Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent vs Roam Adventure Co The Desperado
The Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent and the Roam Adventure Co The Desperado 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 Roam Adventure Co take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
Setup is not close. The The Desperado opens as a clamshell in 30 seconds; the La Sal Tent takes 3 minutes. Over a trip with a new campsite every night, that gap compounds. The The Desperado lists $200 lower, at $3,199 against $3,399.
The La Sal Tent uses aluminum; the The Desperado uses aluminium extrusion with honeycomb panels. Canvas differs too: 280GSM polyester against 420D polyester Oxford.
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
Roam Adventure Co
The Desperado
Roam's aluminium-honeycomb hardshell for two, opening in about 30 seconds; the maker does not publish its deployed footprint.
- ~30 s hardshell setup
- Aluminium honeycomb construction
- 2-year warranty
- Open dimensions not published
Which one to pick
Take the The Desperado if you move camp most days. 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 | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | 4-season | — |
| List price | $3,399— worst of the tents compared | $3,199— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | — | 180 lb |
| Packed length | — | 6 ft 11 in |
| Packed width | — | 4 ft 3 in |
| Packed height | 8.5 in— best of the tents compared | 9.8 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | — |
| Sleeping width | — | — |
| Floor area | — | — |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 3 in— best of the tents compared | 2.8 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— worst of the tents compared | 30 sec— best of the tents compared |
| Shell material | Aluminum | Aluminium extrusion with honeycomb panels |
| Fabric | 280GSM polyester | 420D polyester Oxford |
| Warranty | — | 2years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | Yes | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Cascadia Vehicle Tents product page | Roam Adventure Co product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent and the Roam Adventure Co The Desperado.