The Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 Person Tent is a true freestanding low-profile dome-style tent supported with fiberglass poles, very easy to use and incredibly affordable.
Key features & benefits
- Dome-style tent.
- Freestanding.
- Very easy to use.
- Fiberglass poles.
- Incredible price.
What is in the name
Kelty has several separate series with the word Discovery in the name, they include Discovery Element and also Discovery Trail tents that are with a full coverage fly and vestibules.
This Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 Person Tent is the smaller from a series of two tents, they also have a larger Basecamp 6 person tent available. These are freestanding tents and with a partial-coverage fly, which means there are no vestibules here.
The picture below shows the tent without the fly so you realize this is a very simple and easy to use structure with two X-crossed poles. The peak height is 56 inches (147 cm) so the tent is quite low profile.
There is one door only and it is with a window which you see in the picture above.
Materials
The poles: I already mentioned that there are only two main poles, with 9 mm diameter, and this is a fiberglass material as you would expect from such a budget tent. As of the moment of writing this text, on Amazon they write the poles are aluminum, so this is clearly a mistake.
One short brim pole is also included, its diameter is 8 mm. This you use to raise the fly above the door, this is obvious from the picture below that shows the tent with the closed door. This small awning creates a dry entry and it also protects the front window.
The poles attach to the tent with clips on the canopy, and at the base you have what they describe as Quick Corners system which is typical for this brand. This includes deep and narrow sleeves so you simply put the end of the pole in the place and then go to the opposite side to do the same. With this detail it is easier to set the tent up because the pole will remain in place when you go to the other side.
There is currently only Coleman that has something similar in some of its tents, but their poles are with a ball at the end.
The fabric: All the tent is built from a 68D polyester and the canopy includes a no-see-um mesh. The waterproof rating is 1200 mm for all the taffeta pieces. This is not much but you will rarely need more.
You have several internal storage pockets on the walls.
Ventilation
The canopy is with plenty of mesh, you have seen this in the picture without the fly. There are no floor vents, but the wall on the sides is quite low so you basically do not need vents. Namely, mesh areas are close to the ground and the fly is not close to the ground, so you have air flow from the sides.
The fly is without vents, so this is not optimal, but the front brim raises it so vapor should be able to escape. Please see more in this short video:
Who is it for
Regarding the best use & climate, it is described as a 3-season tent and this is more or less so. The tent is low profile and aerodynamic. But with such a fly it is best to avoid very windy spaces, or at least orient the tent so that the door with its brim does not face the wind direction.
Regarding the size, you have the floored area of 53 ft² (4.9 m²) so this is not really a castle. But the dimensions are such that you can place four sleeping pad son the floor. Official capacity is 4 people, yet I see it as a perfect tent for a couple or for parents with one child.
Regarding the weight, the tent is light with its 8 lb 8 oz (3.86 kg), so it may be light enough even for the trail. But this weight is partly also because there are no vestibules for storage, just to know if you compare it with some other tents of a similar weight like Marmot Tungsten 4P tent.
The packed size is very good, see the numbers below. So it packs better than the Pacific Pass 4 Person Family Dome Tent that is built in a similar style. The carry bag is a Shark-Mouth duffel type, see the picture below.
Regarding the price, it is simply incredible, the tent is a true bargain.
Specifications
- Type: camping dome tent.
- Official capacity: 4 people.
- Weight: 8 lb 8 oz. (3.86 kg).
- Dimensions (L x W): 97 x 79 in (246 x 201 cm).
- Floored area: 53 ft² (4.9 m²).
- Packed size: 23 x 6 x 6 in (58 x 15 x 15 cm).
- Peak height: 56 in (147 cm).
Final thoughts & rating
In summary, this Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 Person Tent is simple and reliable, its rating on Amazon is quite high and with all the good reasons.
My main objection is to its capacity, it is small for 4 people. But this is nothing new, the capacity of such tents is determined by following the backpacking principle, no matter if they are really built for backpacking or not.
In any case, if you do not want to spend much and to have a shelter from a globally-known brand for occasional outdoor adventures, this is it.
Below you can see how I rate it against my usual rating criteria so that you can easily compare it with other items of this type:
Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 Person Tent
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Compact.
- Lightweight.
- Very affordable.
Cons
- Small for 4 people.
BEST PLACEs TO BUY
Note that this tent is also available on Amazon as bundle that includes a footprint. The tent presented here is practically identical to their Kelty Ballarat 4, just to know if you can get it at a good price and if the Discovery Basecamp 4 is not available.
For more options, please check under the category Tents for 4 People. Bookmark this site and come again, this will keep you informed because I add texts here regularly. Let me know if you have questions or comments, there is a comment box below. Have a nice day.
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