Femkes JoyCee vs Roam Adventure Co The Desperado
The Femkes JoyCee and the Roam Adventure Co The Desperado 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. Femkes and Roam Adventure Co take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The JoyCee is 16.599999999999994 kg lighter at 65 kg against 81.6 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. List prices are within $121 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
The JoyCee uses aerodynamic ABS, waterproof, with aluminium base; the The Desperado uses aluminium extrusion with honeycomb panels. Canvas differs too: polyester mix with 280 gr cotton canvas, waterproof and fire-retardant against 420D polyester Oxford. Closed, the The Desperado sits 6 cm lower on the roof — 25 cm against 31 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Femkes
JoyCee
The JoyCee is an ABS clamshell hardtop tent from Femkes that opens upward on gas springs to sleep two, with an interior peak height of about 123 cm. It includes a fixed awning over the large window and an annex awning that attaches behind the vehicle. Femkes lists a closed size of 210 x 140 x 31 cm and an approximate 65 kg weight including ladder and mattress.
- 123 cm interior height, taller than Femkes's Lifun and Miles clamshells
- Annex awning included for behind-vehicle shelter
- 6 cm mattress with optional NASA memory-foam layer
- Manufacturer does not publish a season rating or setup time
Roam Adventure Co
The Desperado
Roam's aluminium-honeycomb hardshell for two, opening in about 30 seconds; the maker does not publish its deployed footprint.
- ~30 s hardshell setup
- Aluminium honeycomb construction
- 2-year warranty
- Open dimensions not published
Which one to pick
Take the JoyCee 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 | $3,080— best of the tents compared | $3,199— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 143 lb— best of the tents compared | 180 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 6 ft 11 in | 6 ft 11 in |
| Packed width | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 12.2 in— worst of the tents compared | 9.8 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 9 in | — |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 5 in | — |
| Floor area | 30 sq ft | — |
| Interior height | 4 ft | — |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 in— worst of the tents compared | 2.8 in— best of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | 30 sec |
| Shell material | Aerodynamic ABS, waterproof, with aluminium base | Aluminium extrusion with honeycomb panels |
| Fabric | Polyester mix with 280 gr cotton canvas, waterproof and fire-retardant | 420D polyester Oxford |
| Warranty | — | 2years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | Yes | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Femkes product page | Roam Adventure Co product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Femkes JoyCee and the Roam Adventure Co The Desperado.