Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition vs Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140)
The Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition and the Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (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 Roof Lodge 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 Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140) counters with 65 kg, 3.36 m² of floor, 120 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The Evolution 2 (140) is 15 kg lighter at 65 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 3.36 m², about 38 percent more, and it sleeps 4 to the Evolution 2 (140)'s 2. 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 320 g/m2 polycotton (65% polyester / 35% cotton), PU-coated. Closed, the RoofTrekk Expedition sits 6 cm lower on the roof — 34 cm against 40 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
Roof Lodge
Evolution 2 (140)
The Roof Lodge Evolution 2 is a German-made fold-out softshell rooftop tent built on a thermoplastic honeycomb floor with a 320 g/m2 PU-coated polycotton canopy. The 140 cm width sleeps two on a 60 mm foam mattress at a setup height of about 120 cm, and mounts to standard crossbars up to 120 mm wide. It is the narrower of Roof Lodge's two Evolution 2 widths and can be ordered as a Basic tent or as an Extended version with a large ground annex.
- Designed and assembled in Germany on a rigid thermoplastic honeycomb floor
- Package includes a 60 mm mattress, 3D-mesh underlay, aluminium ladder, LED lighting and two skylight windows
- Compatible with an optional ground annex/awning for extended stays
- OEKO-TEX 100 certified mattress (two firmness options) plus long-term spare parts and repairs from Roof Lodge's own German workshop
- Optional thermal inner tent available for cold-weather use, extending it toward year-round camping
- Relatively heavy at 55 kg
Which one to pick
Take the RoofTrekk Expedition if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Evolution 2 (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 | — | 3-season |
| List price | $2,370— worst of the tents compared | $2,320— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 176 lb— worst of the tents compared | 143 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 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 13.4 in— best of the tents compared | 15.7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 49.9 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 36.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 1.6 in— worst of the tents compared | 2.4 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 | 320 g/m2 polycotton (65% polyester / 35% cotton), PU-coated |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | Yes |
| Roof skylight | — | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Direct4x4 product page | Roof Lodge product page |
Related comparisons
- RoofTrekk ExpeditionvsVagabond 2.0
- RoofTrekk ExpeditionvsElements Gen II 140
- RoofTrekk ExpeditionvsViken 2.1 Lagom
- Evolution 2 (140)vsVagabond 2.0
Or read the full spec sheets for the Direct4x4 RoofTrekk Expedition and the Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140).