Darche Ridgeback Eco Poly vs Gasell Adventure GC138
The Darche Ridgeback Eco Poly and the Gasell Adventure GC138 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 Gasell Adventure take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Darche Ridgeback Eco Poly brings 85 kg, 2.4 m² of floor, 144 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Gasell Adventure GC138 counters with 89 kg, 2.54 m² of floor, 145 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
On weight they are effectively level — 85 kg against 89 kg — so the roof load question resolves the same way for both. Floor area is close to identical at 2.4 m² and 2.54 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one. Darche also backs the Ridgeback Eco Poly for 3 years against 2.
The Ridgeback Eco Poly uses 6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb Insulation base; the GC138 uses aluminum. Canvas differs too: ecoWGAF 280gsm Polyester Oxford Ripstop body (100% recycled); ecoWGAF 140gsm fly (3000mm) against poly-cotton, 280 g/m2, PU-coated, 3000 mm water column (rain cover: 600D Oxford polyester, PU-coated, 3000 mm).
Darche
Ridgeback Eco Poly
The Ridgeback HD Shell Eco is an aluminium clamshell hardshell that uses Darche's ecoWGAF fabric made from 100% recycled polyester for both body and fly. It has three full-width entry doors, a zippered sky window, internal USB LED lighting, Stabilus gas struts and a 55mm memory-foam mattress. The fly carries a 3000mm waterhead rating.
- Body and fly use 100% recycled ecoWGAF polyester
- Three full-width doors and zippered sky window
- German-engineered Stabilus gas struts
- No published dimensions
Gasell Adventure
GC138
The GC138 is Gasell Adventure's aluminium hard-shell clamshell tent, opening to a 145 cm peak on a 218 x 138 cm footprint. Gasell lists an 89 kg weight, a 350 kg roof load, a 50 mm high-density memory-foam mattress (200 x 127 cm), poly-cotton fabric (280 g/m2, 3000 mm) and a setup time of under a minute, with room for two adults and one small child. Gasell's own page still carries a GC132 label in its prose while the title and URL call it the GC138; they are the same model.
- Aluminium hard shell opening to a 145 cm clamshell interior on a 218 x 138 cm footprint
- Manufacturer states a setup time of under a minute
- Includes a 50 mm high-density memory-foam mattress and LED lighting
- Rated for two adults and one child on a narrower 127 cm mattress than the GM and GA models
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 | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $3,300— worst of the tents compared | $3,110— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 187 lb est.— best of the tents compared | 196 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 2 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 6 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 8.5 in— worst of the tents compared | 7.1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 7 in | 6 ft 7 in |
| Sleeping width | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 25.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 27.3 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2.2 in— best of the tents compared | 2 in— worst 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 sec |
| Shell material | 6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb Insulation base | Aluminum |
| Fabric | ecoWGAF 280gsm Polyester Oxford Ripstop body (100% recycled); ecoWGAF 140gsm fly (3000mm) | Poly-cotton, 280 g/m2, PU-coated, 3000 mm water column (rain cover: 600D Oxford polyester, PU-coated, 3000 mm) |
| 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 | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Gasell Adventure product page |
Related comparisons
- Ridgeback Eco PolyvsMt. Hood 2 Tent
- Ridgeback Eco PolyvsLightrize
- Ridgeback Eco PolyvsIntrepid 2.0 (1285mm)
- Ridgeback Eco PolyvsOnyx Triple X 1450
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Ridgeback Eco Poly and the Gasell Adventure GC138.