Kelty - Late Start 4P

Get yourself a quality tent! Even one from kelty is such a value.. the late start 4 has been so reliable.. I've had it for like 5 or 6 years got some wear and tear but it was all repairable and I think it was under $150 took like 2 minutes to set up and take down and also took up minimal space in the trunk.. 10/10 would recommend something along those lines

I've had the Kelty Late Start for a few years. Not the lightest but roomy enough and tall enough. Decent quality tent that was priced right for me.

Just used this last night for an impromptu winter camp out. Definitely Not a 4 season tent but it did well enough. I use it a bunch over the summer, it's small enough to take on a small hike and is budget friendly too.

If you end up not getting/wanting it repaired. I can personally recommend the Kelty Late Start. I have the 2-person variant but they make several sizes. By far the simplest/quickest setup of any tent I've used/owned. I'm on my third or fourth-ish camping season with it and it has held up wonderfully. No fancy bells or whistles as far as features, but I put a premium on simplicity and reliability when it comes to my camping stuff. I can elaborate a little more if you're considering it. Good luck!

Go for the Core tent if you're a stand up in the tent & move around type. You'll like it. We got our big one pretty muddy and it was a heavy pain to clean. Hubby can stand & likes to bring a chair in. I like a smaller dome tent. I love my Kelty Late Start. The pole pockets and clips are great. I will never purchase another tent with sleeves for the poles to slide through (looking at you Coleman). Do you have any plans to backpack with the Scout Troop? Or are you exclusively car camping? Many scout camps require you to walk in your gear from a common parking area. If that's the case, having a wagon is key if you want to keep your large tent.

Ease of setup, breathability, durability, reliability The Kelty Late Start will probably be my next tent. - the sleeves that the poles slip into are awesome. Someone should have thought of that decades ago. - AL poles makes it easier to cart to a site - mostly mesh body, this is key for summer in SE USA - your region may change this - kelty has a solid rep - full rainfly means it'll take on storms better and have less condensation inside I don't care about how many pockets or whatever else it has. A 4 person is the biggest we use regularly. I have had bigger tents but they're just whatever I find an amazing deal on.

Where do you camp, what is the weather like? Generally Kelty or Alps Mountaineerimg tents are the budget tents that are a step up from Coleman. Two layer (separate body and rainfly) are most forgiving. Full rainfly (covers the whole body) is best. More mesh in the body for hot and humid. Less mesh for colder climates.

Yeah the marketing is so bad. There are 3 season tents that are better suited for colder climates but they aren't advertised like that. So weird. In the south, I recommend Kelty tents a lot because their 2 layer tents have almost-full mesh bodies. I notice that people in the northern US swear by Alps Mountaineering tents... their bodies happen to have a lot less mesh in the body. They're like 3.5 season tents, lol (but they'd be bad in the south).

I have had a normal kelty 4 man and the daydreamer 6. The 4 held up great for almost a decade of use (~6 trips a year with that tent) before we needed more space and upgraded. The day dreamer 6 is pitch black inside which is great for getting kids/dogs to sleep in later than sunrise. The thick fly to keep out light definitely adds a pound or two to the day dreamer vs a normal tent.

it fits my kelty 6 comfortably with space on the size. it was very tight with my kelty 4

My BF and I have 7 different tents and our favorite one is the 4-person Kelty tent that I bought for myself when I was 17-18 years old. That makes it 36-37 years old. It’s not the same shape as the one OP covets but it has the same basic options with a large back window screen and the zipper screen entrance with the additional layer of solid fabric. Unfortunately it’s so old and the fabric is becoming very brittle and fragile. Wish they still made tents like they used to.

Well if you want advice on a tent I could probably try to help you out! Just took a quick pass through the tent options and I’d recommend the core 4 person instant tent for $150 just because they’re already an established tent making brand with great reviews. I personally own a 4 person kelty tent and the quality is really good imo and they’re easy to setup. Some of the kelty tents have these sleeves that the bottom of the poles go into and it makes solo setup a breeze. My issue with instant tents like the one you mentioned, the gazelle t4, etc. is that they’re heavy and they don’t get very compact. But if you have both storage space and space in your vehicle go for it.