Darche Kozi Pop Up G2 vs Naturnest Orion 1 Plus
The Darche Kozi Pop Up G2 and the Naturnest Orion 1 Plus 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 Naturnest take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Darche Kozi Pop Up G2 brings 61 kg and sleeps 2. The Naturnest Orion 1 Plus counters with 91 kg, 3.08 m² of floor, 97 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The Kozi Pop Up G2 is 30 kg lighter at 61 kg against 91 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 Kozi Pop Up G2 for 2 years against 1.
The Kozi Pop Up G2 uses ABS shell with Stainless Steel internal frame; the Orion 1 Plus uses ABS hard shell. Canvas differs too: 280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas (3000mm waterhead) against 305 g plain Oxford, waterproof (rating grade 3.5).
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
Naturnest
Orion 1 Plus
The Orion 1 Plus is Naturnest's boxy ABS pop-up hard-shell tent, rated for two people. It measures about 220.5 x 139.5 cm open with a 97 cm interior peak height, packs to a 33.5 cm closed profile, and has a net weight of 200.6 lbs (91 kg). It uses a three-layer 6.5 cm mattress on a solid oak base, blackout 305 g Oxford fabric, built-in lighting and a climate-control port. Naturnest states setup and pack-down in under a minute.
- Pop-up design deploys in under a minute per the maker
- Three-layer mattress on a solid oak base
- Built-in lighting and a climate-control port
- One-year warranty is short for the price
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 | Pop-up |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,980— best of the tents compared | $1,999— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 134 lb est.— best of the tents compared | 201 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 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 11.4 in— best of the tents compared | 13.2 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 7 ft 3 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 7 in |
| Floor area | — | 33.2 sq ft |
| Interior height | — | 3 ft 2 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 2.6 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 | ABS hard shell |
| Fabric | 280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas (3000mm waterhead) | 305 g plain Oxford, waterproof (rating grade 3.5) |
| Warranty | 2years— best of the tents compared | 1year— worst of the tents compared |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | Yes |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Naturnest product page |
Related comparisons
- Kozi Pop Up G2vsVoyager Pro 130
- Kozi Pop Up G2vsLunar
- Kozi Pop Up G2vsTrailTop Expedition
- Orion 1 PlusvsVoyager Pro 130
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Kozi Pop Up G2 and the Naturnest Orion 1 Plus.