23Zero Armadillo Horizon 2 vs Roofnest Falcon 3 EVO Air

The 23Zero Armadillo Horizon 2 and the Roofnest Falcon 3 EVO Air are both hardshell tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. 23Zero and Roofnest take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.

By the numbers, the 23Zero Armadillo Horizon 2 brings 93 kg, 2.57 m² of floor, 109 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Roofnest Falcon 3 EVO Air counters with 59 kg, 2.42 m² of floor, 147 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.

The Falcon 3 EVO Air is 34 kg lighter at 59 kg against 93 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Floor area is close to identical at 2.57 m² and 2.42 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. Headroom separates them further: 147 cm in the Falcon 3 EVO Air against 109 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. The Falcon 3 EVO Air lists about 5% lower than the Armadillo Horizon 2.

The Armadillo Horizon 2 uses 14-gauge fully welded aluminium hard shell; the Falcon 3 EVO Air uses rooftex ABS shell with aluminum frame and side rails. Canvas differs too: ECO13B fabric with Light Suppression Technology (LST) against 280gsm poly-cotton canvas with blackout coating. The Armadillo Horizon 2 adds the ability to carry cargo on the shell, which the Falcon 3 EVO Air does not offer. Closed, the Falcon 3 EVO Air sits 14 cm lower on the roof — 20 cm against 34 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.