Kelty Salida 2 Tent - Gear Review

I don't know about you, but I have been itching to get out and sleep under the stars.  As the ice melts and the lakes open back up, opportunities to sneak away are getting more and more enticing.  This time of year the weather likes to try and fool you, so having a reliable place to escape is paramount.  My first choice in spring shelters is the 2-pole 2-person tent, and there are a gazillion choices out there.  One of my favorites for 2011, and a winner of this year's Backpacker Editor's Choice Award, is the Kelty Salida 2
   
The dependable quality of Kelty comes through in all their goods, but where they really set themselves apart is delivering value.  Many of us can't or simply won't drop $400+ on a tent, especially if we only get the chance to use it a couple of times a year.  With an MSRP of only $159, I feel like I am stealing this tent.  It may not be the lightest (still only 4lbs 8oz fully packed) or most feature loaded tent in this category, but it has everything I look for, and less is more when it comes to my gear.  30.5 sq ft of interior space plus a single 10 sq ft vestibule provide ample space for sleeping and gear storage.  The color coded clip system is as easy as it gets, set-up in less than 5 minutes start to finish.   Interior stash pockets and gear loft loops make staying organized a breeze.

A deep "Arch Edge" floor with fully taped seams, and a full coverage rain fly keeps you and your gear dry in even the most gnarly storms.  The top 2/3 of the tent is no-see-um mesh for great ventilation with the fly on or a true "sleeping under the stars" feeling (minus the mosquitoes) when the fly is not needed.  Kelty keeps helping us live true to our motto....  "normal guys looking for quality gear that won't break the bank"....

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4 Comments

Scott L. said…
How about you give us an actual review of the tent and not just something that sounds like an advertisement straight from Kelty. Thanks for nothing.
Ryan Weber said…
That else would you have like to hear Scott? We try to convey the features and performance aspects we think are important. We welcome the feed-back.
Scott L. said…
When I see the word "Review" I expect to gain some insight about a product after someone has actually used it. Your review sounds more or less like ad copy that was written with the sole purpose to sell the tent, instead of inform people that read your blog. The tent is new, having been on the market for a few months, so there isn't a lot of user feedback out there. I came to your site through google believing that I might find something that has some good information on how it works in the field. Unfortunately, I didn't get that. Hopefully in the future when you review a product you'll include pictures and go more in depth about your actual experiences while using whatever gear you are testing. I want to apologize for the for the negativity shown in my previous post.
Ryan Weber said…
Scott, we appreciate the feedback. We will try and relay more info on our actual experience. It is tough to balance our opinion and the technical info many readers look for. Adding more photos from our tests is definitely on our "to-do" list... Hopefully you check back in on future reviews and find what you are looking for. Keep the feedback coming...