ARB Flinders vs Horntools Track 130
The ARB Flinders and the Horntools Track 130 are both softshell tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. ARB and Horntools take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the ARB Flinders brings 54 kg, 3.36 m² of floor, 120 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Horntools Track 130 counters with 46 kg, 2.86 m² of floor, 110 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The Track 130 is 8 kg lighter at 46 kg against 54 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 Flinders gives 3.36 m² of sleeping floor against 2.86 m², about 17 percent more, though both are rated for 2. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one. Horntools also backs the Track 130 for 5 years against 3.
Canvas differs too: PU-coated polycotton against breathable sailcloth (300 g/m2), 80% cotton, 20% polyester (water column 2000 mm); rain cover 3000 mm. The Flinders adds integrated LED lighting, which the Track 130 does not offer. Closed, the Flinders sits 5 cm lower on the roof — 20 cm against 25 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
ARB
Flinders
The Flinders is a fold-out softshell tent with a low pack-down profile and a large bed footprint of roughly 2400 x 1400mm. It includes a 50mm high-density foam mattress, an integrated dimmable LED light with USB charging, a skylight window and five mesh-screened windows. It uses 25mm anodized aluminium poles.
- Large sleeping footprint for a softshell
- Integrated LED light with USB charging
- Low pack-down profile with attached cover
- Slower fold-out setup than ARB's hardshells
Horntools
Track 130
The Track 130 is the entry-level two-person folding roof tent in Horntools's range, the smaller of the two Track sizes. It weighs 46 kg with ladder, opens in about five minutes to a 220 x 130 cm sleeping area at 110 cm interior height, and uses an 80% cotton / 20% polyester sailcloth with a 4 cm cold-foam mattress. Unlike the Elements tents it does not include integrated LED lighting.
- Lowest-weight tent in Horntools's range at 46 kg
- Most affordable model in Horntools's lineup
- Optional awning available
- No integrated LED lighting
Which one to pick
Take the Flinders if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Track 130 if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. 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 | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,180— best of the tents compared | $1,310— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 119 lb— worst of the tents compared | 101 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 7.9 in— best of the tents compared | 9.8 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 30.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— best of the tents compared | 1.6 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | 5 min |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | PU-coated polycotton | Breathable sailcloth (300 g/m2), 80% cotton, 20% polyester (water column 2000 mm); rain cover 3000 mm |
| Warranty | 3years— worst of the tents compared | 5years— best of the tents compared |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | No |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | ARB product page | Horntools product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the ARB Flinders and the Horntools Track 130.