I haven't gotten this out into the "wilds" yet, but I thought some observations out of the bag would be helpful to anyone looking for a large family tent. I purchased it so my family of four could have room to move around freely. This tent, indeed, is large. Although rated for six people, you could easily get eight in there with room for the dog. There is no crouching or stooping in this tent, even near the sidewalls. It's like standing in your living room.
When erected, it looks like a big igloo and withstood several days of stiff March winds with no problem. The off-white color of the fly and body give the tent an even roomier and airier feel.
Contrary to what you can see in the on-line photos, the Green River 6 has lots of ventilation. The roof is almost entirely mesh, which is covered by the rainfly. It has no windows, other than one on the door, so you'll have to roll the rainfly off the roof on sticky nights.
The rainfly extends out from the door, creating a big vestibule that seems like it will be a cool place to hang out before bed or on rainy days. It's large enough for four to sit pretty comfortably.
Based on a backyard test, setup was straightforward, though definitely a two-person job because the tent is just so big.
Now for some nitpicks that may or may not become issues in the field.
I'm not crazy about the fiberglass poles. They tend to snag and come apart when inserting them in the pole sleeves. And the metal connecting-piece at the bottom of one pole fell off, leaving me wondering what I was supposed to use to insert over the stake ring. I found it and fixed the problem.
If the poles become an issue, I may just assemble my own aluminum poles.
A sprinkler test suggests the rainfly is watertight -- it shed water like a duck. But the fly does not cover the back seam. The fly cuts off about halfway up the back wall, apparently to assist in ventilation. One very small spot in the seam directly below this developed a little dripping after I soaked the area.
This seam, which connects the tent body and floor, is set up off the ground. But it's not a true bathtub seam, and should have been factory taped. As a precaution, I seam-sealed the entire perimeter. The floor has a taped seam down the middle which should not be a problem.
The door to the tent is half mesh and half fabric. There is no flap to zip up over the mesh part. The vestibule area covers the door, so privacy is not an issue but I wonder if drafts could be a problem in cooler weather.
The vestibule has fabric blinds that you can roll down to cover the screens. They only fasten with loops, leaving the blinds sagging somewhat.
Could this be a problem in rain? Maybe, but it is just a vestibule, after all. Still, I think Velcro would work better.(I may install my own Velcro strips at some point.)
When buying a tent, like anything else, you have to make tradeoffs and prioritize the things that are most important to you. If size, stability and a porch matter, this tent should be just the ticket.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Kelty Green River 6 Six Person Tent
Product Description:
A great choice for car camping or use for a basecamp, the Kelty Green River provides a roomy interior for four campers as well as a front screenroom with room enough to store gear or set up chairs for watching the sunset. This tent sleeps up to four campers, offers three-season usage, and a freestanding design that enables you to move it around your campsite to find the optimum position. It also includes large mesh windows for good ventilation, UV resistant polyester fly, and color-coded poles for quick-and-easy setup. Weighing 29 pounds, 5 ounces, the four-person Green River has a 121 square foot floor area, and an 83 square foot vestibule area.
The shockcorded fiberglass poles have color coded clips that make setup a breeze. The tent also offers post and grommet type assembly with locking pole tips for convenience and security. Kelty's ArcEdge construction lifts floor seams up off the ground, preventing water seepage around the floor and wall seams. Other features include a single flashlight loop, mesh interior pockets for gear storage, external guy points for added stability in windy conditions, and noiseless zipper pulls.
Specifications
Dimensions: 162 x 108 x 79 inches
Interior height: 6 feet, 7 inches
Floor area: 121 square feet
Vestibule area: 83 square feet
Weight: 29 pounds, 5 ounces
Seasons: 3
Doors: 1
Windows: 2
Wall material: 68D 190T polyester ripstop
Floor material: 1800mm PU nylon-taffeta
Fly material: 75D 190T, 1800mm PU polyester ripstop
Number of poles: 4
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