ARB Esperance V2 vs ARB Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm)
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 3.0 (1600mm) share ARB's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Esperance V2 is 27 kg lighter at 58 kg against 85 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 Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm) gives 3.6 m² of sleeping floor against 2.85 m², about 26 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Esperance V2's 2. Headroom separates them further: 138 cm in the Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm) against 113 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. The Esperance V2 lists $803 lower, at $2,890 against $3,693.
The Esperance V2 uses heat-treated ABS; the Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm) 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 3.0 (1600mm) 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 3.0 (1600mm)
The Intrepid 3.0 is the widest (1600mm) honeycomb-aluminium hardshell in ARB's Intrepid range, rated for three people. It shares the range's 180mm pack-down, 60-second gas-strut setup and 138cm internal headroom, and features dimmable dual-temperature LED lighting and two stargazing windows. It is the largest and heaviest of the three Intrepid sizes.
- Widest sleeping space of the Intrepid range, rated for three
- Slim 180mm pack-down and 60-second setup
- Dimmable dual-temperature LED lighting and skylights
- Heaviest Intrepid variant at 85 kg
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— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,890— best of the tents compared | $3,690— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 128 lb— best of the tents compared | 187 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 | 5 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— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 30.7 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 38.8 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 2.0 (1285mm)
- Esperance V2vsAltitude Electric
- Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm)vsIntrepid 2.5 (1400mm)
- Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm)vsAltitude Electric
Or read the full spec sheets for the ARB Esperance V2 and the ARB Intrepid 3.0 (1600mm).