Darche Solar vs Harva Outdoors Älven Lagom
The Darche Solar and the Harva Outdoors Älven Lagom 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 Harva Outdoors take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Darche Solar brings 88 kg, 2.4 m² of floor and sleeps 2. The Harva Outdoors Älven Lagom counters with 75 kg, 3.08 m² of floor, 120 cm of headroom and sleeps 4.
The Älven Lagom is 13 kg lighter at 75 kg against 88 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Inside, the Älven Lagom gives 3.08 m² of sleeping floor against 2.4 m², about 28 percent more, and it sleeps 4 to the Solar's 2. The Älven Lagom lists about 7% lower than the Solar. Darche also backs the Solar for 3 years against 2.
The Solar uses 2mm 6-Series Aluminium Alloy; Heavy-Duty 15mm Aluminium Honeycomb Insulation base; the Älven Lagom uses cast aluminium shell with gelcoat over aluminium/plastic honeycomb panels. Canvas differs too: 380gsm polycotton canvas with Darche Darkness (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (2000mm) against 280 g ripstop canvas sides and 420D ripstop polyester oxford top; water columns 6500 mm (top) / 3500 mm (canvas), UV- and mould-resistant.
Darche
Solar
The Solar is an aluminium hardshell rooftop tent with an integrated 148W monocrystalline solar panel (22% efficiency) built into the shell. It has a 70mm memory-foam mattress, three full-width doors, a zippered sky window and bi-colour LED lighting. The battery and solar regulator are sold separately.
- Integrated 148W monocrystalline solar panel
- Thickest published mattress in Darche's hardshell line (70mm)
- 380gsm blackout canvas with 3000mm waterhead
- Battery and solar regulator not included
Harva Outdoors
Älven Lagom
The Älven Lagom is the smaller of Harva's two premium Älven hardshells: a gas-strut, semi-automatic clamshell in cast aluminium finished with gelcoat, sized to sit on smaller cars and wagons while still opening to a four-person floor. It weighs 75 kg, packs to 150 × 115 × 27 cm and opens to a 205 × 150 cm floor (about 3.1 m²) under a 120 cm peak, on a 38 mm mattress. Built-in USB LED lighting, an aluminium telescopic ladder and a roof rated to 28 kg round it out. Listed at SEK 34,990 with a 24-month warranty.
- The lighter, more car-friendly Älven at 75 kg and a 150 × 115 × 27 cm pack
- Cast-aluminium shell with gelcoat and gas-strut, semi-automatic opening
- Built-in USB LED lighting and a roof rated for 28 kg of cargo
- Still 75 kg — a two-person lift onto the roof
Which one to pick
Take the Älven Lagom if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Älven Lagom 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 | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 4— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $3,960— worst of the tents compared | $3,690— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 194 lb est.— worst of the tents compared | 165 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 8 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 11.8 in— worst of the tents compared | 10.6 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 6 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 25.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 33.2 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | — | 3 ft 11 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2.8 in— best of the tents compared | 1.5 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 secest. |
| Shell material | 2mm 6-Series Aluminium Alloy; Heavy-Duty 15mm Aluminium Honeycomb Insulation base | Cast aluminium shell with gelcoat over aluminium/plastic honeycomb panels |
| Fabric | 380gsm polycotton canvas with Darche Darkness (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (2000mm) | 280 g ripstop canvas sides and 420D ripstop polyester oxford top; water columns 6500 mm (top) / 3500 mm (canvas), UV- and mould-resistant |
| 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 | — | Yes |
| Solar ready | Yes | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Harva Outdoors product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Solar and the Harva Outdoors Älven Lagom.