Horntools Elements Gen II 140 vs Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tent
The Horntools Elements Gen II 140 and the Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tent 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 Smittybilt take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Gen2 Overlander XL Tent is 10.299999999999997 kg lighter at 63 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 Gen2 Overlander XL Tent gives 5.98 m² of sleeping floor against 4.64 m², about 29 percent more, and it sleeps 4 to the Elements Gen II 140's 2. List prices are within $19.00999999999999 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one. Horntools also backs the Elements Gen II 140 for 5 years against 2.
Canvas differs too: 300 g/m2 sailcloth with PU coating; 35% cotton, 65% polyester (water column 2000 mm) against 600D heavy-duty ripstop polyester, waterproof polyurethane-impregnated top; 420D oxford rainfly. Closed, the Gen2 Overlander XL Tent sits 9.79 cm lower on the roof — 29.21 cm against 39 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
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
Smittybilt
Gen2 Overlander XL Tent
The Gen2 Overlander XL is the larger of Smittybilt's two soft-shell fold-out rooftop tents, sleeping 3-4 on a king-size 92.5" x 74.8" mattress. It shares the 600D ripstop polyester construction, anodized aluminum frame and LED strip of the standard model but adds a wider footprint and a higher 770lbs/350kg load rating. It is backed by a 2-year warranty.
- King-size mattress and wider footprint than the standard Gen2 Overlander
- 770lbs/350kg rated load
- Integrated LED strip and mosquito screens
- Manufacturer does not publish tent weight or mattress thickness
Which one to pick
Take the Gen2 Overlander XL Tent if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Gen2 Overlander XL Tent 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— worst of the tents compared | 4— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,970— worst of the tents compared | $1,949.99— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 162 lb— worst of the tents compared | 139 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 15.4 in— worst of the tents compared | 11.5 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 10 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 10 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 49.9 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 64.4 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 3.1 in | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | 5 min | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 300 g/m2 sailcloth with PU coating; 35% cotton, 65% polyester (water column 2000 mm) | 600D heavy-duty ripstop polyester, waterproof polyurethane-impregnated top; 420D oxford rainfly |
| Warranty | 5years— best of the tents compared | 2years— worst of the tents compared |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Horntools product page | Smittybilt product page |
Related comparisons
- Elements Gen II 140vsPioneer 2 Tent
- Elements Gen II 140vsWalkabout 62 2.0
- Elements Gen II 140vsMeadowlark 2 XL
- Gen2 Overlander XL TentvsPioneer 2 Tent
Or read the full spec sheets for the Horntools Elements Gen II 140 and the Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tent.