Comments on: TBT Gear: The Kelty Zen

By: Jim Austin

Jim Austin — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 16:22:33 +0000

As soon as I saw your Kelty Zen photo, I said to myself: “Nope. That’s a Clip Flashlight!” (The go-to tent for me during the early years, late ’90s, sectioning the AT.)

I was delighted to read further down that you acknowledged the Zen being a near-clone of the Clip Flashlight. Mine finally bit the dust, but I still use and often prefer the tent that replaced it–also from the ’90s–the Eureka Zeus Classic. The ultralight alternatives, like my 2P Big Agnes Fly Creek, are just over half the weight but I’ll scrimp weight elsewhere to use the Zeus when I can. In fact, I found a backup on a used gear site a couple years ago and bought it to preserve my ability to choose Zeus much further into the future.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 03:55:31 +0000

In reply to Judy. Unfortunately, I do not. May want to try eBay?

By: Judy

Judy — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 03:48:21 +0000

Hi Paul. So glad to find a fellow Zen user. We pulled ours out after several years of non-use and found the fly is fused together. My guess is the Boy Scout who last used it didn’t fully dry it. Anyway, do you know of anyone who sells replacement flies that would fit the Zen 98.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 08:21:55 +0000

In reply to Paul Mags. Thanks very much for your ideas, Paul. I'll give waterproofing another try and also see if I can get the fly staked out farther. Glad to hear there's hope. :-) Happy trails to you, too.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 01:55:02 +0000

In reply to Crystal. Sounds like your tent fly is wetting out. Besides seam sealing, may want to apply some waterproofing. For the other question, I've been able to get some taut pitches that work well. Happy trails!

By: Crystal

Crystal — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:11:16 +0000

Hi Paul, I was very pleased to find your post and that you still use your Zen. I hope it’s okay if I ask you two questions, especially as you describe your tent as “weatherproof.” 🙂 Like you, I bought my tent on clearance at REI around the same time. I recently started using it again and expected some maintenance stuff. Question 1) Have you ever resealed your rain fly and did you have good luck with this? I went through some big thunderstorms and had some leakage, so I sealed the seams on the inside of the fly, and recoated the outside of the fly itself with a special product. (The seam tape was also coming loose and I removed this first.) Although most leakage was gone through the seams, the fly itself still seems to be soaking up water and allowing it to drip through. Maybe it’s just that it rained too soon after I applied the spray sealer. Question 2) Also connected to leakage: Do you ever have problems with the fly at the back of the tent “sticking” to the mesh window and allowing water/condensation to come through? I try to stake the tarp out as far as possible, but it still seems to come too close to that mesh window. Maybe I need to make some other adjustment. Thanks a lot for any thoughts you might have! Best wishes, Crystal

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 02:26:32 +0000

In reply to Adam Brown. Nope. Never used a ground cloth with any of my current tents including this one. Find they just collect water. YMMV.

By: Adam Brown

Adam Brown — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 00:21:51 +0000

Do you or have you used a footprint with this tent? I just picked one up used on eBay and wondered if it required any additional footprint? Thanks…

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 18:59:32 +0000

In reply to Robin.

Thanks for the kind words. Yep..still use it. Mainly for trail work projects or road trips.

This company makes replacement tent poles and may be able to assist. http://tentpoletechnologies.com/

Though, I suspect it may be more cost effective to buy a replacement tent?

By: Robin

Robin — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 18:14:47 +0000

Hello, I have a Kelty Zen Tent with no poles. Any chance you want to sell your poles or have my tent????

Thanks.