Comparison Kelty Grand Mesa 2 vs Kelty Salida 2

Classic tourist tents are divided into three main varieties: expeditionary, trekking and camping. In addition, on the market you can find tents for the beach, for fishing(including carp tents) and for shower / toilet, models like "umbrella", as well as varieties of tents: camping and tent tents. Here is a more detailed description of each of these varieties:

— Expeditionary. The most advanced type of camping tents. Expeditionary models can be used in any season, including winter, they are distinguished by high strength, reliability and maximum protection against cold, snow, wind, etc., while such properties are often combined with extremely low weight. As the name implies, these tents are designed mainly for long-distance expeditions, winter hiking, high-mountain climbing and other similar applications. But it hardly makes sense to purchase such a model for relatively simple tasks: expeditionary equipment is very expensive.

— Tracking. Tents designed primarily for ease of use on long hiking and cycling trips. Accordingly, the key features of such models are rather high reliability and resistance to adverse conditions (albeit...less than that of expeditionary equipment), a relatively low level of comfort, as well as low weight, in most models not exceeding 6 kg. Heavier tents are usually classified as trekking tents if they have the simplest possible design, and the weight is primarily due to the large capacity and/or increased reliability of the materials. In general, it is worth paying attention to this variety in cases where the equipment is planned to be carried “on oneself” often and for a long time; camping tents are better suited for staying in one place permanently (see below).

— Camping. Tents designed primarily for comfort while staying in one place all the time. They differ from tracking models in more extensive additional features (although a specific set of such features may differ from product to product), seasonality (most of them are not designed for winter), and also, in general, greater weight. So, it is customary to refer to camping tents weighing more than 6 kg; lighter models may also be included in this category if they have the characteristic features of camping equipment: additional features designed to increase comfort levels and/or relatively simple materials that are not designed for particularly adverse conditions. In general, tents of this type are perfect for overnight picnics, outdoor festivals, etc.

— Tent for fishing. Products for winter ice fishing; they are designed for one, maximum two people in a sitting position and most often either do not have a bottom at all, or they have special openings in the bottom so that the structure can be installed directly above the hole.

— Carp tent. Models intended mainly for lovers of carp fishing. Such fishing (especially at competitions) can last for days without interruption, and special equipment is used for it — including the so-called carp folding beds, which are a special kind of tourist furniture. Thus, awnings for carp fishing are large in size, allowing you to easily install one or even several folding beds inside. And by design, most of these products are no longer closer to awnings, but to full-fledged tourist tents: they can be used not only as canopies, but also as full-fledged closed shelters, including for overnight stays.

— For a shower/toilet. Tents designed exclusively for equipping camp showers or toilets; they are not designed for other purposes. Usually they are vertical structures without a bottom — a kind of cabin for one person. The height of such a booth is usually chosen so that an adult can stand inside without much difficulty (in some models, the height exceeds 2 m).

— Beach tent. Tents designed to protect from the sun's rays on the beaches, during picnics, etc. Most of these products are structures that are open on one or even several sides, and are designed for a seated or recumbent placement of a person. There are also models equipped with a valve that allows you to completely close the internal volume; this can be useful, for example, for changing clothes on the beach, or for protection from a short rain. However, even such models are designed mainly for open use — moreover, the valve, being unfastened, fits in front of the entrance and plays the role of an addition to the tent's own bottom.

— Car. The vast majority of tents are mounted on the roof of a vehicle. They provide car tourists with sleeping places on a kind of elevation, which guarantees the almost complete absence of any creeping living creatures during the night. Car tents are attached to the roof rails or crossbars of the roof rack of the car, the entrance to them is usually realized with the help of an attached ladder. There are models exactly in the entire plane of the roof of the vehicle and instances of autotents of an increased “square” with a rigid floor frame. There are also tents that are attached to the trunk of a car or the front door of a van, forming the so-called vestibule space. In the "tambour" you can leave things or put a table, while sleeping is supposed to be directly in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, folding the rear row of seats. Car tents give you the freedom to choose where to spend the night, whether it's a clearing at the edge of a forest, a flat area in a mountainous area, or a parking lot near a supermarket.

— Umbrella tent. Tents, the design of which resembles an oversized umbrella. When unfolded, such a tent consists of a dome, in which a special frame is built, and a canopy hanging from the edges of the dome; while the layout of the "umbrellas" may be different. So, in some models, the dome is located on a rather high vertical leg-support, and in the standard position, the height of the canopy is the same on all sides. In terms of application, such models are closest to awnings-tents (see above), and by turning up the canopy, you can turn the product into a classic beach umbrella. In others, the dome is installed obliquely and rests on the ground with one edge, covering part of the space on the sides, and the remaining space closes the canopy; such designs are more like traditional tents. Anyway, the main advantage of umbrella tents is the ease of installation and folding: such operations are not much more complicated than handling an ordinary umbrella, and even a beginner can handle them without much difficulty. On the other hand, when assembled, such products are rather bulky, and the complexity of the design affects the cost and overall reliability. Therefore, there are few such models nowadays.

— Tent tent. There are two main types of awnings. The first is an enlarged and lightweight analogue of more traditional tourist tents. The height of such a product, usually, allows you to stand in it, the bottom in the structure may be completely absent, the walls are single-layer, and most of their area is usually occupied by “windows” made of mosquito nets (although in some models it is possible to close these windows with external “curtains”). » made of dense material). Such an awning can be useful, for example, for short trips to nature, or as an overnight stay in warm summer weather.
Another kind of awnings-tents can be conditionally called "household". Such structures are intended primarily for the organization of one or another working space: retail outlets, exhibition and promotional stands, field cafes and canteens, administrative areas at public events, first-aid posts, etc. Among such tents there are quite large structures that can accommodate 10 – 20 people, or even more; such models, usually, have solid walls with inserts-"windows" made of transparent material. In turn, for relatively small household products, the walls are rather symbolic — they are made of mesh material, if necessary, closed with a zipper, and in some models they are completely absent.

— Camping tent. The simplest kind of awnings are products in the form of a piece of dense matter, usually rectangular or close to it in shape. Many camping tents are designed to be secured between trees, poles, or other makeshift supports. Such an installation can be quite difficult, but the awning itself is as light, compact and easy to transport as possible. More advanced models are also produced, equipped with their own supports and guy wires and suitable for installation directly on the ground. Anyway, camping awnings themselves are intended primarily for protection from the sun and, to a much lesser extent, from rain. In addition, such products can be used as additional protection for tents — in heavy rain, an awning can be a real salvation, especially if the tent itself is single-layer and not particularly moisture resistant.

The total weight of the tent is including the frame and other accessories.

This parameter depends primarily on the purpose (see above), and after that — on seasonality, capacity, and additional functions. For example, in trekking and expedition models, the weight usually does not exceed 5 – 7.5 kg, and the lightest of these products can weigh 2 – 3 kg or even less, while being full-fledged tents for 2 people or even more. However, for a trekking tent, such a small weight with a capacity of more than 2 people usually means that this model is designed exclusively for the summer. For most camping tents, the weight starts at 6 kg, although among them there are also quite light products — by 4 – 5 kg, 3 – 4 kg, or even less (in such cases, light weight can also mean a purely summer specialization). And the most capacious and/or multifunctional models can have a weight of 10 – 15 kg, 15 – 20 kg and even more; in this weight category, you can mainly find tents, camping tents for many people and fishing tents for carp fishing (see "Destination").

When choosing a tent according to this indicator, it is worth considering that it does not always make sense to chase the maximum weight reduction. Yes, the...light tent is the most convenient to carry; on the other hand, weight reduction inevitably affects one or several other characteristics at once. So, most often, lighter models are either more expensive or smaller in size and less roomy and functional than their heavier counterparts. And sometimes weight reduction also negatively affects the security (including moisture resistance) and the overall reliability of the product. Therefore, it makes sense to specifically look for the lightest tent possible in cases where weight reduction is of key importance; a typical example is long trips, in which all the equipment has to be carried “on oneself” for a long time. And even in such cases, it is worth remembering other important characteristics. For example, for use in late autumn, when frosts are likely, it is better to choose a heavier tent with winter seasonality than a light model that is not designed for winter conditions.

The wind valve allows you to close the ventilation window to prevent snow or rain from getting inside. Its name is due to the fact that ventilation windows usually do not allow precipitation falling strictly vertically (in calm weather), but a strong wind can bring drops or snowflakes inside.

— Polyester. Synthetic material with good durability and waterproof performance. In addition, it is resistant to adverse effects (does not lose strength when wet, exposed to acidic and alkaline environments, temperature changes).

— Nylon. In general, the characteristics of nylon are somewhat lower than those of polyester: it tends to stretch when wet and is generally less resistant to adverse effects. At the same time, given that most owners use tents in relatively simple conditions, these points are not critical; in addition, some manufacturers use a special treatment to improve the durability of nylon.

— Polyethylene. This material is mainly used in inexpensive models of camping tents (see "Purpose") — this is primarily due to its significant weight. For other characteristics, it does not have key differences from other materials.

— Polyamide. The general name for a class of fabrics, which includes, in particular, nylon and nylon. Some manufacturers use this term for marketing purposes: "polyamide" sounds more solid than "nylon", although these materials practically do not differ in characteristics and are used in the same way — mainly in inexpensive models.

— Reflective elements. The outer surface of the tent is equipped with special reflective inserts. Thanks to this, the location of the tent will be visible from afar, which allows users to quickly navigate in the dark, easily determining the location of the tent city / tent. Often, reflective fibers are woven into wind braces so that at night they do not catch on.

— Mosquito net. Fine-mesh mesh covering the openings in the tent: entrances, windows, ventilation openings. Its presence is highly recommended if you plan to use the tent in the warm season: it allows you to ventilate the interior without letting mosquitoes and other unpleasant flying insects inside.

— Lantern loop. A special mount (loop, hook or carabiner), usually under the ceiling, designed to secure the lantern inside the tent. It will allow you to easily organize indoor lighting and eliminate the need to hold a flashlight in your hands or independently find a place for its best location.

— Internal pockets. Pockets located on the inside of the tent. They facilitate the organization of the internal space, allowing you to conveniently place relatively small items — glasses, watches, some tools, etc. It also reduces the risk of accidentally crushing fragile items.

— Shelf for small items. The purpose of t...he hanging shelf is generally similar to the inside pockets (see above): to organize the space inside the tent so that small items are not lost and are not accidentally crushed. In some tents, there may be several such shelves. Shelves are usually located in the upper part of the tent, which allows them to also be used as a stand for a lantern if there are no loops for it (see above) or it is impossible to use it for some reason.