Head to head
Kelty Late Start 2 vs Kelty Grand Mesa 2
The Kelty Late Start 2 gives each person more floor — 15.3 sq ft against 15.0, which is the difference between standard and standard. The Kelty Grand Mesa 2 is the lighter carry at 4 lb 1 oz, and the Kelty Grand Mesa 2 is the cheaper of the two at ~$150.
 Kelty Kelty Late Start 2 |  Kelty Kelty Grand Mesa 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Backpacking | Backpacking |
| Rated capacity | 2-person | 2-person |
| Floor area per personestimated | 15.3 sq ft (standard) | 15.0 sq ft (standard) |
| Floor area | 30.6 sq ft | 30 sq ft |
| Vestibule area | 7.4 sq ft | — |
| Peak height | 40 in | 43 in |
| Minimum trail weight | 4 lb 5 oz | 4 lb 1 oz |
| Weight per personestimated | 34.5 oz (trail weight) | 32.5 oz (trail weight) |
| Doors | 1 | 1 |
| Freestanding | freestanding | freestanding |
| Poles | aluminum | aluminum |
| Wall type | double wall | double wall |
| Season rating | 3-season | 3-season |
| Floor hydrostatic head | 1,800 mm | — |
| Packed size | — | 16 x 7 x 7 in |
| Approx. price | ~$160 | ~$150 |
Kelty Late Start 2
A hundred and sixty dollars for a freestanding two-person tent with aluminium poles, a 1800 mm 68D floor and 30.6 square feet is the cheapest serious backpacking tent in this catalog. Kelty's Quick-Corner system means the pole tips seat in the corners without threading, which is the bit that goes wrong in the dark. One door, one small 7.4-square-foot vestibule, and pre-bent poles that push the walls out more than the floor area suggests.
Best for
A first backpacking tent, or a spare that lives in the car for guests.
Kelty Grand Mesa 2
Sixty-five ounces, 30 square feet, 43 inches of peak height and a 16-inch packed length — the Grand Mesa is four ounces lighter than the Late Start with three more inches of headroom and a shorter pack, for about $150. The poles are compact folding press-fit rather than shock-corded full-length sections, which is why it packs so short. One door and one vestibule, as at every price point down here.
Best for
A budget backpacking tent for a small pack, where a short packed length matters more than a second door.
Rows where the two differ are tinted. Specs are the makers’ own; floor area per person, weight per person and pad fit are our arithmetic on them.