Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition vs Roam Adventure Co Vagabond 2.0
The Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition and the Roam Adventure Co Vagabond 2.0 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 Roam Adventure Co 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 Roam Adventure Co Vagabond 2.0 counters with 68 kg, 3.46 m² of floor and sleeps 3.
The Vagabond 2.0 is 12 kg lighter at 68 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. Inside, the RoofTrekk Expedition gives 4.64 m² of sleeping floor against 3.46 m², about 34 percent more, and it sleeps 4 to the Vagabond 2.0's 3. 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 600D poly/cotton ripstop; 420D PU nylon rainfly. Closed, the Vagabond 2.0 sits 11 cm lower on the roof — 23 cm against 34 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
Roam Adventure Co
Vagabond 2.0
Roam's insulated-base fold-out softshell for two to three, with an included annex, a skylight and a high-R-value memory-foam mattress.
- Insulated base, R-10 mattress
- Annex and skylight included
- 2-year warranty
- ~5 min softshell setup
Which one to pick
Take the RoofTrekk Expedition if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Vagabond 2.0 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 | 3— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,370— best of the tents compared | $2,399— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 176 lb— worst of the tents compared | 150 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 8 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 13.4 in— worst of the tents compared | 9.1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 8 ft— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 8 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 49.9 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 37.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 10 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 1.6 in— worst of the tents compared | 2.5 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 | — | Insulated aluminium base |
| Fabric | Poly-cotton canvas, water column 3,000 mm | 600D poly/cotton ripstop; 420D PU nylon rainfly |
| Warranty | — | 2years |
| 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 | Roam Adventure Co product page |
Related comparisons
- RoofTrekk ExpeditionvsElements Gen II 140
- RoofTrekk ExpeditionvsEvolution 2 (140)
- RoofTrekk ExpeditionvsViken 2.1 Lagom
- Vagabond 2.0vsElements Gen II 140
Or read the full spec sheets for the Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition and the Roam Adventure Co Vagabond 2.0.