ARB Flinders vs Ironman 4x4 Uber Lite
The ARB Flinders and the Ironman 4x4 Uber Lite 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 Ironman 4x4 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 Ironman 4x4 Uber Lite counters with 47.2 kg, 2.82 m² of floor, 99.06 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The Uber Lite is 6.799999999999997 kg lighter at 47.2 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 2.82 m², about 19 percent more, though both are rated for 2. Headroom separates them further: 120 cm in the Flinders against 99.06 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.
Canvas differs too: PU-coated polycotton against 600D ripstop poly-oxford fly with 3000mm water-head rating. Closed, the Flinders sits 14.04 cm lower on the roof — 20 cm against 34.04 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
Ironman 4x4
Uber Lite
The Uber Lite (IRTT0034) is Ironman 4x4's entry-level softshell tent, catalogued at a $1,299 list price. It folds out from a 50 x 48.4 x 13.4 inch packed size to a 93 x 47 inch sleeping floor with a 39 inch open height, on a 1-inch high-density foam mattress. The fly is 600D ripstop poly-oxford with a 3000mm water-head rating, three windows with mesh vents and a built-in USB-powered LED light strip.
- Lower published weight (approx. 104 lb) than the brand's Cross 1200 softshell
- 600D ripstop poly-oxford fly with a 3000mm water-head rating
- Built-in USB LED light strip and an under-5-minute setup claim
- Thin 1-inch mattress versus 2.4-2.8 in on the brand's other tents
Which one to pick
Take the Flinders if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Uber Lite 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 | — | 3-season |
| List price | $1,180— best of the tents compared | $1,299— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 119 lb— worst of the tents compared | 104 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 7.9 in— best of the tents compared | 13.4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 30.4 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— best of the tents compared | 1 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 minest. |
| Shell material | — | Soft shell |
| Fabric | PU-coated polycotton | 600D ripstop poly-oxford fly with 3000mm water-head rating |
| Warranty | 3years | 3years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | ARB product page | Ironman 4x4 product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the ARB Flinders and the Ironman 4x4 Uber Lite.