Howling Moon Meteor Delux vs Overland Vehicle Systems XD Sherpa
The Howling Moon Meteor Delux and the Overland Vehicle Systems XD Sherpa are both hybrid tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. Howling Moon and Overland Vehicle Systems take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Howling Moon Meteor Delux brings 95 kg, 4.62 m² of floor, 110 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Overland Vehicle Systems XD Sherpa counters with 3.19 m² of floor, 132.1 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
Inside, the Meteor Delux gives 4.62 m² of sleeping floor against 3.19 m², about 45 percent more, though both are rated for 2. Headroom separates them further: 132.1 cm in the XD Sherpa against 110 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. The XD Sherpa lists about 49% lower than the Meteor Delux.
Canvas differs too: 329gsm ripstop poly-cotton canvas, UV50+, breathable against 320g rip stop poly cotton Oxford. Closed, the XD Sherpa sits 10.600000000000001 cm lower on the roof — 25.4 cm against 36 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Howling Moon
Meteor Delux
The Meteor Delux is a hard-lidded fold-out tent with an aluminium hardshell and scratch-resistant RAPTOR coating, a gas-strut lifting system and a 60 mm high-density mattress. It folds out to a wide roughly 210 x 220 cm floor and uses waterproof YKK zippers. It is the widest-floored tent in Howling Moon's current line-up.
- Wide ~4.6 sq m fold-out floor, the largest in the Howling Moon range
- Aluminium hardshell with RAPTOR coating
- Waterproof YKK zippers
- Heaviest model at 95 kg
Overland Vehicle Systems
XD Sherpa
The XD Sherpa is a coverless hybrid soft-shell in OVS's XD line, offered from solo up to 4-person; the 2-person opens to 52 x 95 in and weighs 140 lb dry. It includes LED lighting, a skylight, two crossbars and heater/AC ducting, with a 6-year fabric and limited lifetime structural warranty. Dimensions above are for the 2-person size.
- Coverless hybrid with quick ~2-min setup
- Offered from solo to 4-person
- LED, skylight, crossbars and heater/AC ducting included
- Coverless design offers less enclosed protection than a hardshell
Which one to pick
Take the XD Sherpa if the budget is fixed. Take the Meteor Delux 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 | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $3,210— worst of the tents compared | $1,649.99— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 209 lb | — |
| Packed length | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 4 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 14.2 in— worst of the tents compared | 10 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 49.7 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 34.3 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 4 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 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. | ~3 minest. | 2 min |
| Shell material | Aluminium hardshell with scratch-resistant RAPTOR coating | — |
| Fabric | 329gsm ripstop poly-cotton canvas, UV50+, breathable | 320g rip stop poly cotton Oxford |
| Warranty | — | 6years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | Yes |
| Roof skylight | — | Yes |
| Annex available | — | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Howling Moon product page | Overland Vehicle Systems product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Howling Moon Meteor Delux and the Overland Vehicle Systems XD Sherpa.