Kelty…Everything You Need For Camping This Summer (+Giveaway)

Memorial Day is this coming Monday, and you know what that means?  SUMMER is here!  Honestly I have to tell you that I cannot be more excited about the start of summer; I love being outside with the kids, swimming, tanning (in moderation of course), and all of the other outdoor activities that make summer so much fun.  One of our favorite things to do as a family in the summer is camping and while we haven’t been on an actual camping trip for a while we always find a way to make camping a part of our summer fun, even if that means we’re pitching tents in the backyard!

If your family is planning a camping trip this summer then this post is for you!  You can’t really plan a family camping trip without the proper equipment and one of our favorite places to turn for the best camping equipment is Kelty!  If you’re not familiar with Kelty allow me to introduce you…

The KELTY Heritage:
Since 1952, Kelty has built affordable, reliable outdoor gear that enables everyone, from the first-time camper to the experienced mountaineer, to embrace any experience with confidence. Kelty: Go Anywhere.

KELTY is based in Boulder, Colorado, and uses the natural backdrop of the Rocky Mountains to test, create and continually innovate within their diverse outdoor product families of Backcountry, Trail, Vintage, Lighting, Basecamp and KIDS. Kelty combines the best in new technology with a healthy dose of common sense to create exceptionally made, affordably priced outdoor products.

We recently received an awesome tent from Kelty for our review, the Kelty Gunnison 2.1 to be exact.  We’ve had other 2 person tents in the past and I was very excited to see how the Gunnison compared to other brands…I was very impressed!  First and foremost this is by far the easiest tent that I have ever put up, usually I need help, but I was able to assemble the Gunnison by myself in less than 5 minutes.  The easy setup is due to the clip construction, instead of sliding the poles through the small openings in traditional tents the poles clip on the outside of the tent and it makes it so much easier to put together.  I was also impressed at how light the Gunnison is, weighing in at under 6 pounds the Gunnison 2.1 is a perfect choice for a hiking/camping trip.  Another of the features that I really liked about the Gunnison 2.1 is that for the most part the tent itself is very airy due to the wide mesh panels that run the length of the tent on each side, one of my biggest complaints with tents is that they are too enclosed creating an almost smothering feeling for someone like me who does not like confined spaces, but the Gunnison 2.1 is not at all that way.

About the Gunnison 2.1

Highlighted by Backpacker Magazine for 'Best All-Around' tent for 2009, this feature-rich tent is perfect for multiday trips! Fly vents, welded windows, and two doors and vestibules for all under six pounds, this is a great piece for any outdoor enthusiast

Gunnison 2.1 Features

Body Features:

• Free-standing
• ArcEdge™ floor 
• Taped Floor Seams
• Mesh Wall Panels
• Internal Storage Pockets
• Clip construction
• ITW Stakeouts

Fly Features:

• Taped seams
• Side-release buckle tent-fly connection
• Fly vents
• Noiseless zipper pulls
• Guyout points

I have tried for the better part of 2 weeks to get this tent put up in our backyard, but the unusual amount of rain here in Ohio lately has made that nearly impossible.  If it’s not raining it’s too muddy to put the tent up, which is upsetting since I wanted you to see the Gunnison in all it’s glory.  I did however, give in and set the tent up in my living room a few days ago.  I immediately was surprised by how roomy it is, compared to other 2 person tents the Gunnison 2.1 seems to be roomier and could easily fit myself, my husband, and our 2 youngest…it would be a tight fit, but it’s absolutely doable!  You can check out the pictures below of the Gunnison 2.1!

Notice how far the mesh wall wraps around…great ventilation for hot summer nights!

Of course Kelty has much more than tents!  Take the FC 3.0 Kids Carrier for example…now how would you like to win it?  That’s right one MIBR reader will win a FC 3.0 Kids Carrier (ARV $249.95)…details below!

What You Can WIN!!!!

One MIBR reader will win a FC 3.0 Kids Carrier from Kelty!

How To Enter!

To enter this giveaway please visit the Kelty website and have a look around, then come back to this post and leave a comment  telling me what product from the website you like most.  This is mandatory and must be completed before any additional entries are allowed!

Extra Entries!

Follow MIBR via GFC (2 extra entries)
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Follow MIBR via RSS Feed (e extra entries)
“Like” Misadventures in Baby Raising on Facebook (3 extra entries)
Follow MIBR on Twitter (3 extra entries)
Follow MIBR on Networked Blogs (3 extra entries)
“Like” Kelty on Facebook (3 extra entries)
Follow Kelty on Twitter ( 3 extra entries)

Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter…Make sure you leave the URL to your Tweet in your comments!  (2 tweets per day = 2 extra entries per day)

#WIN a Kelty FC 3.0 Kids Carrier just in time for summer at MIBR @KeltyPacks   #giveaway @Allie_23| Enter Now: http://tinyurl.com/4xc6st7

Share this giveaway with your Friends and/or Fans on Facebook by linking to this post on your wall.   (You can share 2 times per day with your friends/fans on Facebook)

Submit this giveaway to a giveaway site or linky…please leave a link to the giveaway posting in your comment.  (5 extra entries per giveaway site or linky)

Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.  (5 extra entries)

This giveaway ends on June 9, 2011 at 1:59 PM EST.  One (1) winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post shortly after the giveaway has ended.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim his/her prize, failure to respond to winner’s email in a timely manner will result in winner forfeiting his/her prize and me choosing a new winner.  Giveaway open to US residents only please!

* I received the product(s) above from either the company or PR for my review.  All opinions expressed are my own.*