James Baroud Odyssey vs Yakima SkyPeak HD
The James Baroud Odyssey and the Yakima SkyPeak HD 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. James Baroud and Yakima take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the James Baroud Odyssey brings 70 kg, 2.8 m² of floor, 100 cm of headroom and sleeps 3. The Yakima SkyPeak HD counters with 82 kg, 2.89 m² of floor, 171.45 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The Odyssey is 12 kg lighter at 70 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 2.8 m² and 2.89 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. Headroom separates them further: 171.45 cm in the SkyPeak HD against 100 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. James Baroud also backs the Odyssey for 5 years against 2.
The SkyPeak HD adds the ability to carry cargo on the shell and integrated LED lighting, which the Odyssey does not offer. Closed, the SkyPeak HD sits 17.49 cm lower on the roof — 16.51 cm against 34 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
James Baroud
Odyssey
James Baroud's ABS-shelled Frontier series tent, sized M here. It carries the brand's 5-year full-replacement warranty and a solar-powered vent that runs 24 hours without a vehicle connection.
- 5-year full-replacement warranty
- 24-hour solar-powered ventilation fan
- 3-layer insulated blackout fabric
- 70 kg for a three-person tent
Yakima
SkyPeak HD
The SkyPeak HD is Yakima's hardshell rooftop tent, using a clamshell design with an expansion pop-out that opens the interior to 81.5 by 55 inches with a 67.5-inch peak height. It is the heaviest of Yakima's current rooftop tents at 180 lbs (82 kg) and adds USB-powered dimmable interior lighting, a floor pass-through port with solar-cable routing hardware, and tent-side T-slots rated to 75 lbs per side. Yakima rates it 4-season and backs it with a limited two-year warranty.
- Hardshell clamshell design with quick pop-out setup
- Integrated USB-powered dimmable lighting plus a floor pass-through port for solar cable routing
- Access doors on three sides and tent-side T-slots for gear (75 lbs per side)
- Heaviest of Yakima's current rooftop tents at 180 lbs (82 kg)
Which one to pick
Take the Odyssey 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 | 3— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | 4-season | 4-season |
| List price | $4,900— best of the tents compared | $4,999.99— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 154 lb— best of the tents compared | 180 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 6 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 1 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 13.4 in— worst of the tents compared | 6.5 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 6 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 30.1 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 31.1 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2.6 in | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | 4 mm ABS with UV coating | — |
| Fabric | 3-layer blackout fabric with thermal and acoustic insulation | — |
| Warranty | 5years— best of the tents compared | 2years— worst of the tents compared |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | No | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | Yes | Yes |
| Roof skylight | No | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | Yes | Yes |
| Carries cargo on top | No | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | James Baroud product page | Yakima product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the James Baroud Odyssey and the Yakima SkyPeak HD.