Howling Moon Solar vs Overland Vehicle Systems XD Atlas Cantilever ABS
The Howling Moon Solar and the Overland Vehicle Systems XD Atlas Cantilever ABS 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 Overland Vehicle Systems 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 Overland Vehicle Systems XD Atlas Cantilever ABS counters with 82 kg, 3.37 m² of floor and sleeps 2.
The Solar is 22 kg lighter at 60 kg against 82 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 3.37 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. The Solar lists about 41% lower than the XD Atlas Cantilever ABS.
Canvas differs too: 370gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated against 320g rip stop poly cotton Oxford. Closed, the Solar sits 6.020000000000003 cm lower on the roof — 27 cm against 33.02 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Howling Moon
Solar
The Solar is a clamshell hardshell tent with a hard lid and gas-assisted struts, an openable roof window for stargazing and an 85 mm high-density foam mattress. Roof-bar mounting points allow fitting a solar panel or other accessories, and it has insect-screened windows and doors with a ventilated flysheet layer.
- Openable roof window for stargazing
- Roof-bar mounts for a solar panel or accessories
- Published open dimensions and interior height
- Two different weights (60 kg and ~70 kg) appear in the listing
Overland Vehicle Systems
XD Atlas Cantilever ABS
The XD Atlas is a cantilever hardshell using an ABS-plastic shell over an aluminum honeycomb base, sleeping two. It comes with LED interior lighting, a skylight, integrated crossbars and a heater/AC port, and carries a 6-year fabric with limited lifetime structural warranty. At 180 lb dry it is lighter than OVS's aluminum-shell XD models; OVS does not publish the mattress thickness or interior height for this model.
- Relatively low 180 lb dry weight for a hardshell
- LED, skylight, crossbars and heater/AC port included
- 6-year fabric / limited lifetime structural warranty
- Manufacturer does not publish mattress thickness
Which one to pick
Take the Solar if the budget is fixed. Take the Solar 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 | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,710— best of the tents compared | $2,899.99— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 132 lb— best of the tents compared | 180 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 5 ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 5 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 4 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 10.6 in— best of the tents compared | 13 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 5 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 5 ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 36.3 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 7 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 3.3 in | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | 2 min |
| Shell material | — | ABS plastic over aluminum honeycomb base |
| Fabric | 370gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated | 320g rip stop poly cotton Oxford |
| Warranty | — | 6years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | Yes |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | — | Yes |
| Solar ready | Yes | — |
| 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 Solar and the Overland Vehicle Systems XD Atlas Cantilever ABS.