Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout vs RoofBunk Explorer
The Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout and the RoofBunk Explorer 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 RoofBunk 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 RoofBunk Explorer counters with 50 kg, 4.34 m² of floor, 130 cm of headroom and sleeps 3.
The Explorer is 16 kg lighter at 50 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. Inside, the Explorer gives 4.34 m² of sleeping floor against 3.36 m², about 29 percent more, though both are rated for 3. 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 320gsm poly-cotton blend ripstop canvas body; 600D Oxford polyester rainfly.
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
RoofBunk
Explorer
The Explorer is the entry model in RoofBunk's three-tent soft-shell Explorer range, a fold-out tent the maker rates for 2-3 occupants. RoofBunk lists open dimensions of 310 x 140cm - a figure that includes a 70 x 140cm entrance canopy over the ladder - a packed size of 140 x 120 x 30cm and a 6cm memory-foam mattress. It uses a 320gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas body (3000mm HH) with a 600D Oxford polyester rainfly (5000mm HH) and is marketed as 4-season.
- 4-season rating with a 3000mm-HH canvas body and 5000mm-HH rainfly
- Supplied with a 6cm memory-foam mattress, USB strip light and two skylights
- 2-year warranty, extendable to 7 years per RoofBunk
- Manufacturer does not state what the 50kg weight includes
Which one to pick
Take the Explorer if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. Take the Explorer 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 | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 3 | 3 |
| Season rating | — | 4-season |
| List price | $1,650— worst of the tents compared | $1,480— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 146 lb— worst of the tents compared | 110 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 5 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 12.6 in— worst of the tents compared | 11.8 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared | 10 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in | 4 ft 7 in |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 46.7 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in | 4 ft 3 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 in | 2.4 in |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | 4 min |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 285 gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas, PU impregnated, water column 2,000 mm | 320gsm poly-cotton blend ripstop canvas body; 600D Oxford polyester rainfly |
| Warranty | — | 2years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Direct4x4 product page | RoofBunk product page |
Related comparisons
- Expedition FoldoutvsWild Cruiser 160
- Expedition FoldoutvsScout
- Expedition FoldoutvsTanami Light 140
- Expedition FoldoutvsWalkabout 56 2.0
Or read the full spec sheets for the Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout and the RoofBunk Explorer.