Ironman 4x4 Cross 1200 MK2 vs Latitude Tents Scout

The Ironman 4x4 Cross 1200 MK2 and the Latitude Tents Scout 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. Ironman 4x4 and Latitude Tents take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.

By the numbers, the Ironman 4x4 Cross 1200 MK2 brings 56 kg, 4.38 m² of floor, 128.02 cm of headroom and sleeps 3. The Latitude Tents Scout counters with 45 kg, 3.12 m² of floor, 130 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.

The Scout is 11 kg lighter at 45 kg against 56 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 Cross 1200 MK2 gives 4.38 m² of sleeping floor against 3.12 m², about 40 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Scout's 2. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one. Ironman 4x4 also backs the Cross 1200 MK2 for 3 years against 2.

They open differently: the Cross 1200 MK2 is a fold-out and the Scout a clamshell. 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. The Cross 1200 MK2 uses soft shell; the Scout uses 25mm aluminium tubing frame with 304-grade stainless steel hardware and hinges. Canvas differs too: 420D polyester Oxford fly; 120gsm super-fine insect mesh against 320g rip-stop polyester-cotton with waterproof & UV-resistant coating; oxford polyester rainfly; 550g PVC travel cover. Closed, the Scout sits 17.93 cm lower on the roof — 25 cm against 42.93 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.