Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Price: $159.99 at local Sports Authority
Weather Conditions: Cloudy, with sunbreaks. 2 days car camping.
Weight: Fairly light. 8 lbs.
Set-Up: The strength and durability of the aluminum poles are definetly worth the investment. You don't have to worry about snapping the poles unlike the fiberglass poles. I recommend putting the poles in the base "fastex" clips first, and then attaching the plastic clips on second. It's not really clear in the instructions. If you just bought this tent, I recommend practicing pitching the tent a few times. The first run took almost 30 minutes.I was able to set up this tent in under 10 minutes by myself. Always, always use a footprint or tarp when camping to save you from damaging the tent floor and moisture from the ground. Be sure to sweep your area of pine cones and small rocks. I also recommend getting beefier stakes. I've read the MSR Groundhog stakes are nice, but I got some $3 plastic ones at Walmart for a set of 6.
Tent fly: I like how the tent fly "clips" into the fastex clips at each corner. Also, I've read complaints of how the tent fly doesn't provide a good awning if you decide to step out during the rain. Pay attention to the color coded straps that will tell you how the tent fly is installed.
Front opening: The zipper of the opening is overstretched near the top. I was nervous that the zipper couldn't handle the stress of the two poles stretching it. I had to use a fastex clip with a strap (similar to the cross strap on a backpack) to wrap around the poles and pull them together to relieve the stress on the zipper. That solved the problem.
Storage compartments inside the tent: There are 4 mesh pockets at each corner of the tent. But they're aren't any hooks near the top of the tents if you wanted to hook a lantern to the roof.
Inside Space: I'm 5'7" and I was able to stand up completely with my head crouched a little bit. This is truly a 2 person camp with gear. I was able to fit a queen size air mat with no problems. The zipper wasn't as quiet as I hoped it to be. It still sounded like a zipper being pulled. The zipper was very smooth once I adjusted the two poles with the plastic strap. I didn't see any condensation the next morning, so I guess the tent vents very well.
Suggestions for design: This would be a perfect tent if it had a vestibule to store dirty clothes, boots, etc. A 2nd door would be nice, too.
Overall, I think I'll upgrade the the Kelty Gunnison 4.1 since it has a vestibule and a 2nd door. This is a nice tent for the camper on a budget.
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Kelty Trail Dome 4 Four Person TentAn ideal family-camping tent that offers a view of the stars at the campground or in the backcountry, the Kelty Trail Dome 4 features a simple pole design and clip-sleeve construction that make it a snap to pitch. Offering spacious room for four, the Trail Dome 4 has a 55 square foot floor area (but does not include a storage vestibule). It features internal storage pockets, mesh ceiling, gear loft loops, side-release buckle tent-fly connection, noiseless zipper pulls that resist jingling when it's windy, and color-coded clip construction with DAC DA17 aluminum poles.
The DA17 pre-bent poles are made of proprietary aluminum alloy designed by DAC specifically for tents, which provides a large diameter pole with high stiffness, strength and durability at an affordable price. The clip construction provides great fly separation and increased air movement, and it makes it easier to set-up your tent but offers less strength than full-length sleeves. The clips connecting the poles to the tent are color-coded so set-up is easy and quick in low light conditions.
The Water Tight Wall (WTW) construction keeps the doors and windows from leaking, even in driving rain. All exposed walls are constructed of coated fabrics with the seams shingled downward to shed water. Exposed windows and doors have wide flaps covering the edges so they won't leak at the zipper even in high winds. Kelty's ArcEdge construction lifts floor seams up off the ground, preventing water seepage around the floor and wall seams. Taped seams on the floor and the rainfly ensure that the tent is protected from moisture and wet weather.
Specifications
Seasons: 3 seasons
Capacity: 4 person
Floor area: 55 square feet
Vestibule area: none
Pole type: Two 12mm DAC DA17 aluminum poles + two 8.5mm fiberglass awning poles
Number of poles: 4
Number of doors: 1
Number of mesh windows: 3
Wall material: 68D 190T polyester taffeta
Floor material: 1800mm PU polyester taffeta
Fly Material: 75D 190T, 1800 mm PU polyester-taffeta
Dimensions: 99 x 80 x 57 inches (LxWxH)
Weight (minimum): 7 pounds, 10 ounces
Weight (packaged): 8 pounds, 7 ounces
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