ARB Flinders vs Tuff Stuff Overland Trailhead
The ARB Flinders and the Tuff Stuff Overland Trailhead 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 Tuff Stuff Overland 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 Tuff Stuff Overland Trailhead counters with 49.9 kg, 3.46 m² of floor, 127 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
On weight they are effectively level — 54 kg against 49.9 kg — so the roof load question resolves the same way for both. Floor area is close to identical at 3.36 m² and 3.46 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. 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 polyester Oxford PU 3000 mm UV50+; 420D Oxford rainfly; aluminum honeycomb floor. Closed, the Flinders sits 13 cm lower on the roof — 20 cm against 33 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
Tuff Stuff Overland
Trailhead
Tuff Stuff's entry two-person fold-out softshell, a simple 3-season tent that opens to a 56-by-96-inch floor with a 50-inch peak.
- Lowest price in the range
- One-person setup
- Ships with mounting hardware
- 3-season only
Which one to pick
These two are closely matched on the numbers that usually decide it. Read the feature rows below — heater port, skylight, annex — and let whichever of those you will actually use break the tie.
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 | $1,183— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 119 lb— worst of the tents compared | 110 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 8 in— worst 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 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 8 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 8 ft— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 37.2 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— best of the tents compared | 1.7 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 | — | — |
| Fabric | PU-coated polycotton | 600D polyester Oxford PU 3000 mm UV50+; 420D Oxford rainfly; aluminum honeycomb floor |
| Warranty | 3years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | ARB product page | Tuff Stuff Overland product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the ARB Flinders and the Tuff Stuff Overland Trailhead.