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My uncle told me to skip the cheap tent and get a Kelty Grand Mesa 4. He was right.
I bought a $50 tent from a big box store for a trip to the Red River Gorge. It leaked the first night it rained. Got the Kelty like he said. Used it three times now, bone dry every time. Anyone have a good rain fly treatment they like for extra protection?
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the_tessa2mo ago
Bad time" is a bit much, it's just a wet tent.
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carter.joseph1mo ago
I feel for you Tessa, but I gotta disagree. A wet tent can ruin a whole trip. When you're tired and cold and everything you own is damp, that's more than just a minor inconvenience. It's the kind of thing that makes you pack up early and drive home miserable. I've been there, soaked sleeping bag, wet socks, no dry spot to sit. It's not about being dramatic, it's about having a bad time when you paid good money to have a good time. So yeah, I think "bad time" is fair.
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the_anthony2mo ago
A fifty dollar tent at the Red River Gorge is asking for trouble, that place gets soaked. Your uncle gave you solid advice going with Kelty. I've had good luck with the Nikwax spray-on treatment for my rain fly, it beads up water really well. Just make sure the fly is totally clean before you put it on.
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nancyg142mo ago
That line about the fifty dollar tent is so true. It's like people buying the cheapest tool for a job that really matters. You see it everywhere. They get a flimsy ladder or a thin rope because it's on sale. Then they're shocked when it fails at the worst time. Paying a bit more for something that keeps you safe and dry just makes sense. It's not about being fancy, it's about not having a bad time.
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