TentPak Systems introduces “Grab and Go” pack and tent combination!

After the devastation of September 11^th in 2001, Galen Bench’s first was inspired to create TentPak, and “grab and go backpack” supplied with critical gear in the event you need to bug out from a hot zone.  The the tsunami that struck the Indonesian coastline of Sumatra in December 2004  was the impetus that led the Bench family to introduce TenPak to the mass market.

Originally, TentPak was designed to fill a gap in the emergency preparedness product market. Today, TentPak’s unique design patent – integrating a tent and a backpack into an all-in-one unit – has evolved into a grab-and-go solution for hikers, photographers, hunters, scouts, families, outdoor enthusiasts and emergency response teams alike.

Now it’s available in 12 different backpack models and two tent models. Each TentPak  includes a built-in two-person tent in either an all-purpose three-season or four-season expedition model. TentPak models vary in design for use in extreme situations to more recreational expeditions with varying strap features, storage design and accessories.

On average, TentPak weighs approximately 13 pounds – tent and backpack combined. Each TentPak is built on the European High Peak platform, a top selling design for more than two decades. TentPaks feature high-quality ripstop nylon and polyester fabrics, Duraflex buckles and connectors, and water resistant bags and zippers. Each backpack is also equipped with an internal rain cover to keep gear dry during inclement weather.

Beyond the convenience of providing an all-in-one tent and backpack solution, TentPak is an easy to use device. Upon arriving at a campsite, simply unroll the tent from inside the bottom of the pack and set it up. The backpack remains attached to the tent after setup. The pack stores inside of the tent or in the rain fly vestibule, even while connected, for easy access to gear and protection from small critters. For protection in bear country the pack separates from the tent for storage up a tree. And, when it’s time to break camp the tent simply rolls back into the bottom of the backpack.

With the tent stored in the bottom section of the TentPak, carrying weight is more effectively distributed across the users back instead of focusing the weight on the shoulders where tents are traditionally carried.

FreshAirJunkie is trying to arrange a product review on the TentPak, so we’ll share our thoughts after we’ve had the opportunity to get theTenPak in the field.

The Kelty FoxHole 3 is a sturdy four-season tent suitable for three people

Four season comfort, durability, great ventilation and quick set-up time are distinguishing features of the Kelty Foxhole 3 mountaineering tent. Part of the Kelty Apex Series of expedition level four-season tents, the Foxhole 3 is designed to take on inclement weather wherever you find yourself spending the night.

Kelty Foxhole 3 setup early evening in the Gila National Forest of New Mexico.

Kelty Foxhole 3 in transport on a heavy Gregory Spear backpack; 12 Spears on this hike.

Kelty’s Foxhole 3 is a freestanding tent you can guy out partially or fully depending on conditions you encounter. Kelty made good use of illumination materials on the large Kelty Foxhole 3 logos on the exterior of the tent, near the two entrances, and illuminating thread woven into the guy-out lines. At night, you can easily see where your tent is from a distance as the illumination glows perfectly clear in the headlamp or flashlight beam; even at the periphery of the beam. Also, when you are walking around outside the tent at night, the illumination strands woven into the guy lines let you know exactly where to avoid tripping accidents.

Set-up goes fairly quick as the Dac ultra-light poles configure rapidly into an external frame that anchors in deep pockets at four-corners of the tent. The entire exoskeleton uses slider-clips and hook-clips to rapidly erect the core tent body so it’s taught and ready to stash your gear.

It only takes one person to roll out the tent body, assemble the Dac-pole frame, slide four pole ends into the pockets, and clip up the tent. In addition, the guy lines can be adjusted with the ITW Lineloc guy line adjusters to batten down the hatches in severe weather. All seams are fusion welded and taped, increasing this tent’s capacity to withstand harsh environments.

Kelty Foxhole 3 tent-crown slider clip in place.

When attaching the rain fly, remember to line up the two doors of the Kelty Foxhole 3, and it's easy street for the night.

Ventilation is well thought out with or without the rain fly attached. Closable mesh panels allow you to open ventilation routes where you want air flow. With the rain fly attached, ventilation ports on the rain fly are propped open with short (about 3-inch) sections of Dac poles inserted into sleeves and secured in upright position with Velcro fasteners.

This combination of rain fly ventilation working with the main tent ventilation system allows you to fully adjust to the current conditions at your bivouac site. Even in warm weather, you can still have the full protection of the rain fly without restricting the ventilation and cool air through the tent.

The rain fly drapes over the exoskeleton — creating an air chamber between the tent walls and increased insulation – and fastens with side-release buckles to the main body of the tent. When securing the rain fly, you do have to match the two doors located caddy-corner across from each other on opposite sides of the tent. With practice, this becomes routine.

With the rain fly secured and the entire tent guyed out, you have two roomy gear-storage vestibules and two door openings you can literally stand up in to put your boots on as the walls of tent slant away from the tent floor. This design characteristic is convenient because you don’t have to step out of the tent, onto the ground, in order to stand up to full height. And these tent doors are especially nice for taller people as you won’t have to crawl out of the tent.

Interior view of Kelty Foxhole 3 window, floor, entrances, and far-side vestibule.

Hook-clip attached to Dac tent pole on Kelty Foxhole 3.

Two clear windows are welded into the rain fly at the door openings. This is a cool feature as you do not have to completely unzip the inner tent door or rain fly door to check on the weather or to figure out what kind of mammal is tossing around the bear canister 50-feet away.

Noiseless zippers worked well with the Foxhole 3. Zippers are stout enough to manage the taught tent fabric and tent walls without binding or making any racket. And because the tent design yields taught walls there are times when you have to balance the left-side zipper travel with the right-side zipper travel to close a door. But when an opening is fully zipped up, the tent wall is as tight as it needs to be to shed any moisture and withstand a snow load or stiff wind.

Having two entrances and two vestibules add comfort and convenience value to this Kelty Apex Series Foxhole 3 tent. With three people using the tent, having two doors facilitates easy access in and out of the tent. And the vestibules offer enough room to accommodate the gear for three people. When lodging just one or two people, the Foxhole 3 takes claustrophobia right out of the equation.

Fusion welded floor seams run up the sides of the tent to create a tub affect. This is great as any potential build-up of snow or water outside the tent during any single weather event is not likely to intrude into the tent. Tent floor material is 3000mm thick, polyurethane coated 70D polyester. When used with a footprint, you are assured of sleeping on as weatherproof a foundation as you could ask for in the backcountry.

Kelty Foxhole 3 rainfly vent supported by section of Dac pole and secured with velcro.

During the several trips this tent was on, at no time was there a sense the tent floor was too thin skinned or incapable of handling overnight moisture. Though we did not get into any heavy rain or snow events, there were several mornings of overnight frost and freezing; conditions that lead to condensation – none of which were a problem.

Overall, the Kelty Foxhole 3 is certainly a solid choice to consider in a four-season, all-weather tent. There are some questions as to the ability of the tent hooks to withstand super-cold conditions without breaking, or becoming brittle over time.

And the argument can be made that the main tent body may be better supported with a combination of pole sleeves (where the Dac poles pass through sections of tent sleeves on the upper portions of the tent) as well as the use of hooks to offer the strongest possible design, should the hooks fail. But this is a design philosophy tent makers continually wrestle with and improve upon.

Even though the exoskeleton pole design appears complicated at first, we found this tent to be one of the most reliable and easy tents to set up quickly with just one person doing the task.

When morning arrives, and it’s time to break camp and move on, the Foxhole three disassembles and roles up quick.

Kelty Foxhole 3 tent components ready to set up.

 Some folks just stuff the entire tent fabric into a backpack or stuff it into the stuff bag. I found it to be very convenient to fold the tent properly and roll the poles up with the tent. Each time, the tent rolled up quickly and fit into the Kelty stuff bag with no balking.

For the comfort and shelter this tent provides, the weight is negligible. And when you plan on sharing this kind of tent with more than one person, then each person can carry either, the rain fly, the main tent, or the poles as separate units and thereby distribute the load. However, even for solo trips, at its full 9.4 pounds, the Foxhole 3 would probably be the first nine pounds loaded into the pack. The Kelty Foxhole 3 tent is simply a sturdy shelter to look forward to at night.

Although each person has to assess the qualities and attributes they want in a four-season tent, the Kelty Foxhole 3 is a good shelter I’d recommend potential tent buyers to consider.

 By R. Shandley

Kelty Foxhole 3 tent without rain fly.

Kelty Foxhole 3 zipper at top of door, when closed, is taught like it's supposed to be.Kelty logo on Foxhole 3 tent pops with illumination when headlamp beam hits it at night. There's a big Kelty logo on both sides of the tent.Kelty Foxhole 3 interior with Therm-A-Rest NeoAire mattress on right, and Sierra Design Arrow Rock 30 down sleeping bag.

Kelty Foxhole 3 interior with Therm-A-Rest NeoAire mattress on right, and Sierra Design Arrow Rock 30 down sleeping bag.

Kelty logo on Foxhole 3 tent pops with illumination when headlamp beam hits it at night. There's a big Kelty logo on both sides of the tent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specifications:

Wall material: 70D Polyester taffeta (Dye free)

Floor material: 70D Fusion welded Polyester (3000mm thick with polyurethane [PU] coating)

Weight: 9.4 lbs.

Floor size: 45 sq. ft.

Doors: 2

Vestibules: 2

Vestibule areas: 9.4 sq. ft.

Length: 92”

Width: 79”

Height: 42”

Packed size: 8”x28”

MSRP: $419.95 U.S.

The Hilleberg Kaitum 3, is a light weight three-person shelter that’s ideal for trips where strength and comfort are a priority, but where true all-season, all-weather capability is still a necessity.

This Kaitum 3 is a two door/two vestibule tent that offers maximum usable space, outstanding comfort, and excellent strength in a incredibly lightweight package.

The Kaitum 3 uses ultralight Kerlon 1200 outer tent fabric and DAC Featherlite NSL 9 mm poles to keep total weight to a minimum while providing strength for all  conditions.  Also incorporated into the Kaitum 3 is a two door/two vestibule tunnel design, which adds outstanding comfort and flexibility.

Kaitum 3 is ideal for mobile adventures that involve moving camp frequently, and is equally well-suited for long and short back-country stays. This shelter is outstanding for use in protected terrain in any weather, and easily robust enough to handle use in exposed and/or above tree-line terrain in all but the worst conditions. For warm weather treks,  the Kaitum 3 is excellent since the front section vestibule can be completely rolled open for maximum air flow. 

We’ll have the Hilleberg Kaitum 3  (price point: $775) on several upcoming backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada mountain range as we move into Fall and Winter conditions in the high-country. Our usual trailhead begins at the 10,300 ft. elevation level and should bring us plenty of weather and conditions to evaluate the tent in a variety situations. Two colors are available: Red or Green.

If your backcountry ventures take you up in elevation where thunderstorms, wind and plummeting night time temperatures are a normal part of your trip,  then consider the Kelty Apex Series Foxhole and Marauder tents.

A four-season tent built for all conditions, the Foxhole is an affordable shelter made for camping in a variety of environments. A hubbed, two-pole design combines with clip attachment points for quick and easy set up. Fusion welded tent floor and fly result in lighter, more durable and fully waterproof seams. The Foxhole has two doors and two vestibules for quick access to gear while a welded window in the vestibule lets you check the weather from your sleeping bag.

The Foxhole’s closable mesh panels and vented fly regulate temperature. DAC Featherlite NSL poles reduce weight while adding strength. Available in a two-person version for $379.95 and three-person versions for $419.95.

Designed to excel in adverse conditions where reliability is essential, the Kelty Marauder is built to withstand the elements. Five-pole construction keeps the Marauder standing tall in snow, wind and rain while the fly connects securely with side release buckles. Fusion welded tent floor and rainfly are stitch-free, resulting in supremely durable, watertight seams. A large front and smaller rear vestibule provide ample space to stow gear while closable mesh panels and a vented fly regulate temperature. DAC Featherlite NSL poles reduce weight while adding strength and a clear, welded window provides a view of the world outside. Available in a 2-person version for $419.95 and 3-person versions for $499.95.

You can see the full line-up of Kelty shelters and backpacking gear at: www.kelty.com .