Kelty 2 Man Field Tent

The Kelty 2 Man Field Tent is very strong and durable dome shelter made in USA and built to military specifications, and with incredibly high waterproof rating.

Key features & benefits

What this is about

I think it is best to start with this video that shows wind-resistance testing of the tent. After the wind of 72 mph, the tent restores its initial shape without damages. Simply incredible, have a look:

So as you realize, this is a dome-shaped and very aerodynamic structure with a full coverage fly shown below. The tent has two large D-shaped mesh doors, and the top picture above shows its simple X-crossed poles configuration. Note that the tent has a very low profile with its 43 inches (106 cm) peak height.

Materials & features

The poles: It is surprising that there is no information by Kelty about the poles. But this is aluminum and the poles are very strong and equal length. However on Amazon-UK they write about Easton poles, so this may be a different version of the tent.

The fabric: The canopy is mostly a 70D mesh no idea if this is nylon or polyester. The fly is a 70D nylon ripstop with a huge 12000 mm waterproof rating. I do not remember any other tent with such a value. But I have seen at various places 3000 mm mentioned. The floor seems to be the same material as the fly and with the same 12000 mm rating.

They have the fly in MC/ OCP/ ALPINE variants. There is also a statement that the fabric used here exceeds CPAI-84 flammability standard.

The picture below shows an awning configuration created with the help of a pair of trekking poles, otherwise you can roll up the vestibule flap and fix it above the door, there are toggles in place for this purpose.

Ventilation

This tent has lots of mesh on the canopy, so vapor can escape. But it may not be so great when it is about condensation. The fly is massive, see the picture below, and it goes almost all the way to the ground, but you should still have enough air flow underneath it.

They have added two vents with stiffeners on the top, you can see them in the pictures. But they are very high and if it is raining in combination with wind, you have to keep them closed to avoid water getting in.

But there is a taffeta part on the inner tent and it goes high from the ground. So this in combination with such a low fly is not so great for ventilation. With such a full fly there is no much need for the mentioned taffeta, the inner tent’s floor is bathtub in any case so there is no issues with ground water.

Who is this Kelty 2 Man Field Tent for

Regarding the area, this is officially a 2-person tent. The floor area is 30 ft² (2.79 m²), and the dimensions (numbers below) are such that there is enough space for two sleeping pads. 

But there are two large vestibules, they do not provide numbers so one can only guess how much space they exactly provide. In any case, you have plenty of storage space for two users.

Regarding seasons & climate, this is a tent for up to 2-seasons in the warmer part of the year, although they describe it as a 3-season tent. 

The performance regarding wind resistance is extraordinary, and the waterproof rating is incredibly high. So this is a tent that will protect you no matter what kind of weather you have in the camp.

Regarding the weight, the tent weighs 7 lb 2 oz (3.2 kg), so this is a heavy shelter, but the weight is justified because of its durable fabric. However, if you need something for the trail, there are many lighter tents around, see this Klymit Maxfield 2 Tent as one option.

The packed size is 18 x 11 x 5 inches (46 x 28 x 13 cm). So it is designed to pack in a cube shape to better fit in a pack. But you have seen its weight.

Specifications

• Official capacity: 2 people.
• Packaged weight: 7 lb 2 oz (3.2 kg).
• Minimum weight: 5.2 lb (2.35 kg).
• Dimensions: 89 x 51 in (226 x 130 cm).
• Floor area: 30 ft² (2.79 m²).
• Peak height: 43 in (106 cm).
• Packed size: 18 x 11 x 5 in (46 x 28 x 13 cm).

Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons

Please see how I rate this tent against my usual rating criteria, it does not stand great in some of them but see the protection:

Kelty 2 Man Field Tent

8.5

Area per person

7.9/10

Weight

7.9/10

Packed size

7.7/10

Protection

9.9/10

Features

9.3/10

Pros

• Full protection.
• Very durable materials.
• Awning configuration.
• Vestibules.

Cons

• Heavy
• A bit bulky.

BEST PLACEs TO BUY:

Kelty

Cabelas

Please check in the category Tents for 2 People if you need more options. You might want to see also this The North Face Stormbreak 2 Person Tent with its two useful vestibules.

Let me know if you have questions, there is a comment box below. Thank you for reading.