Need a very affordable, reliable and easy to use tent from a great brand, that will not break the bank? This Kelty Timeout 6 Person Tent is the one, keep reading.
Key features & benefits
- Simple dome tent.
- Freestanding.
- Very easy to use.
- Lightweight.
- Incredible price.
Overview of features
Kelty has launched several tents recently, all in the same simple dome style and with very little differences regarding parameters like the weight, area, and packed size. You can realize this if you compare this Kelty Timeout 6 with their Ballarat 6 tent.
So you have a low profile structure with a peak height of 68 inches (173 cm). This may not be very low, but the canopy is angled and the inner volume is reduced as usual with such dome type tents. The picture below shows the tent without the fly so you can understand how it looks.
The tent is fully freestanding, this holds both without and with the fly on. So you can pitch it practically everywhere, and even move short distances when it is completely raised from the ground.
The door & window
You have one door here, and the access is easy. This is because there is no vestibule so you do not have to wrestle with its zippers and flaps. But note that this implies you have no space to store your boots and other stuff.
On the other hand, there is a short pole that creates a small awning as you see in the picture below. So the roof is raised by this pole and this makes the access even easier.
Yet another benefit of that small awning is that it creates a dry entry, and in addition to it, it protects the small window which is on the door. You can see it in the picture above. As you realize, the window is completely protected, so you can keep it with mesh most of the time. But there is a panel so you can close it if you feel cold.
Other details include a lantern loop on the ceiling, and several wall pockets to keep your small items off the ground, see the pictures below.
Materials
The poles: The mentioned three poles are made of a fiberglass material, so this is typical for such budget tents. Note that they attach to the corners with grommets, and this makes it different from the design they use in their mentioned Ballarat 6 tent and also in the Discovery Basecamp 6 tent.
Also on the canopy the poles attach here differently, so you have a combination of long sleeves and clips. I find this good because pressure in the case of strong winds is better distributed in such designs with sleeves.
The fabric: They use standard material that you can see in many of their tents currently on the market. So this is a 68D polyester used for all taffeta parts, including the floor, and the waterproof rating is again standard for Kelty, 1200 mm. The canopy included plenty of No-See-Um mesh.
Observe that the fabric is very dark, though this is not a dark-rest type tent, but it is still dark enough to reduce glare and you can sleep longer in the morning.
Ventilation
The canopy includes lots of mesh so this is good for vapor because it can escape. Though there are no fly vents or floor vents, but this is far from bad and here is why.
The mesh on the canopy goes close to the ground on the sides, and the fly does not, so with these two features combined, you will always have enough air flow from below.
On the other hand, you have seen the awning presented above, so this is the area where vapor from the tent can escape out.
Who is this Kelty Timeout 6 tent for
Regarding the area, the tent is officially for 6 people, and the floor dimensions are such that it may be possible to put 6 sleeping pads on the floor. You have 87.2 ft² (8.1 m²) of the area.
But for more comfort, it is best to reduce the number of potential users to up to 4 or so.
Regarding seasons & climate, the tent is described as a 3-season shelter and I agree this is realistic. You have a stable and aerodynamic structure that will perform well in a variety of conditions.
This means it will perform good even in moderately windy conditions, and it will offer enough ventilation if used in a warm environment.
Regarding the weight, it can be described as lightweight, see the numbers below, so it is backpack portable if the weight is shared, but it is a bit bulky for such a use. The carry bag is nicely designed, see how it looks:
Regarding the price, I would describe it as incredible, you pay around $20 per square meter.
Specifications
- Weight: 15 lb (6.8 kg).
- Official capacity: 6 people.
- Dimensions: 119 x 106 in (302 x 269 cm).
- Inner area: 87.2 ft² (8.1 m²).
- Inner area per person: 14.5 ft² (1.35 m²).
- Peak height: 68 in (173 cm).
- Packed size: 25 x 9.5 x 8.5 in (64 x 24 x 22 cm).
Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons
In summary, this Kelty Timeout 6 Person Tent is a budget friendly option for occasional outdoor adventures with your friends or family members. The tent is exceptionally easy to use and lightweight, and it is backed by such a stand out brand. Note that all their products come with a lifetime warranty.
Below you can see how this tent stands against my standard rating criteria that I apply consistently to all of them here in the site so that you can easily compare:
Kelty Timeout 6 Person Tent
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Lightweight.
- Great price.
Cons
- Small for 6 people.
- Bulky.
BEST PLACEs TO BUY:
For more tents of this shape please check in the category Dome Tents. Check in particular this Core 6 Person Lighted Dome Tent with Full Rainfly, it has a large vestibule for storage.
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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