Naturnest Orion 1 Plus vs Tuff Stuff Overland Alpine 51
The Naturnest Orion 1 Plus and the Tuff Stuff Overland Alpine 51 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. Naturnest and Tuff Stuff Overland take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Orion 1 Plus is 21.5 kg lighter at 91 kg against 112.5 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 Alpine 51 gives 3.11 m² of sleeping floor against 2.81 m², about 11 percent more, though both are rated for 2. The Orion 1 Plus lists $2,126 lower, at $1,999 against $4,125.
The Orion 1 Plus uses ABS hard shell; the Alpine 51 uses aluminum. Canvas differs too: 305 g plain Oxford, waterproof (rating grade 3.5) against 3200 gsm poly/cotton ripstop, blackout, >3500 mm waterproof.
Naturnest
Orion 1 Plus
The Orion 1 Plus is Naturnest's boxy ABS pop-up hard-shell tent, rated for two people. Listings cite a size of about 213 x 132 x 104 cm (84 x 52 x 41 in) and a net weight of 178.5 lbs, with a three-layer mattress on a solid oak base, blackout 305 g Oxford fabric, built-in lighting and a climate-control port. Naturnest states setup and pack-down in under a minute.
- Pop-up design deploys in under a minute per the maker
- Three-layer mattress on a solid oak base
- Built-in lighting and a climate-control port
- Folded dimensions are not clearly published
Tuff Stuff Overland
Alpine 51
The two-person size of Tuff Stuff's aluminum hardshell, with the same wedge-or-pop-up roof and integrated rack on a narrower 51-inch base.
- Dual-action wedge or full pop-up roof
- Integrated roof rack
- USB dimmable LED strip
- 248 lb
Which one to pick
Take the Orion 1 Plus if the budget is fixed. Take the Orion 1 Plus 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 | Pop-up | Pop-up |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,999— best of the tents compared | $4,125— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 201 lb— best of the tents compared | 248 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | — | 7.9 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 4 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 30.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 33.5 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 5 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | — | 2.8 in |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | 60 sec |
| Shell material | ABS hard shell | Aluminum |
| Fabric | 305 g plain Oxford, waterproof (rating grade 3.5) | 3200 gsm poly/cotton ripstop, blackout, >3500 mm waterproof |
| Warranty | 1year | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | Yes | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Naturnest product page | Tuff Stuff Overland product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Naturnest Orion 1 Plus and the Tuff Stuff Overland Alpine 51.