Product Features
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The aluminum DAC Press Fit 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. The bathtub floor offers wrap-up sides for extreme weather protection, and the main fly and floor seams are factory taped for extreme weather protection. 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
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.
Product Details
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very nice tent,
By dbollie (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Kelty Grand Mesa 6-Person Tent (Ruby/Tan) (Sports)
Bought this tent for occasional car camping.
Really happy with it, the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that I think it is a bit if a reach to call it a 6 person tent. Yes, you probably could put 6 people - alternating head to toe and sideways (as shown in the enclosed instruction book) but I would say 3 and a bit of gear would be comfortable. Also, Kelty does not do themselves any favors with the packaging - the box this tent comes in has a picture of a much smaller tent (their 2 or maybe 4 person) and I was really nervous about what I had purchased until I assembled it for the first time. Apart from that, very happy with the tent. Putting it up is an absolute snap. My 9 year old son and I had it up in less than ten minutes. I can even put it up by myself if need be. The two poles are made of beefy aluminum with pre-set curvature. The tent and rain-fly design is a bit different from most other tents but worked out great. The rain fly basically covers the entire tent and creates a front, enclosed vestibule. Essentially, you end up with a tent inside a tent. During our trip it rained virtually non-stop for 36 hours - and I mean rained hard! With high winds as well. The tent was the only refuge from the storm and stayed dry the whole time (we did not do any sort of seam sealing either). We didn't get a chance to experience a night without the rain fly but imagine it would be pretty comfortable on even a very warm night as there is alot of screen area for air flow and ventilation. The stakes that come with this tent are a relatively sturdy looking steel (better than most that you see). Would definitely recommend this to a friend.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Only One Gripe,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Kelty Grand Mesa 6-Person Tent (Ruby/Tan) (Sports)
Nice tent, good quality, easy to set up and actually fits back into its stuff sack. My only gripe is the tent should have stake grommets or loops mid point at the bottom of both sides and perhaps the back (where the side and rear panels are seamed with the floor). With stakes only at each of the four corners, the side and rear panels sag a bit, and the floor is not tight. The easiest way to explain it is: Imagine yourself IN the tent - you can reach down at the seam between the floor and side or rear panels and literally pull the fabric in about a foot. This makes for a non-tight floor. Fortunately, I knew about Sierra tent guyout clips, and with those the tent is close to perfect. Minor gripe, I suppose, but a few pennies for three stake loops (each side and the back) would have been a good design idea.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kelty Mesa 6 thoughts,
This review is from: Kelty Grand Mesa 6-Person Tent (Ruby/Tan) (Sports)
We bought this tent for our family of 5 and it has been great. It has a large vestibule and is very quick and easy to set up. The tent is lightweight and the aluminum poles are light and strong.
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