Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent vs Harva Outdoors Älven Lagom
The Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent and the Harva Outdoors Älven Lagom 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. Cascadia Vehicle Tents and Harva Outdoors take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent brings 119.38 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Harva Outdoors Älven Lagom counters with 75 kg, 3.08 m² of floor, 120 cm of headroom and sleeps 4.
The La Sal Tent lists about 8% lower than the Älven Lagom.
The La Sal Tent uses aluminum; the Älven Lagom uses cast aluminium shell with gelcoat over aluminium/plastic honeycomb panels. Canvas differs too: 280GSM polyester against 280 g ripstop canvas sides and 420D ripstop polyester oxford top; water columns 6500 mm (top) / 3500 mm (canvas), UV- and mould-resistant. Closed, the La Sal Tent sits 5.41 cm lower on the roof — 21.59 cm against 27 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Cascadia Vehicle Tents
La Sal Tent
The La Sal is a side-opening aluminum hardshell sold in 50- and 56-inch widths at $3,399, with a 3-inch mattress and a stated 47-inch maximum headroom. CVT lists a 2-4 minute setup, a stargazing skylight, an LED light strip with USB connector, and integrated climate ports suited to diesel heaters. CVT's guide describes it as a 2-person tent.
- Side-opening hardshell with a stated 2-4 minute setup
- Stargazing skylight and a 3-inch mattress
- Integrated climate ports suited to a diesel heater
- Manufacturer does not publish weight or open/packed dimensions
Harva Outdoors
Älven Lagom
The Älven Lagom is the smaller of Harva's two premium Älven hardshells: a gas-strut, semi-automatic clamshell in cast aluminium finished with gelcoat, sized to sit on smaller cars and wagons while still opening to a four-person floor. It weighs 75 kg, packs to 150 × 115 × 27 cm and opens to a 205 × 150 cm floor (about 3.1 m²) under a 120 cm peak, on a 38 mm mattress. Built-in USB LED lighting, an aluminium telescopic ladder and a roof rated to 28 kg round it out. Listed at SEK 34,990 with a 24-month warranty.
- The lighter, more car-friendly Älven at 75 kg and a 150 × 115 × 27 cm pack
- Cast-aluminium shell with gelcoat and gas-strut, semi-automatic opening
- Built-in USB LED lighting and a roof rated for 28 kg of cargo
- Still 75 kg — a two-person lift onto the roof
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 | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 4— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | 4-season | — |
| List price | $3,399— best of the tents compared | $3,690— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | — | 165 lb |
| Packed length | — | 4 ft 11 in |
| Packed width | — | 3 ft 9 in |
| Packed height | 8.5 in— best of the tents compared | 10.6 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 6 ft 9 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 11 in |
| Floor area | — | 33.2 sq ft |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 3 in— best of the tents compared | 1.5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | 3 min | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | Aluminum | Cast aluminium shell with gelcoat over aluminium/plastic honeycomb panels |
| Fabric | 280GSM polyester | 280 g ripstop canvas sides and 420D ripstop polyester oxford top; water columns 6500 mm (top) / 3500 mm (canvas), UV- and mould-resistant |
| Warranty | 2years | 2years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | Yes | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Cascadia Vehicle Tents product page | Harva Outdoors product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent and the Harva Outdoors Älven Lagom.