The Kelty Tanglewood 2 Person Tent is an incredibly affordable dome style shelter with a full coverage fly and a vestibule, easy to use and low profile.
Key features & benefits
- Simple dome tent.
- Full coverage fly.
- 1 Door.
- Vestibule for storage.
- Great price.
What this is about
Kelty has been launching quite a number of small dome-style tents recently, all very similar to each other, so it may be easy to get confused. The differences are sometimes not visible at all.
This Tanglewood 2 Person Tent is one of them, and this is smaller in a series that includes also a 3-person version, the Tanglewood 3 Person Tent.
The picture below shows it without the fly so you can better understand its structure. Note that there is one door, and it is matched with a vestibule for storage.
The fly is a full-coverage type, and the whole structure is low profile, with a peak height of 44.5 inches (113 cm). Because of its vestibule, the tent must be staked to be fully functional, so this is why it cannot be described as completely freestanding.
The materials
Poles: You have two main X-crossed poles plus a short one above the door. It lifts the fly above the door and creates a bit extra height to make it easier getting in and out of this low structure.
This is a fiberglass, and you would not expect anything else in such a budget tent. The tent comes with what they call the Quick Corners design. They describe this as a “lightnin’-fast setup”, but this is a meaningless phrase. You would do the job equally fast with some other designs, like grommets or a pin-and-ring system.
The point of this feature, which is now in almost all new tents by Kelty, is something else. You put the pole in the deep and narrow pocket at the base of the tent, and it will remain there when you go to the other side to do the same. In the case of grommets, for example, the pole may jump out sometimes, and this is annoying if you do the job alone.
Fabric: You have all standard materials that Kelty has been using recently. So this is a 68D polyester used everywhere, including the floor. The waterproof rating is 1200 mm. The mesh areas are a No-See-Um type. Note that the floor is not a bathtub style design.
There are two internal storage pockets for organization, and the tent comes with Pre-attached guylines.
Ventilation
This tent has a canopy which is all mesh, so vapor can move through it. Observe that they have added two guylines on the sides, so you can pull the fly out and this will effectively create low vents. So far so good.
But the problem is that there are no high vents on its massive fly. It is a puzzle for me what they were thinking.
Who is it for
Regarding the best use & climate, the tent is low profile and very aerodynamic. I am sure you can realize this from the picture below. Note that you have 4 guylines half-way up to stabilize the tent in the case of strong winds. So the tent will behave well in windy places.
The fly covers it completely. The waterproof rating is not very high but you do not need more, so you will be fully protected from the rain.
Regarding the size, you have 29.4 ft² (2.7 cm²), and the dimensions of the area are such that you can put two sleeping pads on the floor. There is also a vestibule, they did not provide information about its area. But in any, this is indeed a tent for two, also perfect for solo use.
Regarding the weight, in view of its 6 lb 7 oz (2.92 kg), this is not a shelter for a trail. There are many much lighter (but far more expensive) options on the market. See this Sea to Summit Alto TR2 Tent as an example.
The tent comes with what they call the Shark-Mouth carry bag shown below, so it is easy to pack the tent. It is quite bulky, but you can transport it even on a bicycle.
Regarding the price, it is simply unbelievable, a great value for the money.
Specifications
- Official capacity: 2 people.
- Weight: 6 lb 7 oz (2.92 kg).
- Dimensions (L x W): 81.5 x 52 in (207 x 132 cm).
- Area: 29.4 ft² (2.7 m²).
- Peak height: 44.5 in (113 cm).
- Packed size (L x D): 18 x 6 in (64 x 22 cm).
Final thoughts & rating
In summary, this Kelty Tanglewood 2 Person Tent is a perfect choice if you are on a budget but want a branded tent for occasional outdoor adventuress. More branded it can hardly be, Kelty has been around for much longer than half a century already.
The tent is easy to use and with a simple but functional design that includes a vestibule for storage. My only true objection is about the absence of fly vents.
Below you can see how I rate this tent against my usual rating criteria so that you can easily compare it with other items of this type:
Kelty Tanglewood 2 Person Tent
Pros
- Full protection.
- Easy to use.
- Great price.
Cons
- No high vents.
- Bulky.
BEST PLACEs TO BUY
For more options, please check under the category Tents for 2 People. In particular, check this unique pet-friendly Mission Mountain Pawsible Tent with a separate room for your pet(s).
Let me know if you have questions, there is a comment box below. Bookmark this site and stay informed, I add texts here on a regular basis, so this will keep you informed. Thank you for reading.
Leave a Reply