When it comes to camping with the kids they have to sleep warm or everyone is going to be miserable. When it comes to kids’ sleeping bags Kelty crushes it. The Kelty Woobie 30 Sleeping Bag and the Kelty Big Dipper 30 Sleeping Bag sleeping bags knock it out of the park!

Kelty sent me these bags to test and review this summer and after they arrived my girls were so excited that they slept in them for a week on their bedroom floor! That helped bring the stoke when it was time to take them camping.

Kelty Woobie 30 Sleeping Bag Review

The Kelty Woobie 30 Sleeping Bag is quite possibly the cutest sleeping bag ever made. My 3 year old loves hers. Kelty really hit what is important to kids and what’s important for the parents.

For the kids: good colors. Sure they don’t have the rainbow spectrum but simplicity is good, pink for the girls, green and blue for the boys. The inside is cozy and fun. The flannel doesn’t feel as cold as nylon when your first get it and plush fleece helps them slide down into the bag. Its also soft on the face so your kids won’t mind being zipped all the way up.

For the parents: the Woobie is rated to 30 degrees. The coldest night we had was close to 32 degrees and my 3 year old stayed warm and cozy all night. Dual zippers make it easy to help the little ones in and out of their bag, no matter what side you af sleeping on. The bag is well made and will keep up with the use that only little kids have a way of bringing.

If you’re going to get the Woobie, get it while your child is young. At 36 inches long, they will outgrow it quickly. Next summer our three year old will be too big.

The full feature set is included at the bottom of this review.

The Good

• Warm and cozy
• Great Price
• My daughter loved having “her own little sleeping bag”

The Bad

• I didn’t pick it up sooner!

Bottom Line:

For your small kids, the Woobie is the sleeping bag to get.

Buy Now: Pick up the Kelty Woobie 30 Sleeping Bag

Kelty Big Dipper 30 Sleeping Bag Review

The Kelty Big Dipper 30 Sleeping Bag hits the young kids market well. For the young girls (like my five year old) it has a few small touches that made her excited about her new sleeping bag. The faux fur hood gives a little bit of “grown-up” appeal and of course the two-tone pink. For the young boys it’s straight, simple blue. Both feature an internal pocket to stash a headlamp or other items. They also include a velcro pillow pouch on the underside to keep a pillow in place. Throw in some loops for keeping a sleeping pad in place and your child is going to sleep comfortably.

As a parent my favorite part is the zippered extension. The foot of the bag has a circular zipper. When your child is small, zip it up to shorten the bag by 12 inches to keep her warmer. As she grows taller, unzip it and you’ll get a few more years out of the bag. One bag, lasts through a few years of use before they outgrow it. Hands down the best feature.

My next favorite feature is the stuff sack. It is sewn to the foot of the sleeping bag so there’s no losing it! It also features a carry handle which also hits the “I’m bigger and I can help out by carrying my own stuff” mentality.

The Big Dipper is also rated to 30 degrees. On the same 32 degree night my 5 year old was nice and toasty inside with her jammies on. It does seem fairly wide which is good for wild sleepers but could produce cold spots. Keep that in mind.

The full feature set is included at the bottom of this review.

The Good

• Zippered Extension
• Attached stuff sack
• Good Price

The Bad

• Nothing, this is a great bag

Bottom Line:

Get the sleeping bag that grows with your kids!

Buy Now: Pick up the Kelty Big Dipper 30 Sleeping Bag

Kelty Woobie 30 Sleeping Bag Features

• Two-layer off-set quilt construction
• Top baffle collar
• Zipper draft tube with anti-snag design
• Dual-sided locking zips aid in temperature control
• Playful colors and patterned liner
• Stuff sack included
• Temp Rating: 30° / -1°C
• Shape: Mummy
• Fits to: 3′ / 91 cm
• Length: 42” / 107 cm
• Shoulder girth: 44” / 112 cm
• Fill weight: 15 oz. / .42 kg
• Total weight: 2 lb. 0 oz. / .9 kg
• Stuffed size: 8″x 15″ / 20 cm x 38 cm
• Insulation: Cloudloft™
• Shell material: 66D polyester taffeta
• Liner material: Plush polyester fleece and cotton flannel
• Price: $44.95

Kelty Big Dipper 30 Sleeping Bag Features

• Two-layer off-set quilt construction
• Zipper draft tube with anti-snag design
• Sleeping pad security loops
• 3/4-length, two-way locking zipper
• Sized to fit juniors
• Pillow pocket
• Drawcord replaced by elastic for child safety
• Includes integrated compression storage sack
• Internal storage pocket
• Expandable foot section lengthens the bag by 12″ (Patent#US 6,073,282)
• Temp Rating: 30° / -1°C
• Shape: Mummy
• Fits to: 5′ 4″ / 163 cm
• Length: 72” / 183 cm
• Shoulder girth: 56” / 142 cm
• Fill weight: 35 oz. / 0.98 kg
• Total weight: 3 lb. 9 oz. / 1.60 kg
• Stuffed size: 11″ x 20″ / 28 cm x 51 cm
• Insulation: Cloudloft™
• Shell material: 50D polyester taffeta
• Liner material: 66D polyester taffeta
• Price: $69.95

For a family sized camping trip you need a family sized tent. The Kelty Hula House 6 Tent is a great option for the family that wants space and quality.

Kelty Hula 6 House Tent Review

The Kelty Hula House 6 Tent is a big, spacious tent. Gone are the days of cramming the family into a small tent. The floor size is 10.5 feet by 10.5 feet and the ceiling is 6 feet 4 inches tall at the apex. There is enough room to fit 6 adults with a little extra room. We were able to fit our family of 6 easily with plenty of extra floor space for kids to roll around, store toys, and other kid necessities without bumping into each other and without feeling crammed.

Set up was relatively pain free. The two main poles are paired with sleeves to keep things simple. Erecting the poles is definitely easier with two people because of the size of the poles, however, I was able to manage it myself. The “hula” pole is interesting. It’s a big circular pole. Assembling it isn’t bad until you have to complete the circle. I found it easiest to brace the pole against the base of a tree or a big rock to flex the pole so the last connection could slide together. Once it’s done it clips into place on the tent. The only part that was a bit of a pain was putting on the fly. To attach it to the poles you have to duck under the fly to velcro it to the poles.

The inside of the tent features a couple of mesh pockets to stash small items, it has ceiling clips for a shelf, and a loop at the apex to hand a lantern. Other than that, the inside of the tent is very minimalist.

One of the first things I noticed is the floor of the tent is very thin. So thin in fact that after the first night of use it almost had holes where it rubbed on the pebbles beneath it. The thinness also damped out after a rainy night. We didn’t have puddles, just damp spots. My recommendation is to shell out the extra money for the footprint or a tarp. It will prolong the life of your tent (investment) and will help keep you more dry.

The Hula 6 features a lot of mesh. It basically runs from close to the ground all the way to the top. This is great for ventilation but bad for privacy. We spent a rainy trip in the Cascades and after an evening and night of rain we woke in the morning with very little condensation in the tent. Where it collected was on the fly but not on the tent itself. From a privacy standpoint, if you are in a campground with people close by, they’ll be able to see everything you do inside the tent if you don’t use the fly.

The fly worked well too. After all the rain from that trip the water was still beading up and running off. The fly comes with plenty of stake points and guy lines to keep it taut in windy weather.

The vestibule is the big area I saw for iimprovement. It was kind of small. There isn’t a lot of room for storing shoes and things for 6 people. It’s the type that zips from the top of the tent straight to the ground. For me it was hard to unzip from the inside. I had to stoop low and reach to get the zippers. With the little bit of condensation on the inside after the night of rain, I ended up with a wet back after rubbing against the fly as I unzipped it. The previous version of the Hula featured a vestibule room. I wish they’d bring this back. Sure it created extra weight and set up time, however, for the extra room (especially for kids who need to roam when the weather is bad) and for getting in and out, I think it would be well worth it.

The stakes that come with the tent are okay. They are a U-design which helps a little with rigidity but they still aren’t a match for compacted dirt. Just upgrade to Y-shaped stakes when you buy your tent.

The Hula 6 packs up nicely into a storage bag that has two handles.

Durability is decent. After a summer of use the Hula House 6 is showing light signs of wear and tear. Be careful of the floor and the mesh and it’ll last you for years (particularly if you pair it with the footprint). It’s tempting to buy a cheap low-name brand tent from a big box store. You’ll be glad you paid the extra for the quality and durability of the Hula House 6.

The Good

• Tent is big and roomy
• Setup is pretty easy
• Ventilation is great

The Bad

• Floor is thin
• Vestibule is small
• Stakes are mediocre

Bottom Line:

If you have a family and you want to get them out camping, the Kelty Hula House 6 Tent is great option. It’s big enough to fit the family of 6 with some room to move around.

Buy Now: Pick up the Kelty Hula House 6 Tent

Kelty Hula 6 House Tent Features

• Wall material: 68d polyester, dye free
• Floor material: 68d nylon, 1800 mm
• Fly material: 75d polyester 1800 mm
• Freestanding design
• Continuous pole-sleeve construction
• Clip and pole sleeve construction
• Taped floor seams
• ArcEdge floor
• Mesh wall panels
• Internal storage pockets
• Adjustable stakeouts
• Noiseless zipper pulls
• Taped seams
• Side-release tent/fly connection
• Welded clear windows
• Noiseless zipper pulls
• Guyout points
• Double track vestibule
• Seasons: 3
• Number of doors: 1
• Number of vestibules: 1
• Capacity: 6
• Number of poles: 3
• Pole type: DAC Hybrid
• Floor area: 110 ft2 / 10.22 m2
• Vestibule area: 50 ft2 / 4.65 m2
• Length/Width/Height: 126″ x 126″ by 76″ (320 cm x 320 cm x 193 cm)
• Packed diameter: 12″ / 30.48 cm
• Packed Length: 30″ / 76.20 cm
• Minimum weight: 18 lb. 5 oz. / 8.31 kg
• Packaged weight: 19 lb. 6 oz. / 8.76 kg
• Price: $399.95

The Kelty Vista 2 tent for Spring 2012 is a 3-season, 2-man tent that does something pretty amazing for a tent — it actually accommodates two men. Two full-grown, normal-sized men. Comfortably.

If you haven’t used many tents, you may not think this is very impressive. But those of us who have tried many different styles of 2-man tents will confess that a 2-man tent can work when you’re sleeping perhaps. But once you’re sitting up side by side, the inward-sloping walls of a normal 2-man tent usually mean that you both end up bumping shoulders and craning your heads sideways. Not so with the Kelty Vista 2 tent.

How? At first glance, the Vista 2 appears to be a double-walled tent with a normal X-style pole design. That is, two poles that go corner to corner diagonally and crossing at the apex of the tent. But the tent designers at Kelty realized that this makes the walls unnecessarily sloped. With the degree of slope on normal X-style pole design tents, you lose a lot of headroom. So while a simple X-style tent pole design might have the square footage to sleep two adults comfortably, it wouldn’t have the headroom to seat two adults comfortably side by side. So the Kelty tent designers added two horizontal short poles running perpendicular to the doors of the tent (called brow poles), lying on top of the two X poles, and fitted with ball-and-joint connections to stretch out the side walls’ fabric, providing much more headroom. Notice the flat, mansard-style roof profile in the picture. That’s thanks to the two parallel brow poles across the top, that stretch the ceiling and increase the slope of the door-side walls. Under the vestibules of the rain fly, the walls are practically vertical.

Believe me —- I didn’t just test this tent with my pack lying next to me in the tent. Or even with just my son or wife as my backpacking partner. It says it’s a two man tent, so I figured it ought to be tested with two men. I took it camping in the backcountry of Canyonlands with a friend who certainly doesn’t have narrow shoulders. And we both couldn’t stop commenting about how easily it fit both of us, versus other tents we had tried. We hardly bumped into each other at night, or even when packing things up in the morning sitting side-by-side upright in the tent. Usually packing up your sleeping bag requires you to each take turns in the tent. But this time, we could just sit side-by-side and get our bags into their stuff sacks and deflate and roll our sleeping pads without too much bumping. It was quite a bit different from many other tents we had tried.

The tent weighs in at 6lbs 1oz in the 2-person Vista with a price tag of $269 when it hits stores in the Spring of 2012. The 3-person version adds a little over a pound more, and the price goes up to $329. At 6lbs, it isn’t in the ultra light category of course. But it isn’t unreasonable. I should also note that even though this weighs a pound or so more than other 2 man tents, when splitting up the tent and the poles between my backpacking partner and me, it was extremely easy to pack for several miles over rough terrain.

Its weight is in part due to the nylon (instead of mesh) that it uses extensively on the inner walls, which also reduces quite a bit of the star visibility on dry nights. But there are large mesh panels on both side doors, and two mesh windows on the front/back of the tent. This allows great ventilation, and you can velcro the mesh windows shut. Between the close-able windows and doors, and the nylon fabric instead of mesh, it helps keep out blowing sand in a desert environment that would surely make itself into a more mesh-covered tent.

Poles all come from DAC, the exceptional pole innovator out of Korea, and the tent comes with a great rain fly with a zippered vestibule for each side door, a large gear loft, and is free-standing (though you’ll want to stake out the fly if it’s raining or if you want the vestibules to cover your packs on the ground outside each door).

All in all, the brow poles on this tent are what make it a real unique offering in the tent category and a winner in my book. While I prefer more mesh for stargazing and lighter overall weight, I understand the trade-off of risking sand being blown through the mesh and into the tent. For those who camp in windy, dusty locales you will very much appreciate the close-able windows and nylon walls of the Kelty Vista tent. And mesh or no mesh, the headroom and vertical side walls provided by the unique brow poles will have you enjoying the space of the tent more than other tents.

Keep your eyes open for the Kelty Vista tents (2-man and 3-man) to be hitting shelves in Spring 2012.

In the meantime, click here to shop for more Kelty gear.

Just got back to the Rockies from another week of work meetings on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Every time I’ve gone out there in the past year or two, I’m reminded that hipsters (of the same ilk that flood the streets of San Francisco) love to look like they are lumberjack camping aficionados from the 60s. High lace-up leather boots, plaid flannel shirts…and skinny, skinny jeans. Don’t forget the thick-framed Ray Bans.

This style is all over middle America now, too, of course. Not bad-looking, to be honest. Beats several other styles by a country mile. But you know what’s missing from the usual camper look you see? A vintage day pack backpack that is true to the period. None of this fake or new-fangled stuff. I mean the real deal. I mean the Kelty Vintage line.

Kelty is a true brand from the heart of the golden age of American camping in the 60s and 70s. Founded in 1952, they turned out some of the original daypacks and other backpacks that defined the era. And Kelty is bringing back their vintage line of original daypack designs —- and I love it.

I grew up in the 80s in Seattle near the tail end of 8 boys. With that many older brothers (all of whom went camping in the Cascades or the San Juan Islands at least once a month), I had many of the original 70s-era Kelty packs sitting in the family gear closet. I distinctly remember the Kelty Daypack — a pyramid-shaped, simple pack for car camping or day hikes. Now Kelty has brought it back, in all it’s simple glory (even in the original red), to haul the iPads and Macbook Pros of hipsters born in the 80s and 90s. And I love the thing as much now as I did then.

Next in the Vintage line from Kelty is the Mockingbird. In olive, this pack is destined to be a classic. Frankly, in my opinion it already is — in high school, Kelty re-did this original Mockingbird in a black nylon and my friends and I used it repeatedly as our go-to day pack for backcountry skiing. Many-a-time it hauled the video camera up Mt. Rainier to Camp Muir with us to document the turns on the way back down. Functional then, and fashionable now.

The Mockingbird has side bags that are removable, and is a top-loading pack with a cinch string. It has shoulder straps that are fastened to the pack with removable pins, making it versatile to convert from daypack into canoe-friendly gear bag. And did I mention how cool it looks with the olive with red and metal zippers with leather accents? Oh yes, this bag is classic.

So keep your eye out for the Kelty Vintage packs in 2011. They are authentic and nostalgic, for sure. But that authenticity is also what makes them oh-so-hip in the second decade of the 21st century.

SHOP: Search for more Kelty gear.

I love the creative thinking going on at Kelty right now. It’s one part heritage and two parts mad professor. Take the new Lumapivot lantern, for example. To me it’s a call-back to the golden age of family camping in the 60s and 70s, when memories recall the old Coleman lanterns being toted along for every car camping trip (and often got the most use when the trailer hitch needed roadside work after sundown).

However, at the same time the Lumapivot is nothing like those old lanterns. For starters, it is extremely lightweight and compact making it much more convenient to bring along. It’s also battery-powered, instead of gas powered as many of the old style were. And finally, it has a seemingly endless array of bright and efficient LED bulbs on two pivoting panels which provide exceptional brightness (and don’t sap the batteries too badly). The panels can be adjusted to illuminate anything you might need in a pinch, including a faulty trailer hitch on the way to Chinook Pass.

From a bit of field testing, I can say that the battery life is quite acceptable and it uses AA batteries — which to me is a big plus, since that’s the size most other gadgets take. Meaning, you can just pack a box of spare batteries for all your gear, instead of having to pack size C or D for your lantern and size AA for everything else. The brightness is really quite amazing, and I’ve ended up pulling this lantern out of the gear closet even more often at home than when camping. In addition to being good for camping, it’s also a great addition to our 72 hour kit along with our headlamps. It continues to surprise me how often the thing can come in handy (like when the power goes out, or when I need to fix something in the yard after dark, or when you don’t quite get camp set up before nightfall).

When Asher Kelty founded the Kelty company back in the fine old days of family camping, I don’t think he could have envisioned the Lumapivot. But I’m certain he would approve.

MORE INFO: Click here to view more Kelty gear.

Got a significant other you’d like to cuddle up with in the backcountry? Nothing compares to a nice double sleeping bag and Kelty makes one of the best on the market today in the Supernova 30 3-IN-1.

Kelty Supernova 30 3-IN-1 Features:

• Box-baffle construction (Top)
• Two-layer, offset-quilt construction(Bottom)
• Two-way locking blanket zipper
• Zipper draft tube with anti-snag design
• Top half can be used as a stand-alone lightweight down bag
• Bottom half can be used as a blanket
• Two pillow pockets
• External storage pockets
• FatMan and Ribbon™ drawcords
• Captured cordlock
• Differential cut to maximize loft and warmth
• Kelty Binto included for storage and transport
• MSRP: $279.95

Kelty Supernova 30 3-IN-1 Double Sleeping Bag Review

Lets lay it all out here. It’s a double sleeping bag with a synthetic (Kelty CloudLoft) bottom half, down upper (600-fill down) and the ability to use the top/bottom alone as blankets or even zip the down top into a lightweight sleeping bag. Phew… get all that? For $279, you couldn’t ask for a more versatile double sleeping bag on the market.

I’m a big fan of hybrid down/synthetic sleeping bags (I’ve used an old Moonstone one for years) as they provide the comfort of down with some of the moisture-friendly features of synthetic insulation. The lower section is insulated with Kelty CloudLoft, which has a comfortable feel to it while the upper is ultra-comfy down.

We mated ours to the Kelty Good Night Queen Air Bed and enjoyed a great night’s sleep on vacation and camping alike. Yup… if you’re looking for the ultimate in vacation-friendly bedding, this one is hard to pass up. With the ability to use it for both camping and vacations, it’s really quite a versatile bag. The only bummer about hauling it around is it doesn’t compress down like two individual sleeping bags would. But, the included Binto makes for easy transport.

As a sleeping bag for two, the Supernova is extremely-roomy and comfortable. With two bodies in there, it keeps things rather toasty, so the side zips do come in handy. We also added our 1 yr-old in-between us with room to spare. We didn’t get to test the 30-degree rating, but I’d say it feels accurate on cool summer nights.

The inside fabric is soft next-to-skin and the included pillow pockets ensure everything stays put for a long night’s sleep.

The Good

• Really a great price for this whole package
• Love the down/synthetic insulation for the ultimate in comfort and weatherability
• Versatility is unmatched
• Pillow pockets are great
• Interior fabric of bottom section is soft next-to-skin
• Head area can be cinched down for a “mummy-like” enclosure on cold nights

The Bad

• Gets pretty toasty on warm Summer nights (thank you side zips!)
• Doesn’t compress down very small (but Binto storage is nice)

Buy Now: Kelty Supernova Double Sleeping Bag

Out of necessity, we own two BOB Revolution jogging strollers–one single and one double. We have used them to cart our children all over Utah and everywhere we’ve vacationed. Without a doubt, both of these strollers have been the staple of our family walks and adventures. That said, I’ve had plenty of experience with these capable strollers.

Comparing the BOB with the Kelty Speedster strollers, I have been anxious to see how they stack up against what are arguably the best strollers on the market. So, the BOB Dualie vs. Kelty Speedster Swivel-Deuce throwdown commenced and in the end, both are awesome and the Kelty surprised us (my better half and I) with its lightweight maneuverability and superior seat comfort. Lets dig into a few more details.

Kelty Speedster Swivel-Deuce Features:

• Swivel front wheel, with lockout option
• Easy folding design
• 5-point adjustable harness
• Independent locking rear brakes
• Independently adjustable seats
• Fully padded seat and frame
• Adjustable-height handle (34-45”)
• Quick-release wheels
• Weight: 26 lb 13 oz
• MSRP: $474.95

Kelty Speedster Swivel-Deuce Review

Getting the stroller up-and-running was quick and easy. Slipping the quick-release wheels into place and then attaching the large sun shade was about the extent of the effort needed. Once assembled, the entire package seemed very well thought-out and nice-looking.

With double jogging strollers, you’ve just got to pony up to get the swivel front wheel–believe me, it’s worth its weight in gold. With the swiveling front wheel, maneuvering the Speedster Deuce is a breeze while walking and jogging. Oft-times the swivel front wheel experiences speed wobble at a fast running pace on our BOB Duallie, but not so with the Kelty. Only at higher paces is the front wheel lockout needed. Frankly, I have yet to find a pace at which it is required, but maybe at a full sprint (not something I typically do while hauling two kids) it may be required.

The Speedster pushes along very smoothly and feels very racy as compared to the BOB. I’d say the BOB is more like driving around a Cadillac while the Kelty is more akin to a BMW. It feels lighter (by almost 6 lbs) while in use and more nimble. With that nimble and race-car chassis, the ride quality may be a little rougher than the BOB, but I don’t think the kids have minded.

One of the features I really like about the Speedster-Deuce is the 5-point harness and comfortable seats. These are by far superior to the design of the BOB. Buckling is quick and easy with nicely-shaped and padded straps. The seat is more contoured and better padded, so kudos to Kelty on making the kids comfy and helping parents buckle the kids in with ease.

The pivoting push handle raises and lowers by pushing two buttons on either side of the handle. This is also a great little feature that my wife and I have appreciated since we can adjust it to our respective heights for a more comfortable running or walking position.

Having a single giant lower pocket is great and provides easy access. I also appreciate the dual built-in water bottle holders in the rear for stashing sippy cups or water bottles.

Not everything is perfect with the Speedster-Deuce, so here are a few gripes. I’d say the biggest disappointment is the overall width of the stroller. At 34 in., it is over 3 in wider than the BOB Duallie, thus preventing it from entering many exterior doors. With the BOB, we’ve never once found a door that we couldn’t squeeze through, but the Speedster had to wait outside the church on Sunday instead of sitting inside because it just wouldn’t fit.

We also miss the independently-adjustable sun shades for catered comfort as well as small pockets in the seats for the kids to place toys, books or cups.

The Good

• Lightweight design is easier to stash and carry than comparable BOB Duallie
• Really appreciate the swiveling handle to adjust height to different people
• The seats and harness are superb (we had several sleepers, so it’s kid-approved)
• Easily-accessed lower stash bin
• Feels quick and nimble
• Front wheel doesn’t suffer from speed wobble
• Runs well and tracks well
• Built-in strap keeps things together when folded
• Over $100 cheaper than the BOB Duallie

The Bad

• Too wide for some doorways
• No dual sun shade
• Pivoting the sun shade back blocks access to your children
• No small seat pockets for the kids
• Brake engagement could be smoother

Bottom Line

I’m very impressed with the Speedster Swivel-Deuce. This is an efficient kid-moving machine, just watch out for narrow doorways and you’ll be just fine.

Buy Now: Search for Kelty Spedster Strollers

If you’ve got kids and you like to go hiking, there’s no doubt you’ve seen Kelty’s kid carriers. They are without a doubt the most popular kid carriers on the market (though Deuter also makes great ones). I’ve got one and have used it for years with my kiddos. For long trips, nothing beats it for both my comfort and my kids comfort.

Heading into the Holidays, REI has an exclusive on the upcoming 2010 models from Kelty. Other retailers will follow, but if you want the latest styles and models, head over to REI. Each model has a bit more bells and whistles, but most notably, the 3.0 includes the sun/rain visor, which is a must for warm or foul-weather travel with kids.

Kelty FC 1.0 Child Carrier

• Auto-deploy kickstand extends and retracts smoothly thanks to an internal spring-loaded system
• 5-point, adjustable harness system is anchored directly to frame and features an easy-to-use central tensioning system similar to car seats
• Curved, molded foam shoulder harness with sternum strap and padded hipbelt evenly distribute load
• Mesh back panel with sliding torso-length adjustment allows easy fitting changes between short and tall parents
• Padded, fixed cockpit offers a reclined position, allowing child to sit naturally and comfortably
• Double-hook seat height adjusts quickly and easily
• Under-seat storage compartment accommodates small toys, snacks and a change of clothes
• Carrier also features hipbelt storage pockets and toy loop attachment points
• 3M reflective tape accents provide 360° of visibility
• Manufacturer recommends a maximum weight limit of 50 lbs. for child and gear
• Made from durable 600-denier polyester and brushed nylon
• MSRP: $149.95

Kelty FC 2.0 Child Carrier

• Auto-deploy kickstand extends and retracts smoothly thanks to an internal spring-loaded system
• 5-point, adjustable harness system is anchored directly to frame and features an easy-to-use central tensioning system similar to car seats
• Curved, molded foam shoulder harness with load-lifter straps, sternum strap and contoured, padded hipbelt evenly distributes the load
• Padded, molded back panel with sliding torso-length adjustment allows easy fitting changes between short and tall parents
• Padded, removable and washable cockpit offers a reclined position, allowing child to sit naturally and comfortably
• Double-hook seat height adjusts quickly and easily
• Zip-off diaper pack with shoulder straps stores toys and essentials
• Under-seat storage compartment accommodates more diapers, toys, snacks and change of clothes—enough for a day’s outing
• Carrier also features hipbelt storage pockets and toy loop attachment points
• 3M reflective tape accents provide 360° of visibility
• Manufacturer recommends a maximum weight limit of 50 lbs. for child and gear
• Made from durable 600-denier polyester and brushed nylon
• MSRP: $199.95

Kelty FC 3.0 Child Carrier

• Auto-deploy kickstand is internally spring-loaded (no bungees) for smooth deployment and retraction
• 5-point, adjustable harness system is anchored directly to frame and features an easy-to-use central tensioning system similar to car seats
• Curved, molded foam shoulder straps with load-lifter straps, sternum strap and 2-layer contoured padded hipbelt evenly distribute load
• Padded, molded back panel with sliding torso-length adjustment allows easy fitting changes between short and tall parents
• Padded, removable and washable cockpit offers a reclined position, allowing child to sit naturally and comfortably
• Double-hook seat height adjustment is fast and easy to change
• Included sun/rain hood protects your little one from the elements and also helps guard against unruly bushes and branches
• Removable diaper pack with shoulder strap lets you bring along toys and essentials
• Under-seat storage compartment accommodates more diapers, toys, snacks and change of clothes—enough for a day’s outing
• Includes changing pad for those unexpected diaper changes while on the go
• The Kelty FC 3.0 Frame child carrier also features hipbelt storage pockets for small essentials for mom and dad and toy loop attachment points for the little one
• 3M reflective tape accents provides 360° of visibility
• Manufacturer recommends a maximum weight limit of 50 lbs. for child and gear
• Made from durable 600-denier polyester and brushed nylon
• MSRP: $249.95

Buy Now: Visit REI for Exclusive Deals on 2010 Kelty Kid Carriers

I went to the local lake yesterday in search for a battery re-charge from the daily grind. We met up with some friends to throw the boats in the water, roast weenies, and darken up our ghostly white farmer tans. I had my Kelty Cabana with me but didn’t set it up right away because someone else had brought a 10X10 shade tent. My friend said the cabana was too small and that I should just leave it in the bag.

Cabana First Thoughts
As a gear junkie you can’t just leave stuff in the bag even if the need for the gear has already been fulfilled. The cabana is quite spacious actually and is a stellar beach shade getaway. You may not be able to fit six adults underneath along with their Twilight books and lawn chairs, but if you have little ones who need to take a nap the ground floor provides great protection from the sand.

Cabana – 1. 10X10 shade – 0.

Tent Set-up
The set up isn’t bad. If your like me, you probably don’t have 3 people dying to help you set up your tent making the cabana a good addition. After a couple times you get an idea of how the poles are suppose to bend and find which sequence works best. The tent has two short poles and one long one creating the frontal hoop. Anything that can get me in the water faster makes me smile in my sleep.

Cabana – 2. 10X10 shade – 0.

Fighting the Wind
If you went to the beach and watched people there is no doubt something in their spot will blow away at some point. The pole design on the cabana reminds me of a glider and isn’t exempt from being ‘blown-away proof’. Stakes are a must but you’re going to have to dig some up because my cabana didn’t come with them. The little sand bags at each corner of the tent won’t do it. They are a cute idea but this nylon aircraft is going to be ready for takeoff without some serious anchors.

Cabana – 2. 10X10 shade – 1.

Cabana Design
One thing that I would seriously consider marrying Kelty for is that they are simple. I like the two bug screen windows that can be covered by lifting up the nylon sides hooking into the velcro. The floor space was big enough for me to hang my feet out the front opening while laying down with my head towards the rear. You could easily fit two people for an afternoon nap. We also fit a camp chair inside and while sitting you don’t feel like the roof is on top of your forehead.

Cabana – 3. 10X10 shade – 1.

The front opening also closes completely for some beach privacy to switch in and out of clothes. One idea I had is cutting out a hole in the floor of the cabana for cooking with a stove. With the curved design and leaving the door open it could ventilate during a little storm. The material wouldn’t be ideal for a rain storm but hey I’m a dreamer.

Cabana – 4. 10X10 shade – 1.

Bottom Line: Kelty needs to get rid of those silver casings on their poles and retire the sleeves. Hooks may weigh more but 99% of the time the 4lb. 14oz. cabana is coming in my car not my Osprey Argon 85. This cabana is a strong contender in the beach shade department and I’m looking forward to taking it on my next beach excursion.

“Put em’ in a body bag Johnny!”

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