Darche Stratos vs Gordigear Bonito
The Darche Stratos and the Gordigear Bonito are both hybrid tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. Darche and Gordigear take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Stratos is 33 kg lighter at 65 kg against 98 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 Bonito gives 3.27 m² of sleeping floor against 2.58 m², about 27 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Stratos's 2. The Stratos lists $374 lower, at $2,639 against $3,013. Darche also backs the Stratos for 3 years against 2.
They open differently: the Stratos is a clamshell and the Bonito a pop-up. 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 Stratos uses aluminium Alloy; the Bonito uses aluminium 18 mm honeycomb core with aluminium planking. Canvas differs too: 190gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body; 210D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (3000mm waterhead) against 320 gr/m2 ripstop polyester-cotton blend, polyurethane impregnated and UV resistant.
Darche
Stratos
The Stratos is a hybrid rooftop tent combining an aluminium hardshell exterior with an expandable canvas body, offered in 1440mm and 2000mm widths. It has a 60mm memory-foam mattress, an oversized removable fly with an integrated sky window and a dual-colour dimmable LED strip. A 2.3m telescopic ladder and roof rail kit are included.
- Removable fly with integrated sky window
- Ladder and roof rail kit included
- Two width options
- Manufacturer does not publish weight or dimensions
Gordigear
Bonito
The Bonito is a hybrid aluminium hard-shell tent for 2-3 people, built with a compact footprint aimed at pick-up truck cargo areas. It opens semi-automatically in about 30 seconds to erected dimensions of 215 x 152 cm with a 210 x 140 cm sleeping surface and a 50 mm memory-foam mattress. It is the heaviest of Gordigear's hard shells at a published 98 kg.
- Compact 152 x 133 cm packed footprint suited to pick-up beds
- Dimmable 2-colour LED lighting and heater-port preparation
- Stated 5000 mm tent / 3000 mm flysheet water columns
- Heaviest Gordigear hard shell at 98 kg
Which one to pick
Take the Stratos if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. Take the Bonito if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. 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 | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Pop-up |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,640— best of the tents compared | $3,010— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 143 lb— best of the tents compared | 216 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared | 5 ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 3 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 11.4 in— worst of the tents compared | 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 27.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 35.2 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | — | 3 ft 1 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 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. | ~3 minest. | 30 sec |
| Shell material | Aluminium Alloy | Aluminium 18 mm honeycomb core with aluminium planking |
| Fabric | 190gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body; 210D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (3000mm waterhead) | 320 gr/m2 ripstop polyester-cotton blend, polyurethane impregnated and UV resistant |
| Warranty | 3years— best of the tents compared | 2years— worst of the tents compared |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | Yes |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Gordigear product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Stratos and the Gordigear Bonito.