Darche Kozi Pop Up G2 vs Howling Moon Lunar
The Darche Kozi Pop Up G2 and the Howling Moon Lunar 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 Howling Moon take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Darche Kozi Pop Up G2 brings 61 kg and sleeps 2. The Howling Moon Lunar counters with 75 kg, 3.12 m² of floor, 105 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The Kozi Pop Up G2 is 14 kg lighter at 61 kg against 75 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.
They open differently: the Kozi Pop Up G2 is a pop-up and the Lunar 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 Pop Up G2 uses ABS shell with Stainless Steel internal frame; the Lunar uses fibreglass with scratch-resistant coating. Canvas differs too: 280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas (3000mm waterhead) against heavy-duty ripstop canvas with YKK zips.
Darche
Kozi Pop Up G2
The Kozi Pop Up G2 is an ABS-shell pop-up rooftop tent raised on gas struts over a stainless-steel internal frame. It has a 50mm high-density foam mattress, built-in LED strips, wraparound windows with fine insect mesh, taped seams and self-repairing coil zips. It is the entry price point in Darche's hardshell range.
- Quick gas-strut pop-up deployment
- Wraparound windows with insect mesh
- Taped seams and self-repairing coil zips
- No published dimensions
Howling Moon
Lunar
The Lunar is a clamshell hardshell tent with a fibreglass top and bottom raised by a gas-strut lifting mechanism, fitted with a fully quilted 100 mm high-density foam mattress. Aluminium mounting rails are built into the top of the lid to allow fitting a solar panel or other accessories. It has large screened aperture windows and is available in black, grey or white.
- Thick 100 mm quilted foam mattress
- Fibreglass shell with lid mounting rails for solar/accessories
- Fully published open and packed dimensions
- Ladder is sold separately
Which one to pick
Take the Kozi Pop Up G2 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 | Pop-up | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,980— worst of the tents compared | $1,970— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 134 lb est.— best of the tents compared | 165 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 11.4 in— best of the tents compared | 13 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 7 ft 1 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 9 in |
| Floor area | — | 33.6 sq ft |
| Interior height | — | 3 ft 5 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 3.9 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 | ABS shell with Stainless Steel internal frame | Fibreglass with scratch-resistant coating |
| Fabric | 280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas (3000mm waterhead) | Heavy-duty ripstop canvas with YKK zips |
| Warranty | 2years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | Yes |
| Carries cargo on top | — | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Howling Moon product page |
Related comparisons
- Kozi Pop Up G2vsVoyager Pro 130
- Kozi Pop Up G2vsOrion 1 Plus
- Kozi Pop Up G2vsTrailTop Expedition
- LunarvsVoyager Pro 130
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Kozi Pop Up G2 and the Howling Moon Lunar.