ProView – Klymit Traverse Shelter

The more I use Klymit products, the more impressed I become with them. I find them to be quite durable and functional with each use.

For this product review, I tested the Klymit Traverse Shelter and it was no exception. Read on to find out more about this great catenary cut tarp.

Being fairly new to using tarp shelters, the Traverse Shelter was a little tricky at first. Once I did some research and found the optimal setup configurations, it became much easier.

This shelter can be set up in an A-frame configuration or low to the ground on one side to act as a windshield. It can also be used as a hammock shelter. The shape of the shelter is the most stable design in situations where high wind exists.

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Setup/Convenience

My rating in this category is four out of five stars due to the shape of the shelter. Depending upon preference and the outdoor activity, this could limit a consumer who is not well informed or experienced with tarp shelters. With this one, the consumer is limited to a classic A-frame or a one-side, low-profile set up on the ground. However, it can also be used as a hammock shelter in some instances.

There are some advantages and disadvantages to both flat tarps and shaped tarps, so it is good to gain a solid understanding of the configurations that each offer in the wild.

Flat tarps can be set up in a variety of configurations which can be optimal depending upon the terrain and weather. They are also less expensive, can be used in other situations, and provide more usable space underneath. Shaped tarps are the most stable in high winds if configured correctly. They can also be a great choice in winter and with much less material, they are lighter in a backpack carry.

It takes some practice to learn how to choose the correct configuration with a flat tarp. In addition, they can be a bit more difficult to set up and to get a tight pitch. With more material, comes more volume and added weight with a flat tarp. As I mentioned above, shaped tarps are less flexible to the consumer because of the limited number of ways they can be set up. They use catenary curves on the edges which can limit the usable space underneath the pitch. Shaped tarps tend to also be more expensive because they are a bit more difficult to manufacture.

Weight/Packed Size

At 28.2 ounces this shelter is a bit on the heavy side, so it gets 4 out of 5 stars in this category. There are many 1-person tents available today that fall well below this weight. There are also other shaped tarps on the market with less than half the weight of this shelter. If you are “chasing ten” and trying to reduce the weight of your pack as much as possible, the Traverse shelter may not be the best option. However, if you are not as concerned about ultra-lightweight gear and want a well designed shelter at a fair price, this could be the best shelter for you.

The pack size of the Traverse shelter is 10 x 5.5 inches or 25.4 x 14 centimeters.

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Features

The Traverse shelter includes attachment points that integrate well with trekking poles. They are the perfect size to fit over either end of a trekking pole and have solid, reinforced stitching for durability.

Some other great features are the included guylines and cinch cord locks. The length of the six guylines and the easy-to-use cord locks allow for flexibility during setup. It makes setting up and tightening down this shelter an effortless endeavor.

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Included with the Traverse shelter are bombproof ground stakes that do not bend under normal use. I seriously wish that all shelters and tents included ground stakes like the ones that ship with this shelter. They truly are that good and help you pitch your shelter with confidence!

Value

At $79.95 MSRP, the Klymit Traverse Shelter makes it easy for someone to jump into non-tent camping at a fair market price.

Inspirers of human powered adventure, The Clymb, states it well when they say, “Klymit was conceived under the idea that the experience of outdoor enthusiasts can be enhanced with new technologies and a different approach that yield quantifiably superior products.” Klymit does, in fact, build a quality shelter tarp.

PRO TIP:

If those amazing ground stakes won’t come out of the ground when you are packing up camp, simply wrap one end of your paracord around the stake a few times and the other end around the spine of a carabiner. Pull on the carabiner a few times until the stake pops right out of the ground.

Here’s a quick list of features and specs, direct from the Klymit website:

FEATURES
Impressive size provides coverage from the elements
Attachment points integrate with trekking poles
Six guylines with durable cinch cord lock
12 tie-off points
Durable waterproof fabric with taped seams
Four aluminum stakes included

**Traverse Hammock NOT included**

MATERIALS
70D Ripstop Polyester 3000mm PU

TECH SPECS
Weight – 1.5 lbs / 28.2 oz 
Dimensions – 143 x 110 in / 363 x 279 cm
Pack size – 10 x 5.5 in / 25.4 x 14 cm

WARRANTY
2 years

➳ Outdoor Prolink provided equipment and associated materials for this review. All photos are a courtesy of LaGuardia Adventure Photography.

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