Kelty Late Start

Summary

Price At Time Of Writing | $159.95

Our Overall Rating | 71 out of 100

Pros - Simple to set up, durable

Cons - Single door and vestibule, cheaply made

Overall - A basic, low-cost choice

Technical Specifications

Packed Size - 16x7in

Weight - 4lbs 8oz

Sleeping Size - 29.5sqft

Our Analysis & Ratings

For those wanting an easy camping adventure, the Kelty Late Start is a good, light option that’s easy to set up. Coming last on our list, it does have some negatives, such as a single-sided door and its pole design.

Comfort - While the Kelty Late Start has enough interior room for two people, we found it sagged when the fly was fully taut as it pinched the poles together, and the sloping walls made the headroom feel small. This can make liveability uncomfortable, so it’s not a great long-stay tent. While wide, it also only has one door, which can be annoying for two sleepers to access.

Construction - The tent has a straightforward design that people are generally familiar with, but it has pole sleeves in the corners to help make setup easier, especially with cold hands or for kids to set up. It is made from lower-cost materials, which you would expect at this price point; however, that impacts negatively on its durability.

Features - The Kelty Late Start has a personal pocket on each side and one overhead. The vestibule isn’t large enough for two people’s belongings, which then decreases internal space as you have to bring items inside. Other than the fly door, there are also no other vents, so if closed, it can get damp inside.

Size/Weight - The Kelty Late Start is decently light at 4lbs 8oz for such a cheap tent, and it squeezes down better than other budget tents as it doesn’t need to be folded perfectly to fit inside its bag.

Versatility - The Late Start is a 3-season tent, so we wouldn’t recommend it for cold winter camping. While the poles are sturdy aluminum, due to the fly, they're not the best in harsh weather conditions. This is because we found the fly difficult to get fully taut — if taut in one spot, it can be loose in another, and of course, if the fly touches the inner tent, it can let moisture through. It does fine in windy conditions as the design is low and aerodynamic, but it’s not our first choice for rainy weather.

Overall - A convenient, easy and quick-to-pitch budget tent, but others offer better quality and value.