Darche Basecamp 2200 vs Wild Land Air Cruiser
The Darche Basecamp 2200 and the Wild Land Air Cruiser 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 Wild Land take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Air Cruiser is 36 kg lighter at 51 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 2.84 m², about 78 percent more, and it sleeps 4 to the Air Cruiser's 3. The Basecamp 2200 lists $360 lower, at $2,639 against $2,999.
They open differently: the Basecamp 2200 is a fold-out and the Air Cruiser an inflatable. That is not cosmetic — it decides whether headroom is even across the tent or tapers towards one end, and how much of the roof the tent occupies when closed. The Basecamp 2200 uses coated Heavy-Duty Compressed Alloy base; the Air Cruiser uses aluminium frame base. Canvas differs too: 260gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body; 210D Ripstop Polyester Oxford fly against 600D poly-oxford PVC-coated cover (PU5000mm); 280g rip-stop polycotton PU-coated 2000mm walls; 210D poly-oxford PU3000mm floor.
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 weight or dimensions
Wild Land
Air Cruiser
The Air Cruiser is Wild Land's inflatable rooftop tent, using air beams over an aluminium base rather than poles, with a built-in electric pump the maker says fully inflates it in about four minutes. It sleeps 2-3 on a 5 cm foam mattress and includes LED lighting and dual roof skylights. It is the only inflatable model in Wild Land's US line-up.
- Built-in electric pump inflates the tent in about four minutes
- Includes LED lighting and dual roof skylights
- Full fabric specification published (PU5000mm cover)
- Heavier tent-only weight (51 kg) than the lighter fold-out models
Which one to pick
Take the Basecamp 2200 if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Air Cruiser 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 | Inflatable |
| Sleeps | 4— best of the tents compared | 3— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,640— best of the tents compared | $2,999— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 192 lb— worst of the tents compared | 112 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 7 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 13 in— worst of the tents compared | 11.8 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 7 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 54.5 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 30.6 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | — | 4 ft 9 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2.6 in— best of the tents compared | 2 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. | 4 min |
| Shell material | Coated Heavy-Duty Compressed Alloy base | Aluminium frame base |
| Fabric | 260gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body; 210D Ripstop Polyester Oxford fly | 600D poly-oxford PVC-coated cover (PU5000mm); 280g rip-stop polycotton PU-coated 2000mm walls; 210D poly-oxford PU3000mm floor |
| Warranty | 3years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Wild Land product page |
Related comparisons
- Basecamp 2200vsTRT 140 AIR
- Basecamp 2200vsBIG WILLOW 4.0 (160)
- Basecamp 2200vsFamily
- Air CruiservsSkyRise HD
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Basecamp 2200 and the Wild Land Air Cruiser.