Kelty Vortex 3

Review Date
November 25, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: georgecopsey(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Minnesota

Price Paid:  $180.00 at Campmor

Summary:
Excellent tent. As noted in the other reviews, a very simple design and very practical.

We've used it on the Superior Hiking Trail and in the Grand Canyon, comfortably camping in temps from 23 degrees> 92 degrees.

We love the extra room for my wife and I (I'm tall and fit fine) and the attic for storage. It's not the super lightest (9 lbs 3 oz packed weight with the rainfly and ground cloth), but I can't fit comfortably in those little two person jobbies.

This tent sat almost dead still during a near tornado we encountered... I was amazed how still and steady it was inside. (properly guyed)

We really like the fact that there's a door on each side for midnight trips to the loo, and good, roomy vestibules for each of us.

Sets up very easily and quickly.... even withstood an attack by a snapping turtle intent on laying eggs that attempted to climb it.

A great, great value.

Customer Service:
nothing on the tent-- called Kelty about a problem with belt buckle on my Super Tioga pack.. they immediately mailed me a new one.

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
August 19, 2001

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
2.50 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: Chad(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Lexington, KY, USA

Price Paid:  $110.00 at Kelty

Summary:
This tent is an exceptional value for the quality. I have used this tent across the country, both in the Appalachian and Rocky Mooountains. The tent has withstood rainstorms in the Smokies without leaking a drop inside. At Colorado Nat'l Monument, the tent took on 50 - 60 mph winds and rain without falter (tent was guyed correctly of course). Coldest weather encountered was approximately 35 degrees overnight at the top of a 12,000' peak in Colorado, and stayed warm inside Slept with feet outside of sleeping bag. In the beginning, had problems with condensation, but after figuring out how to ventilate better, and guy out the fly completely, condensation has not been a problem. Again, no leaks, great resiliance to wind, and very capable of retaining heat if you want it to. Great tent, would consider it more like a 3 and a half season. Only complaint is that the fly cannot be attached directly to the tent like some of the Sierra Designs products, this would be helpful along the roof of the tent.

Similar Products Used:
Sierra Designs Light Year CD, Various Eureka products.

Review Date
June 11, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Joe Berber(Unregistered User) ,  Car Camper , from Watsonville,ca

Summary:
simple
light
bright
This is the cheapest, decent 3 person tent and performs just as well as any decent tent. It is also one of the simplest to set up and has all the amenities of any tent. My friend had a TNF expedition tent and he was struggling with setup/takedown more than twice the time- and he could never get it to look just right. Also, with the large mesh doors and decent construction, the tent vents somewhat well. Angling the doors toward a breeze flushes the interior out quickly. The tent is reasonably light. I can't get over how simple it is- it is a basic design and doesn't look like a cool dome, but many small things make this tent great. The fly almost never touches the tent, there are all sorts of ties and pockets for stuff, the light colored fabric is stimulating, the mesh area is large, the doors can be cinched to the side or the bottom. On the negatives, he shape is somewhat boring and the slider fabric gets 'sticky' when it is wet making the pole removal just slightly trickier-just pull the fabric not the poles. I don't think that a tent can get easier or better performance/price than this.

Similar Products Used:
TNF-complex, gadgety, gimmicky
Wenzel- boring, droll colours

Review Date
July 24, 2000

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Jerry(Unregistered User) ,  Car Camper , from Boone, NC

Summary:
I agree 100% with the below reviews. I used this tent on a trip though Europe last summer and it was fantastic. I have used it on shorter trips recently and it has never let me down. The easy set up and two doors make it very useable. One gripe: the gear pockets hang down on your head when you are sleeping and make them note useful and infact they are in the way. The gear loft is very useful. I have had a fair amount of condensation buildup on the inside of the fly which "dews" you when you go to unzip, but maybe I can vent better. Inshort I great easy to live with tent that Campmor has for about $180. Oh, one more thing, visit the Azores they are the best!!

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
July 19, 2000

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Jonathan Schorr(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from St. Louis, MO

Summary:
I bought this tent on ebay for about $205 and it's proven itself worthy of every penny. It sets up in no time, and can withstand a monsoon without letting even a drop of water inside. It's also very comfortable and the bright colors make it a much nicer shelter in dark and dreary weather than darker tents. My only complaint is that its little on the heavy side at 7 and a half pounds. Otherwise, a great buy for a tent with more features than other models that sell for a lot more.

Similar Products Used:
None