Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent vs Howling Moon Lunar
The Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent and the Howling Moon Lunar 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 Howling Moon take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
Headroom separates them further: 119.38 cm in the La Sal Tent against 105 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. The Lunar lists $370 lower, at $3,029 against $3,399.
The La Sal Tent uses aluminum; the Lunar uses fibreglass with scratch-resistant coating. Canvas differs too: 280GSM polyester against heavy-duty ripstop canvas with YKK zips. Closed, the La Sal Tent sits 11.41 cm lower on the roof — 21.59 cm against 33 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
Howling Moon
Lunar
The Lunar is a clamshell hardshell tent with a fibreglass top and bottom raised by a gas-strut lifting mechanism, fitted with a fully quilted 100 mm high-density foam mattress. Aluminium mounting rails are built into the top of the lid to allow fitting a solar panel or other accessories. It has large screened aperture windows and is available in black, grey or white.
- Thick 100 mm quilted foam mattress
- Fibreglass shell with lid mounting rails for solar/accessories
- Fully published open and packed dimensions
- Ladder is sold separately
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 | 2 |
| Season rating | 4-season | — |
| List price | $3,399— worst of the tents compared | $3,030— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | — | 165 lb |
| Packed length | — | 7 ft 3 in |
| Packed width | — | 4 ft 11 in |
| Packed height | 8.5 in— best of the tents compared | 13 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 7 ft 1 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 9 in |
| Floor area | — | 33.6 sq ft |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 3.9 in— best 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 | Fibreglass with scratch-resistant coating |
| Fabric | 280GSM polyester | Heavy-duty ripstop canvas with YKK zips |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | Yes | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | Yes |
| Carries cargo on top | — | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Cascadia Vehicle Tents product page | Howling Moon product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent and the Howling Moon Lunar.