Kelty Daydreamer 6 Assessment | CleverHiker

Backside Line

The Kelty Daydreamer 6 is a front-country tenting tent designed with households and bigger teams in thoughts. What actually makes it stand out—particularly for folks with little ones who nonetheless nap through the day or go to mattress earlier than sundown – is its Twilight Tech Material rainfly. This particular materials blocks out daylight and different exterior mild sources, making it simpler for teenagers to sleep irrespective of the time of day.

With a spacious flooring plan and a tall peak peak, you’ll want quantity of area to pitch this tent. It’s additionally simple to arrange and take down, which is at all times a plus for busy mother and father. The medium-sized entrance vestibule supplies a handy spot to stash additional gear and toys, releasing up area inside. The internal tent is nearly totally mesh, which is nice for airflow on sizzling days and stargazing once you go away the rainfly off.

That mentioned, we discovered the Daydreamer 6 doesn’t vent in addition to we’d like when the rainfly is deployed. The Twilight Tech Material appears to lure warmth, making the inside really feel stuffy if it’s pitched within the solar. The poles additionally really feel a bit cumbersome, and the shock cords are looser than we’d favor—one thing we solely observed throughout setup and takedown. Whereas we haven’t had any sturdiness points but, the fiberglass poles don’t really feel as strong as aluminum choices usually present in tents of this fashion. We additionally discovered the ground materials to be on the thinner aspect, and it allowed some water to seep by means of, so utilizing a footprint or floor tarp is a should.

General, the Daydreamer 6 presents some helpful options for its worth level, making it a stable alternative for households who prioritize a darkish inside for higher sleep.

When you just like the look of the Daydreamer 6 however wish to discover different choices, try our in-depth tenting tent gear information for extra suggestions.

How We Examined

We examined the Kelty Daydreamer 6 over a number of months within the mountains of Colorado, tenting in a mixture of heat, sunny days and chilly, breezy nights. We set it up on rocky floor, packed filth, and grassy campsites to see the way it dealt with totally different surfaces.

Since this tent is designed for households, we additionally put it to the check with younger children in tow, paying shut consideration to its blackout capabilities for naps and early bedtimes. We additionally evaluated ease of setup, airflow on sizzling days, and the way properly it dealt with mild rain and condensation buildup.

Consolation

The Daydreamer 6 is a little bit of a blended bag in the case of consolation. It’s fairly spacious, however beneath sure circumstances, it might really feel much less snug. At 89.2 sq. ft, it has the most important flooring space of any 6-person tent we examined, which helps when tenting with a full home. Whereas we typically don’t advocate maxing out a tent—which means six folks in a six-person tent—it’s attainable right here. Nonetheless, it’ll really feel fairly cramped until it’s two adults and 4 children quite than six full-grown campers.

Our lead tester, who’s 6’2”, often struggles with low peak heights, however at 77 inches, they appreciated the additional headroom. That mentioned, the tent’s peak peak drops off shortly towards the partitions, which makes shifting round harder for taller campers. Whereas it’s tall sufficient within the heart, the sloping sides imply you’ll possible be ducking as you progress towards the perimeters.

Air flow is the most important consolation problem. The internal tent is nearly totally mesh, which is nice for stargazing or lounging when the climate is good. However as soon as the rainfly is on, it will get stuffy—quick. We examined the Daydreamer 6 in late February in Colorado, a time of yr we fondly name “first spring”—proper earlier than “second winter.” The primary time we pitched it, the temps hit 68°F at 8,000 ft, and in direct solar, the tent began to bake us. A lightweight breeze might have helped, however we had the tent oriented the fallacious means. Air flow is strongest from the back and front, so it’s essential to pitch it dealing with the wind. In any other case, issues can get uncomfortably heat in a rush.

Sturdiness

The Kelty Daydreamer 6 is a medium to medium/light-duty tent, which means it’s constructed to deal with common use however isn’t designed for heavy abuse. It’s greatest fitted to informal summer-to-shoulder-season tenting, making it a stable possibility for individuals who camp a couple of occasions a month through the conventional tenting season (late spring to early fall).

General, the supplies really feel first rate, however the tent flooring is noticeably skinny. A footprint or floor tarp is a should to delay its lifespan. We at all times check zippers and examine stitching on each tent we assessment, and the Daydreamer 6’s zippers carried out surprisingly properly—smooth-sliding and snag-free all through testing.

The Twilight Tech material used for the rainfly makes it simple to see imperfections from the within. We observed a number of small spots the place mild was coming by means of, however we’re not sure if these are defects or simply a part of Kelty’s stitching course of. We’ll monitor this throughout long-term testing and replace accordingly.

The tent poles really feel sturdy however have some drawbacks. They’re made from fiberglass, which saves weight however isn’t as robust as aluminum poles. Moreover, the shock wire contained in the poles felt somewhat unfastened. This wasn’t a difficulty for us throughout testing, but it surely’s one thing to keep watch over throughout setup and teardown.

General, the Daydreamer 6’s sturdiness is simply okay. It’s on par with its worth level, making it a high-quality alternative for informal campers sticking to established campgrounds. With correct care, it ought to maintain up properly for seasonal household journeys and weekend getaways.

Climate Resistance

The Kelty Daydreamer 6 supplies first rate safety from delicate rain and wind, but it surely’s not constructed for excessive climate circumstances. The Twilight Tech rainfly does a stable job of blocking daylight and exterior mild sources, which is nice for holding the tent darkish for noon naps or early bedtimes. Nonetheless, its waterproofing is a little bit of a blended bag.

Throughout testing, we encountered mild rain, snow, and average wind within the foothills exterior Golden, Colorado, and the Daydreamer 6 held up high-quality—water beaded off the fly, and the tent stayed dry inside. Nonetheless, in heavier rain or extended moist circumstances, we’d be somewhat extra skeptical. We observed small pinpricks of sunshine within the stitching on the within of the fly, which might ultimately result in minor leaks. We haven’t had an opportunity to check this tent in Colorado’s summer season monsoons, however we’ll proceed to watch this throughout long-term testing.

Air flow and condensation administration are additionally large components in climate resistance, and as famous above, this tent has some limitations. The mesh-heavy tent physique permits nice airflow, however as soon as the rainfly is on, air flow suffers. The fly has vents, however they aren’t as efficient as we’d hoped, and on heat days, the inside will get stuffy quick. 

Wind resistance is first rate however not nice. The fiberglass poles aren’t as robust as aluminum, and the tent is kind of tall, so we wouldn’t belief this tent in excessive winds or uncovered places. We additionally discovered that totally staking and guying it out is important for getting a taut pitch and holding rain out. Fortunately, Kelty contains sufficient stakes and pre-attached guylines, so that you gained’t have to purchase extras.

Backside line? The Daydreamer 6 is okay for delicate climate, however in the event you anticipate extended publicity to heavy rain, robust wind, or colder circumstances, a extra weatherproof tent can be a better option.

Ease of Setup

Ease of setup is certainly a robust level for the Kelty Daydreamer 6. Our lead tester, a busy dad of two, set it up solo a number of occasions and located it surprisingly easy. That mentioned, being tall helps—at 6’2”, he had a neater time reaching the height, which might be trickier for shorter customers.

The pole construction is straightforward and user-friendly. The 2 lengthy poles slide into dead-end pole sleeves, which helps information them into place with out frustration. The tent physique clips on to the poles, making setup fast and intuitive. The rainfly can be color-coded and clips into place simply, eliminating guesswork.

It’s not good, although. The included stakes are fairly flimsy, and we bent a couple of whereas organising in half-frozen, half-loose rocky Colorado soil. Relying on the place you camp, you may wish to improve to sturdier stakes.

Tear-down can be pretty painless. The tent packs up with out a lot battle, however like most massive tents, rolling it neatly again into the stuff sack takes some persistence. When you’re packing up in a rush, anticipate somewhat wrestling to get every little thing again within the bag.

Options

The Kelty Daydreamer 6 has a few standout options, the most important being its Twilight Tech material rainfly. This materials blocks daylight and exterior lights, making it an awesome possibility for households with children who nonetheless nap through the day or go to mattress earlier than darkish. In our testing, we discovered that it noticeably decreased brightness contained in the tent, which might be a game-changer for light-sensitive sleepers.

The tent physique is nearly totally mesh, which is nice for air flow and stargazing on clear nights. Simply needless to say as soon as the rainfly is on, air flow turns into extra restricted. The entrance vestibule is medium-sized, supplying you with a good quantity of area to stash gear or maintain muddy sneakers exterior with out totally exposing them to the weather.

Inside group is stable. 4 mesh storage pockets assist maintain small necessities off the ground, which is at all times a plus when tenting with a bunch. The removable gear loft is one other good contact, good for hanging a lantern or stashing late-night snacks (simply don’t let the children discover them).

General, the Daydreamer 6 has a stable mixture of sensible and family-friendly options, making it an awesome alternative for informal campers who worth consolation and comfort.

Ought to You Purchase the Kelty Daydreamer 6?

The Kelty Daydreamer 6 is a good possibility for households and informal campers who prioritize consolation and comfort. Its spacious inside, easy setup, and Twilight Tech material rainfly make it a stable alternative for folks with younger children who nap through the day or go to mattress earlier than darkish. When you’re in search of a tent that gives loads of room, first rate climate resistance, and a simple setup, this one checks loads of bins.

That mentioned, air flow might be higher, and the fiberglass poles don’t really feel as sturdy as aluminum options. It’s additionally not your best option for individuals who ceaselessly camp in excessive climate.

For the worth, the Daydreamer 6 delivers good worth for campers who stick with established campgrounds and fair-weather journeys. When you’re after a spacious, family-friendly tent that makes sleeping in a bit simpler, this one is price contemplating.

What Different Tenting Tents Ought to You Take into account?

When you’re contemplating the Kelty Daydreamer 6, there are a couple of different nice tenting tents price trying out. Our information to one of the best tenting tents covers a spread of choices, however listed below are some robust options:

Kelty Wi-fi 6 Assessment: When you like Kelty’s worth level however need a extra conventional rainfly design, the Kelty Wi-fi 6 is a good possibility. It presents comparable livable area however with higher barely higher air flow. It additionally has two massive doorways and vestibules, making it a sensible choice for campers who want additional space for storing and improved climate resistance.

Mountainsmith Conifer 5+ Assessment: For these in search of a spacious and extra sturdy tent with glorious storage, the Mountainsmith Conifer 5+ is a robust different. It has an enormous entrance vestibule, a secondary rear vestibule, and loads of inside pockets to maintain gear organized. Whereas setup is a little more concerned, it presents considerably higher air flow than the Daydreamer 6 and is a good match for households or teams who want additional area and storage choices. It’s additionally fairly a bit dearer. 

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4 Assessment: For a extra premium tent with standout livability, contemplate the NEMO Aurora Highrise 4 (which additionally is available in a 6-person model). It options steep sidewalls for additional inside area, large home windows for air flow, and high-quality supplies that really feel extra sturdy than the Daydreamer 6. If consolation, sturdiness, and a extra open really feel are your prime priorities, the Aurora Highrise is a good decide.