Kelty Late Start 1 Person Tent

2023-10-25T20:00:00

Haven't opened this tent yet but have been using kelty tents the last few years Took one elk hunting this year and it held up in a gale force wind and rain storm on a high ridge all night Have no concerns and would recommend to anyone as I've put them through the ringer

Brandon H.

Originally posted at

2023-10-12T20:00:00

I really like this tent. Very easy to setup and teardown and pack away. I'm 6'1 and 220 lbs and I tend to sleep with my arm up under my pillow and I had plenty of room to roll around and stretch out. It can be used pretty easily as free standing but stretching it and staking it gives you a bit more space. I used it backpacking in Canyon Lands and have no complaints except that the footprint has been out of stock since I purchased it in July. I also have a Far Out 2 that I like and have used for backpacking and regular camping but it's not as long as this Late Start 1.

O’Daddy

Originally posted at

2023-10-04T20:00:00

Got this a couple weeks ago for the upcoming deer season in WA. Haven't taken it in the field yet, but I did set it up in the yard. It's the perfect size for what I need and I'm very much looking forward to using it.

Cody B.

Originally posted at

2023-08-19T20:00:00

Great tent, easy setup and take down. Only thing is the stuff sack is a bit big, but that does give some flexibility in putting inside my backpack or strapping to the outside.

George J.

Originally posted at

2023-08-15T20:00:00

Haven't taken out or used yet but wanted a lighter tent for when I get outside or on the trail. If it's anything like my tempest 2 it'll do the job & be quality. I do wish it came with a footprint like I've seen a few people say.

Charlie P.

Originally posted at

2023-08-15T20:00:00

This tent is roomy and well made. Very easy to set up and take down. Seems more rugged than most. I appreciate the internal easy to reach pockets for necessities. Fits nicely in my pack. The door is on the left when sleeping on your back. Tent polls are aluminum and have a bent design at their base which allows for more head room. The vestibule is off set to allow easy entry and exit. I wish Kelty offered a gear loft for this tent as it has the option for one. They did at one time, but in no longer available. I recommend purchasing the footprint design specifically for this tent, because the base narrows toward the feet. I am 5'9" 164lbs. There is enough space for my pack if the weather turns. I recommend this tent it's great!

Deythean F.

Originally posted at

2023-07-03T20:00:00

I purchased the Late Start 1 tent for a 2-night, 3-day hike in Yosemite, primarily drawn to its lightweight design and effortless setup. As a 6'2", 220 lb individual, I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort and generous space it offered. The guy lines were a breeze to set up, ensuring a secure and stable structure. The inclusion of a convenient pocket on the top of the tent proved handy for storing my headlamp. Overall, the Late Start 1 tent exceeded my expectations, delivering a perfect balance of weight, roominess, and user-friendly features.

Michael

Originally posted at

2023-03-30T20:00:00

I bought this tent for a bikepacking trip I went on over the weekend it did really well I got into the 40s and had no condensation in the tent and there was plenty of room to move around and sit up in the tent and I didn't have any issues with room im 5'10"

Austin R.

Originally posted at

2022-11-21T19:00:00

Easy setup, small package to go on my motorcycle trip.

Mark C.

Originally posted at

2022-09-26T09:02:53

The Kelty Late Arrival tent es ultralight weight, durable and ez to setup, move, and takedown. This is the easiest, quickest, setup tent I have owned, it quicker than deploying a tarp. This is high quality for this unbelievable price point. Sunny Sports is a fantastic vendor with ultrafast turn around to ship. Will be back again and again. SunnySports.com is a fantastic vendor, with ultrafast shipping.

Stefan A.

2022-08-30T20:00:00

Excellent upgrade from sleeping in a bivy sack for decades. Well made, quality materials, designed with attention to detail, including corner loops for the footprint, attic & roof storage. Really dark inside at night for deep sleep. Good trade off on weight for size & comfort. Only change would be a triangle shaped footprint extension at the door / vestibule (which I'm going to sew on myself). Nice job Kelty!!!

Mark D.

Originally posted at

2022-05-16T09:03:33

Great tent. Perfect for my medium to bigger sized dog and myself. Small enough to fit perfectly on my kayak, very easy to set up. We didn?t experience any rain but we stayed dry on the damp sand bar we camped on. The small size was important for me as everything needed to fit on the kayak.

JILL S.

2022-04-07T20:00:00

This tent is the best one-person tent I've ever used. It's light, it's durable, it's a perfect place to sleep in the mountains. If you're going to be camping for an extended amount of time in the rain, buy and use the footprint. It's smaller than the floor of the tent so it won't pool water. If you're taller than 5'10' you're not going to be able to sit up inside the tent without your head hitting the ceiling of the tent. The interior pockets at the head side are nice. The door is huge and the vestibule size is decent. The fly looks cool and functions well. The guy lines do help streamline in wind and rain. Setting up is super easy. The aluminum poles pop into place and are really light weight. The No-Bendium stakes are also super light weight. Great tent for the sub-$200 range.

J

Originally posted at

2022-01-18T19:00:00

I have yet to use it, but it was an easy set-up, the inside of the tent is very spacious, and the vestibule gives you adequate room for backpacks or other items to store and keep out of the weather.

David R.

Originally posted at

2021-11-29T19:00:00

Took this on an overnight backpacking trip in north GA and I was really impressed. I think it would be hard to beat for the price. It didn't take up too much space in my pack, the weight to price is phenomenal, & it was very easy to setup. Temps were in the 20's with a good breeze (no rain) and it did very well overnight. The only thing I wish is they made it in a long model.

thomas d.

Originally posted at

2021-10-22T20:00:00

A tent that lives up to its name. I got this tent for hiking/backpacking. I'm on the larger side (275lbs at 5'7"). This tent gave me the extra space I needed to move around (on a 30" wide pad) while not having to carrying a 2 man tent. It's held up very well in rough weather. My favorite thing about this tent is, the footprint clips to the floor of the tent instead of relying on the poles to hold it in place. This means, I can pack and deploy the tent and footprint together. I can literally put this tent up, with fly and footprint, in under 2 min. When staked out, the tent has great ventilation yet retains some body heat in cooler nights. My only dislike is, the single door and the tapered shape. I understand the taper is to save weight, fine, but a single door forces the door always on your left. Of course, I would prefer the other way around. By having 2 doors, it would solve the tent/person/door orientation issue for both left and right handers (Kelty, are you listening? Also, how about some natural tone/color tent options?)... Almost perfect.

Peter

Originally posted at

2020-11-30T19:00:00

Took this out for a weekend in the PNW with temps in the 30-50s, off and on rain, and 5-10mph winds throughout. Tent sets up quickly, <5 min start to finish including throwing out guy lines & stakes, which are fairly sturdy compared to other brands I've used. I did not use a footprint and was pleasantly surprised with how well the floor withstood the cooler temps and showed no signs of water invading from underneath. Fly stays taut to reduce condensation inside and the vestibule is big enough for pack and boots, but not much else. 3 built-in pockets are a nice touch considering the smaller interior. Regarding space and for reference, I am 6'4" and had no issue with extending fully and the width is tapered toward the head end so it offers a little more wiggle room. Overall very pleased with this tent after it's initial trip. Light enough and packs up as advertised.

Daniel H.

Originally posted at

2020-05-20T20:00:00

Great little tent

KEVIN R.

Originally posted at

2020-05-09T20:00:00

I purchased this tent a short time ago as I plan to backpack the Cumberland Gap area for a week when the pandemic is over. I was looking for a tent for one that was lighter in weight but still had some room. I am 6'2" and weigh 225 (most days) and not a Spring Chicken at 67. It is so easy to set up and is pretty roomy for a one man tent. With my sleep pad and sleeping bag inside I still had room. Plenty of room in the vestibule for backpack and shoes. This is a great tent. The only difficulty I had the times I've used it was getting dressed and undressed inside. As I mentioned above, I am not a Munchkin. Most one person tents cause me a little difficulty dressing. Still, in the early morning I was just able to get out and change before others. The Late Start 1 will definitely be with me on multiple backpacking trips. As I find way to lighten my backpack I suspect I'll end up going to the Late Start 2. Gaining less than a pound but also gaining significant room, the dimensions - 85" x 54" x 40" vs the Late Start 1 - 85" x 40" x 36.5" will give me a lot more space to dress PLUS height that will allow me to sit up better. The Late Start 1 will most likely become my 8 year old grandson's tent as we continue to camp together. Great line of tents!

Stephen H.

Originally posted at

2020-03-02T19:00:00

Well, I finally had an opportunity to try out my new Late Start 1-Person tent, and it performed like a champ. Set up was fairly easy and quick, even for me who hadn't set up a tent in over 10 years. Like most 1-person tents, there's not a whole heck of a lot of extra room for much more than yourself, sleeping bag and pad, pillow, and a few other necessities like your shoes/sandals, light, cellphone, etc., but I definitely felt comfortable enough. It has a couple of handy little interior pockets, one at the top which was great to store my light in case I wanted to reach out and find something under the vestibule in my packs, and I believe there are 1-2 additional pockets within arm's reach when laying down. I also bought Kelty's foot print for this tent for extra peace of mind, but I have not experienced any rain yet, so I don't know how well the tent does when wet. But, all other reviews I've read say that they had no problems whatsoever with rain. Speaking of foot print, I wasn't quite sure to which loops these attached. There's the larger loops used for the rain fly stakes, and smaller ones which I ended up using. Ventilation is good. It didn't get too cold at night, but I barely noticed any condensation at all on the interior of the tent. I feel that this tent is a great bargain and you can find ways to collapse it into a pretty small size for your backpack, pannier, or bike saddle pack, and its weight is quite acceptable, particular for its price. Aluminum stakes feel very solid, which I really appreciate. Really good deal and quality; things I have always come to expect from Kelty whose products my friends and I have been buying and using for over 40 years.

Bruin

Originally posted at

2020-01-21T19:00:00

Got this tent for my son who is a scout. Used it for the first time this weekend and he was able to set up solo and take down solo. The pole sleeves really help with the independence. He was able to fit his gear and self with plenty of room to spare. My only concern going forward is the durability of the sleeve against the friction of the ground and the pole pressure. I anticipate the pole poking right through. Kelty: is there extra material at the pole end points in the sleeve?

Christina K.

Originally posted at

2019-12-18T19:00:00

I purchased the Late Start 1 and was completely satisfied with my purchase. This is an excellent 1-person tent...easy to setup and super-compact. My experience was made even better by Kelty Customer Support- a tree branch punctured a hole in the rain fly the first trip out. Kelty fixed it like nothing ever happened. Great response and turn around time (less than 10 days!)

Carl F.

Originally posted at

2019-12-18T19:00:00

I purchased the Late Start 1 and was completely satisfied with my purchase. This is an excellent 1-person tent...easy to setup and super-compact. My experience was made even better by Kelty Customer Support- a tree branch punctured a hole in the rain fly the first trip out. Kelty fixed it like nothing ever happened. Great response and turn around time (less than 10 days!)

Carl S.

Originally posted at

2019-08-07T20:00:00

I bought this for my first bikepacking trip and it was awesome. It was light and easily packed out how I wanted it. I was able to get it in a small bag on the handlebars. Set's up easily and the little gear stashes inside are just enough to grab what you need.

daniel S.

Originally posted at

2019-07-30T20:00:00

this tent is not the lightest option on the market, but it is very well built, sets up with ease and has super short poles for a ultra compact pack size. I need this for bike packing. I am very happy with this tent and I would recommend to a friend. nothing better for the quality and price!

Steven C.

Originally posted at

2019-07-26T20:00:00

All of my summer camping experiences have involved at least one deluge. After a decade break from camping which always involved a leaking tent and a damp-to-wet sleeping bag, I decided to get back in the game. I eased back into the camping life with a short spring trip in the back of my truck to see if I had outgrown the activity before investing in a tent. Having passed that initial test, I purchased the Late Start 1 and began planning my summer trip. I went on a week-long trip at a mountain state park. Day 1 = the begin of the 24 hour deluge. As I was setting up the Late Start, the sky spat the occasional fat drops at me. Perhaps, they still recognized me from those many years ago and decided to baptize me yet again. The tent (and footprint) set up easily solo. I threw a couple of exercise mats in for cushion, two sleeping bags, and my pillow. The clouds burst open shortly after. It was a much cooler rain than I had anticipated and it lasted almost nonstop for the next 24 hours. I spent much of the daylight hours in my car listening to an audiobook and looking at my tent wondering if my sleeping bags were getting wet. Around sundown, I made a dash for the tent and was pleased to find everything was dry inside. This was my first experience in a one person tent and I did have an initial bout of claustrophobia which I pushed through. When I wasn’t sleeping I was listening to the rain pounding against the thin tent wall. In the morning, I dashed back to the car and continued my book and puddle watching. When the rain finally ended later that day, my tent was still dry on the inside. There weren’t any places on the tent where water pooled on top. Thanks to the Late Start, I had my very first dry rain camping experience after many, many wet ones. I highly recommend this tent.

Mandy S.

Originally posted at

2019-06-19T20:00:00

My 13 year old son took the tent on his first backpacking trip with his scout troop. He's pretty small (89 pounds) and this tent was light enough to not overload his pack and packed down small enough to not have to strap it on the outside. He said it was easy and quick to set up, though he had a harder time taking it down every morning (though he said he probably just needs more practice). Overall I'm very pleased with the purchase - it fit within our somewhat limited budget and met our needs. It's large enough for him to grow into and I'm expecting it to be used many more times on his adventures!

Kris S.

Originally posted at

2019-06-19T20:00:00

My 13 year old son took the tent on his first backpacking trip with his scout troop. He's pretty small (89 pounds) and this tent was light enough to not overload his pack and packed down small enough to not have to strap it on the outside. He said it was easy and quick to set up, though he had a harder time taking it down every morning (though he said he probably just needs more practice). Overall I'm very pleased with the purchase - it fit within our somewhat limited budget and met our needs. It's large enough for him to grow into and I'm expecting it to be used many more times on his adventures!

Kris S.

Originally posted at

2019-06-17T20:00:00

I bought this tent to use on my raft because it looked like it would fit, it looked like an incredibly easy set up, and it was affordable! It is all of these things! I wouldn’t go so far to say it is a do-it-all tent but I don’t think that is what it is designed for. Great for summer/warm weather camping when you need to get out of the mosquitos and you still want to see the night sky!

Erika B.

Originally posted at