Cascadia Vehicle Tents Pioneer 2 Tent vs Howling Moon Stargazer
The Cascadia Vehicle Tents Pioneer 2 Tent and the Howling Moon Stargazer are both softshell 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.
By the numbers, the Cascadia Vehicle Tents Pioneer 2 Tent brings 119.38 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Howling Moon Stargazer counters with 55 kg, 3.36 m² of floor, 120 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
Canvas differs too: 320g canvas against 380gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated.
Cascadia Vehicle Tents
Pioneer 2 Tent
The Pioneer 2 is Cascadia Vehicle Tents's fold-out softshell, offered in four sizes named for mountains: 48-inch Mt. Bachelor, 56-inch Mt. Shasta, 72-inch Mt. Rainier and 87-inch Mt. Denali, priced from $1,999 to $3,199. CVT rates it for 4-season use and lists a 5-8 minute setup, a 47-inch maximum headroom, dual stargazer windows and annex compatibility on the larger sizes. It uses a 320g canvas body over a 1000D PVC travel cover with a 3-inch mattress, and CVT's guide lists it in 2 to 4+ person sizes.
- Four sizes spanning roughly 2 to 4+ people
- Manufacturer-rated for 4-season use
- Lower entry price ($1,999) than CVT's hardshells, with annex compatibility on larger sizes
- Longer 5-8 minute setup than CVT's hardshell models
Howling Moon
Stargazer
The Stargazer is the top softshell fold-out tent in Howling Moon's softshell line, adding two openable roof windows to the Tourer layout so occupants can sleep looking at the sky while screened in. It shares the 380gsm poly-cotton canvas and 75 mm high-density foam mattress with the other softshells and comes with a removable flysheet and PVC cover. It is offered in widths from 1.4 m to 2.4 m.
- Two openable roof windows for stargazing
- Compatible with the brand's extension/annex
- Multiple widths from 1.4 m to 2.4 m
- Manufacturer does not publish packed dimensions here
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 | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | 4-season | — |
| List price | $1,999— worst of the tents compared | $1,840— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | — | 121 lb |
| Packed length | — | 4 ft 11 in |
| Packed width | — | 4 ft 3 in |
| Packed height | — | 14.2 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 7 ft 10 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 7 in |
| Floor area | — | 36.2 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 | 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | 7 min | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | 1000D PVC travel cover | — |
| Fabric | 320g canvas | 380gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated |
| Warranty | 2years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Cascadia Vehicle Tents product page | Howling Moon product page |
Related comparisons
- Pioneer 2 TentvsBAOBAB AIR 135
- Pioneer 2 TentvsGen2 Overlander XL Tent
- Pioneer 2 TentvsMeadowlark 2 XL
- Pioneer 2 TentvsFoothill 2
Or read the full spec sheets for the Cascadia Vehicle Tents Pioneer 2 Tent and the Howling Moon Stargazer.