Kelty Gunnison 4

[ucwinters]

Bought the Gunnison 4 to replace the 2-place Kelty tent that my wife and I have been using the past few years to give us more room. Also, wanted 2 doors so we could both get in/out from separate sides of the tent without crawling over each other or down to the end of the tent where the door was. Tent came with a mesh gear loft - did not try it on the maiden camping venture. Like the fact that the rain fly has 2 "peaked" zippered vents to allow ventilation to prevent condensation buid-up. The rain fly also has 2 vinyl-type "windows" (not sure what the actual material is) so you can look outside when everything is zippered up.
The tent itself has plenty of mesh panels, to include along the floor line, to give good ventilation/air flow when summer camping without the rainfly.
The footprint was not included with the tent. Bought the one specific for the Gunnsion 4 locally at Sportsman Warehouse for $29 + change.

Advantages: 2 doors.
Large vestibule for each door to leave shoes/motorcycle boots outside but protected from the weather.
Room for 2 people with space left over to stow items inside tent.
Room to sit up (not stand up) in tent to dress/undress.

Disadvantages: None yet discovered.

Dimensions:
Weight 8 lbs
Floor area 57 square ft
100' x 82" x 54"
Pole length 21" (aluminum DAC Presfit)
Length of tent/poles packed ~ 26 "

[braindead0]

Thanks for the review, I think I may get one of these instead of the BA parkview 3. It's a bit heavier, bigger... but a whole ton less $$ Campmor (and probably other places) still have the 2007 model, seems they have a new Gunnison 4.1 which uses color coded poles/clips and a pole hub. I think I'd rather save the money.. .

[Trekker]

Good review. Kelty makes a very high quality product. You should be happy for many years with this tent.

[GoldWingGL]

Nice review

[Ironheadziggy76]

This is the new tent I'm going to buy very soon.....I think.

[ucwinters]

Just in case anyone is getting serious about buying this tent, Mountain Sports (http://www.mountainsports.com/welcome.htm) has the '07 model for $139.95 with free shipping. I ordered mine and it arrived PDQ - very pleased with this vendor. To amend my review, I'd like to say that you can stand inside of the tent, but since I'm 6 ft tall and the height of the tent is something like 4 ft 3 inches, I'm a little stooped over.

Ed W.

[braindead0]

Thanks for the price update, that's cheaper than campmor... order placed, also got a bunch of other bits and pieces, figured I'd better do some maintenance on my whisperlite...

[Ironheadziggy76]

I keep checking the Mountain Sports site against some of the others net stores and they have had the best prices on these tents and most of their other goods. I will probably order mine from them next month, my new sleeping bag should be here today or Monday.

[braindead0]

I ended up with a roughly $300 order there, everything was either as good as or cheaper than the other places I looked. If they had a larger selection of freeze dried foods I would have stocked up on those there as well as a few other items they don't carry... All in all though, definitely worth the visit.

Now if they only gave a motocampers discount ;-)

[Ironheadziggy76]

You guys are going to get me in trouble!:eek: So far my list is new sleeping bag, (it's on the way), new tent, new stove, new riding gear, and new motorcycle.

My wife is really going to hate you guys.:p

[braindead0]

Just explain to her how much we're saving you... you *could* be spending a lot more ;-)

[olderthandirt]

The footprint was not included with the tent. Bought the one specific for the Gunnsion 4 locally at Sportsman Warehouse for $29 + change.

What is the footprint? Is it just a tarp?

[braindead0]

What is the footprint? Is it just a tarp?It's a tarp with nylon straps on the corners, loops at the ends and a grommet that will accept the pole ends. I haven't tried, but it may be possible to use just the fly/ground and poles to make a cover without the tent. I don't think it's designed for that, but I'm not 100% sure.

Mind you, this is all from memory... might be a bit off on some of the details ;-)

[olderthandirt]

It's a tarp with nylon straps on the corners, loops at the ends and a grommet that will accept the pole ends. I haven't tried, but it may be possible to use just the fly/ground and poles to make a cover without the tent. I don't think it's designed for that, but I'm not 100% sure.

Mind you, this is all from memory... might be a bit off on some of the details ;-)

I'm still confused [happens often] does this tent have a floor sewn in? and if it does why would you need a footprint?:confused:

[braindead0]

I'm still confused [happens often] does this tent have a floor sewn in? and if it does why would you need a footprint?:confused:You don't need a footprint, some like them for protecting the bottom of the tent, some don't think it's worth it. I use them out of habit more than anything else ;-)

[Trekker]

A footprint is used to protect the bottom of the shelter. Many use a plain ol' piece of plastic. The idea is the plastic will help protect the tent floor from excessive wear. A key point of importance is to not let the footprint extend beyond the edge of the tent during rain. It could catch water and allow a flow between the plastic & tent floor.

[olderthandirt]

Thanks for the reply, I've always used a tarp and when I had the luxery of taking a truck a bale of straw. I always used one, more for extra insulation than to protect the floor. I just never heard of the term "footprint" It seem they still have the tent on sale so I better get to ordering one.
I have a garage full of new or near new camping supplies BUT there left from when I had the RV and they just don't pack well for the bike. So the circle is beng completed, started with a tent as a kid and have had everything from tent campers to diesel pusher and now back to a tent :tent8: Next step will be nothing but Holiday Inns or a vacation condo ;) I think the condo is the cheapest alternative.
Thanks for the help

[mrprez]

FYI, this tent (2007 model) is on Amazon now for $98 with free shipping.

John

[SCoffman1]

I have the Kelty Gunnison 2.1 and I absolutely love it. It's easy to setup, well made, pretty much everything I was looking for...except...when traveling with my riding buddy, it's a little close. Also, I thought that it would get a little cozy if we had to spend a rainy evening in the tent. I decided to get a larger version. I decided to stick with the Gunnison because I don't think there is anything that I would want in a tent that it doesn't have. For the money, the Gunnison just makes a lot of sense. Also for ease of setup, I just can't see how one could be any easier.

I looked online at the 3.1 and the 4.1. The packed size of the 4.1 and the 3.1 are both 8"x28" but the 4.1 looks to be 8" longer, 7" wider, and 6" taller. I'm thinking that the big issue for motorcycle travel is going to be the packed size. I went ahead and ordered the 4.1 earlier this week. Since the packed size is the same, it seems to only make sense to go with the bigger size. There is a slight weight difference, but I don't think that will make any significant difference on the bike.

Any opinions?

--Steve

[MidLife]

I have the Kelty Gunnison 2.1 and I absolutely love it. It's easy to setup, well made, pretty much everything I was looking for...except...when traveling with my riding buddy, it's a little close. Also, I thought that it would get a little cozy if we had to spend a rainy evening in the tent. I decided to get a larger version. I decided to stick with the Gunnison because I don't think there is anything that I would want in a tent that it doesn't have. For the money, the Gunnison just makes a lot of sense. Also for ease of setup, I just can't see how one could be any easier.

I looked online at the 3.1 and the 4.1. The packed size of the 4.1 and the 3.1 are both 8"x28" but the 4.1 looks to be 8" longer, 7" wider, and 6" taller. I'm thinking that the big issue for motorcycle travel is going to be the packed size. I went ahead and ordered the 4.1 earlier this week. Since the packed size is the same, it seems to only make sense to go with the bigger size. There is a slight weight difference, but I don't think that will make any significant difference on the bike.

Any opinions?

--Steve


Way to go for two in a tent. Ounces pinching would only make sense for backpacking or bicycling. On a rainy day, you'll love the extra room to bring as much as you can inside. I would have made same choice as you!

[Yamifj1200]

Just found this online, what a deal. I had to pick up this tent for this price,,,,
http://www.amazon.com/Kelty-40499002-Pagosa-4-Person-Tent/dp/B00138VMDW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1217302988&sr=8-1

Just had to share......
Eric

[Racerman27410]

I just ordered the Pagosa as well..... besides being less money than the Gunnison. the design of the poles appears to give more functional room inside the vestiblules.. i also like the vestibule door design better than the gunny.

great price thanks for the link Eric!:cool:

Frank

[Trailace]

Frank
Thanks for posting and welcome to the site.

Rick

[Racerman27410]

Frank
Thanks for posting and welcome to the site.

Rick


Its good to be here Rick,

my friend Eric turned me onto th forum and i have been enjoying lurking.

Frank

[floridafeeger]

Another big YES vote for the Kelty 4.1 Gunnison - I have now used mine a few nights and I love the room when you take wifey along. The only negative I have with it is getting wet when opening the vestibule - if the rain fly is wet it will drip in on the inside of the tent - I haven't mastered a way to avoid it. But it is just a little problem - not a biggie.:)

[Yamifj1200]

One of the great things about Kelty products is their customer service. My Kelty pagosa 4 took a real beating in Indianapolis at the GP race this year. What was left from hurricane Ike that demolished the Galveston area made its way to Indy for the GP. Packing winds clocked at over 80 mph it did some heavy damage in the camping areas around the track. I did not see what actually happend because we were at the track, but my tent was pulled from the ground, and was blown 100 yards away from where it was before the race. One of the aluminum poles was broken and the tent damaged from the broken pole. I was able to put it up using one of my tarp poles, Once I got home I called the company and got a RMA # for repairs. To my surprise the tent was repared and the entire set of aluminum poles were replaced for free, even the shipping charges back to me. Thats a great company that will stand behind it products in such a way. My hats off to them...

Eric

[SCoffman1]

I have both the Kelty Gunnison 2 person tent and the Kelty Gunnison 4 person tent. I like the 2 person tent for its small size, but I have discovered that a 2 person tent isn't really for 2 people unless you are very close friends. The 4 person tent does not pack significantly larger than the 3 person tent. There is a significant difference in size from the 2 person tent. I really like the Kelty Gunnison design. It sets up easily.

The 2 person tent uses two poles. The ends clip easily into the corner clips of the tent. This makes it easy to put the poles in and then just clip the tent clips to the poles. The rain fly clips onto the corners of the tent also has 2 vestibules for storing equipment. The floor is a bathtub type floor. There is plenty of ventilation and there is a gear loft. The packed size is 7" x 25".

The 4 person tent also uses two poles but they are connected in the middle. Once put together they rotate to clip into each corner of the tent. The tent clips to the poles in the same manner as the 2 person tent. The rest of the design is identical. It has a rain fly with vestibules identical to the 2 person. The packed size is 8" x 28".

Both tents are well made and sturdy. I would recommend staking it down to keep the wind from catching it. I would suggest purchasing better stakes. The supplied stakes are flimsy and bend easily. I would also purchase the footprint for the tent. I would also suggest purchasing the Helen2Wheels cord close bag for the tent.

The Kelty Gunnison is an excellent choice for motocamping.

Steve

[swandog]

i have the 2 kelty man in your photo , its great but very low head room . the 25 inch poles fit in my side cases exactly , if i went with the 4 man the extra three inches in pole would not fit