ARB Esperance V2 vs Gasell Adventure GM160 2026

The ARB Esperance V2 and the Gasell Adventure GM160 2026 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 Gasell Adventure 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 Gasell Adventure GM160 2026 counters with 68 kg, 2.87 m² of floor, 110 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.

The Esperance V2 is 10 kg lighter at 58 kg against 68 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 2.87 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. The Esperance V2 lists about 7% lower than the GM160 2026. ARB also backs the Esperance V2 for 3 years against 2.

The Esperance V2 uses heat-treated ABS; the GM160 2026 uses 5 mm matte black ABS plastic with cast aluminium frame. Canvas differs too: 200GSM poly-cotton canvas (fire retardant); 210D silver-coated oxford rainfly against poly-cotton, 300 g/m2, PU-coated, 4000 mm water column (rain cover: 600D Oxford polyester, PU-coated, 4000 mm).