Alu-Cab Gen 3-R Expedition vs Gordigear Hapuku

The Alu-Cab Gen 3-R Expedition and the Gordigear Hapuku 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. Alu-Cab and Gordigear take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.

The Gen 3-R Expedition is 19 kg lighter at 76 kg against 95 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 Hapuku gives 3.01 m² of sleeping floor against 2.73 m², about 10 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Gen 3-R Expedition's 2. Headroom separates them further: 160 cm in the Gen 3-R Expedition against 140 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. Alu-Cab does not publish a list price for the Gen 3-R Expedition, so a direct cost comparison means getting a quote from a dealer.

They open differently: the Gen 3-R Expedition is a clamshell and the Hapuku 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 Gen 3-R Expedition uses aluminium hard shell with insulated roof and base; the Hapuku uses aluminium 18 mm honeycomb core with aluminium planking. Canvas differs too: double-layer 400gsm canvas, hydrostatic head above 1000 mm against 320 gr/m2 ripstop polyester-cotton blend, polyurethane impregnated and UV resistant; flysheet 150 gr/m2 600D Oxford (UV 50+). Closed, the Hapuku sits 13 cm lower on the roof — 15 cm against 28 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.