Dometic TRT 140 AIR vs Horntools Elements Gen II 140

The Dometic TRT 140 AIR 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. Dometic and Horntools take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.

The TRT 140 AIR is 26.299999999999997 kg lighter at 47 kg against 73.3 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 Elements Gen II 140 gives 4.64 m² of sleeping floor against 3.16 m², about 47 percent more, though both are rated for 2. Headroom separates them further: 130 cm in the Elements Gen II 140 against 115 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. Setup is not close. The TRT 140 AIR opens as a inflatable in 120 seconds; the Elements Gen II 140 takes 5 minutes. Over a trip with a new campsite every night, that gap compounds. The Elements Gen II 140 lists $531 lower, at $1,969 against $2,500.

They open differently: the TRT 140 AIR is an inflatable and the Elements Gen II 140 a fold-out. That is not cosmetic — it decides whether headroom is even across the tent or tapers towards one end, and how much of the roof the tent occupies when closed. Canvas differs too: 300D ripstop polyester against 300 g/m2 sailcloth with PU coating; 35% cotton, 65% polyester (water column 2000 mm). The Elements Gen II 140 adds integrated LED lighting, which the TRT 140 AIR does not offer. Closed, the TRT 140 AIR sits 8 cm lower on the roof — 31 cm against 39 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.