Howling Moon Stargazer vs Overland Vehicle Systems HD Nomadic 3 Extended
The Howling Moon Stargazer and the Overland Vehicle Systems HD Nomadic 3 Extended 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. Howling Moon and Overland Vehicle Systems take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Howling Moon Stargazer brings 55 kg, 3.36 m² of floor, 120 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The Overland Vehicle Systems HD Nomadic 3 Extended counters with 71 kg, 3.94 m² of floor and sleeps 3.
The Stargazer is 16 kg lighter at 55 kg against 71 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 HD Nomadic 3 Extended gives 3.94 m² of sleeping floor against 3.36 m², about 17 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Stargazer's 2. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
Canvas differs too: 380gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated against 280g rip stop poly cotton Oxford.
Howling Moon
Stargazer
The Stargazer is the top softshell fold-out tent in Howling Moon's softshell line, adding two openable roof windows to the Tourer layout so occupants can sleep looking at the sky while screened in. It shares the 380gsm poly-cotton canvas and 75 mm high-density foam mattress with the other softshells and comes with a removable flysheet and PVC cover. It is offered in widths from 1.4 m to 2.4 m.
- Two openable roof windows for stargazing
- Compatible with the brand's extension/annex
- Multiple widths from 1.4 m to 2.4 m
- Manufacturer does not publish packed dimensions here
Overland Vehicle Systems
HD Nomadic 3 Extended
The HD Nomadic 3 Arctic White Extended is the white-body, dark-grey-rainfly colorway of OVS's 3-person Nomadic Extended, and unlike the base Extended listing it publishes a 64 x 95.5 in open size and a 156.2 lb dry weight. It includes a skylight, a 40 in LED strip and annex compatibility on a double-insulated aluminum base. Warranty is 4 years fabric and structural.
- Published open size and 156.2 lb dry weight
- Skylight, LED strip and annex compatibility
- Double-insulated aluminum base
- Color/size-specific listing (white 3-person only)
Which one to pick
Take the Stargazer if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. Take the HD Nomadic 3 Extended 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 | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | 4-season |
| List price | $1,840— worst of the tents compared | $1,749.99— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 121 lb— best of the tents compared | 156 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 5 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 6 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 14.2 in— worst of the tents compared | 14 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 5 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 42.4 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | 3 min |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 380gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated | 280g rip stop poly cotton Oxford |
| Warranty | — | 4years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | No |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | No |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Howling Moon product page | Overland Vehicle Systems product page |
Related comparisons
- StargazervsCross 1200 MK2
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- StargazervsGen2 Overlander XL Tent
- HD Nomadic 3 ExtendedvsRanger 65
Or read the full spec sheets for the Howling Moon Stargazer and the Overland Vehicle Systems HD Nomadic 3 Extended.