Darche Detachable vs Front Runner Feather-Lite II
The Darche Detachable and the Front Runner Feather-Lite II 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 Front Runner take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Darche Detachable brings 54 kg and sleeps 2. The Front Runner Feather-Lite II counters with 49 kg, 3.2 m² of floor, 110 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The Feather-Lite II is 5 kg lighter at 49 kg against 54 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. Darche also backs the Detachable for 3 years against 2.
They open differently: the Detachable is a clamshell and the Feather-Lite II a fold-out. 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. Canvas differs too: 140gsm 200D Ripstop Polyester Oxford body with blackout (2000mm); 140gsm Ripstop Polyester Oxford fly (2000mm) against 260g poly-cotton ripstop body; 400D polyester oxford rainfly, 2000 mm water column. The Detachable adds integrated LED lighting, which the Feather-Lite II does not offer.
Darche
Detachable
The Detachable is a softshell rooftop tent whose tent body (13kg) can be separated from its aluminium honeycomb baseboard, which with the ladder and transit cover weighs 41kg. It has an oversized sky window on body and fly, blackout coating, a built-in LED strip and a 50mm high-density foam mattress. Two floor mats and a heavy-duty PVC transit cover are included.
- Detachable tent body separates from the baseboard
- Oversized sky window and blackout coating
- Lowest price point in Darche's rooftop range
- No single combined weight published (13kg tent + 41kg base/ladder/cover)
Front Runner
Feather-Lite II
The updated Feather-Lite, with an overhang that shields the entrance and telescopic ladder from rain and transparent stargazing panels in the roof. It shares the original's 260g poly-cotton body and 6 cm mattress but runs slightly larger and heavier at 49 kg, with a 2000 mm-rated rainfly.
- Overhang covers the entrance and ladder
- Transparent stargazing panels in the roof
- 2000 mm water column rainfly
- 6 kg heavier than the original Front Runner tent
Which one to pick
Take the Feather-Lite II 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 | Clamshell | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,320— worst of the tents compared | $1,209— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 119 lb— worst of the tents compared | 108 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 12.2 in— best of the tents compared | 12.6 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 8 ft 1 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 3 in |
| Floor area | — | 34.4 sq ft |
| Interior height | — | 3 ft 7 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 2.4 in— best 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 | Aluminium Honeycomb base | — |
| Fabric | 140gsm 200D Ripstop Polyester Oxford body with blackout (2000mm); 140gsm Ripstop Polyester Oxford fly (2000mm) | 260g poly-cotton ripstop body; 400D polyester oxford rainfly, 2000 mm water column |
| Warranty | 3years— best of the tents compared | 2years— worst of the tents compared |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | No |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | No |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | — | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Front Runner product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Detachable and the Front Runner Feather-Lite II.