ARB Esperance V2 vs ARB Intrepid 2.0 (1285mm)
Both of these are ARB tents, so the question is not which brand to trust but which size and configuration suits your vehicle and how you camp. The Esperance V2 and the Intrepid 2.0 (1285mm) share ARB's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Esperance V2 is 12 kg lighter at 58 kg against 70 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 2.85 m² and 2.89 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. Headroom separates them further: 138 cm in the Intrepid 2.0 (1285mm) against 113 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. The Esperance V2 lists $407 lower, at $2,890 against $3,297.
The Esperance V2 uses heat-treated ABS; the Intrepid 2.0 (1285mm) uses honeycomb aluminium. Canvas differs too: 200GSM poly-cotton canvas (fire retardant); 210D silver-coated oxford rainfly against 300D double rip-stop polycotton, PU coated. Closed, the Intrepid 2.0 (1285mm) sits 15 cm lower on the roof — 18 cm against 33 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
ARB
Esperance V2
The Esperance V2 is ARB's compact, lightweight slimline hardshell with a heat-treated ABS shell and integrated 12V electrics. It packs to about 330mm high and includes a telescopic aluminium ladder, a stargazing moonroof and a removable rainfly. It is the lightest of ARB's two rigid-shell wedge tents.
- Low pack-down height and light 58 kg weight
- Integrated 12V system with USB-C and LED lighting
- Compatible with the Esperance V2 annex
- 50mm mattress is thinner than the Altitude's
ARB
Intrepid 2.0 (1285mm)
The Intrepid 2.0 is the narrowest (1285mm) of ARB's three honeycomb-aluminium hardshell Intrepid sizes, sleeping two adults with 138cm of internal headroom. It packs down to 180mm high and deploys in about 60 seconds via dual gas struts. The mattress is a 50mm foam layer over a 15mm condensation mat.
- Slim 180mm pack-down height
- Manufacturer-stated 60-second setup
- Full 138cm internal headroom
- Narrowest sleeping width of the Intrepid range
Which one to pick
Take the Esperance V2 if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. Take the Esperance V2 if the budget is fixed. 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 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,890— best of the tents compared | $3,300— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 128 lb— best of the tents compared | 154 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 5 ft— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 13 in— worst of the tents compared | 7.1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 6 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 5 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 8 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 30.7 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 31.1 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 8 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 6 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 sec |
| Shell material | Heat-treated ABS | Honeycomb aluminium |
| Fabric | 200GSM poly-cotton canvas (fire retardant); 210D silver-coated oxford rainfly | 300D double rip-stop polycotton, PU coated |
| Warranty | 3years | 3years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | ARB product page | ARB product page |
Related comparisons
- Esperance V2vsIntrepid 3.0 (1600mm)
- Esperance V2vsAltitude Electric
- Intrepid 2.0 (1285mm)vsIntrepid 2.5 (1400mm)
Or read the full spec sheets for the ARB Esperance V2 and the ARB Intrepid 2.0 (1285mm).