Kelty Grand Mesa 2 Review

 Rating: 4,5 of 5 stars====================Product price: Check new Price in amazon====================Buy with Secure Transaction Amazon now…====================
Product DescriptionThe Grand Mesa is a great value for backpackers and campers and includes high-quality DAC Press-fit poles. It is easy to pitch, include a single vestibule for storage, and offers excellent ventilation.

Kelty Grand Mesa 2

Customer Reviews:* I just got the tent system in the mail and set it up. It's a brilliant and simple design that comfortably fits two people with a little room to spare.Here are the details for the ultralighters that will want to know specifics and what they can trim down...Inside the tent are loops on the roof for an included mesh gear loft. There's also a center loop if you wanted to hang a lamp.All four corners have small pockets to hold some of your gear. You can see one of them in the main photo for this product. All four corners are the same.There are fasteners to hold the main door open as well as both doors of the vestibule. With all doors open, you get a nice panoramic view of the outdoors through the front of the tent. However, with the rainfly on, you won't be able to see out in any other direction.You can use the tent without the rain fly when weather permits. It will likely be my preferred way of using the tent. The large mesh upper allows for someone inside to feel like they're sleeping under the stars while being protected from bugs and debris falling from trees. If you needed to throw the rain fly on in a pinch, you could do it in less than 30 seconds thanks to the clip in fastening system for the rain fly. Furthermore, the rain fly can easily be tightened to the base with simple adjustment straps.The tent is slightly wider on one end than the other lengthwise. I'm assuming this was designed in for users to sleep with their heads at the wider end and their feet and the narrower end. I only noticed this while folding up the tent. This feature really speaks to the fine details Kelty paid attention to in making the Salida 2 a very user friendly and versatile tent.I will be discarding the plastic guy line tighteners. Instructions on how to use them were not included and they fray the guy lines themselves. I recommend using the running bowline to secure your guy line to the rain fly and a tautline hitch for securing to the included stakes. I already tied the knots into the guy lines so they're ready to go when I'm in the field.The whole package out of the box weighs 73.6oz (4lbs 8.6 oz). This is with the two pieces of paper instructions and a plastic bag removed.Main Bag: 1.25ozMain Tent: 26.35oz (includes the gear loft which I tied in and rolled up inside the tent. I'd estimate that it weighs about 1oz.)Rain Fly: 22.15ozPoles with included Rubber Bands: 16.35ozPole Bag: 0.4ozAccessory Bag: 0.2oz4 Guy Lines: .8oz4 Plastic Guy Line Tighteners: 0.2oz10 Tent Stakes: 5.8oz * As a backpacker. The weight I carry while hiking is always an issue. I like a tent,(as opposed to a hammock or a tarp) especially a stand alone tent, that dosn't have to be staked out. The tent also needs to be lightweight, and affordable. After doing extensive research online. I found the Kelty Salida 2 tent. Although a little heavier than some high tech models. It was also much more affordable. As with most things in life, their are often trade offs. I did not want to spent $400 plus for a tent, to save a mere lb or 2. The Salida weighs in at just over 4 lbs. and is a 2 man tent. Which I prefer, so that I can stow my gear in my tent with me. Also, if the weather turns bad, and I have to spend many hours hungered down. I want the extra space. This makes an ideal tent for one person. It has one vestibule, instead of 2, which saves some weight. Quick and easy to set up, and appears to be well made, which you would expect from a mfg like Kelty. I have only set it up in the back yard for now. However, its a keeper, and it will be going to the appalachian trail with me this fall.