Darche Kozi HighRize 1250 vs Eezi-Awn Blade 40th Edition
The Darche Kozi HighRize 1250 and the Eezi-Awn Blade 40th Edition 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 Eezi-Awn take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Darche Kozi HighRize 1250 brings 99 kg, 2.66 m² of floor, 110 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Eezi-Awn Blade 40th Edition counters with 82 kg, 140 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The Blade 40th Edition is 17 kg lighter at 82 kg against 99 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Headroom separates them further: 140 cm in the Blade 40th Edition against 110 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
They open differently: the Kozi HighRize 1250 is a fold-out and the Blade 40th Edition a clamshell. 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. The Kozi HighRize 1250 uses 6-Series Aluminium; the Blade 40th Edition uses aluminium (extruded base with two 8mm accessory slots). Canvas differs too: 280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body; 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (3000mm both) against 260 g/m² Teflon-coated polyester ripstop. Closed, the Kozi HighRize 1250 sits 9.5 cm lower on the roof — 22.5 cm against 32 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Darche
Kozi HighRize 1250
The Kozi HighRize 1250 is a twin-fold aluminium hardshell rooftop tent for two, with large windows on all four sides. It publishes a 55mm memory-foam mattress, two integrated dimmable LED strips and built-in USB-A, USB-C and 12V power outlets (battery not included). It stores two sleeping bags and two pillows when closed.
- Windows on all four sides for ventilation
- Integrated USB-A/USB-C/12V power and dual LED strips
- 3000mm waterhead on both body and fly
- No published external dimensions
Eezi-Awn
Blade 40th Edition
The Blade 40th Edition is an aerodynamic aluminium hard-shell tent with an extruded base carrying two 8mm accessory slots and a K9 rack platform on top rated for solar panels, bikes or kayaks. Eezi-Awn lists an 82kg weight, packed dimensions of 2200 x 1450 x 320mm (rear), two stainless-steel locks, revised gas struts and a USB port. It is one of Eezi-Awn's aluminium hard-shell models.
- K9 roof platform rated for solar panels, bikes or kayaks
- Stainless-steel locks and revised gas struts
- Published 82kg weight and packed dimensions
- Manufacturer does not publish mattress thickness, capacity or open dimensions on this page
Which one to pick
Take the Blade 40th Edition 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 | Fold-out | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,640— best of the tents compared | $2,690— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 218 lb est.— worst of the tents compared | 181 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 4 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 8.9 in— best of the tents compared | 12.6 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 2 in | — |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft | — |
| Floor area | 28.6 sq ft | — |
| Interior height | 3 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2.2 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. | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | 6-Series Aluminium | Aluminium (extruded base with two 8mm accessory slots) |
| Fabric | 280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body; 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (3000mm both) | 260 g/m² Teflon-coated polyester ripstop |
| Warranty | 2years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | Yes |
| Carries cargo on top | — | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Eezi-Awn product page |
Related comparisons
- Kozi HighRize 1250vsKozi Thredbo X
- Kozi HighRize 1250vsSE-180
- Kozi HighRize 1250vsHD Bundu 2 Cantilever
- Blade 40th EditionvsHD Bundu 2 Cantilever
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Kozi HighRize 1250 and the Eezi-Awn Blade 40th Edition.