Cascadia Vehicle Tents Pioneer 2 Tent vs Vickywood BIG WILLOW 4.0 (160)
The Cascadia Vehicle Tents Pioneer 2 Tent and the Vickywood BIG WILLOW 4.0 (160) 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 Vickywood take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Pioneer 2 Tent lists $474 lower, at $1,999 against $2,473.
The Pioneer 2 Tent uses 1000D PVC travel cover; the BIG WILLOW 4.0 (160) uses aluminum honeycomb base with rubberized surface.
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
Vickywood
BIG WILLOW 4.0 (160)
The BIG WILLOW 4.0 in its 160 width is the smaller of two BIG WILLOW sizes, a large soft-shell fold-out rated for up to 3 people with side-mounted gas struts assisting setup. Open dimensions are given by the maker as approximately 245 x 165 cm. It includes a dimmable USB-C LED and large roof windows.
- Large fold-out floor area
- Gas-strut assisted setup
- Headline weight states it includes mattress and ladder
- Tent fabric material not specified
Which one to pick
Take the Pioneer 2 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 | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | 4-season | — |
| List price | $1,999— best of the tents compared | $2,470— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | — | 150 lb |
| Packed length | — | 5 ft 7 in |
| Packed width | — | 4 ft 1 in |
| Packed height | — | 15.4 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 8 ft |
| Sleeping width | — | 5 ft 5 in |
| Floor area | — | 43.5 sq ft |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 3 in | — |
| 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 | Aluminum honeycomb base with rubberized surface |
| Fabric | 320g canvas | — |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| 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 | Vickywood product page |
Related comparisons
- Pioneer 2 TentvsWalkabout 62 2.0
- Pioneer 2 TentvsElements Gen II 140
- Pioneer 2 TentvsGen2 Overlander XL Tent
- Pioneer 2 TentvsMeadowlark 2 XL
Or read the full spec sheets for the Cascadia Vehicle Tents Pioneer 2 Tent and the Vickywood BIG WILLOW 4.0 (160).