Rhino-Rack Hardshell (61002) vs Smittybilt Aluminum Pop-up
The Rhino-Rack Hardshell (61002) and the Smittybilt Aluminum Pop-up 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. Rhino-Rack and Smittybilt take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
Inside, the Aluminum Pop-up gives 3.02 m² of sleeping floor against 2.73 m², about 11 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Hardshell (61002)'s 2. List prices are within $57.98999999999978 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
They open differently: the Hardshell (61002) is a fold-out and the Aluminum Pop-up a pop-up. 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. Closed, the Aluminum Pop-up sits 20.07 cm lower on the roof — 18.03 cm against 38.1 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Rhino-Rack
Hardshell (61002)
Rhino-Rack's fold-out hardshell tent sleeps two on a 70mm HD foam mattress and opens with gas-strut assistance. Its published kit weight is 65kg (143lb), covering the tent, ladder and mounting system, and the hard lid is rated to carry up to 20kg (44lb) of gear. The body is 600D and the fly 210D rip-stop PolyOxford, and an LED strip light and boot bags are included.
- Gas-strut assisted fold-out opening
- Hard lid rated to carry up to 20kg of extra gear
- LED strip light and boot bags included
- Manufacturer does not publish a peak/interior height
Smittybilt
Aluminum Pop-up
The Aluminum Pop-up RTT is a hard-shell rooftop tent with an aluminum shell that raises vertically on gas-assisted struts to sleep 2-3 people. It shares the same footprint and external roof rack bars as Smittybilt's Aluminum Side Opening model but pops up to a taller interior peak. It includes a 2.5" high-density foam mattress, an LED light strip with remote and internal mesh storage, and carries a 661lbs load rating with a 5-year warranty.
- Vertical pop-up gives more interior peak height than Smittybilt's side-opening aluminum model
- External roof rack bars for cargo on the closed shell
- Aluminum hard shell with 5-year warranty and quick gas-assisted setup
- Manufacturer does not publish tent weight or season rating
Which one to pick
Take the Aluminum Pop-up 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 | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Pop-up |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,440— best of the tents compared | $2,499.99— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 143 lb | — |
| Packed length | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 1 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 8 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 15 in— worst of the tents compared | 7.1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 29.4 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 32.5 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | — | 3 ft 9 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2.8 in— best of the tents compared | 2.5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | 5 min | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | — | Aluminum |
| Fabric | 600D rip-stop PolyOxford body, 210D fly, PU coated (CPAI-84) | — |
| Warranty | — | 5years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | Yes | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Rhino-Rack product page | Smittybilt product page |
Related comparisons
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- Hardshell (61002)vsOrion 1200 Lightweight
- Aluminum Pop-upvsOrion 1200 Lightweight
Or read the full spec sheets for the Rhino-Rack Hardshell (61002) and the Smittybilt Aluminum Pop-up.