Best Camping Tents · head-to-head

Marmot Tungsten 2P Tent vs Kelty Late Start 2 Tent

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Kelty Late Start 2 Tent is cheaper at $159.95. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Marmot Tungsten 2P Tent or Kelty Late Start 2 Tent?

The Kelty Late Start 2 Tent wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Kelty Late Start 2 Tent is the cheaper at $159.95. The Kelty Late Start 2 Tent both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.

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Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec Marmot Tungsten 2P Tent Kelty Late Start 2 Tent
US price $279 MSRP per marmot.com / REI $159.95 MSRP per kelty.com
BrandMarmotKelty
Released
Capacity persons 2 2
Type backpacking backpacking
Packaged weight (lb) 6.19 4.75
Floor area (sq ft) 30.1 30.6
Peak height (in) 42 43
Doors 2 1
Seasons 3-season 3-season
Rainfly included Yes Yes
Release

Sources — Marmot Tungsten 2P Tent: rei.com (verified 2026-06-20). Kelty Late Start 2 Tent: kelty.com (verified 2026-06-20).

What's the difference between the Marmot Tungsten 2P Tent and Kelty Late Start 2 Tent?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Packaged weight (lb): Marmot Tungsten 2P Tent 6.19 vs Kelty Late Start 2 Tent 4.75
  • Floor area (sq ft): Marmot Tungsten 2P Tent 30.1 vs Kelty Late Start 2 Tent 30.6
  • Peak height (in): Marmot Tungsten 2P Tent 42 vs Kelty Late Start 2 Tent 43
  • Doors: Marmot Tungsten 2P Tent 2 vs Kelty Late Start 2 Tent 1

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

Marmot Tungsten 2P Tent

Only one whitelisted tester, CleverHiker, published a hands-on field review of this exact model (the standard Tungsten 2, not the ultralight UL2). It rates the tent 4.3/5 as a roomy, durable, easy-pitching budget and car-camping shelter, praising storage, fast color-coded setup, and wind stability, but flags it as too heavy and bulky for real backpacking. All three cited quotes were verified verbatim against the fetched article. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Roomy, comfortable interior with abundant storage (double-tier pockets, hanging loops, lamp-shade pocket); Fast, foolproof color-coded setup in under five minutes; Durable materials; stays stable in wind when fully staked out with guy lines.

Flagged: Too heavy and bulky for backpacking; best used as a car-camping/frontcountry tent; Tapered floor plan can feel restrictive and the long 21-inch folded poles pack awkwardly.

Kelty Late Start 2 Tent

No sourced tester review yet.

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