Kelty Screen House Shelter - Medium

I have used my Kelty Screenhouse about 20 times now. It is a bit tricky to set up. Once up though it is easy to move around and stake down in place. I have fed up to 10 people around the traditional campground picnic table and it worked great. It keeps the bugs out and the rain off, both big positives. I wish it had more headroom sometimes and that is where the 4 stars come from. It is a sitdown around the picnic table shelter, not a dance hall! Everything fits in the bag easily and the figure 9 adjusters work great! It also has a distinct look, for [$] if is hard to beat!

We were headed to mosquito-haven in Colorado and needed a durable screenhouse for the high country. After a LOT of research, this Kelty model made the most sense. I didn't stake the screenhouse the first night, piling some large rocks on the corners instead--mainly because the stakes are the shepherds-hook type of stake and impossible to pound into rocky ground. During the night the wind picked up the tent and blew it a couple hundred feet down into a ravine; but by-golly except for a few scratches on the metal frame, it was fine. I have a several other tents and this is the easiest by far to erect -- I do it without help and in a few minutes. This screenhouse has a very durable fabric, a solid frame, and except for the stakes that are not typical of Kelty-quality, it is a good package. I'm glad I got it !!

I suspect some of these come with the wrong poles. Some people have had good luck with this but we did not. We are very experienced with tents, and could not set this one up. The poles appear to be for a larger model tent. They pull the fabric too tight, would have to really muscle it to get it set up. Do not buy this.

While some have set this up single handedly, the pitch was too tight for me to do it. None of the reviews mention this. I wish it would have worked out. Because I usually camp alone, this would not work for me. After 2 hours I repacked it and sent it back.

This screenhouse seems sturdy but there also seems to be tremendous stress on the zipper, a non-warranteed part. I haven't used it yet so don't know how it will hold up. It's spacious and will hopefully deliver bug free picnics. Can't really recommend it or not until I've used it for a season.