ARB Esperance V2 vs Darche Streamliner 1250

The ARB Esperance V2 and the Darche Streamliner 1250 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. ARB and Darche take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.

By the numbers, the ARB Esperance V2 brings 58 kg, 2.85 m² of floor, 113 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Darche Streamliner 1250 counters with 69 kg, 2.4 m² of floor, 145 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.

The Esperance V2 is 11 kg lighter at 58 kg against 69 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 Esperance V2 gives 2.85 m² of sleeping floor against 2.4 m², about 19 percent more, though both are rated for 2. Headroom separates them further: 145 cm in the Streamliner 1250 against 113 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.

The Esperance V2 uses heat-treated ABS; the Streamliner 1250 uses 6-Series Aluminium / EPE composite. Canvas differs too: 200GSM poly-cotton canvas (fire retardant); 210D silver-coated oxford rainfly against 280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (1500mm). Closed, the Streamliner 1250 sits 18 cm lower on the roof — 15 cm against 33 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.