Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout vs Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent
The Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout and the Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent 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 Smittybilt 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 Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent counters with 60 kg, 3.43 m² of floor, 129.54 cm of headroom and sleeps 3.
The Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent is 6 kg lighter at 60 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 3.43 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 600D heavy-duty ripstop polyester, waterproof polyurethane-impregnated top; 420D oxford 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
Smittybilt
Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent
The Gen2 Overlander Standard is the more compact of Smittybilt's two soft-shell fold-out rooftop tents, sleeping 2-3 on a full-size 92" x 55" mattress. It uses a 600D ripstop polyester body with a 420D oxford rainfly, an anodized aluminum frame, stainless steel hinges and an LED light strip. Smittybilt rates it for a 660lbs/300kg load and covers it with a 2-year warranty.
- Full-size mattress and lower price than the XL soft-shell version
- Integrated LED strip and no-see-um mosquito screens
- 660lbs/300kg rated load with anodized aluminum frame
- Manufacturer does not publish mattress thickness
Which one to pick
Take the Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent 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 | 3 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,650— worst of the tents compared | $1,499.99— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 146 lb— worst of the tents compared | 132 lb est.— 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 | 11.5 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 8 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 36.9 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 in | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 285 gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas, PU impregnated, water column 2,000 mm | 600D heavy-duty ripstop polyester, waterproof polyurethane-impregnated top; 420D oxford rainfly |
| Warranty | — | 2years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Direct4x4 product page | Smittybilt 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 Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent.