As I was preparing for my first backcountry camping expedition, I thoroughly researched my options for compact and lightweight tents. There are plenty of available tents and opinions on the web, but after reading Backpacker magazine’s gear issue, I decided to go with Kelty’s Salida 2. The tent was rated as an Editor’s Choice for 2011 and had the specs I was looking for.

Backcountry camping in Joshua Tree National Park.

It’s listed as a two-person tent, but I think it’s much better as a large one-person tent, especially because it only has one entry/exit. This helps save on weight, but would be an issue for two people. It’s rather light, with a minimum weight of 3 lb. 12 oz. and is only 22 in. by 7 in. when packed.

The three-season tent is made of lightweight, but strong material and includes many of the features you would expect in a much more expensive tent. This one lists for $159 — and it’s a steal.

After a few nights in the desert, I can say that I am extremely pleased with my purchase. The tent is well ventilated and stood up to some pretty strong winds. It’s also very easy to set up and break down. As with all tents, I would spend the extra money on the footprint to help protect it.

Check out Backpacker Magazine’s video review here.