evaluation

Materials

Quality is always a concern but it should be more of a concern for an item that you are going to use in the wilderness. This is because you will not be able to readily address a problem when you are away from your house which means that if a snap breaks or a pole breaks, then you are going to be in a compromised position. Even if nothing breaks, a poor quality tent may not be comfortable to sleep inside and can make for a poor night’s sleep. The higher quality your product is, the more likely you are to be satisfied with it which is why you should look for quality.

One of the things you will want to consider is the poles since they support the structure. The poles should not be weak and they should continue to support the tent even in the event of heavy rain and wind. If you find the poles to be undersized or weak, then you may want to look at a different tent or see if the poles can be upgraded. Next, you will want to check the material used to make the tent walls. They need to be thick enough o provide you with privacy and also resist tearing from wind and rain. All of the walls should be stretched tightly when the tent is set up so that they do not collect water or flap in the wind.

The floor also matters since you do not want to have leaks if the ground gets wet. You will also want to make sure that all of the seams are taped to avoid any leaks as well. If you have any reason to question the quality, then you should be looking for a different tent. Higher quality will lead to a better time while you are camping.

Weather Resistance

The entire purpose of owning a tent is to have a safe place to sleep and go inside should you find yourself in bad weather. For this reason, you will need to make sure that it can keep you dry, protect you from the wind, and offer you shade in the sun. You will also want to make sure that your tent will protect you from harmful insects as well. When you are picking out a camping tent, you will want to check that it can fulfill these basic needs or it will be unlikely that you will be satisfied with your purchase.

Protection from water is one of the most important things that you want to look for when you are picking out a shelter for your campsite. The main sources of water are from the ground, rain, and condensation. For this reason, you will need to make sure that it has a waterproof floor, a fly that doesn’t trap hot air and causes condensation, and the roof and walls must not leak. If any of this turns out to not be the case, you may find that you or your gear will be wet when you wake up in the morning.

The tent should also protect you from the wind and the sun. Wind can cause you to feel cold and it can blow lighter weight items around and cause you to lose them. It’s best that you look for a structure that has thick enough walls to make sure that the wind can’t blow through them. You will also want protection from direct sunlight in the event that you are camping in an open area as well. The better job it does at protecting you from the elements, the safe and happier that you will be when you use it.

Portability

The overall weight of the tent and the storage bag are also something that you will need to think about since they will affect how easily you can carry the tent. This can be especially true for backpackers who need to keep it inside of their backpack or attach it to the webbing on the backpack. Even if you are not backpacking, the weight and storage will determine how easily you can carry the tent to your campsite and where you can put it when you are not using it. These are a few reasons why you will want to consider what the tent looks like when it is packed up.

Most tents are lightweight and will weigh less than ten pounds. If you are someone who plans on backpacking, then you will generally want to have less weight in the tent since that will mean it will be easier for you to carry. A stronger individual may choose to carry a larger tent that weighs more, so this will also be a matter of preference but if you aren’t as strong as other people, then you may opt for a lighter weight tent. If you aren’t carrying the tent on your backpack, then weight may not be as much of a concern, but you will need to carry it eventually and lighter usually means easier.

When you are done with the shelter, you will need to pack it back up into the storage bag. The bag will need to be small enough to carry in your backpack or on the webbing if you are backpacking. If you are not backpacking, then it still needs to fit in your vehicle so you will want to think about the packed size as well.

Capacity

The size of the tent is generally given in dimensions and the number of people who can sleep inside of it. Between the two, the number of people can be misleading because it often means refers to smaller adults without any space between them and no room for your gear. When you are picking out a tent, you will need to consider what size you need and purchase accordingly so that you have enough room to sleep and enough room for your camping gear. If you happen to purchase something that is undersized, then you may not have enough room for the people in your party and your gear which can cause you to be uncomfortable.

Most of the time, you will want to purchase a tent that has double the sleeping capacity. In other words, if you are camping by yourself then you will want to get a two person tent so that there is room for you and your gear. If you are a party of two, then get a four-person tent so that both of you have room to sleep and your gear. The person capacity is usually misleading so you want to give yourself plenty of room. The last thing that you want is for people to have to sleep on top of one another.

You also will want to make sure that you have enough room for your camping gear. While some camping gear can be stored outside, you will generally want interior room for things such as your clothing and shoes. Basically, anything that you need to keep dry should be stored inside and you will need enough room for that stuff. If you are in doubt, you can always use the given dimensions as a guide, but you will want to make sure your structure has enough room.

Features

Having features can help to improve the overall comfort of the tent and make your time more enjoyable. While it is not necessary to have every available feature, it can be helpful to at least be familiar with some of the more popular ones. For example, you may decide that you want to have storage vestibules on the inside which will provide you with room for lightweight items such as clothing. This will help to move items off of the floor where they may get dirty which will help to keep the nice for long periods of time.

You may also decide that you want to have interior pockets. Interior pockets are a great place for you to put useful items such as a flashlight, medication, or your cell phone so that you can access them easily. This will also help to organize your gear inside the tent and can help keep you from losing important items. Some pockets will even have zippers so that you can close them shut and secure the items inside of them.

Dual doors is another useful feature that you may want to have. When you have more than one door, you will be able to get in and out of the tent without having to climb over another person. This can be useful at night when you need to go to the bathroom since you can exit the tent without waking the other person up. While none of these features are necessary, many of them are nice to have since it can make the tent more useful. Of course, more features will mean an increase in the price so you will have to pick the ones that are important to you.

BEST KELTY TENTS REVIEWED & RATED FOR QUALITY

1. Outfitter Pro

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Outfitter Pro
Amazon Link

The Outfitter Pro is a great choice for when you need a reliable camping structure. It has all of the features that you would expect to find such as storage vestibules, thick nylon and polyester walls, and a free-standing design. You can set it up and tear it down quickly and easily which allows you to focus on camping.

Free Standing

It has a design that allows it to stand on its own without having to rely on external support from trees or other items around the campsite which allows you to move it.

Storage Vesibules

There are storage vestibules where you can store your gear on the inside without losing floor space. This allows you to have room for sleeping and your gear at the same time.

Cost and Value

You will need to plan on spending a price that is higher than the average price on the Outfitter Pro because it has features such as 10 square feet of storage space and other premium features.

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2. Trail Ridge 6

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Trail Ridge 6
Amazon Link

The Trail Ridge 6 is for anyone who loves to gaze at the stars while they are going to sleep. It has a fly that rolls up so which will expose a clear sky but also allows you to put it back quickly should you suddenly find yourself in the rain or other kinds of adverse weather where you need protection.

Stargazing

The fly on the Trail Ridge 6 rolls up so that you can easily look at the sky if you are inclined to do so which can make for a romantic evening with your partner.

Tent Cube

You can store the Trail Ridge 6 into the provided tent cube that allows you to package it into a small cube shape. This will make it easy to carry or store.

Cost and Value

You will see this item sold at a price that is above the average price when compared to other similar items because of features such as the stargazing fly and other useful add-ons.

Amazon Link

3. Trail Ridge

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Trail Ridge
Amazon Link

If you are looking for another backpacking or regular camping option, then you will want to look at the trail ridge. This is another tent that you can set up quickly when you need to prepare a campsite thanks to its pole and hook design. You can move it around your campsite easy in the event that you find yourself on a rock or a tree root.

Two Doors

There are doors on both sides which is a great way for you to get in and out because you won't have to step over other people to reach the door.

Polyester

The wall is made of polyester. This is a great material since it is lightweight and durable at the same time. It also resists water which is great for when it rains.

Cost and Value

You will notice that this item is sold at a price that is slightly higher than the average. The higher price is due to extra features such as dual doors which improves the quality.

Amazon Link

4. Acadia

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Acadia
Amazon Link

The Acadia is a great choice for when you are backpacking or even if you plan on doing regular camping. It has some great features that allow you to sleep in it comfortably and get a great night's sleep. there is even room for your gear inside of it so you have more than enough room. You can set it up quickly and get to enjoying camping.

Mesh Walls

There are mesh walls that will allow for great cross ventilation which allows you to stay cool and comfortable while you are inside the tent. It also helps to reduce condensation.

Two Doors

Each side has its own door which means that you can get in and out of it without having to step on or climb over other people who are inside.

Cost and Value

You will see the Acadia sold at a price that is around the average price. This makes it into an excellent value since you get premium features without having to spend much.

Amazon Link

5. Packs Trail Ridge

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Packs Trail Ridge
Amazon Link

The Packs Trail Ridge is a variant of the Trail Ridge and is meant for sleeping up to three people inside of it. This is a great choice for outdoor shelter since it will give you a safe space to sleep after dark and protect you from rain, wind, and insects. When you are finished, it will back into a lightweight package that is easy to carry.

Stuff Sack

The Packs Trail Ridge is sold with a stuff sack that you use to pack it away when you need to break camp and store it in your backpack or other gear.

3 Season

It has been made for the spring, summer, and fall seasons so that you can use it pretty much year round except for in the months where it gets below freezing temperatures.

Cost and Value

You will see the Pack Trail Ridge sold at a price that is slightly lower than the average price due to the fact that it is meant for three people rather than four.

Amazon Link

6. TN

Where to buy
Amazon Link
TN
Amazon Link

The TN is intended to give you more interior space by using a more verticle design on the walls. This will provide you with more sleeping room as well as room for your gear while you are spending time on the inside of the structure. The tent will pack up in a compact fashion so that you can use it as a backpacking tent.

Taped Floor

The floor is fully taped and has been designed to prevent water from leaking into the interior. This is great for when you need to stay dry in the rainy weather.

Color Code

The snaps are color coded which allows you to quickly and easily identified which pole needs to go in which snap. This will help you set up the tent quickly and easily.

Cost and Value

The TN is listed at a price that is higher than the average price due to the fact that it has a larger usable area which allows for more interior space.

Amazon Link

7. Outback

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Outback
Amazon Link

The Venture is small and lightweight so its great for when you are going out backpacking. It has what you need to stay out of the elements and includes features such as internal storage and a D-shaped door. There is also a carry bag that you can use to store it so that you can take it with you when you break camp.

Lightweight

The Venture only weighs a little over five pounds which makes it super easy for you to carry it along with the rest of your backpacking gear while you are hiking.

Internal Pockets

You are going to need room for your gear which is why there are internal pockets located on the inside so that you can store items such as your shoes or other items.

Cost and Value

The Venture is sold at a price that is much lower than the average price because it is smaller than other tents which means that it costs less to make it.

Amazon Link

8. Salida

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Salida
Amazon Link

The Salida is a great option for people who are backpacking and need something that is small and lightweight so that they can carry it on their backs. You can purchase this item in a one, two, or even a four-person model so there are plenty of choices that you can pick from. This will give you and your party the perfect sleeping space.

Carry Bag

It comes with a carry bag that rolls on the top which makes it easy for you to pack it into the bag and carry it while you are backpacking.

Easy Setup

All of the poles and clips are color coded which makes it easy for you to set up the structure as quickly as possible when you need to get your campsite set up.

Cost and Value

This product is sold at a price that is around the average price for similar items which makes it into an excellent value since you won't overpay for a good quality item.

Amazon Link

9. Yellowstone

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Yellowstone
Amazon Link

Here is a great option for a home that is away from home. The Yellowstone provides you with a great camping option thanks to its spacious interior design and plenty of pockets on the inside. You can have privacy while you are inside since it doesn't have to see through walls and it is a great choice for when you are going backpacking.

Continous pole sleeves

The Yellowstone has sleeves for the tent poles which adds to the support and durability of the structure. This will help to keep it from blowing over in the event of heavy wind or rain.

Taped Seams

The seams have been taped so that you will not need to worry about water penetrating the seams and getting you wet which helps you stay dry in the rain.

Cost and Value

You will notice that the Yellowstone is sold at a price that is below the average price when compared to similar tents. The lower price is due to the more basic design.

Amazon Link

10. Grand Mesa

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Grand Mesa
Amazon Link

The Grand Mesa is a great option for people who are spending time at the campsite. You can easily carry it on your backpack or you can store it in your vehicle since it is small and lightweight. The structure is freestanding which allows you to move it around until you find the perfect place for it so that you can sleep great.

Privacy

The walls do not allow anyone to see inside which means that you will have full privacy when you are doing things such as undressing or changing your clothes.

Freestanding

The Grand Mesa has a free-standing design that allows it to be self-supporting. This will allow you to move it around until you have found the perfect spot for it.

Cost and Value

You will find the Grand Mesa sold at an average price when compared to similar items. This makes it into an excellent value since it is priced consistently against similar options.

Amazon Link

Sources

  1. Editorial Team, Wikipedia, Information Site
  2. Editorial Team, REI, Outdoors Site
  3. Editorial Team, Wiki How, Information Site