Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout vs Wild Land Wild Cruiser 160
The Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout and the Wild Land Wild Cruiser 160 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 Wild Land 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 Wild Land Wild Cruiser 160 counters with 48 kg, 3.63 m² of floor, 100 cm of headroom and sleeps 3.
The Wild Cruiser 160 is 18 kg lighter at 48 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 3.63 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. Headroom separates them further: 130 cm in the Expedition Foldout against 100 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. 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 210D ripstop poly-oxford 3000mm outer; 190g rip-stop polycotton PU2000mm inner; 210D poly-oxford PU2000mm floor; 600D oxford PU5000mm cover; silver-coated aluminium poles.
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
Wild Land
Wild Cruiser 160
The Wild Cruiser 160 is a softshell double-fold tent for three, opening to a 227 x 160 cm sleeping area on a dual-layer 3+5 cm mattress. It uses 210D ripstop poly-oxford over 190g polycotton with a 600D cover, and includes dimmable LED lighting and a diesel heater port. At 48 kg including the ladder it is one of the lighter tents in Wild Land's EU range.
- Dual-layer 3+5 cm mattress
- Dimmable LED lighting and diesel heater port included
- Light 48 kg including the ladder
- Cannot carry cargo on the closed tent
Which one to pick
Take the Wild Cruiser 160 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— best of the tents compared | $1,650— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 146 lb— worst of the tents compared | 106 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 5 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 12.6 in— best of the tents compared | 13 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 39.1 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| 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. | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 285 gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas, PU impregnated, water column 2,000 mm | 210D ripstop poly-oxford 3000mm outer; 190g rip-stop polycotton PU2000mm inner; 210D poly-oxford PU2000mm floor; 600D oxford PU5000mm cover; silver-coated aluminium poles |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | Yes |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | Yes | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | No |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Direct4x4 product page | Wild Land product page |
Related comparisons
- Expedition FoldoutvsScout
- Expedition FoldoutvsTanami Light 140
- Expedition FoldoutvsWalkabout 56 2.0
- Wild Cruiser 160vsScout
Or read the full spec sheets for the Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout and the Wild Land Wild Cruiser 160.