Editors' Choice 2014: Kelty TN 2

Cowboy camping is fun—the bazillion stars overhead, that sense of complete integration with nature—until the rain starts to fall. And who among us hasn’t had a late-night, bleary-eyed scramble to pitch the tent and escape the weather? No thanks. The TN 2’s rollback fly gives you that al fresco camping experience without the worry about getting wet.
In Jordan, with the wispy, 40-denier silnylon fly rolled back to the ridgepole and clipped in place, the black mesh canopy provided a planetarium ceiling. On a clear night gone stormy in Utah’s San Rafael Swell, we reached out, unrolled the fly, and battened it down—without leaving our bags. Wind gusting to 15 mph barely shook the tent, and drip lines kept out rain.

In other respects, the TN 2 shines as well: It’s an easy-pitching, spacious, two-person, two-vestibule (10-square-feet each) shelter. Color-coded pole ends speed setup, and with a 30.5-square-foot floor and 42-inch peak height, two campers and a dog fit comfortably. Ventilation was adequate to prevent condensation during humid outings. $250; 4 lbs. 6 oz.; kelty.com