Kelty Grand Mesa 2 Review

Name: Kelty Grand Mesa 2
Brand: Kelty

A simple, durable, and affordable tent that sacrifices space and conveniences to keep the price low

The Kelty Grand Mesa 2 is more like a big 1-person backpacking tent.

Credit: Arthur McMahon

Price: $150 List

Manufacturer: Kelty

By Arthur McMahon ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 23, 2026

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#11 of 13

Livability - 35% 6.3
Weather Resistance - 25% 6.8
Weight - 15% 7.0
Packed Size - 15% 8.0
Durability - 10% 7.8

List Price: $150

Check Backcountry price

Our Verdict

The Kelty Grand Mesa 2 reminds us that a backpacking tent doesn't need to cost several hundred dollars. It's a simple tent made of basic components that keeps the price within reach for budget-conscious backpackers. The construction is high-quality, with durable fabrics, taped seams, and an easy-to-set-up aluminum pole structure. While this is listed as a two-person backpacking tent, it's a pretty tight squeeze for two adults, and it has only one door and one modestly sized vestibule. Those points keep it from competing with other two-person tents that offer more space and convenience.

REASONS TO BUY

Very affordable

Durable fabrics

Simple and intuitive setup

REASONS TO AVOID

Only one door and vestibule

Snug for two adults

Footprint costs extra

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)

	This Product Kelty Grand Mesa 2	SlingFin Portal 3	The North Face Stormbreak 2	The North Face Stormbreak 3	REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Awards		Best for Bad Weather		Best Value for Beginners
Price	$150 List Check Price at Backcountry	$720 List	$220 List Check Price at REI	$260 List Check Price at REI	$199 List Check Price at REI
Overall Score	69	84	72	70	60
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Bottom Line	A basic backpacking tent that's more like a roomy one-person tent rather than the two-person size advertised	With the structure and support required to face fierce winds and rain, this is an uncommonly strong tent, especially given its lightweight	Even if it's a bit heavy, this 2-person tent is comfortable, durable, and easy to set up	This affordable tent is one of the largest we tested, which makes it a comfortable option for anyone just getting into backpacking	A basic backpacking tent that's actually affordable, but the tradeoff is that it's heavy and lacks extras that add to quality of life on the trail
Rating Categories	Kelty Grand Mesa 2	SlingFin Portal 3	The North Face Storm...	The North Face Storm...	REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Livability (35%)	6.3	8.4	7.9	8.6	6.0
Weather Resistance (25%)	6.8	8.9	7.0	7.1	5.5
Weight (15%)	7.0	7.7	5.7	4.4	5.3
Packed Size (15%)	8.0	8.6	7.3	5.2	6.7
Durability (10%)	7.8	7.9	7.7	7.7	7.5
Specifications	Kelty Grand Mesa 2	SlingFin Portal 3	The North Face Storm...	The North Face Storm...	REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Listed Size	2 person	3 person	2 person	3 person	2 person
True Capacity	Comfortable for one person and gear; Fits two people with a very small amount of gear	Very spacious for two people and gear; Fits three people with a moderate amount of gear	Very spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people with a moderate amount of gear	Fits two people very comfortably with gear; Very tight for three people with very little gear	Spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people comfortably with moderate amount of gear
Measured Minimum Trail Weight	4.31 lbs	3.72 lbs	5.61 lbs	6.20 lbs	5.13 lbs
Number of Doors	1	2	2	2	2
Footprint Included?	No	No	No	No	Yes
Measured Packaged Weight	4.81 lbs	4.19 lbs	5.88 lbs	7.10 lbs	6.25 lbs
Measured Floor Area	30.6 sq ft	41.9 sq ft	30.6 sq ft	39.7 sq ft	31.8 sq ft
Measured Packed Size	16.5 x 7 in	17 x 6 in	20 x 6.5 in	22 x 8 in	18 x 8 in
Measured Peak Height	43 in	44 in	43 in	46 in	40 in
Measured Vestibule Area	6.0 sq feet (one vestibule)	10.3 sq feet on each side	9.8 sq ft on each side	10.8 sq ft on each side	9.4 sq feet on each side
Number of Pockets	3	8	4	4	2
Gear Loft?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of Poles	2	3	4	4	2
Pole Diameter	9 mm	9.3/10.65 mm	8.5 mm	8.5 mm	8.5 mm
Pole Material	Aluminum	DAC Featherlite NFL	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum
Number of Guy Points	7	12	4	4	4
Rain Fly Material	68D Polyester	10D Nylon 66 Ripstop Sil	75D polyester, 1200 mm PU coating	75D polyester taffeta	75D polyester
Inner Tent Material	68D polyester	15D nylon no-see-um mesh	40D polyester mesh, 75D polyester taffeta canopy, 75D polyester 1500 mm floor	75D polyester taffeta	75D polyester taffeta, 40D nylon no-see-um mesh

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Kelty Grand Mesa 2 offers a lot for its low price, but it's better fit for one backpacker rather than two. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Likes

The Kelty Grand Mesa 2 is a surprisingly packable little tent. Plus, packing it away is pretty easy thanks to the wide-mouth carry bag, which makes getting everything back into the sack a breeze.

The aluminum pole structure may be basic, but setup is quite simple. The two poles cross to erect the tent body, and corner pockets help keep the poles in place as you set it up. Finding the right placement for the rainfly is straightforward (since there is only one vestibule), and attaching it to the poles is straightforward.

Setup is simple thanks to the two-pole design and convenient corner attachment points. Credit: Arthur McMahon

And we can't ignore the incredibly low price tag – compared to so many of the other tents we've tested, this one is remarkably affordable. The price and durability may be reason enough to buy it as your first backpacking tent.

kelty grand mesa 2 - a quick buckle snap and strap tug is all it takes to fasten and... — A quick buckle snap and strap tug is all it takes to fasten and secure the rainfly. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Dislikes

Compared to other two-person tents, the Grand Mesa 2 lacks the personal space and storage needed for two adults to use it comfortably. With only one storage vestibule in front of the single door, you'll have to crawl over each other and your gear to get in and out. The single vestibule barely has room for two people's gear, so you'll have to cram your belongings against the door to keep them dry.

The interior space will be a tight squeeze, too. It's not fully rectangular, tapering from 57 inches across at the head to 44 inches at the foot, so you can't lie two wide, 25-inch pads side by side. The 43-inch peak height gives you room to kneel, but you'll still have to get close and personal with the person you're sharing this tent with.

If two people are going to be storing all of their gear under this one vestibule, they'd better be packing light. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Should You Buy the Kelty Grand Mesa 2?

The Kelty Grand Mesa 2 is a good-quality backpacking tent at a fantastic price point – but we did notice a few manufacturing defects on the one we bought. It's still a fine choice for a first backpacking tent. However, for just a bit more, you can buy a higher-quality tent that will actually fit two people comfortably.

Our brand new tent had what appeared to be machinery-caused damage to the rainfly. So if you do buy this tent, give it a thorough, all-over inspection so you can return it if needed.

What Other Backpacking Tents Should You Consider?

The slightly more expensive The North Face Stormbreak 2 is a substantial improvement over the Grand Mesa 2. It offers the conveniences of a typical two-person backpacking tent, like dual doors and vestibules, plus enough space to make your nights on the trail more comfortable.

—Arthur McMahon