REASONS TO BUY
Color coating for easy set up
Strong structure
Good sun protection
Stable
Additional wind-wall
REASONS TO AVOID
Long set up time
Difficult push tabs
Kelty Discovery Shade Shelter Review
Very sturdy and reliable, this shelter takes a while to set-up, but offers multi-day protection
Credit: Kelty
RELATED: Best Canopy Tents of 2024
Our Verdict
The Kelty Discovery Shade Shelter is a beach or camping canopy tent that relies on a house-like a frame to provide sun and wind protection. One of the slower models to set-up, once erected the wind wall, guy-lines and stakes allow for impressive stability and sun protection. This shelter is large enough to fit over a picnic table and will house up to five people. Its framing system gives this shelter a sense of excellent quality while increasing its weight. It can, however, be carried and set up by a single person in any condition. We recommend this shelter for a myriad of different environments, including beaches, parks, and campgrounds.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
On a calm summer day, our testers could opt out on using the guy lines on this sturdy camping and beach canopy.
Credit: Michael Wood
Livability
The Discovery Shade Shelter offers 100 square feet of floor space and is large enough to cover most picnic tables. The only tent tested that comes with a removable side-wall, this option allows for even more flexibility and sun/wind protection. The max height is 6'6" so there's head space for most folks. The two sides are easy access points, but the other two sides are lower, which increases sun and wind protection, but limits accessibility. The legs have miniature stakes built into the foot, which limits the use to areas with soft ground, which increases the stability but prevents set up on concrete.
Pitched sides limit accessibility somewhat but increase the shelter's protection.
Credit: Michael Wood
Ease of Setup
Although easy to set up with color coating and angle inscriptions, the Kelty Discovery takes time to erect. The house-like framing system requires each of the 11 poles to be inserted into their designated plastic joints. Once the frame is erect, you must go to each leg to attach the canopy. The structural design, however, allows for single person setup, which took on average 6 minutes, even in windy conditions.
The set-up is more difficult due to the framing system and narrow push-tabs, but in the end, this frame is what gives this shelter its impressive durability.
Credit: Michael Wood
The aspect of setup we were most disenchanted with is the push tabs for inserting each pole section. The tabs are small metal rings which are neither easy nor comfortable to push in. That aside, this tent is rather easy to install.
Wind Resistance
Guy-lines and thick, durable stakes allow for increased stability. The fabric is a 68-denier polyester and connects to the frame with velcro loops as well as at each leg through a metal ring. These velcro traps limit the movement of the canopy in the wind, which cuts down on wear and tear that comes from the fabric rubbing against the wind. These velcro straps also increase the shelter's stability in the wind by limiting the movement of the canopy.
Durability
One of the few beach or camping tents that utilizes steel poles. Each steel pole is 19 mm in diameter and the framing system is durable (although also adding time to set it up). The combination of the steel poles and the “house-frame” design create a stable and durable shelter that should withstand some pretty rough weather conditions. The canvas comes with tie downs which attach to the frame, decreasing friction between the canvas and frame in windy conditions. This addition should increase the longevity of the canvas.
Canvas tie downs help keep the canvas from moving too much against the frame.
Credit: Michael Wood
Portability
At 20.5 lbs, this is far from the lightest of the beach or campings tents. However, it is not the most difficult to transport. The carrying case (which isn't of incredible quality) comes with a shoulder strap which makes transportation much easier while leaving you with free hands to carry the rest of your camping gear. When dealing with these tents, we found that shoulder straps often make the difference in whether or not a tent is easy to transport.
The carrying case comes with a shoulder strap which helps with transportation, but the overall quality of the case could certainly be improved.
Credit: Michael Wood
Best Application
The Kelty Discovery shelter is best used at campgrounds or parks, though it can be set up at beaches as well. Its durable and easy to construct frame makes this tent accessible to a single person while providing protection for up to six people. We would recommend using the Kelty in mild to inclement weather for great and adaptable protection.
Value
At $130, the Discovery is a wallet-friendly beach or camping tent, which will provide shelter and stability in even inclement weather. The addition of the detachable wind wall is a significant bonus.
Conclusion
The Kelty Discovery Shade Shelter is a strong and sturdy tent designed with camping or the beach in mind. It is relatively easy to set up and with the addition of the detachable wind-wall, this shelter offers exceptional protection at a relatively small investment. The $130 price point makes this tent accessible to those on a budget while not compromising on durability or stability.
—
Michael Wood
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