Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout vs Gordigear Tanami Light 140
The Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout and the Gordigear Tanami Light 140 are both softshell tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. Direct4x4 and Gordigear take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout brings 66 kg, 3.36 m² of floor, 130 cm of headroom and sleeps 3. The Gordigear Tanami Light 140 counters with 52 kg, 3.46 m² of floor, 130 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The Tanami Light 140 is 14 kg lighter at 52 kg against 66 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 3.36 m² and 3.46 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.
Canvas differs too: 285 gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas, PU impregnated, water column 2,000 mm against 265 gr/m2 ripstop polyester-cotton blend, polyurethane impregnated and UV resistant. The Expedition Foldout adds a roof skylight, which the Tanami Light 140 does not offer.
Direct4x4
Expedition Foldout
The Expedition Foldout is Direct4x4's soft-shell fold-out tent for three (two adults and a child), available in sand, granite grey and forest green. It opens to 240 x 140 cm with a 130 cm interior height on a 2.5 cm corrosion-resistant aluminium/polyurethane sandwich base and folds down to 29 cm tall at 66 kg. The 285 gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas is rated to a 2,000 mm water column, and the tent ships with a fold-out ladder, mosquito net, zip-on annex skirt and a waterproof travel cover.
- Available in three colours (sand, grey, green)
- Ships with a zip-on annex skirt, mosquito net and travel cover
- 6 cm high-density foam mattress
- Canvas water-column rating is 2,000 mm
Gordigear
Tanami Light 140
The Tanami Light 140 is a 2-person fold-out softshell that sits between the Ultra Light and Plus models in Gordigear's Tanami folding range. It uses an 80 mm compressed-foam mattress, a 265 gr/m2 ripstop polyester-cotton canopy and a 1000D PVC travel cover. Gordigear states it has no LED lighting and no roof window.
- Thicker 80 mm mattress than the Ultra Light's 60 mm
- Awning/annex compatible with a heavy 1000D PVC travel cover
- Four interior storage compartments and an aluminium telescopic ladder included
- No LED lighting or roof window (manufacturer-stated)
Which one to pick
Take the Tanami Light 140 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 | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 3— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,650— worst of the tents compared | $1,610— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 146 lb— worst of the tents compared | 115 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 5 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 12.6 in— best of the tents compared | 13.8 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in | 7 ft 10 in |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 37.2 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in | 4 ft 3 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 in— worst of the tents compared | 3.1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | 2 min |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 285 gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas, PU impregnated, water column 2,000 mm | 265 gr/m2 ripstop polyester-cotton blend, polyurethane impregnated and UV resistant |
| Warranty | — | 2years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | No |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | No |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Direct4x4 product page | Gordigear product page |
Related comparisons
- Expedition FoldoutvsWild Cruiser 160
- Expedition FoldoutvsScout
- Expedition FoldoutvsWalkabout 56 2.0
- Tanami Light 140vsWild Cruiser 160
Or read the full spec sheets for the Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout and the Gordigear Tanami Light 140.