Backpacking season is in full swing, and for many of us that means the chance to upgrade our gear. If it’s a tent you seek then you are likely hoping find something lightweight, durable and easy on the wallet. Too tall of an order? Not a chance, thanks to the folks at Kelty. The Salida 2 is a two person backpacking tent that promises to be all three. I had a chance to put the shelter to the test in both the desert and mountains of Utah and found that it is a capable tent that won’t break the bank.
The Salida 2 employs many of Kelty’s trusted design innovations. The ArcEdge floor and tapered floor seams combine to keep moisture from seeping in from below. Polyester side walls and mesh windows complete the freestanding tent’s body. The Salida 2 also comes with a polyester rain fly that makes it ready for 3 season use and abuse. The real secret to making this tent lightweight is the poles: two DAC pressfit poles form the structure of the tent and weigh next to nothing (as far as tent poles go).
The Salida 2 has a trail weight of 3 pounds 12 ounces. Sure, it’s not the lightest tent on the market, but it’s also nowhere near the most expensive. The $160 MSRP caught my attention right away. A lightweight tent for under $200? Surely there had to be a catch, and I was initially dubious of what corners may have been cut to achieve such a ratio of cost to weight. I’m stoked to report that this little shelter may lack in price but not overall quality.
I pitched the tent on both gritty sand and pointy mountain rocks, and the floor has held strong. The material even stood up to my dog’s sharp claws when she was bedding down for the night. The poles are sturdy and have shown no signs of bending, and the shock cord is still as taught as the day I opened the box. The seams are all holding strong as are the zipper pulls. Fortunately for me (and unfortunately for this gear test) I never got caught in the rain, so I cannot vouch for the fly; however, I have used a similar model of Kelty tent for backpacking in the past and that rainfly worked like a charm. I think it’s a safe bet that the Salida 2’s will hold up to the elements.
I don’t have many gripes with this shelter. Sure, it’s a little cramped with two adults inside but I challenge you to show me a lightweight backpacking tent that isn’t. The Salida 2 is built with one side vestibule and entrance- if you’re alone it’s no big deal, but when two people are in the tent it means someone is getting stepped over during a late night trip to the bathroom. Perhaps next year’s version will address this issue.
Three months of testing has me convinced: the Kelty Salida 2 is a very capable backpacking tent. The shelter has just enough room for two campers and their gear and carries lighter than what most of us have been lugging around in our backpacks. The ten square foot vestibule has enough space to lay out my pack, cook kit and boots with room to spare. Kelty included a gear loft with the tent which really impressed me- most companies sell lofts as accessory items. If you are looking to cut pounds out of your overnight load but can’t afford to break the bank, the Salida 2 is the tent for you. Use the cash and space you’ll save to reward yourself… chocolate bars, a full flask or maybe some extra camera gear… you deserve it for being such a savvy shopper!