Horntools Elements Gen II 140 vs Latitude Tents Pioneer
The Horntools Elements Gen II 140 and the Latitude Tents Pioneer 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. Horntools and Latitude Tents take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Pioneer is 19.299999999999997 kg lighter at 54 kg against 73.3 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 Elements Gen II 140 gives 4.64 m² of sleeping floor against 3.36 m², about 38 percent more, and it sleeps 2 to the Pioneer's 3. List prices are within $183 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one. Horntools also backs the Elements Gen II 140 for 5 years against 2.
They open differently: the Elements Gen II 140 is a fold-out and the Pioneer a clamshell. 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. Canvas differs too: 300 g/m2 sailcloth with PU coating; 35% cotton, 65% polyester (water column 2000 mm) against 320g rip-stop polyester-cotton with waterproof & UV-resistant coating; oxford polyester rainfly; 550g PVC travel cover.
Horntools
Elements Gen II 140
The 140 cm two-person version of Horntools's Elements Gen II folding roof tent, built on an aluminium honeycomb base with a 300 g/m2 sailcloth outer (35% cotton, 65% polyester). It opens in about five minutes to a 320 x 145 cm sleeping area with 130 cm interior height, an 8 cm foam mattress, integrated dimmable LED lighting and a Sky View roof window. It is the smallest of Horntools's three Elements Gen II sizes.
- Aluminium honeycomb base with 8 cm foam mattress
- Integrated dimmable LED lighting and Sky View roof window
- 5-year (voluntary) manufacturer warranty
- Manufacturer does not publish a season rating
Latitude Tents
Pioneer
The Pioneer is Latitude Tents's softshell clamshell roof tent sleeping 2-3 adults, sitting between the Scout and the larger Pioneer XL in the range. It has a 240cm x 140cm internal floor with a 60mm high-density foam mattress, two roof skylights, and the same 320g rip-stop polyester-cotton construction as the rest of the softshell range. It needs roof bars rated above 55kg; Latitude does not publish the tent's weight or packed dimensions.
- Sleeps 2-3 adults on a 240 x 140cm floor
- Two roof skylights and a 60mm high-density foam mattress
- Fits vehicles with roof bars rated above 55kg
- Manufacturer does not publish weight or packed dimensions
Which one to pick
Take the Elements Gen II 140 if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Pioneer 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 | Horntools Elements Gen II 140
| |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,970— worst of the tents compared | $1,790— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 162 lb— worst of the tents compared | 119 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 1 in | — |
| Packed width | 4 ft 9 in | — |
| Packed height | 15.4 in | — |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 10 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 49.9 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 36.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 3.1 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 min | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | — | 25mm aluminium tubing frame with 304-grade stainless steel hardware and hinges |
| Fabric | 300 g/m2 sailcloth with PU coating; 35% cotton, 65% polyester (water column 2000 mm) | 320g rip-stop polyester-cotton with waterproof & UV-resistant coating; oxford polyester rainfly; 550g PVC travel cover |
| Warranty | 5years— best of the tents compared | 2years— worst of the tents compared |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Horntools product page | Latitude Tents product page |
Related comparisons
- Elements Gen II 140vsGen2 Overlander XL Tent
- Elements Gen II 140vsPioneer 2 Tent
- Elements Gen II 140vsWalkabout 62 2.0
- Elements Gen II 140vsMeadowlark 2 XL
Or read the full spec sheets for the Horntools Elements Gen II 140 and the Latitude Tents Pioneer.