Darche Detachable vs RoofBunk Explorer
The Darche Detachable and the RoofBunk Explorer 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 RoofBunk take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Darche Detachable brings 54 kg and sleeps 2. The RoofBunk Explorer counters with 50 kg, 4.34 m² of floor, 130 cm of headroom and sleeps 3.
On weight they are effectively level — 54 kg against 50 kg — so the roof load question resolves the same way for both. 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 Explorer 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 320gsm poly-cotton blend ripstop canvas body; 600D Oxford polyester rainfly.
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)
RoofBunk
Explorer
The Explorer is the entry model in RoofBunk's three-tent soft-shell Explorer range, a fold-out tent the maker rates for 2-3 occupants. RoofBunk lists open dimensions of 310 x 140cm - a figure that includes a 70 x 140cm entrance canopy over the ladder - a packed size of 140 x 120 x 30cm and a 6cm memory-foam mattress. It uses a 320gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas body (3000mm HH) with a 600D Oxford polyester rainfly (5000mm HH) and is marketed as 4-season.
- 4-season rating with a 3000mm-HH canvas body and 5000mm-HH rainfly
- Supplied with a 6cm memory-foam mattress, USB strip light and two skylights
- 2-year warranty, extendable to 7 years per RoofBunk
- Manufacturer does not state what the 50kg weight includes
Which one to pick
These two are closely matched on the numbers that usually decide it. Read the feature rows below — heater port, skylight, annex — and let whichever of those you will actually use break the tie.
Every specification, side by side
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | 4-season |
| List price | $1,320— best of the tents compared | $1,480— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 119 lb— worst of the tents compared | 110 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 12.2 in— worst of the tents compared | 11.8 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 10 ft 2 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 7 in |
| Floor area | — | 46.7 sq ft |
| Interior height | — | 4 ft 3 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. | 4 min |
| Shell material | Aluminium Honeycomb base | — |
| Fabric | 140gsm 200D Ripstop Polyester Oxford body with blackout (2000mm); 140gsm Ripstop Polyester Oxford fly (2000mm) | 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 | Yes |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | RoofBunk product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Detachable and the RoofBunk Explorer.