Kelty manufactures backpacking and camping gear including tents and packs sold through their online store. This page aggregates customer ratings and reviews to help shoppers evaluate product quality and the Kelty ordering experience before making a purchase.
Kelty Reviews
What Shoppers Say About Kelty
Kelty receives highly polarized feedback from shoppers. One reviewer praised the company's backpacking tents and packs as impressive products that outperform comparable gear, with positive experiences across multiple purchases and group outings. However, two reviewers reported significant frustrations with customer service and product quality. One shopper waited over two months for a refund after returning a tent, receiving only automated responses instead of resolution. Another received a tent with defective pole cords that snapped during assembly and was asked to pay return shipping for repairs rather than receive replacement parts directly.
The main recurring complaint centers on post-purchase support and returns processing. Shoppers report slow refund handling and inflexible customer service policies that shift costs to the customer. Product quality concerns also emerged, with at least one instance of shipping damage or manufacturing defects. While the gear itself appears to earn appreciation from satisfied buyers, the purchasing experience and support infrastructure present significant pain points that deter some customers from ordering directly online.
Customer Reviews (3)
Sorted by: Most recentSent back a tent for a refund and it's been over two months with nothing. They confirmed they got the return but keep sending me automated responses instead of actually processing my money back. If you're thinking about ordering Kelty gear, skip ordering online and just go to a regular retail store instead.
Got a new Tall Boy tent and ran into a big problem during setup. Two out of three pole cords were already frayed and snapped when we tried to assemble it. When I contacted Kelty, they wanted me to pay to ship the broken poles back so they could fix them instead of just mailing me replacement cords. It would have been way simpler and cheaper for me to just buy new cordage myself and redo it. This wasn't the kind of quality or service I was hoping to get from Kelty.
These backpacking tents and packs are seriously impressive. I've picked up several items over time and honestly they blow away everything else we've tested for backpacking trips. Our club just grabbed a dozen Redwing 55L packs along with a dozen Grand Mesa 2.0 tents for group outings, and they've been fantastic on the trails. Even though they're manufactured overseas, the performance is outstanding. Would definitely recommend checking out what Kelty has to offer.