Darche Double Dee Hybrid vs Howling Moon Meteor Delux
The Darche Double Dee Hybrid and the Howling Moon Meteor Delux are both hybrid tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. Darche and Howling Moon take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
On weight they are effectively level — 96 kg against 95 kg — so the roof load question resolves the same way for both. Inside, the Meteor Delux gives 4.62 m² of sleeping floor against 2.84 m², about 63 percent more, though both are rated for 2. List prices are within $87 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
The Double Dee Hybrid uses ABS / 6-Series Aluminium; the Meteor Delux uses aluminium hardshell with scratch-resistant RAPTOR coating. Canvas differs too: 280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body; 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (3000mm both) against 329gsm ripstop poly-cotton canvas, UV50+, breathable. Closed, the Double Dee Hybrid sits 5 cm lower on the roof — 31 cm against 36 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Darche
Double Dee Hybrid
The Double Dee Hybrid is an ABS/aluminium hardshell rooftop tent with a canvas body that deploys via an X-hinge, weighing 96kg (102kg with roof rails). It has windows on all sides, a tinted sky window, roughly 100L of internal storage pockets plus a roof storage grid, and a 50mm memory-foam mattress. Roof rails and a 2.3m telescopic ladder are included.
- Published weight (96kg excl. rails / 102kg incl.)
- Roof rails included; large internal storage (~100L)
- 3000mm waterhead on both body and fly
- Heaviest of Darche's published-weight rooftop tents
Howling Moon
Meteor Delux
The Meteor Delux is a hard-lidded fold-out tent with an aluminium hardshell and scratch-resistant RAPTOR coating, a gas-strut lifting system and a 60 mm high-density mattress. It folds out to a wide roughly 210 x 220 cm floor and uses waterproof YKK zippers. It is the widest-floored tent in Howling Moon's current line-up.
- Wide ~4.6 sq m fold-out floor, the largest in the Howling Moon range
- Aluminium hardshell with RAPTOR coating
- Waterproof YKK zippers
- Heaviest model at 95 kg
Which one to pick
Take the Meteor Delux if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. 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 | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $3,300— worst of the tents compared | $3,210— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 212 lb— worst of the tents compared | 209 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 5 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 6 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 12.2 in— best of the tents compared | 14.2 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 11 in | 6 ft 11 in |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 30.6 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 49.7 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| 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. | ~3 minest. | ~3 minest. |
| Shell material | ABS / 6-Series Aluminium | Aluminium hardshell with scratch-resistant RAPTOR coating |
| Fabric | 280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body; 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (3000mm both) | 329gsm ripstop poly-cotton canvas, UV50+, breathable |
| Warranty | 3years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Howling Moon product page |
Related comparisons
- Double Dee HybridvsGA150 2.0
- Double Dee HybridvsMaikhan (140)
- Double Dee HybridvsBonito
- Meteor DeluxvsGA150 2.0
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Double Dee Hybrid and the Howling Moon Meteor Delux.