Reviews > Shelters > Tents > Coleman Exponent Krypton 2 Tent > James Triplett > Long Term Report

Long Term Test Report:

Coleman® Exponent
Krypton 2 Tent

Four-season, two-person tent

By: James E. Triplett
February 17, 2006

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Product information:

Product Name: Coleman Exponent Krypton 2 Tent
Model #:  9870-240
MSRP:  $199.99 US

Test Report:

Test Conditions:
Since receiving the Coleman Exponent Krypton 2 tent, I have used it on six overnight trips in Eastern Iowa.  Elevations here are around 860 feet (260 m).  The Krypton 2 has been subjected to a temperature range as high as 56 F (13 C), and as low as 10 F (-12 C).  The weather conditions experienced include overcast skies, snow, and clear star-lit nights.  Unfortunately the tent was never exposed to rain during the test period.

The Coleman Exponent Krypton 2 is one sturdy tent.  Setting up the Krypton 2 results in a tent with four crisscrossing poles, and the tent and rain-fly being staked out at 26 points.  The rain-fly is held away from the tent nicely, by resting on the external poles, and the use of ten guy-lines.  Setting up the tent is pretty intuitive, with one exception.  Ordinarily I would erect the tent using the two corner to corner poles, and then add the two side to side poles.  Because all the poles create arcs when installed, it is impossible to get the side poles through the sleeves once any of the other poles are secured in their grommets.  So the procedure is to install all the poles through their respective sleeves, and then start anchoring them in the grommeted webbing.  This is not at all easy, as the red corner to corner poles, must then lift the silver side to side poles, as they arch upward away from the floor of the tent.  The best solution to this assembly process is to have another person lift the center of the tent while the red poles are secured.  When hiking alone, I have found that the second best solution to this assembly process is to invert the tent so the floor side is up, and let gravity help move the assembly in the right direction while anchoring the red poles.  Then I can flip the tent over and secure the silver poles.  At that point I throw the fly over the tent and attach it with clips, guy-lines and stakes.  As mentioned above, this results in a very sturdy setup.  I did run into one issue early on, and that was with the tensioners for the guy-lines.  On tents with metal locks the cord has typically run straight through the two holes in the tensioner.  With the Coleman plastic locks, a weave must be used in order for the locks to stay put.  This is best explained in the picture below.

I have not had the opportunity to use the Krypton 2 in the rain, but I have used it in snow and wind.  The fly does make some noise in high winds, but inside the tent I feel cozy and secure.  When camping in below freezing conditions, having all the doors and windows closed results in a well sealed sleeping compartment.  The fly extends far enough beyond the perimeter of the tent that snow fall has been kept at bay.  In wind and snow the Krypton 2 seems quite capable of sealing out the elements.  On frosty mornings I have observed some condensation inside the tent, but it has been less prevalent than on other winter trips in other double wall tents.  Overall, I don't see condensation as an issue.

I have come to like the symmetrical design of the Coleman Exponent Krypton 2.  The pole sleeves are color coded so that there is no mistake which poles go where.  The two red poles are the same, and the two silver poles are the same, and other than getting them in the correct sleeves, the orientation and direction of pole insertion is irrelevant.  The rain-fly is also symmetrical, so as long as the doors in the fly line up with the doors in the tent, it doesn't matter which end is which.  The doors in the rain-fly open up to vestibules at each end.  There is a zipper on each side of the fly door, and unzipping each zipper, from the bottom to the top, allows the "square" of fabric to hang down from the top edge (see picture above).  It is possible to get into the tent by going around this hanging piece of fabric, or the fabric can be rolled up and secured at the top using the loop and toggle located there.   This is the most orderly way to do things, but unfortunately it is impossible to see the loop and toggle from outside the tent due to the narrow grey awning which covers it (see picture below).  Once the fly-door is out of the way, the half elliptical tent door can be zipped down which results in access to the tent.

The inside of the tent is quite roomy.  I have found sufficient room for two people and some hiking gear, with the remainder of the gear fitting nicely into one of the vestibules.  The four large pockets on the sides of the tent have more than enough room for anything I may want to store there.  The hang-loops work well for hanging a candle lantern or a flashlight.  What I really like about this tent is the flow through ventilation.  The doors at each end have mesh screens which can be exposed over the whole door surface area.  The doors in the fly can be rolled up all the way, or unzipped from the top down, for varying sizes of openings.  The rain-fly configuration is such that even in inclement weather the doors can be opened enough to allow airflow, while still protecting the inside of the tent from the elements. 



The only improvement in this area that I can see would be to make the fly doors completely removable.  As it is now, there are stops on the zippers which prevent removal of the door (see picture above).

Respectfully submitted,

-James T.

Reviews > Shelters > Tents > Coleman Exponent Krypton 2 Tent > James Triplett > Long Term Report