Kelty Late Start 2 Backpacking Tent

Kelty built the Late Start 2 Backpacking Tent as the answer to a real problem: shoulder-season weekend backpackers who do not need a four-season expedition shelter but absolutely need quick pitching when the light is fading. Color-coded poles and clips deliver exactly that.

The two-person interior is sized for honest-fit two-person use, not the generous-claim two-person that is really a roomy solo. Full-coverage fly and a single vestibule cover gear; the freestanding architecture means you can pick the campsite you want, not the one your stakes will hold.

Why this tent earns its slot

• Color-coded poles and clips for fast-fading-light pitches.
• Honest two-person interior dimensions.
• Freestanding pole structure for surface flexibility.
• Full-coverage rainfly for sustained weather.

For backpackers who arrive at camp after dark more often than they would like to admit, this is the Tent Kelty named correctly.