Darche Buffalo 1535 vs Direct4x4 ClamTrekk
The Darche Buffalo 1535 and the Direct4x4 ClamTrekk 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. Darche and Direct4x4 take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Darche Buffalo 1535 brings 85 kg, 3 m² of floor, 140 cm of headroom and sleeps 3. The Direct4x4 ClamTrekk counters with 76 kg and sleeps 2.
The ClamTrekk is 9 kg lighter at 76 kg against 85 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
The Buffalo 1535 uses 6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb base; the ClamTrekk uses honeycomb aluminium. Canvas differs too: 180gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas with blackout coating (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford fly (1500mm) against 65% polyester / 35% cotton, mould-proof, water resistant 10,000 mm.
Darche
Buffalo 1535
The Buffalo 1535 is a side-opening aluminium hardshell rooftop tent with a low 180mm closed profile, fitting two to three people. It has a full-width sky window, blackout-coated canvas, white/amber LED strips and a 50mm memory-foam mattress. A 2.3m telescopic ladder is included.
- Low 180mm packed profile
- Full-width sky window and blackout canvas
- Sleeps up to three
- No published open dimensions
Direct4x4
ClamTrekk
The ClamTrekk is Direct4x4's two-person hard-shell clamshell tent, built around a honeycomb aluminium shell that opens on gas struts from either side. Direct4x4 publishes closed dimensions of 210 x 130 x 20 cm and a 76 kg weight but does not list the open dimensions, interior height or mattress thickness. It ships with a telescopic ladder, two door poles, a camping light with 12V internal sockets, an anti-condensation mat, boot bags and two roof-rack bars.
- Honeycomb aluminium shell opens quickly on gas struts
- Ships with ladder, camping light, 12V sockets and two roof-rack bars
- Fabric rated to a 10,000 mm water column
- Open dimensions and interior height are not published
Which one to pick
Take the ClamTrekk 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 | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 3— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,900— best of the tents compared | $3,070— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 187 lb est.— worst of the tents compared | 168 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 5 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 7.1 in— best of the tents compared | 7.9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 10 in | — |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 9 in | — |
| Floor area | 32.3 sq ft | — |
| Interior height | 4 ft 7 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | 6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb base | Honeycomb aluminium |
| Fabric | 180gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas with blackout coating (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford fly (1500mm) | 65% polyester / 35% cotton, mould-proof, water resistant 10,000 mm |
| Warranty | 3years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Direct4x4 product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Buffalo 1535 and the Direct4x4 ClamTrekk.