RooftopTentCompare

Eezi-Awn Sabre Lite vs Rhino-Rack Hardshell (61002)

The Eezi-Awn Sabre Lite and the Rhino-Rack Hardshell (61002) are both hardshell 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 Sabre Lite brings 70 kg and sleeps 2. The Rhino-Rack Hardshell (61002) counters with 65 kg, 2.73 m² of floor and sleeps 2.

The Hardshell (61002) is 5 kg lighter at 65 kg against 70 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 Sabre Lite lists about 32% lower than the Hardshell (61002).

They open differently: the Sabre Lite is a clamshell and the Hardshell (61002) 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.

Eezi-Awn

Sabre Lite

The Sabre Lite is one of Eezi-Awn's aluminium hard-shell tents, rated by the maker as a two-person tent that one person can open and close in under five minutes. It carries a 70mm high-density laminated mattress, internal LED lighting and a K9 track on the shell for mounting load bars or a solar-panel bracket. Packed dimensions are 1450 x 1400mm, 370mm high at the back tapering to 270mm at the front.

  • Manufacturer states two-person capacity and under-five-minute single-person setup
  • K9 track on the shell for load bars or a solar bracket
  • Internal LED lighting and USB/USB-C charging
  • Eezi-Awn does not publish erected height or open floor dimensions

Rhino-Rack

Hardshell (61002)

Rhino-Rack's fold-out hardshell tent sleeps two on a 70mm HD foam mattress and opens with gas-strut assistance. Its published kit weight is 65kg (143lb), covering the tent, ladder and mounting system, and the hard lid is rated to carry up to 20kg (44lb) of gear. The body is 600D and the fly 210D rip-stop PolyOxford, and an LED strip light and boot bags are included.

  • Gas-strut assisted fold-out opening
  • Hard lid rated to carry up to 20kg of extra gear
  • LED strip light and boot bags included
  • Manufacturer does not publish a peak/interior height

Which one to pick

Take the Sabre Lite if the budget is fixed. Take the Hardshell (61002) 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

Side-by-side specifications for Eezi-Awn Sabre Lite, Rhino-Rack Hardshell (61002)
Specification

Eezi-Awn

Sabre Lite
Hardshell
  • Cheapest
Check current price

Rhino-Rack

Hardshell (61002)
Hardshell
  • Lightest
Check current priceVia dealers
Overview
TypeHardshellHardshell
Opening styleClamshellFold-out
Sleeps22
Season rating——
List price$2,260— best of the tents compared$3,300— worst of the tents compared
Weight and size
Weight154 lb— worst of the tents compared143 lb— best of the tents compared
Packed length4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared
Packed width4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared4 ft 8 in— worst of the tents compared
Packed height14.6 in— best of the tents compared15 in— worst of the tents compared
Living space
Sleeping length—6 ft 11 in
Sleeping width—4 ft 3 in
Floor area—29.4 sq ft
Interior height——
Mattress thickness2.8 in2.8 in
Setup and build
Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice.5 min5 min
Shell materialAluminium hard-shell with one-piece hinge system—
Fabric—600D rip-stop PolyOxford body, 210D fly, PU coated (CPAI-84)
Warranty——
Features
Integrated LED lightingYesYes
Heater / HVAC port——
Roof skylight——
Annex available——
Solar readyYes—
Carries cargo on topYesYes
Sources
Last verifiedEezi-Awn product pageRhino-Rack product page

Related comparisons

Or read the full spec sheets for the Eezi-Awn Sabre Lite and the Rhino-Rack Hardshell (61002).