Kelty Tallboy 4

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Overall

#529 in

Camping Tents

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Sentiment score50% positive
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Last updated: Apr 17, 2026

Reddit Reviews

Reddit IconOliverWendelholmes
4 months ago

I know you’re partial to Coleman, but the kelty tall boy is a simple dome tent with a 6’ center. It doesn’t have a covered exterior area if that’s important to you, but the quality is significantly better than my old Coleman.

Reddit IcongLaw9
6 months ago

You really have 2 requests: Comfortable for 2 weeks, I have one set of suggestions. But you need to fly with it. So that changes my recommendation. We have a Eureka 4 person tent in a tall configuration that we have flown with. There is a similar tent in production called the Kelty Tallboy 4. It is 5'10" in the center which makes it a little more comfortable. Also, while I know a Scout is Thrifty, considering some of your gear to be disposable might be to your advantage: pick up a ground tarp and a camp chair at a Walmart. Gift it to someone who is driving or donate it to a Goodwill on your way back to the airport.

Reddit IconM7BSVNER7s
9 months ago

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.

Reddit IconCautious-Cat9030
2 months ago

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

Reddit Iconj-allen-heineken
2 months ago

I have two tents (both kelty brand) a two person for solo backpacking/short trips where bad weather isn’t forecast and a 4 person for trips where I have another person in the tent with me or I plan on having to spend more time in the tent. Totally a reasonable move and the bigger tents really aren’t usually much harder to set up unless you have some huge 10 person multi room situation

Reddit Iconslknutson7
6 months ago

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.

Reddit IconHumanDisguisedLizard
10 months ago

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.

Reddit IconNmbrdDays
10 months ago

Are you backpacking or car camping? That makes a huge difference. I have a 4 person kelty for when I go car camping with my wife and dogs. For when I go backing with just one of my dogs I have a big Agnes copper spur 2p. When we go car camping, we have a foldable memory foam mattress, it’s quite large and takes up most of my roof box, it’s my trade off for comfort. There’s this company HEST, that makes these memory foam rolls for car camping. They look awesome, I just haven’t been to an REI lately to check them out. They are pricey but look to be really nice. I have my old ridge rest that I roll out to protect the tent floor from their paws. If your car camping and have the room, those floor mat puzzle pieces are also a great floor protector.

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