Autohome Maggiolina Airlander Plus vs Gordigear Hapuku

The Autohome Maggiolina Airlander Plus and the Gordigear Hapuku 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. Autohome and Gordigear take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.

By the numbers, the Autohome Maggiolina Airlander Plus brings 72 kg, 2.47 m² of floor, 92 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Gordigear Hapuku counters with 95 kg, 3.01 m² of floor, 140 cm of headroom and sleeps 3.

The Maggiolina Airlander Plus is 23 kg lighter at 72 kg against 95 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 Hapuku gives 3.01 m² of sleeping floor against 2.47 m², about 22 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Maggiolina Airlander Plus's 2. Headroom separates them further: 140 cm in the Hapuku against 92 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 Maggiolina Airlander Plus uses 100% fiberglass with insulated honeycomb roof panel; the Hapuku uses aluminium 18 mm honeycomb core with aluminium planking. Canvas differs too: dralon acrylic, waterproof and breathable against 320 gr/m2 ripstop polyester-cotton blend, polyurethane impregnated and UV resistant; flysheet 150 gr/m2 600D Oxford (UV 50+). The Hapuku adds a heater or HVAC port and the ability to carry cargo on the shell, which the Maggiolina Airlander Plus does not offer. Closed, the Hapuku sits 15 cm lower on the roof — 15 cm against 30 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.