Eezi-Awn Family vs RoofBunk Explorer
The Eezi-Awn Family and the RoofBunk Explorer 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. Eezi-Awn and RoofBunk take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Explorer is 48 kg lighter at 50 kg against 98 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 Family gives 5.37 m² of sleeping floor against 4.34 m², about 24 percent more, and it sleeps 4 to the Explorer's 3. Eezi-Awn does not publish a list price for the Family, so a direct cost comparison means getting a quote from a dealer.
Canvas differs too: 360GSM double-stitched heavy-duty ripstop canvas against 320gsm poly-cotton blend ripstop canvas body; 600D Oxford polyester rainfly.
Eezi-Awn
Family
The Family is the largest tent in Eezi-Awn's Serie III soft-shell range, erecting to 2200mm wide x 2440mm long x 1300mm high with a removable central dividing wall and two separate 65mm SABS-approved foam mattresses. It uses 360GSM double-stitched ripstop canvas with a reinforced PVC flysheet and includes two fully retractable 230cm anodised aluminium ladders. Doors and windows have zip-up privacy panels and mosquito nets with heavy-duty YKK zippers.
- Two separate mattresses plus a removable dividing wall for split sleeping areas
- Published erected dimensions and interior height
- Two retractable aluminium ladders and YKK zippers
- Manufacturer does not publish price, weight or packed dimensions
RoofBunk
Explorer
The Explorer is the entry model in RoofBunk's three-tent soft-shell Explorer range, a fold-out tent the maker rates for 2-3 occupants. RoofBunk lists open dimensions of 310 x 140cm - a figure that includes a 70 x 140cm entrance canopy over the ladder - a packed size of 140 x 120 x 30cm and a 6cm memory-foam mattress. It uses a 320gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas body (3000mm HH) with a 600D Oxford polyester rainfly (5000mm HH) and is marketed as 4-season.
- 4-season rating with a 3000mm-HH canvas body and 5000mm-HH rainfly
- Supplied with a 6cm memory-foam mattress, USB strip light and two skylights
- 2-year warranty, extendable to 7 years per RoofBunk
- Manufacturer does not state what the 50kg weight includes
Which one to pick
Take the Explorer if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. Take the Family if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. 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 | — | 4-season |
| List price | — | $1,480 |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 216 lb— worst of the tents compared | 110 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | — | 4 ft 7 in |
| Packed width | — | 3 ft 11 in |
| Packed height | — | 11.8 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 8 ft— worst of the tents compared | 10 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 7 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 57.8 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 46.7 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in | 4 ft 3 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2.6 in— best of the tents compared | 2.4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | 4 min |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 360GSM double-stitched heavy-duty ripstop canvas | 320gsm poly-cotton blend ripstop canvas body; 600D Oxford polyester rainfly |
| Warranty | — | 2years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | Yes |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Eezi-Awn product page | RoofBunk product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Eezi-Awn Family and the RoofBunk Explorer.