Latitude Tents Pioneer vs Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent
The Latitude Tents Pioneer and the Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent 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. Latitude Tents and Smittybilt take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Latitude Tents Pioneer brings 54 kg, 3.36 m² of floor and sleeps 3. The Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent counters with 60 kg, 3.43 m² of floor, 129.54 cm of headroom and sleeps 3.
The Pioneer is 6 kg lighter at 54 kg against 60 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 3.43 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. The Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent lists about 16% lower than the Pioneer.
They open differently: the Pioneer is a clamshell and the Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent 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: 320g rip-stop polyester-cotton with waterproof & UV-resistant coating; oxford polyester rainfly; 550g PVC travel cover against 600D heavy-duty ripstop polyester, waterproof polyurethane-impregnated top; 420D oxford rainfly.
Latitude Tents
Pioneer
The Pioneer is Latitude Tents's softshell clamshell roof tent sleeping 2-3 adults, sitting between the Scout and the larger Pioneer XL in the range. It has a 240cm x 140cm internal floor with a 60mm high-density foam mattress, two roof skylights, and the same 320g rip-stop polyester-cotton construction as the rest of the softshell range. It needs roof bars rated above 55kg; Latitude does not publish the tent's weight or packed dimensions.
- Sleeps 2-3 adults on a 240 x 140cm floor
- Two roof skylights and a 60mm high-density foam mattress
- Fits vehicles with roof bars rated above 55kg
- Manufacturer does not publish packed dimensions
Smittybilt
Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent
The Gen2 Overlander Standard is the more compact of Smittybilt's two soft-shell fold-out rooftop tents, sleeping 2-3 on a full-size 92" x 55" mattress. It uses a 600D ripstop polyester body with a 420D oxford rainfly, an anodized aluminum frame, stainless steel hinges and an LED light strip. Smittybilt rates it for a 660lbs/300kg load and covers it with a 2-year warranty.
- Full-size mattress and lower price than the XL soft-shell version
- Integrated LED strip and no-see-um mosquito screens
- 660lbs/300kg rated load with anodized aluminum frame
- Manufacturer does not publish mattress thickness
Which one to pick
Take the Pioneer 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 | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 3 | 3 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,790— worst of the tents compared | $1,499.99— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 119 lb est.— best of the tents compared | 132 lb est.— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | — | 4 ft 7 in |
| Packed width | — | 3 ft 11 in |
| Packed height | — | 11.5 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 8 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 | 36.9 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | — | 4 ft 3 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 in | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | 25mm aluminium tubing frame with 304-grade stainless steel hardware and hinges | — |
| Fabric | 320g rip-stop polyester-cotton with waterproof & UV-resistant coating; oxford polyester rainfly; 550g PVC travel cover | 600D heavy-duty ripstop polyester, waterproof polyurethane-impregnated top; 420D oxford rainfly |
| Warranty | 2years | 2years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Latitude Tents product page | Smittybilt product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Latitude Tents Pioneer and the Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander Standard Tent.