Kelty Crestone 1

I actually have the Kelty Clark model, which I'm pretty sure is the predecessor to the Crestone. This is my 7th season using this tent in both the southern Appalachians and the northern Rockies, and it has performed very well: easy/fast to pitch, sturdy construction, compact & lightweight for a double-wall tent, reliably waterproof, withstands high winds & snow weight, warm but well ventilated/minimal condensation. Enough room lengthwise(I'm 5'5")and widthwise (for 1 person + dog or gear). Height is debatable--I find it fine for sleeping, but being a little claustrophobic, I do not like to spend much conscious/non-sleeping time in it, and I change clothes inside it--possible but cramped--only if it's raining or very cold outside. One small complaint is no see-through window to outside (although this may not be true for Crestone?)--I'm thinking of sewing in my own. For the price (& it comes factory seam-sealed!) and weight, this has been a quality solo tent that has always provided warm, dry shelter.

I took this on a 3 night wilderness trip and would recommend it. Once you get the hang of it, setup takes just 3-4 minutes. The outer shell kept the inside perfectly dry during a daylong rain/hail storm. Nice touches include reflective pole clips that make the tent easy to find in the dark, and the mostly-transparent roof gives you a great view of sky and surroundings while lying down. A few minor gripes: I'm 5'10 and had enough room to store small shoe-size items both behind my head and at my feet, and was (barely) able to sit up without stooping... taller people who don't like feeling cramped might need to look for something bigger. I found that the stakes bent very easily--I bent two on a 3-night trip with relatively soft ground, though this may be par for the course with ultralight stakes.

For certain people and under certain conditions, this tent is perfect. Particularly if you're short (lots of headroom), or if you're camping in very wet areas (doesn't leak a drop!). I've slept like a baby through I can't even tell you how many thunderstorms, monsoon rains and 50+-mph mountain-top winds -- and even one hurricane -- and this tent barely flinched. It's had buckets of water dumped on it, and never leaked a drop (though was reinforced with seam sealer and water repellent). It's also very well ventilated, only minor condensation on rare occasions. It is a bit heavy compared to other tents on the market, but for the price, it really rocks!

Being six-feet tall and still being able to sit up in my Crestone Tent is a big plus. The vestibule can fully accommodate a pair of wet shoes and a 3500cu inch bag but not much else (a bigger bag will be mostly covered but with one end protruding out and unprotected from rain). My only complaint is that the fly seems a little small/tight for the tent; I found myself using all the slack in the fly ends just to snap in the buckles (and I was still a little uncomfortable with how far I was stretching the fly). All in all, the Crestone 1-Person Tent is a pretty good buy.

For 1 person hoop style tents you can't find a better value for the money. Are there better solo tents out there? Sure, if you want to pay the extra $100-$200. Bottom line is that it is comparable to the more expensive brands in weight(especially for a full rain fly model), has a bigger than average vestibule, sets up in less than 5 minutes (first time), and is sturdy in 30-40 mph winds. The only drawback is the square footage. The Crestone checks in at 19.12 sq-ft. Most other tents in this class are around 20 sq-ft. I'm 6'-1" and didn't find it to be a problem though.

Tent met my requirements: Easy to set up Lightweight Adequate Space There is enough room in the tent for you to sit up. I was even able to change clothes! However, you will not be able to keep your pack or boots in the tent with you. My 5200 cubic inch pack fits fits in the vestibule on it's back. Getting in and out of tent is somewhat awkward, but this is no bother for me. I get in the tent once at bedtime and out of the tent once in the morning. This is a quality buy and I highly recommend.

This tent is easy to set up and is just the right size. Has a very nice sized vestibule and plenty of room inside for a sleeping pad. This tent has withstood many storms and many trips with high schoolers that wrongly set up the tent many times. Very durable! The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because of the weight, but in actuality I can't even complain about that for the great price!

The color coded tent and fly attachment points made set up in the dark a snap. Good venting and interior pockets. The vestibule is a bit small for a fully loaded pack, but adequate for boots and stove. Tested at Ricket's Glen in Eastern PA for 3 nights, late October weather, wet ground, but no rain.

What is there to say? I need something lightweight for my bike trip and this tent did the job perfectly. From the easy setup to break down, I couldn�t have been out and ready to roll as fast as I was without this rig.