Howling Moon Comet 2 vs Howling Moon Comet Ultra
Both of these are Howling Moon tents, so the question is not which brand to trust but which size and configuration suits your vehicle and how you camp. The Comet 2 and the Comet Ultra share Howling Moon's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Comet Ultra is 15 kg lighter at 70 kg against 85 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 Comet 2 gives 2.86 m² of sleeping floor against 2.47 m², about 16 percent more, though both are rated for 2. The Comet Ultra lists $726 lower, at $1,709 against $2,435.
The Comet 2 uses aluminium hardshell (top and bottom) with scratch-resistant coating; the Comet Ultra uses slim aluminium base. Canvas differs too: 320gsm vapour-permeable poly-cotton body; 200g nylon flysheet; 210D Oxford trim against 380gsm poly-cotton military-grade canvas, UV and water resistant.
Howling Moon
Comet 2
The Comet 2 is a pop-up hardshell tent with an aerodynamic aluminium shell and scratch-resistant coating, raised by a gas-strut mechanism over a 50 mm memory-foam mattress. It has built-in roof rails for mounting accessories, ceiling storage compartments, an interior LED light and USB charging, and a 2.3 m telescopic aluminium ladder. Its shell packs to 22 cm high.
- Built-in roof rails for accessories
- Ceiling storage compartments plus LED light and USB
- Full packed and open dimensions published
- 50 mm mattress is thinner than the Lunar's 100 mm
Howling Moon
Comet Ultra
The Comet Ultra is the slim member of Howling Moon's Comet pop-up hardshell family, with a 90 mm packed height on a slim aluminium base and a 50 mm high-density memory-foam mattress. Its interior floor measures about 206 x 120 cm and the included 2.3 m telescopic ladder is rated to 150 kg. Aero mesh and carpet are fitted to reduce condensation.
- Slim 90 mm packed height
- Ladder rated to 150 kg
- Published interior floor dimensions
- Thinner 50 mm mattress than other Comet models
Which one to pick
Take the Comet Ultra if the budget is fixed. Take the Comet Ultra 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 | Pop-up | Pop-up |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,440— worst of the tents compared | $1,710— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 187 lb— worst of the tents compared | 154 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 8 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 8.7 in | — |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 4 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 30.8 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 26.6 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 11 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in | 2 in |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | Aluminium hardshell (top and bottom) with scratch-resistant coating | Slim aluminium base |
| Fabric | 320gsm vapour-permeable poly-cotton body; 200g nylon flysheet; 210D Oxford trim | 380gsm poly-cotton military-grade canvas, UV and water resistant |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | Yes | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Howling Moon product page | Howling Moon product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Howling Moon Comet 2 and the Howling Moon Comet Ultra.