Front Runner Roof Top Tent vs Vickywood LITTLE BAMBOO 125 GEN. 2
The Front Runner Roof Top Tent and the Vickywood LITTLE BAMBOO 125 GEN. 2 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. Front Runner and Vickywood take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Front Runner Roof Top Tent brings 43 kg, 3.12 m² of floor, 117 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Vickywood LITTLE BAMBOO 125 GEN. 2 counters with 43 kg, 2.7 m² of floor, 115 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
Inside, the Roof Top Tent gives 3.12 m² of sleeping floor against 2.7 m², about 16 percent more, though both are rated for 2. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
Canvas differs too: 260g poly-cotton ripstop body; 400D polyester oxford rainfly against 420D Oxford polyester, PU-coated, 3,000 mm water column, UV 50+. The LITTLE BAMBOO 125 GEN. 2 adds integrated LED lighting, which the Roof Top Tent does not offer.
Front Runner
Roof Top Tent
Front Runner's original fold-out, now sold under the Dometic umbrella. At 43 kg it is the lighter of the two Front Runner tents, and its 33 cm closed profile keeps the vehicle low on the road. The body is a 260g poly-cotton ripstop under a 400D polyester rainfly, and an annex is available to close in the space under the tent.
- 43 kg suits smaller crossovers and factory roof limits
- Low 33 cm packed profile
- Annex and skylight windows available
- Front Runner does not publish a setup time or season rating
Vickywood
LITTLE BAMBOO 125 GEN. 2
The LITTLE BAMBOO 125 GEN. 2 is a compact soft-shell fold-out tent for up to 2 people, with semi-automatic opening/closing side windows and a 7 cm cold-foam mattress. It has two roof windows and a 100 cm warm-white LED strip with USB. It is among Vickywood's lightest folding tents by published weight.
- Thick 7 cm cold-foam mattress
- Compact and light for a fold-out tent
- Two roof windows for ventilation
- Modest 3,000 mm water column rating
Which one to pick
Take the Roof Top Tent 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,199— best of the tents compared | $1,390— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 95 lb | 95 lb |
| Packed length | 4 ft 4 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 13 in— best of the tents compared | 13.8 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 33.6 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 29.1 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| 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. | ~5 minest. | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | — | 1000G PVC protective cover |
| Fabric | 260g poly-cotton ripstop body; 400D polyester oxford rainfly | 420D Oxford polyester, PU-coated, 3,000 mm water column, UV 50+ |
| Warranty | 2years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | No | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | No | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Front Runner product page | Vickywood product page |
Related comparisons
- Roof Top TentvsFeather-Lite II
- LITTLE BAMBOO 125 GEN. 2vsLite Cruiser 120 XL
- LITTLE BAMBOO 125 GEN. 2vsHi-View 1400
- LITTLE BAMBOO 125 GEN. 2vsUber Lite
Or read the full spec sheets for the Front Runner Roof Top Tent and the Vickywood LITTLE BAMBOO 125 GEN. 2.