Best Kelty Tents For Camping

Here is our review of the best Kelty dome-style tents for camping all are easy to use, functional and reliable, and suitable for up to 3 seasons.

In recent years, the largest Kelty’s tents are up to 6 people, and they are all dome type. But long ago they used to have some other shapes and sizes. Perhaps you did not know, but they even had inflatable tents in the past, and they were one of the first to build such tents.

It is usually hard to match Kelty when this is about the price, but this is never on the account of quality. This is a reliable brand that has been around for well over half a century already, so you know what you are buying.

My list of best Kelty camping tents

Below is the list with the tents ordered by weight from heavier to lighter:

The weight differences are quite different, but this is reflected also in the available space and comfort, so more weight is not necessarily a bad sign.

1. Kelty Rumpus 6 Person Tent

This tent is a dome-style structure but it comes with two vestibules, and one of them is enormous as you realize from the picture. This larger vestibule is supported with an extra loop.

The fly is a full-coverage type for a complete weather protection in a 3-season use. The tent is supported with fiberglass poles and it is with what they call the Quick Corners design for pole attachment. So you have narrow and deep pockets/sleeves where you place the end of a pole.

The fabric is a durable 68D polyester used everywhere, and with a moderate 1200 mm waterproof rating. All seams are fully taped.

Here are a few numbers. The weight is 18 lb 7 oz (8.37 kg), and the floored area is 85.7 ft² (8 m²). With the vestibules, you have in total 128.6 ft² (12 m²) of the covered space. The packed size is 26.5 x 9.5 x 8.5 inches (67 x 24 x 22 cm). Please see more in this video:

• Vestibules.
• Height.
• Ease of use.

What I dislike:

• Fiberglass poles.

2. Kelty Tallboy 6 Person Tent

This tent is a simple and fully freestanding dome structure with one door and one window. The fly attaches to the poles, there are no vestibules and this why you have views around.

There are two main poles and one short ridge pole that supports the minimal fly on the front and on the back, creating small awnings and a dry entry. The poles’ material is what they call the wrapped fiberglass, and according to what they write it is stronger than standard fiberglass pole material.

The tent is quite light with its 12 lb 15 oz (5.87 kg), although the fabric is durable. You have is a 68D polyester with a 1200 mm waterproof rating used for the fly and the floor. The walls are with the same material and a 40D No-see-um Mesh. All seams are taped.

The floored area is 86 ft² (8 m²), the packed size is 24 x 8 x 8 inches (61 x 20 x 20 cm), and the tent is quite tall with its peak height of 72 inches (183 cm).

Please see more in this video:

• Ease of use.
• Price.
• Weight.

What I dislike:

• Fiberglass poles.
• Small for 6 people.

3. Kelty Grand Mesa 4 Tent

They have had the tent under the name Grand Mesa 4 for years, but this is the latest updated version. With the weight of 7 lb 7 oz (3.37 kg), this tent is very much suitable for backpackers as well. This is a very affordable tent without bells and whistles but with all that you need in the camp, and it offers full protection from the elements and from insects.

The shape is a simple dome with two poles only. But this is a lightweight DAC Pressfit aluminum so this is partly behind the weight, and now you can even more appreciate its price.

As for the fabric, it is surprisingly durable for such a light tent, this is a 68D polyester with an 1800 mm waterproof rating, plus a No-see-um Mesh on the canopy.

It includes the Kelty’s Quick-Corner Technology with narrow but deep sleeves in the corners, so here you place the ends of the poles. This is instead of the usual grommets or pin-and-ring attachment elements. This makes the setup very easy and one person can do the job without problems.

Note that the tent has one door only and you also have a vestibule. So the storage area is not so great for 4 users. The floored area is 54.5 ft² (5.06 m²) and you have 14 ft² (1.3 m²) under the vestibule. The packed size is 18 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches (46 x 19 x 19 cm).

This tent is also in my list of best 4 person backpacking tents. Please see more in this video:

• Quick-Corner design.
• Great carry bag design.
• Very easy to use.
• Durable fabric.
• Tall tent.
• Great price.

What I dislike:

• Single door.
• One vent.

4. Kelty Dirt Motel 4 Person Tent

This tent is with the weight that puts it in the group of very light tents suitable even for backpacking. It weighs only 6 lb 14 oz (3.12 kg). So this is a very versatile shelter and they launched it instead of their well-known Kelty TN 4 tent.

This is a very typical dome-style tent with two main X-crossed poles plus a short ridge pole that makes the doors vertical. The official capacity is 4 people, and for this you have 55.5 ft² (5.15 m²) of the floored area, plus two vestibules that provide 9 + 9 ft² (0.83 + 0.83 m²).

Regarding the materials, it is supported with top-quality DAC Pressfit aluminum poles. The Pressfit system was invented in 1996 and this is a 7001 aluminum alloy. The fly is a 40D siliconized ripstop nylon with a 1500 mm waterproof rating. The canopy is mostly a no-see-um mesh. The floor is a durable 70D nylon with a 3000 mm PU coating. All seams are sealed.

Note that you have vents on vestibules. The peak height is 46 inches (116 cm), and the packed size is 16 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches (41 x 19 x 19 cm). You can see more here:

• The weight.
• Ease of use.
• Ventilated.
• Great packed size.

What I dislike:

• A bit steep price.

Final thoughts

So this was my selection of the best Kelty tents for camping, and I hope you realize that it offers more than just camping tents. You have seen that some of them can be described as very light tents and therefore suitable even for the trail.

The differences in weight are substantial but this applies also to the overall comfort. I put forward the tent below as my choice tent because of its massive vestibules and comfort, but note that it is the heaviest as well.

Editor’s Choice tent

This tent offers more comfort than the other tents, and it is still versatile enough to be used by cyclists and also for car camping.

Great vestibules and full protection.

Product Name: Kelty Rumpus 6 Person Tent

Product Description: This tent has a unique design of its vestibules and it offers full protection for a 3-season use.

Brand: Kelty

SKU: B08MJ7X1QP

MPN: 40823421

• Features - 9/10
  9/10
• Design - 9.2/10
  9.2/10
• Quality & craftsmanship - 9.2/10
  9.2/10

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For more options please check under the category Outdoor Shelters here in the site, in particular my list of Eureka camping tents. With a tent you may also need Sleeping Gear, so look around and see if you can find something suitable to you.

Let me know if you have questions, there is a comment box below. Have a nice day.