Darche Streamliner 1250 vs Gasell Adventure GC138
The Darche Streamliner 1250 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 Streamliner 1250 brings 69 kg, 2.4 m² of floor, 145 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.
The Streamliner 1250 is 20 kg lighter at 69 kg against 89 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. 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 Streamliner 1250 for 3 years against 2.
The Streamliner 1250 uses 6-Series Aluminium / EPE composite; the GC138 uses aluminum. Canvas differs too: 280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (1500mm) against poly-cotton, 280 g/m2, PU-coated, 3000 mm water column (rain cover: 600D Oxford polyester, PU-coated, 3000 mm).
Darche
Streamliner 1250
The Streamliner 1250 is a low-profile aluminium composite clamshell hardshell that packs down to 150mm and publishes a 69kg weight. It has three full-width access doors with a removable fly, dimmable bi-colour USB LED lighting, self-repairing coil zips and a 50mm memory-foam mattress. Darche lists a 3-year warranty on it.
- Very low 150mm packed height
- Published weight (69kg) and 3-year warranty
- Self-repairing coil zips and removable fly
- Open/external dimensions not published
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
Take the Streamliner 1250 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 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $3,040— best of the tents compared | $3,110— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 152 lb— best of the tents compared | 196 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 2 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 6 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 5.9 in— best of the tents compared | 7.1 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 3 ft 10 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 | 4 ft 9 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in | 2 in |
| 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 / EPE composite | Aluminum |
| Fabric | 280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (1500mm) | 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 | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Gasell Adventure product page |
Related comparisons
- Streamliner 1250vsClassic
- Streamliner 1250vsCloud 140
- Streamliner 1250vsUrsa 1300
- Streamliner 1250vsClamTrekk
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Streamliner 1250 and the Gasell Adventure GC138.