Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition vs Horntools Elements Gen II 140
The Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition and the Horntools Elements Gen II 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 Horntools take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition brings 80 kg, 4.64 m² of floor, 117 cm of headroom and sleeps 4. The Horntools Elements Gen II 140 counters with 73 kg, 4.64 m² of floor, 130 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The Elements Gen II 140 is 7 kg lighter at 73 kg against 80 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 4.64 m² and 4.64 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. Headroom separates them further: 130 cm in the Elements Gen II 140 against 117 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: poly-cotton canvas, water column 3,000 mm against 300 g/m2 sailcloth with PU coating; 35% cotton, 65% polyester (water column 2000 mm). Closed, the RoofTrekk Expedition sits 5 cm lower on the roof — 34 cm against 39 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Direct4x4
RoofTrekk Expedition
The RoofTrekk is a soft-shell fold-out rooftop tent rated for four people, built from Direct4x4's poly-cotton canvas with a 3,000 mm water column. It opens to 220 x 211 cm with a 117 cm interior height and packs down to 34 cm tall. Direct4x4 sells matching annex room add-ons for both the 3- and 4-person RoofTrekk, and the tent ships with a 4 cm mattress and a telescopic aluminium ladder.
- Sleeps up to four
- Compatible with Direct4x4's own annex room add-ons
- Packs down to a 34 cm closed height
- Canvas water-column rating (3,000 mm) is lower than Direct4x4's hard-shell TrailTop
Horntools
Elements Gen II 140
The 140 cm two-person version of Horntools's Elements Gen II folding roof tent, built on an aluminium honeycomb base with a 300 g/m2 sailcloth outer (35% cotton, 65% polyester). It opens in about five minutes to a 320 x 145 cm sleeping area with 130 cm interior height, an 8 cm foam mattress, integrated dimmable LED lighting and a Sky View roof window. It is the smallest of Horntools's three Elements Gen II sizes.
- Aluminium honeycomb base with 8 cm foam mattress
- Integrated dimmable LED lighting and Sky View roof window
- 5-year (voluntary) manufacturer warranty
- Manufacturer does not publish a season rating
Which one to pick
Take the Elements Gen II 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 | 4— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,370— best of the tents compared | $2,410— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 176 lb— worst of the tents compared | 161 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 13.4 in— best of the tents compared | 15.4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 10 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 49.9 sq ft | 49.9 sq ft |
| Interior height | 3 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 1.6 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 min |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | Poly-cotton canvas, water column 3,000 mm | 300 g/m2 sailcloth with PU coating; 35% cotton, 65% polyester (water column 2000 mm) |
| Warranty | — | 5years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Direct4x4 product page | Horntools product page |
Related comparisons
- RoofTrekk ExpeditionvsVagabond 2.0
- RoofTrekk ExpeditionvsEvolution 2 (140)
- RoofTrekk ExpeditionvsViken 2.1 Lagom
- Elements Gen II 140vsVagabond 2.0
Or read the full spec sheets for the Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition and the Horntools Elements Gen II 140.