Gearnalysis

Kelty Late Start 1

49GearScore

The Kelty Late Start 1 is a 1-person backpacking tent with 20.6 sq ft of floor and a minimum trail weight of 53.0 oz. It stands 37 in at the peak, has 1 door, and starts at $150.

Polyester (68D)Material
FreestandingPitch
Double wallWall
GearScore49/ 100Overall, on the default algorithm
MSRP$150list price
Value Score84$3.03 / ptBang for buck: price per GearScore point

GearScore breakdown

How this tent earns its 49 on the default algorithm, factor by factor

49Space100Weight29Peak17Price87Doors8
Each axis is that raw metric scored 0 to 100 against the field.
Space per person20.6 sq ft
100/100 31% of score · livable floor per person
Weight per person53.0 oz1503 g
29/100 54% of score · lighter per person scores higher
Peak height36.5 in92.7 cm
17/100 14% of score · taller scores higher
Price$150
87/100 off by default · your budget lever
Doors1
8/100 off by default · more doors score higher

Have specific needs in mind — ultralight, a roomy two-person, or a tent on a budget? Rank this tent against every other on your own custom scoring algorithm.

Open the full tent comparison →

Specifications

Capacity: 1-person
Type: Backpacking
Floor area: 20.6 sq ft
Floor dimensions: 85×40/29.8 in216×102/76 cm
Floor shape: Tapered
Peak height: 36.5 in92.7 cm
Doors: 1
Vestibules: 1
Wall: Double
Pitch type: Freestanding
Canopy fabric: Polyester (68D)
Floor fabric: Polyester (68D)
Minimum trail weight: 53.0 oz1503 g
Space per person: 20.6 sq ft
Weight per person: 53.0 oz1503 g
Price per person: $150

Will your pads fit?

The Late Start 1 drawn to scale on its real floor shape. Starts with one pad; add a second or third to check a shared floor. Data, not guesswork.

Loading the fit visualizer…

How scoring works

The same GearScore engine the comparison pages use. This is the default weighting; open the full comparison to re-weight it around your trip.

GearScore blends published specs into one 0 to 100 number. Livable space per person is a "good enough" gate; weight per person and peak height score on a sliding scale. Price and doors are levers presets turn on.

Customize on the full comparison →
Space/person31%
Weight/person54%
Peak height14%
Price0% · lever
Doors0% · lever
Sufficiency
Only needs to be good enough. Livable space per person works this way: clear the target and you're set, extra room adds no points.
Monotonic
More (or less) is always better. Lighter per person beats heavier and a taller peak beats a shorter one, so they score on a sliding scale.
Preference
Type, wall, and pitch are personal preference, never scored. They only filter the list.