Eezi-Awn Fun vs Rhino-Rack Soft Shell (61026)
The Eezi-Awn Fun and the Rhino-Rack Soft Shell (61026) 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 Rhino-Rack take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Eezi-Awn Fun brings 50 kg, 130 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Rhino-Rack Soft Shell (61026) counters with 45 kg, 2.67 m² of floor and sleeps 2.
The Soft Shell (61026) is 5 kg lighter at 45 kg against 50 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 Soft Shell (61026) lists about 17% lower than the Fun.
Canvas differs too: 260GSM double-stitched ripstop canvas on aluminium bows with reinforced PVC flysheet against 600D rip-stop PolyOxford body, 210D fly, PU coated (CPAI-84).
Eezi-Awn
Fun
The Fun is a soft-shell fold-out tent in Eezi-Awn's soft-shell range, offered in 1.4m and 1.6m widths, both 2440mm long and 1300mm high when erected. It uses double-stitched 260GSM ripstop canvas stretched onto aluminium bows over 9mm marine-plywood floorboards with a 65mm SABS-approved foam mattress 235cm long. A fully retractable 208cm anodised-aluminium ladder, side storage pockets, YKK zippers and a ratchet-assisted PVC travel cover are included, with an optional add-a-room.
- Two erected widths offered (1.4m and 1.6m)
- 260GSM ripstop canvas over a 9mm marine-plywood floor
- Retractable 208cm ladder and optional add-a-room
- Manufacturer does not publish price or packed dimensions
Rhino-Rack
Soft Shell (61026)
The softer, lighter of Rhino-Rack's two two-person fold-out tents, with a published kit weight of 45kg (99lb) including the tent, ladder and mounting system. It uses a 40mm foam mattress, a 600D body and a 210D fly, and includes an LED strip light and boot bags. Awnings sit over the front door and rear window for ventilation.
- Lighter kit than Rhino-Rack's hardshell (45kg vs 65kg)
- Compatible with a wide range of Rhino-Rack platforms (Reconn-Deck, Reconn, Vortex, Pioneer)
- LED strip light and boot bags included
- Thinner 40mm mattress than the hardshell's 70mm
Which one to pick
Take the Soft Shell (61026) 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,160— worst of the tents compared | $1,800— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 110 lb est.— worst of the tents compared | 99 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | — | 4 ft 1 in |
| Packed width | — | 4 ft 6 in |
| Packed height | — | 8.3 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 8 ft— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 3 in |
| Floor area | — | 28.7 sq ft |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 2.6 in— best of the tents compared | 1.6 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. | 5 min |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 260GSM double-stitched ripstop canvas on aluminium bows with reinforced PVC flysheet | 600D rip-stop PolyOxford body, 210D fly, PU coated (CPAI-84) |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | Yes | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Eezi-Awn product page | Rhino-Rack product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Eezi-Awn Fun and the Rhino-Rack Soft Shell (61026).