Horntools Elements Gen II 140 vs Wild Land Air Cruiser
The Horntools Elements Gen II 140 and the Wild Land Air Cruiser 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 Wild Land take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Horntools Elements Gen II 140 brings 73 kg, 4.64 m² of floor, 130 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Wild Land Air Cruiser counters with 51 kg, 2.84 m² of floor, 145 cm of headroom and sleeps 3.
The Air Cruiser is 22 kg lighter at 51 kg against 73 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 2.84 m², about 63 percent more, and it sleeps 2 to the Air Cruiser's 3. Headroom separates them further: 145 cm in the Air Cruiser against 130 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. The Elements Gen II 140 lists about 20% lower than the Air Cruiser.
They open differently: the Elements Gen II 140 is a fold-out and the Air Cruiser an inflatable. 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 600D poly-oxford PVC-coated cover (PU5000mm); 280g rip-stop polycotton PU-coated 2000mm walls; 210D poly-oxford PU3000mm floor. Closed, the Air Cruiser sits 9 cm lower on the roof — 30 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
Wild Land
Air Cruiser
The Air Cruiser is Wild Land's inflatable rooftop tent, using air beams over an aluminium base rather than poles, with a built-in electric pump the maker says fully inflates it in about four minutes. It sleeps 2-3 on a 5 cm foam mattress and includes LED lighting and dual roof skylights. It is the only inflatable model in Wild Land's US line-up.
- Built-in electric pump inflates the tent in about four minutes
- Includes LED lighting and dual roof skylights
- Full fabric specification published (PU5000mm cover)
- Heavier tent-only weight (51 kg) than the lighter fold-out models
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 Air Cruiser 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 | Inflatable |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,410— best of the tents compared | $2,999— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 161 lb— worst of the tents compared | 112 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 15.4 in— worst of the tents compared | 11.8 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 10 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 49.9 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 30.6 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 3.1 in— best of the tents compared | 2 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— worst of the tents compared | 4 min— best of the tents compared |
| Shell material | — | Aluminium frame base |
| Fabric | 300 g/m2 sailcloth with PU coating; 35% cotton, 65% polyester (water column 2000 mm) | 600D poly-oxford PVC-coated cover (PU5000mm); 280g rip-stop polycotton PU-coated 2000mm walls; 210D poly-oxford PU3000mm floor |
| Warranty | 5years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Horntools product page | Wild Land product page |
Related comparisons
- Elements Gen II 140vsVagabond 2.0
- Elements Gen II 140vsRoofTrekk Expedition
- Elements Gen II 140vsViken 2.1 Lagom
- Elements Gen II 140vsEvolution 2 (140)
Or read the full spec sheets for the Horntools Elements Gen II 140 and the Wild Land Air Cruiser.