Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent vs Thule Widesky
The Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent and the Thule Widesky 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 Thule 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 Thule Widesky counters with 67 kg, 2.95 m² of floor, 117 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The La Sal Tent lists about 15% lower than the Widesky.
The La Sal Tent uses aluminum; the Widesky uses aluminum frame with fiber-reinforced polyamide corners and aluminum honeycomb base. Canvas differs too: 280GSM polyester against 600D recycled polyester ripstop, water resistant.
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
Thule
Widesky
Thule's hardshell flagship, and the only tent here whose mattress converts into a backrest so the interior works as a seating space in daylight. The 20 cm closed profile matches the Roofnest Falcon.
- Mattress converts to a sofa backrest
- 20 cm closed profile
- Two dimmable USB LED lights
- $4,000 for a two-person tent
Which one to pick
Take the La Sal Tent if the budget is fixed. 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 | 4-season |
| List price | $3,399— best of the tents compared | $3,999.95— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | — | 147 lb |
| Packed length | — | 6 ft 11 in |
| Packed width | — | 4 ft 7 in |
| Packed height | 8.5 in— worst of the tents compared | 7.9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 6 ft 11 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 7 in |
| Floor area | — | 31.8 sq ft |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 3 in— best of the tents compared | 2.4 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 | Aluminum frame with fiber-reinforced polyamide corners and aluminum honeycomb base |
| Fabric | 280GSM polyester | 600D recycled polyester ripstop, water resistant |
| 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 | Thule product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Cascadia Vehicle Tents La Sal Tent and the Thule Widesky.