Darche Buffalo 1535 vs RoofBunk Adventurer
The Darche Buffalo 1535 and the RoofBunk Adventurer 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 RoofBunk take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Adventurer is 5 kg lighter at 80 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. Floor area is close to identical at 3 m² and 3.05 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. Both list at $2,903, so price cannot decide this one at all. Darche also backs the Buffalo 1535 for 3 years against 2.
The Buffalo 1535 uses 6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb base; the Adventurer uses powder-coated aluminium. Canvas differs too: 180gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas with blackout coating (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford fly (1500mm) against 320gsm poly-cotton blend ripstop canvas body; 600D Oxford polyester rainfly.
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 weight or open dimensions
RoofBunk
Adventurer
The Adventurer is RoofBunk's aluminium clamshell tent and the highest-priced model in its current range. RoofBunk lists a 30-second opening time, open dimensions of 210 x 145cm, an 8cm memory-foam mattress, a powder-coated aluminium shell and an 80kg weight excluding the ladder. It adds three exterior and one interior t-slot rails, twin USB strip lights and a cargo storage net, and is rated 4-season.
- Fast 30-second opening time stated by the manufacturer
- Thickest mattress in RoofBunk's range at 8cm memory foam
- Aluminium shell with three exterior t-slot rails for mounting accessories on top
- Highest-priced model in RoofBunk's current range
Which one to pick
Take the Adventurer 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 | 3 |
| Season rating | — | 4-season |
| List price | $2,900 | $2,900 |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 187 lb— worst of the tents compared | 176 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 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 7.1 in— best of the tents compared | 8.3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 32.3 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 32.8 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 3.1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | 30 sec |
| Shell material | 6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb base | Powder-coated aluminium |
| Fabric | 180gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas with blackout coating (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford fly (1500mm) | 320gsm poly-cotton blend ripstop canvas body; 600D Oxford polyester rainfly |
| Warranty | 3years— best of the tents compared | 2years— worst of the tents compared |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | RoofBunk product page |
Related comparisons
- Buffalo 1535vsCUMARU EASE 135
- Buffalo 1535vsAspen Pro Standard
- Buffalo 1535vsCloud 140
- AdventurervsCUMARU EASE 135
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Buffalo 1535 and the RoofBunk Adventurer.