23Zero Kabari Superfly vs RoofBunk Roamer

The 23Zero Kabari Superfly and the RoofBunk Roamer 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 RoofBunk take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.

By the numbers, the 23Zero Kabari Superfly brings 48 kg, 2.38 m² of floor, 142 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The RoofBunk Roamer counters with 60 kg, 2.94 m² of floor, 100 cm of headroom and sleeps 3.

The Kabari Superfly is 12 kg lighter at 48 kg against 60 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 Roamer gives 2.94 m² of sleeping floor against 2.38 m², about 24 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Kabari Superfly's 2. Headroom separates them further: 142 cm in the Kabari Superfly against 100 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.

They open differently: the Kabari Superfly is a clamshell and the Roamer a pop-up. That is not cosmetic — it decides whether headroom is even across the tent or tapers towards one end, and how much of the roof the tent occupies when closed. The Kabari Superfly uses semi-hardshell: waterproof PVC top on an aluminium frame; the Roamer uses high-quality ABS. Canvas differs too: ECO13B fabric with Light Suppression Technology (LST) against 320gsm poly-cotton blend ripstop canvas. Closed, the Kabari Superfly sits 7 cm lower on the roof — 20 cm against 27 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.