The Kelty Grand Mesa 4 tent offers a compelling blend of minimalist design and practical functionality for three-season camping adventures. This four-person tent boasts impressive dimensions despite its surprisingly lightweight 7.58-pound package, making it a viable option for both car camping and backpacking trips. Its straightforward setup, even for novice campers, is facilitated by color-coded poles and a user-friendly "hug clip" system. The generous use of mesh and strategically placed ventilation points ensure comfortable airflow, even in warmer conditions.Durable construction, featuring double-stitched seams and taped waterproof seals, provides reliable weather protection. While offering ample interior space with convenient storage pockets and a lantern loop, the Grand Mesa 4 also prioritizes ease of access with its large D-shaped door and optional gear loft. Although some minor drawbacks exist, like the small included stakes, the overall value, ease of use, and weather resistance make the Kelty Grand Mesa 4 a strong contender in the four-person tent market.
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Specifications and First Impressions
The Kelty Grand Mesa 4 is a three-season, four-person tent boasting impressive dimensions: five inches thick, twelve inches wide, and thirteen inches long. Weighing in at 7.58 pounds, it's a surprisingly compact package for its capacity.
Initial inspection reveals a generous use of mesh, particularly noticeable without the rainfly. The solid panels extend high up the tent walls, offering good protection from the elements even in windy conditions, as experienced during this review.
Setup and Design
Setting up the Grand Mesa 4 is remarkably straightforward, even for beginners. The large-diameter aluminum poles, with their short 12-inch sections, contribute to both ease of assembly and a small packed size.
The tent utilizes a traditional X-shaped pole configuration and a color-coded system for quick and intuitive setup. The 'hug clip' system simplifies pole attachment, further enhancing the user-friendly experience.
Features and Accessories
The Kelty Grand Mesa 4 features a large D-shaped door, providing ample access. A gear loft (purchased separately) is a helpful addition, maximizing storage space and keeping gear off the tent floor.
The included rainfly boasts color-coded webbing for easy attachment to the tent. While it has one vestibule, the design ensures quick and efficient setup, even in windy conditions.
Ventilation and Guy-Outs
Ventilation is enhanced by strategically placed tabs on the rainfly, enabling you to stretch out the sides and create better airflow. Although only one roof vent is present, this design, combined with the mesh and door configurations, provides sufficient airflow.
The tent includes four guy-out points with extra material tabs, both near the top and bottom. However, additional stakes and guy lines need to be purchased separately, as the included ones are rather small.
Door Configurations and Additional Features
The Grand Mesa 4's door offers versatile configurations: a quick-entry half-open position secured with a tie-back loop, a fully open position for easy gear access (though lacking a designated tie-off point), and a partially zipped position for ventilation and privacy.
Inside, the tent provides dual storage pockets and a convenient lantern loop. Double-stitched seams and taped seals ensure waterproofness, completing a practical and well-designed tent.
Final Verdict
The Kelty Grand Mesa 4 balances simplicity and functionality. Its straightforward setup, robust construction, and excellent ventilation make it a great choice for three-season camping. Although the included stakes are subpar, and the fully open door lacks a tie-off point, these are minor drawbacks in an otherwise impressive package.
The small pack size makes it a viable option for backpacking, although its weight may be a limiting factor for some. Overall, its ease of use, weather resistance, and overall value make it a strong contender in the four-person tent category. This tent excels at providing shelter for a comfortable and dry experience.