Darche Basecamp 2200 vs Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition
The Darche Basecamp 2200 and the Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition 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. Darche and Direct4x4 take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Darche Basecamp 2200 brings 87 kg, 5.06 m² of floor and sleeps 4. The Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition counters with 80 kg, 4.64 m² of floor, 117 cm of headroom and sleeps 4.
The RoofTrekk Expedition is 7 kg lighter at 80 kg against 87 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Inside, the Basecamp 2200 gives 5.06 m² of sleeping floor against 4.64 m², about 9 percent more, though both are rated for 4. The RoofTrekk Expedition lists about 10% lower than the Basecamp 2200.
Canvas differs too: 260gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body; 210D Ripstop Polyester Oxford fly against poly-cotton canvas, water column 3,000 mm.
Darche
Basecamp 2200
The Basecamp 2200 is a large fold-out softshell rooftop tent rated for four people, using a 65mm high-density foam mattress. It has an integrated LED strip, twin panoramic sky windows and fine insect mesh on all windows, and an annex is available separately. A 2.3m telescopic ladder and transit cover are included.
- Four-person capacity, the largest in Darche's softshell line
- Twin panoramic sky windows
- Annex-compatible and transit cover included
- No published dimensions
Direct4x4
RoofTrekk Expedition
The RoofTrekk is a soft-shell fold-out rooftop tent rated for four people, built from Direct4x4's poly-cotton canvas with a 3,000 mm water column. It opens to 220 x 211 cm with a 117 cm interior height and packs down to 34 cm tall. Direct4x4 sells matching annex room add-ons for both the 3- and 4-person RoofTrekk, and the tent ships with a 4 cm mattress and a telescopic aluminium ladder.
- Sleeps up to four
- Compatible with Direct4x4's own annex room add-ons
- Packs down to a 34 cm closed height
- Canvas water-column rating (3,000 mm) is lower than Direct4x4's hard-shell TrailTop
Which one to pick
Take the Basecamp 2200 if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the RoofTrekk Expedition if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. 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 | 4 | 4 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,640— worst of the tents compared | $2,370— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 192 lb est.— worst of the tents compared | 176 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 7 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 13 in— best of the tents compared | 13.4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 7 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 54.5 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 49.9 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | — | 3 ft 10 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2.6 in— best of the tents compared | 1.6 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | Coated Heavy-Duty Compressed Alloy base | — |
| Fabric | 260gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body; 210D Ripstop Polyester Oxford fly | Poly-cotton canvas, water column 3,000 mm |
| Warranty | 3years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Direct4x4 product page |
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Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Basecamp 2200 and the Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition.