23Zero Armadillo Horizon 2 vs 23Zero Armadillo Horizon 3
Both of these are 23Zero tents, so the question is not which brand to trust but which size and configuration suits your vehicle and how you camp. The Armadillo Horizon 2 and the Armadillo Horizon 3 share 23Zero's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
By the numbers, the 23Zero Armadillo Horizon 2 brings 93 kg, 2.57 m² of floor, 109 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The 23Zero Armadillo Horizon 3 counters with 112 kg, 3.65 m² of floor, 117 cm of headroom and sleeps 3.
The Armadillo Horizon 2 is 19 kg lighter at 93 kg against 112 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Inside, the Armadillo Horizon 3 gives 3.65 m² of sleeping floor against 2.57 m², about 42 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Armadillo Horizon 2's 2. The Armadillo Horizon 2 lists about 7% lower than the Armadillo Horizon 3.
23Zero
Armadillo Horizon 2
The 23Zero Armadillo Horizon 2 is 23Zero's current two-person aluminium hardshell, replacing the older AX2. A 14-gauge fully welded aluminium shell with rounded corners opens to one side on a gas-strut hinge, over a 2-inch self-inflating mattress and ECO13B fabric with Light Suppression Technology. It adds a rear heater/cooler duct port, a roof skylight, a USB LED light bar and dual T-slot roof rails.
- Rugged 14-gauge fully welded aluminium hardshell with fast gas-strut setup
- 2-inch self-inflating mattress and ECO13B fabric with Light Suppression Technology
- Heater/cooler duct port, stargazer skylight and roof rails that carry 22 lb of gear
- Heavy at 205 lb (93 kg)
23Zero
Armadillo Horizon 3
The 23Zero Armadillo Horizon 3 is the three-person version of 23Zero's current aluminium hardshell, replacing the older AX3. Its 14-gauge fully welded aluminium shell opens on a high gas-strut hinge over a 2-inch self-inflating mattress and ECO13B fabric with Light Suppression Technology, with oversized 360-degree windows, a stargazer skylight, a 5-inch heater/cooler duct port, a USB LED light bar and dual T-slot roof rails.
- Roomy 68-inch (173 cm) three-person sleeping width
- 14-gauge fully welded aluminium hardshell with high gas-strut opening
- Heater/cooler duct port, skylight, integrated power module and roof rails
- Heavy at 246 lb (112 kg) and needs a strong roof platform
Which one to pick
Take the Armadillo Horizon 3 if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Armadillo Horizon 2 if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. Beyond that the feature rows below — heater port, skylight, annex, cargo rails — are where the remaining difference lies.
Every specification, side by side
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | 4-season | 4-season |
| List price | $3,995— best of the tents compared | $4,295— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 205 lb— best of the tents compared | 246 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 5 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 4 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 8 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 13.4 in | 13.4 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 6 in— worst of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 8 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 27.7 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 39.3 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in | 2 in |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | 14-gauge fully welded aluminium hard shell | 14-gauge fully welded aluminium hard shell |
| Fabric | ECO13B fabric with Light Suppression Technology (LST) | ECO13B fabric with Light Suppression Technology (LST) |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | Yes | Yes |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | Yes | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | 23Zero product page | 23Zero product page |
Related comparisons
- Armadillo Horizon 2vsEvolution V3 XL
- Armadillo Horizon 2vsSolar
- Armadillo Horizon 2vsAlu Khosi Family
- Armadillo Horizon 2vsHapuku
Or read the full spec sheets for the 23Zero Armadillo Horizon 2 and the 23Zero Armadillo Horizon 3.