Howling Moon Solar vs Naturnest Sirius 1 Plus

The Howling Moon Solar and the Naturnest Sirius 1 Plus are both hardshell 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 Naturnest take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.

By the numbers, the Howling Moon Solar brings 60 kg, 3.36 m² of floor, 140 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Naturnest Sirius 1 Plus counters with 75 kg, 3.36 m² of floor, 120 cm of headroom and sleeps 3.

The Solar is 15 kg lighter at 60 kg against 75 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Floor area is close to identical at 3.36 m² and 3.36 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. Headroom separates them further: 140 cm in the Solar against 120 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.

They open differently: the Solar is a clamshell and the Sirius 1 Plus a fold-out. 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: 370gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated against 420D waterproof Oxford outer; mildew-proof plaid Oxford inner.