The Kelty Discovery Element 6 Tent is a simple and easy to use lightweight and tall dome style tent with a full coverage fly, with one door and one large vestibule.
Key features & benefits
- Dome style tent.
- One door & one vestibule.
- Tall tent.
- Quick Corner poles attachment.
- Fiberglass poles.
What this is about
This Kelty Discovery Element 6 Tent should not be mixed with their Kelty Discovery 6 Tent, it seems they are running out of ideas for their products. There are similarities but these are different tents.
So this is a larger in the series of two tents, the smaller is a 4-person shelter. You have a very simple dome-shaped structure with only two poles. The canopy is all mesh as you realize from the picture below.
There is only one D-shaped door and you can see it in the picture. This may not look so great for a 6-person tent but indeed the door is large. Note that the tent is 77 inches (196 cm) tall, and the door’s size is appropriate for such a high tent.
The full-coverage fly creates a large vestibule, the picture below shows how it looks when the vestibule is fully closed. So here again this is a simple design with only one zipper.
Because of the vestibule, the tent is not freestanding, it must be staked to the ground to be fully functional.
Materials
The poles: You have only two poles and this is fiberglass. This is normal to expect in such a budget friendly tent. You have here their Quick Corners design used in many recent tents of this brand, you can see it in their Kelty Wireless Tent 6 Person.
The advantage of this design is in the fact that the pole remains in place when you go around to place it into the opposite sleeve. As you probably know, this is not always so with grommets design. On the canopy, the attachment is easy with clips.
The fabric: You have already seen its canopy, so this is all a No-See-Um mesh. Both the fly and the floor are the same material, 68D polyester with a 1200 mm waterproof rating. This may look like a modest value but this is more than enough if everything else is properly done. The seams are taped.
Ventilation
The canopy is all mesh so vapor can escape, and this should work fine if you can keep the vestibule unzipped. There are also guylines on the sides that pull the fly away so that you have more ventilation from the ground. But it is surprising that the fly is without fly vents.
Please see more in this video:
Who is it for
Regarding the area, the tent is officially for 6 people. You have 89.3 ft² (8.3 m²) of the floored space and the dimensions are such that it is indeed possible to have 6 pads on the flor, see in the picture what they suggest. This means 14.88 ft² (1.38 m²) per person.
This is not really a castle, but there is also a vestibule for storage with its 24.7 ft² (2.3 m²). I would say it is best to downgrade this tent to 4 people maximum.
Regarding seasons & climate, they describe it as a 3-season tent, but you have seen its canopy which is mesh. So in a cold environment it may be unpleasant in such a tent. The lack of fly vents is also problematic if you use it in a rainy and warm environment.
The tent is tall but it is very aerodynamic with its full coverage fly, so it should perform well in moderately windy places.
Regarding the weight, this is a moderately light tent, it weighs only 15 lb 13 oz (7.17 kg). They also provide the trail weight but this is not a tent to carry long distances. Check my list of best 6 person backpacking tents if you need something for such a use.
The packed size is very good, the carry bag shown below measures 25 x 7 x 7 inches (64 x 18 x 18 cm). Note that this is what they call the Shark Mouth duffel carry bag so it is easy to pack the tent in.
Regarding the price, this is budget friendly tent as typical for Kelty, a good value for the money.
Specifications
- Weight: 15 lb 13 oz (7.17 kg).
- Official capacity: 6 people.
- Dimensions: 120 x 107 in (305 x 272 cm).
- Inner area: 89.3 ft² (8.3 m²).
- Inner area per person: 14.88 ft² (1.38 m²).
- Vestibule area: 24.7 ft² (2.3 m²).
- Total covered area: 114 ft² (10.6 m²).
- Peak height: 77 in (196 cm).
- Packed size: 25 x 7 x 7 in (64 x 18 x 18 cm).
- Warranty: limited lifetime.
Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons
In summary, if you are on a budget and need a branded tent for occasional outdoor adventures with your family or friends, this is it. The price of this tent is simply amazing. It offers full protection with its huge fly, and you have storage space under its large vestibule.
Below you can see how this tent stands against my standard rating criteria that I apply consistently to all the tents here in the site so that you can easily compare:
Kelty Tents Discovery Element 6
Pros
- Easy setup.
- Compact.
- Great price.
- Full coverage fly.
Cons
- No vents.
BEST PLACEs TO BUY:
For more tents of this shape please check in the category Dome Tents. In particular, see also this Coleman PEAK1 6-Person Dome Tent which is built in the same style but with aluminum poles.
Let me know if you have questions, there is a comment box below. Bookmark this site and come again, this will keep you informed, as you realize I add texts here on a regular basis. Thank you for reading.
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