Eezi-Awn Blade 40th Edition vs Eezi-Awn Dart
Both of these are Eezi-Awn tents, so the question is not which brand to trust but which size and configuration suits your vehicle and how you camp. The Blade 40th Edition and the Dart share Eezi-Awn's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Dart is 12 kg lighter at 70 kg against 82 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. The Blade 40th Edition lists $715 lower, at $2,685 against $3,400.
The Blade 40th Edition uses aluminium (extruded base with two 8mm accessory slots); the Dart uses fibreglass (lightweight white fibreglass body).
Eezi-Awn
Blade 40th Edition
The Blade 40th Edition is an aerodynamic aluminium hard-shell tent with an extruded base carrying two 8mm accessory slots and a K9 rack platform on top rated for solar panels, bikes or kayaks. Eezi-Awn lists an 82kg weight, packed dimensions of 2200 x 1450 x 320mm (rear), two stainless-steel locks, revised gas struts and a USB port. It is one of Eezi-Awn's aluminium hard-shell models.
- K9 roof platform rated for solar panels, bikes or kayaks
- Stainless-steel locks and revised gas struts
- Published 82kg weight and packed dimensions
- Manufacturer does not publish mattress thickness, capacity or open dimensions on this page
Eezi-Awn
Dart
The Dart is an aerodynamic fibreglass hard-shell clamshell tent rated for two people, opening in seconds with the ladder stowing inside the tent. US dealers list a lightweight white fibreglass body, 260-gram Teflon-coated polyester ripstop walls, an 80mm high-density laminated mattress, National Luna interior LED lighting and a 12V socket. Closed size is 2200 x 1450mm, 320mm high at the rear tapering to 165mm at the front, opening to a 1400mm interior peak height, with a weight of 70kg including the ladder.
- Fibreglass shell with an extension ladder that stows inside the tent
- 80mm high-density mattress with interior LED and a 12V socket
- Published 70kg weight including the ladder
- No longer listed in Eezi-Awn's own online catalogue, so specs are taken from a US dealer
Which one to pick
Take the Blade 40th Edition if the budget is fixed. Take the Dart 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 | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,690— best of the tents compared | $3,400— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 181 lb— worst of the tents compared | 154 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 3 in | 7 ft 3 in |
| Packed width | 4 ft 9 in | 4 ft 9 in |
| Packed height | 12.6 in | 12.6 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | — |
| Sleeping width | — | — |
| Floor area | — | — |
| Interior height | — | 4 ft 7 in |
| Mattress thickness | — | 3.1 in |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | Aluminium (extruded base with two 8mm accessory slots) | Fibreglass (lightweight white fibreglass body) |
| Fabric | — | 260 g Teflon-coated polyester ripstop |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | Yes | — |
| Carries cargo on top | Yes | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Eezi-Awn product page | Eezi-Awn product page |
Related comparisons
- Blade 40th EditionvsClassic
- Blade 40th EditionvsKozi HighRize 1250
- Blade 40th EditionvsAluminum Pop-up
- Blade 40th EditionvsOrion 1200 Lightweight
Or read the full spec sheets for the Eezi-Awn Blade 40th Edition and the Eezi-Awn Dart.