TreeLineBackpacker

The Kelty TN2 tent is Kelty’s answer to the star gazers prayers. The tent has a roll back fly, and full body see through mesh walls for 360 degree unobstructed views. The main draw here is obviously the roll back, stargazing top. Sure, it gives you great views of nature, but does it protect you from it?

Topping off the Kelty Trail Logic System, the 3TN2 offers living space for two, with a 27.5 foot floor, two doors, and two vestibules at just 4 pounds. Price of admission is 249.

 

What I liked

You’ve gotta love that view! The TN2 offers truly unrestricted views of whatever you can manage to plant your tent in front of. With the top off, even laying down flat your views are unobstructed at all angles. Great if you really want that view.

Pitching the tent is painless, thanks to color coded poles and clips. The poles connect into the tent body at the floor using a sort of ball socket which clips instantly, without having to use two hands. Just pop it directly in. The clips that connect the tent poles to the mesh walls themselves are a clever design. You lift them up to the pole, and rotate them on to clip them onto the pole. This is quick, intuitive, oddly enjoyable, and feels more secure than the standard clips on most tents.

Livability is fantastic. Huge amounts of internal space, and vertical walls give plenty of room to move about inside your fortress. One large door provides for easy entry and exit, while a second adds utility. Large vestibules on both sides offer more than enough storage space. I managed to store all of my gear under one side of my vestibule, providing unobstructed entry and exit.

The tent’s build quality is excellent all around. Composed of coated nylons and durable nylons, you’ll not have to baby it like many light weight tents. The tent’s 40D nylon floor is durable enough that packing in a foot print isn’t necessary, saving you weight there. The fly is a durable 40D ripstop nylon, with excellent waterproofing all around. The tent stakes are above average, 3 sided aluminum stakes that grip well and don’t slip. Upon pitching, the tent stands sturdy and rigid. Multiple guy-out points and lines add support for high winds. Condensation was minimal on a hot humid night in the Smokey Mountains, thanks to exquisite ventilation all around, and vents in the top of the tent.

What I didn’t like

One luxuriously large door, and one small door left me puzzled. I thought, I’ll test the tent and I’ll understand why they did this. that epiphany never came.  The second door, while completely usable, isn’t quite as convenient as the primary large door. Perhaps this was to save weight or cut costs, but I’d rather have a second large door over a couple ounces. The tent came with guy out lines and stakes for storms, but only enough for one side of the tent. Again, another strange decision that proved to annoy me a bit. But just a bit. It does save weight, but I’ll have to move my guy-out lines depending on  where I camp, buy more lines, or choose two sides to permanently attach them, and pitch my tent accordingly.

Overall

It’s no secret, I’m a fan of Kelty’s products. When I first began backpacking, my first good backpacking tent was a Kelty. Many years later, that tent still stands today. They produced fine products then, and they produce fine tents now.

The tent is light weight, well-built, and durable. Pitching is simple, internal space is phenomenal, and the full mesh body is a joy to anyone who appreciates  a great view and breezy ventilation. At 250$, it’s certainly one of the best values on the market. Despite a couple minor, head scratching, quibbles, it’s a great tent that anyone can appreciate.

Highly Recommended. 

 

Thanks to the manufacturer for providing this product. For full disclosure, see our about me page.