Customer Reviews

Kelty Gunnison 2.1 Two Person Tent

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this for use as a two person backpacking and car camping tent. I also bought a REI half dome two person tent to which I compared it. These are very similarly designed tents. I set up both tents (in my living room) and did a side-by-side comparison. I never actually used the tent and so can only speak to its design and not its actual performance. I ultimately returned the Kelty Gunnison 2.1 tent but it was a close call and I will explain the good & the not so bad below.

First, I feel that for the weight & price, it would be hard to find a more spacious tent. The Kelty Gunnison felt a little more spacious than the REI half dome which was no slouch in this category as well. This is consistent with the Kelty's reported 3 more square feet (37 sq ft total) than the REI half dome. For people who are tall (over 6'--I am 6'2") this is a very long tent at 92". This is 2 inches longer than the rei half dome. Both tents are longer than many ultralight tents that I have sadly found to typically not be be designed with people over 6' in mind. For instance, the REI QUARTER dome is a tight fit for any one over 6'. The Gunnison is also listed at a 40" peak height which is fairly decent and I was able to sit upright in the tent comfortably. However, if you are 6'2" or above, the extra inch of height in the REI half dome is just enough that you can get a little farther from the center of the tent & still be upright. This would be handy if you were sitting in the tent with someone at night or riding out a storm. Weight wise the Kelty gunnsion is listed as a few ounces less in weight than the REI half dome. The kelty is reported to have a package weight of 5 lbs 9 oz. I considered the weight difference to be insignificant. There are lighter weight options for two person tents, but they will not have as much space and will be more costly.

The vestibules for the Kelty are massive with each vestibule being listed at 12 sq ft for the kelty and 9 sq ft each for the REI half dome. I obviously did not stake out either tent in my house, but the kelty vestibules definitely seemed larger. These vestibules would leave plenty of room for backpacks and probably the proverbial kitchen sink as well.

Next I will address the design of the tent. The kelty uses a plastic, but reasonably sturdy appearing hub for the tent poles whereas the half dome uses a metal one. On the Kelty tent, the rainfly and tent body are connected to the tent poles using plastic Jake's Foot connectors. On the half dome they are connected through the more traditional metal grommets. The entrance doors on both sides of the Kelty are smaller and more in the center of the tent than for the REI half dome. With the rainfly on, this made it slightly more difficult for easy entrance & exit with the Gunnison. This may theoretically also mean the Gunnsion would offer more protection from the rain getting in and out of the tent, but I obviously did not get to test this theory. I also am not aware of problems with the half dome in this regard. The overall tent body and rainfly of both tents seemed very similar in regards to material. The vents and netting also seemed reasonably comparable and I can only guess that ventilation in both tents would be reasonably similar.

For me, I ultimately chose the half dome over the gunnison but it was a tough call and I liked the gunnison's design as well. My biggest issue with the tent was the plastic hub and the plastic Jake's foot connectors. These are used in other tents as well. They may work great, but I personally prefer the metal hub and grommets of the half dome. I also liked the size and position of the doors much more in the half dome. The gunnsion was a little more spacious and had larger vestibules, but I felt this difference was not too dramatic.

In summary, I felt the Kelty Gunnsion 2.1 is a spacious tent with large vestibules at a decent price. It is a great option for tall individuals. I personally do not like the Jake's foot connectors or the plastic hub as they do not appear very rugged. However, I do not have any evidence that this would ever be a problem in the field longterm. I would have preferred doors that were a little larger and less centered. However, this may not be as much of an issue for smaller individuals and may be advantageous in rain. My preference would also be for a lighter tent, but for the space and money I dont think you can find a better deal. If you were wanting a lighter two person tent that would also be good for taller people, I would check out the big agnes emerald series or the the big agnes copper spur series. However, the improved weight is offset by smaller space and higher price.

Bought a Kelty Gunnison 2.1 because it was on sale and I've had good luck with Kelty gear in the past. On our second outing with the tent we encountered a severe summer storm. For about 24 hours we were pounded by incredible strong gusts of wind, sheets of rain, and dime size hail. We were camped on a rock bluff at 8,300 feet, totally exposed to the storm. After 8 hours of the storm the couple we backpacked with had to move to our tent as the wind started to tear theirs apart. Their were four of us in the "cabin" part of the tent and nearly all of our gear in the side storage area. At some parts of the night the wind got so strong that the walls of our tent were bent over on top of us. I couldn't believe that the poles could handle that kind of pressure. In the morning our tent was still standing and the other tent was ripped and broken beyond repair. We never did find some parts of their tent. Ours was still standing like new, both us and our gear were still dry. The only thing that was damaged by the storm were the tent stakes that bent by the force of the wind. Amazing tent. If your considering purchasing this tent, I suggest you do so. I will never buy another tent that isn't a Kelty.

I selected this tent for the size and reasonably light weight. For two people, the backpacking weight is just a bit over 2-1/2 pounds per person which is not bad considering the size and large dual vestibules. It is a bit larger than most comparably dome tents inside which is a plus if you are tall or wish to stow some gear inside the tent. The gear vestibules on both sides are also larger than most, and being able to enter and stow gear on both sides is a plus as you don't have to step over someone else to get in or out. The tent is well constructed and goes up quickly. With the dual vents on top and generous screening I have not had any significant problems with condensation, and the full fly ensures you will remain dry even in severe weather. The only negative I've noticed is the snap at the bottom of the fly zipper, which can be a pain to close from the inside of the tent, but this is a relatively minor issue. Overall a great buy!

I bought this tent a couple weeks ago and just took it out for a two night backpacking trip. The tent was a breeze to set up. It was very roomy. I was the only person in it and had plenty of room to sleep and store my equipment. I'm avg height and had no problem sitting up in the tent - lots of head room. It didn't rain, so I can only comment that it worked well in dry weather. There was no condensation on the inside of the tent, which, along with needing more room, was a concern of mine. I loved the ease of entry on either side of the tent. I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 for two reasons: 1) as mentioned in prior reviews, the floor seems a bit thin and 2) packed in it's normal sack, it's a bit long and extends past the sides of my backpack. But, for the size of the tent it's not too big of a deal; it is about 5 inches longer than my old tent, so maybe just need to get used to it. I would definitely recommend this tent. One person has a ton of space and it looks like two could be comfortable in it. One of the rare 'two-man' tents that looks like it could sleep two and not be too cramped.

The Kelty Gunnison is a great value in a 2-person tent. Between our local Boy Scout troop and Venturing crew, we have purchased 15+ Gunnisons. They are well-built of durable materials. That durability comes from the weight of the fabric. So, the Gunnison is not a light tent when compared to more expensive tents (like the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2). Still, for the money, the Gunnison is a great value. In terms of size, it well proportioned -- cozy inside for two with adequate space outside the doors in the large vestibules for packs. For a 1-person tent (and a lighter 2-person tent), check out the Kelty Salida. It's basically the same as the Gunnison without the second door and vestibule.

I initially was looking a REI tents which are lighter and often better quality but much more expensive. I decided to go with this tent because it seemed like a good product for the price and I am extremely happy with it.

I purchased this tent mainly for solo use. It will fit 2 people (without much gear) but you better be very comfortable with the other person. Since I am single at the moment, it is going to be used as my solo tent. At around five pounds, it's a little heavy for solo use, but manageable. I packed it 8 miles into the Trinity Alps Wilderness of Northern California last weekend, and the weight didn't break my back.

We had beautiful weather, so I can't comment on how it holds up in a storm, although it seems pretty well made. The tent poles are nice because they are connected with a plastic swivel piece, making them one unit. The tent is very easy to set up... all it requires is assembling the poles and snapping them into tabs on the corners of the tent, then clipping the tent to the poles. Speaking of clips, that's a great feature for a backpacking tent (rather than sleeves for the poles) because it allows for good ventilation. The tent sits so the floor is slightly elevated along the sides, keeping the seems away from the ground (good feature). The tent is identical on either side, so there are two entrances and vestibule areas. Inside the tent there is a pocket hanging from the wall at either end. There is also a mesh piece that can be attached to the roof of the tent for overhead storage, and there is a centered loop for a tent light.

The fly seemed to be good quality and simply sits over the tent poles and attaches to the same tabs. The vestibules require the fly walls to be secured by tent poles or rocks. The fly also has plastic windows at either end to allow sunlight in. Above the vestibule entrances are vents that can be zipped closed... a nice feature to adjust ventilation inside the tent.

Overall I am extremely happy with this tent. For the price it is an extremely good deal. The only real issue is the weight, but only ultralight hikers would have a problem with that. If you are traveling with your significant other, it would be a fine tent to share.

I searched and researched, searched and researched, shopped online, in-stores, etc for the perfect light-weight 2-person tent. My specifications were: not too expensive, around 5 lbs, 2 doors, easy-set up, waterproof. This tent more than delivered on all accounts. I love the two vestibules. Made getting in and out and staying organized much easier.

I used this tent for 3 nights in a row while backpacking in Glacier National Park--it poured for the first two nights (and all day long) and we stayed completely dry--no dew on the inside at all.

Love that it is free-standing, too, and the poles are so easy to set up. There is plenty of room for two people, I don't know why people complain about 2-person tents not being big enough--my boyfriend and I were very comfortable with inches to spare on either side of us. This tent is nice too, in that it is a bit longer than some others I have tried out.

Bottom line: for this price, you cannot find an all-around better deal.

we took it out once so far and didn't bother with a rain fly. it's a great tent and highly recommend it.

UPDATE: I've had this tent for a awhile now and have taken it out several more times. This past weekend was the first time i've had to use the rain fly. It worked very well, kept the rain out, no leaks and i was very comfortable inside. I did have a little trouble undoing the toggles in the dark and out of sight as the rain started coming down. Other than that, everything worked well. I've thought about getting the single version of this tent just to save a little space and weight in my pack, but i've decided against it as i love having the extra room to keep my pack in, keeping it and the rest of my gear dry as well. I've replaced the stakes though, first with steel nail stakes then with some aluminum 3-prong stakes. the area i'm in is very rocky and the little stakes that come with the tent just won't cut it. I've never even driven them in. I use this tent for backpacking and have not regretted it at all. I thoroughly recommend this tent.

I bought this tent for it's nice roomy floor dimensions since I am 6'2" tall. Those dimensions stood out over the crowd of 2-man tents with not much difference in weight. However, be aware that those dimensions are taken without the tent erected. When the tent is erected the floor pulls up and loses approx. 5 inches total per side. I can't speak for any field tests but the plastic clips that hold the poles to the corners appear flimsy and may eventually wear or get walked on causing failure. The old webbing and grommet style designs are simple and make more sense to me for durability. The poles connect at the center/top with another flimsy looking plastic arrangement that requires correct orientation or the tent can't be clipped on with it's special little fragile looking clip. I returning the tent because of the dimension issue.

OK, first off, I'm actually reviewing a Gunnison 2.0, rather than the 2.1 now available. I looked at tents for quite awhile before deciding on this Kelty tent. You can certainly find lighter and more expensive tents on the market, but at 37 sq ft this seems HUGE compared to many others available. For me the packed out weight is slightly over 5 lbs, which is not terrible. I've used the tent mostly as a 2 person tent and occasionally as a solo. I've packed it in the Grand Tetons, West Texas, and Arkansas, and have been happy with its performance in all those different environments. Rode out one particularly horrendous thunderstorm in Arkansas this past spring and can vouch for the waterproof fly. It works! Without even considering the deals you can find on this tent, it does everything a backpacking tent should do, and gives a little extra room compared to other 2 person tents (that you can actually carry on your back for 20 miles). Combine the performance with the price and it is clearly a winner.
I forgot to mention that I did replace the stakes with stakes from either MSR or NorthFace, can't remember which. The stakes from Kelty were a bit flimsy.