Kelty Daydreamer 6 Evaluation | 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 throughout the day or go to mattress earlier than sundown – is its Twilight Tech Cloth rainfly. This particular materials blocks out daylight and different exterior mild sources, making it simpler for youths to sleep irrespective of the time of day.

With a spacious flooring plan and a tall peak top, you’ll want a very good quantity of area to pitch this tent. It’s additionally simple to arrange and take down, which is all the time a plus for busy dad and mom. The medium-sized entrance vestibule offers a handy spot to stash further gear and toys, liberating up area inside. The inside tent is nearly completely mesh, which is nice for airflow on sizzling days and stargazing if 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 Cloth appears to entice 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 choose—one thing we solely seen 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 type. We additionally discovered the ground materials to be on the thinner aspect, and it allowed some water to seep by, so utilizing a footprint or floor tarp is a should.

General, the Daydreamer 6 gives some helpful options for its value level, making it a strong alternative for households who prioritize a darkish inside for higher sleep.

In the event you just like the look of the Daydreamer 6 however need to discover different choices, take a look at 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 youngsters 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 combined bag on the subject of consolation. It’s fairly spacious, however underneath sure situations, it will probably 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—that means six folks in a six-person tent—it’s attainable right here. Nevertheless, it’ll really feel fairly cramped except it’s two adults and 4 youngsters moderately 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 top drops off shortly towards the partitions, which makes transferring round harder for taller campers. Whereas it’s tall sufficient within the middle, the sloping sides imply you’ll doubtless be ducking as you progress towards the sides.

Air flow is the largest consolation problem. The inside tent is nearly completely 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 12 months 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 improper manner. 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, that means it’s constructed to deal with common use however isn’t designed for heavy abuse. It’s greatest suited to informal summer-to-shoulder-season tenting, making it a strong choice for individuals who camp just a few occasions a month throughout 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 lengthen its lifespan. We all the time check zippers and examine stitching on each tent we evaluate, and the Daydreamer 6’s zippers carried out surprisingly properly—smooth-sliding and snag-free all through testing.

The Twilight Tech cloth used for the rainfly makes it simple to see imperfections from the within. We seen a number of small spots the place mild was coming by, however we’re uncertain 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 fabricated from fiberglass, which saves weight however isn’t as robust as aluminum poles. Moreover, the shock twine contained in the poles felt just a little free. This wasn’t a difficulty for us throughout testing, nevertheless it’s one thing to control throughout setup and teardown.

General, the Daydreamer 6’s sturdiness is simply okay. It’s on par with its value level, making it a superb 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 offers first rate safety from delicate rain and wind, nevertheless it’s not constructed for excessive climate situations. The Twilight Tech rainfly does a strong job of blocking daylight and exterior mild sources, which is nice for conserving the tent darkish for noon naps or early bedtimes. Nevertheless, its waterproofing is a little bit of a combined bag.

Throughout testing, we encountered mild rain, snow, and reasonable wind within the foothills outdoors Golden, Colorado, and the Daydreamer 6 held up superb—water beaded off the fly, and the tent stayed dry inside. Nevertheless, in heavier rain or extended moist situations, we’d be just a little extra skeptical. We seen small pinpricks of sunshine within the stitching on the within of the fly, which might finally result in minor leaks. We haven’t had an opportunity to check this tent in Colorado’s summer time monsoons, however we’ll proceed to observe this throughout long-term testing.

Air flow and condensation administration are additionally massive elements 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 sort of tall, so we wouldn’t belief this tent in excessive winds or uncovered places. We additionally discovered that absolutely staking and guying it out is essential for getting a taut pitch and conserving rain out. Fortunately, Kelty consists of 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 when you count on extended publicity to heavy rain, robust wind, or colder situations, a extra weatherproof tent can be a more sensible choice.

Ease of Setup

Ease of setup is certainly a powerful 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 better time reaching the height, which may very well 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 excellent, although. The included stakes are fairly flimsy, and we bent just a few whereas organising in half-frozen, half-loose rocky Colorado soil. Relying on the place you camp, you would possibly need to improve to sturdier stakes.

Tear-down can be pretty painless. The tent packs up with out a lot battle, however like most giant tents, rolling it neatly again into the stuff sack takes some endurance. In the event you’re packing up in a rush, count on just a little wrestling to get every little thing again within the bag.

Options

The Kelty Daydreamer 6 has a few standout options, the largest being its Twilight Tech cloth rainfly. This materials blocks daylight and exterior lights, making it a fantastic choice for households with youngsters who nonetheless nap throughout the day or go to mattress earlier than darkish. In our testing, we discovered that it noticeably decreased brightness contained in the tent, which may very well be a game-changer for light-sensitive sleepers.

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

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

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

Ought to You Purchase the Kelty Daydreamer 6?

The Kelty Daydreamer 6 is a good choice for households and informal campers who prioritize consolation and comfort. Its spacious inside, easy setup, and Twilight Tech cloth rainfly make it a strong alternative for folks with younger youngsters who nap throughout the day or go to mattress earlier than darkish. In the event you’re searching for a tent that provides loads of room, first rate climate resistance, and a simple setup, this one checks a whole lot of bins.

That mentioned, air flow may very well be higher, and the fiberglass poles don’t really feel as sturdy as aluminum alternate options. It’s additionally not the only option for individuals who steadily camp in excessive climate.

For the value, the Daydreamer 6 delivers good worth for campers who persist with established campgrounds and fair-weather journeys. In the event 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 Contemplate?

In the event you’re contemplating the Kelty Daydreamer 6, there are just a few different nice tenting tents price testing. Our information to one of the best tenting tents covers a spread of choices, however listed here are some robust alternate options:

Kelty Wi-fi 6 Evaluation: In the event you like Kelty’s value level however desire a extra conventional rainfly design, the Kelty Wi-fi 6 is a good choice. It gives comparable livable area however with higher barely higher air flow. It additionally has two giant doorways and vestibules, making it a good selection for campers who want further space for storing and improved climate resistance.

Mountainsmith Conifer 5+ Evaluation: For these searching for a spacious and extra sturdy tent with glorious storage, the Mountainsmith Conifer 5+ is a powerful various. 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 gives considerably higher air flow than the Daydreamer 6 and is a good match for households or teams who want further area and storage choices. It’s additionally fairly a bit dearer. 

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4 Evaluation: 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 further inside area, big 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.