Customer Reviews

Kelsyus OGO Tent 7 (9- by 9-Feet)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had researched for a family tent to be used in our memorial day camping trip. I came across the Kelsyus Ogo (9) tent at Amazon and got very intrigued. I initially hesitated because I couldn't find any reviews..this is a very new product. Ended up taking the risk, but turned out to be a very good purchase decision. I setup the tent at home before the trip, and it was truly very fast. The tent is kind of like a giant umbrella. The material seems to be higher quality than entry level tents of similar size (and this is not exactly a cheap tent!). Based on these, I decided to keep the tent. At the camping, my friends in the camping group were very impressed. It took me ~5 minutes (hammering the pegs down to the hard ground took most of the time) to setup the tent and the rain fly. I was able to help others setting up their tents. Because of its design that allows for height at the edges, the interior looks very spacious. It was enough space for 4 of us. The only issue I find was that when the rain fly was on it it partially blocks the windows--so the air circulation is not great. Taking down the tent was as easy as setting up. It's heavier and bulkier (when packed) than similar size tents, but I don't have a problem with it--convenience matters more to me. I like innovative products that break out of conventional thinking, and this is one of them. Not just an interesting product, but a solid and practical one. I wonder what other tent makers have been doing..

I purchased this a few months ago, before there was another review. Just christened it this past 4th of July weekend. I am an avid camper. Love being in a tent. I own quite a few of differing sizes and difficulty of setup. I have a 7 year old and 2 dogs, setting up and tearing down an entire dispersed camp setup can be quite the chore for one mother. Last season, I went to put up our 10x10 during a small window of no rain. Got 1/2 way done and it began to pour, then hail!! Most of you may know that you don't put up a tent in the rain as your body oils will cause it to leak. After the hail and rain subsided, I had to run into town and buy a shop vac to suck up all the water that flooded the interior before I had a chance to install the fly. It was a rough beginning to a weekend where I felt like I never got completely dry, or clean. For the first time in 3 decades of camping, I was miserable. I can't tell you how happy I was to find this gem. But much like the other reviewer (the 1st and only I have seen), I hesitated, wanting someone to review it. The price fell about $50, so I figured what the heck. Glad I did.

We arrived at our campsite just as the sprinkles began to fall. Great, initiation by fire. Following the directions, I laid down a tarp, unpacked the Ogo, tapped in the stakes 1/2 of the way, and pushed up on the center hub. Bingo!! The job was done! I then repositioned the stakes, pulling taunt on the corners before driving them into the ground. Next time, I wouldn't do much more than 1/2 way down unless it was a forecast of heavy rain, or I feared others tripping on them. I had a hard time removing them, not the worst thing given their job, but, while trying to pull it from the ground, I did break off one of the plastic tabs that is intended to aid with tying down the fly on other models . Keep in mind, I'm a pro, so someone less experienced might break them all.

As of yet, the only issue I see is the circulation created by the fly laying on the two side windows. Easily remedied with 2 additional stakes and some twine, just pitch it outward, good to go. I would have preferred the windows be lower, but completely understand why they are positioned where they are. The architecture and ease of the tent, the positioned of the fly, make their height necessary. The side windows are good size, the back could have been larger. That's just a personal preference, and in no way should it reflect poorly in considering the purchase.

I had a king air mattress plus a 3x4 foot table in it. Plenty of room. I would use a smaller table next time, easier to move around it.

The breakdown was easy. Follow the directions. The tent fits into the bag with relative ease and room to spare. That's a rarity for tent, believe me.

I have no clue how it holds up in the rain. Honestly, in 30 years of camping, I have never had an issue with this. Don't touch your tent when it is raining seems to have worked just fine for me. I did notice that there was seam sealer installed on the product, or at least that is what it appeared to be to me. Again, I have never used such products, but I could tell there was a coating on the seams. Process of deduction. I'm hoping that there will be no issue with this tent. Even so, easily remedied, seam sealer and scotch guard. I will be camping in the rain in the next few weeks, so I'll add an update after.

Also, the center locking hub didn't "snap" into place as indicated in the directions, but it did work. I expected a bit more spring action given the directions. However, it did the job effectively and held up fine.

I am a 38 year old mother of one, keeper of 2 dogs, and instigator of my friends who have no camp experience. If I can do it, anyone can. Normally, I would not think of spending $300 on a tent (I got mine for $250 on Amazon). I have huge tents that I love and have used without issue for years that I purchased for well under $100. I would happily spend the $300 again to have such an easy setup.

Read the directions. Follow the directions. No matter how much or how little experience you have, follow the directions.

There is nothing like being unplugged with those you love. Brings it all back to center.

Best wishes.

Having a bad back and a worn-out tent that had to have two people to erect, I needed something better for my frequent camping trips with my Boy Scout troop. This tent is as easy to set up as advertised. I was very pleased to learn that all four windows completely zip up, which is a necessity for winter camping, even in central Georgia. If the rain fly went all the way to the ground, I could call this a 4-season tent.

The one problem we encountered was probably self-inflicted. After putting the tent back in the bag, we got one set of corner poles out of alignment, so it took two of us the next time we set it up. Had the case been a little larger, this may not have been a problem.

Even with the super-snug bag, it is stll the best tent we found for ease of setup and features. We typically use two twin bed size cots and mattresses, with a table between for our "stuff." There is plenty of room for all.

I have owned a lot of tents over the years and was sick of struggling to get my tents set up. I bought this tent after a lot of research and I was not disappointed. This is the most amazing tent I have owned. I amazed my husband when I set this up in under 2 minutes. He said he turned his back and when he turned back, was surprised to see it completely set up. I could not ask for a better tent! Very spacious and high quality! I highly recommend it!!!!

I ordered two of these tents, separately. The first one was only $218 because it was an opened box. It arrived with a very damaged box. There was a note along the box in big black Sharpie pen saying that it had been damaged during shipping and was being returned. That note must have been written there by an earlier customer who had bought it and returned it due to shipping damage. It appears the tent was not examined before going up for sale again and it was shipped out to me. It had three holes in the tent floor due to the damage. The metal leg section had ripped though the tent floor and out through the edge of the box in three places.

I sent that one back.

I then contacted Amazon and they were kind enough to send me another one for the same price even though the first one was less expensive due to "open package."

Then the second one arrived. Less box damage, but enough to cause the same issue, metal legs went through the floor and out the box. It caused three holes in the floor. So it's sitting in my front room waiting for fedex to come and pick it up.

Now about the tent. It goes up really fast as advertised. Put the four corner stakes in and crawl into the tent and push up the center and it pops into place. Very easy. The tent seems to be made well enough except for the floor. It's more like a plastic type of tarp stuff. It's not nylon. Now I'm now tent expert but I think it will probably not last too long. Just my opinion.

If the tent had a better floor I'd give it five stars.

Great tent - you'll love it.

1> make sure you check to see that nothing's damaged when it arrives.

2> read the instructions

3> bring the center pole up IN THE MIDDLE - not off to side but IN THE MIDDLE

4> plan on 10 minutes to setup tent - 5 when you get good.

5> Don't set it up in the dark

6> Did I mention read the instructions? Read the instructions. Read them.

I bought this tent as a family tent for cub scout camping and it worked as advertised at first HOWEVER after the 3rd camping trip the aluminum rivets on the framework holding the tent started to *POP*. I started to bring replacement bolts/nuts to replace popping rivets on the camping trips but soon the rivets were popping faster than I could replace them. I think most of the reviews I see are for the first few uses - after several uses this tent falls apart and the fix is not easy since the pop-up feature is built on structural tension (which causes the rivets to pop) and unique parts not common to other tents.

Just so you know, I really liked the tent at first and think it would be a very good value if it were made with quality parts, however, the last thing you want is to be in the woods with your family in a collapsing tent that is not easily fixed.

- Webelos-Bill-Pack706