Roof Lodge Lightweight (140) vs TentBox Lite
The Roof Lodge Lightweight (140) and the TentBox Lite 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. Roof Lodge and TentBox take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Roof Lodge Lightweight (140) brings 46 kg, 3.36 m² of floor, 120 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. The TentBox Lite counters with 50 kg, 2.93 m² of floor, 105 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
On weight they are effectively level — 46 kg against 50 kg — so the roof load question resolves the same way for both. Inside, the Lightweight (140) gives 3.36 m² of sleeping floor against 2.93 m², about 15 percent more, though both are rated for 2. Headroom separates them further: 120 cm in the Lightweight (140) against 105 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.
Canvas differs too: 102 g/m2 Oxford ripstop nylon, PU-coated against stormproof breathable UV-resistant fabric, 3000 mm hydrostatic head. The Lightweight (140) adds a heater or HVAC port, which the Lite does not offer.
Roof Lodge
Lightweight (140)
The Roof Lodge Lightweight is a weight-optimised fold-out softshell rooftop tent that replaces the Evolution 2's heavy polycotton with a 102 g/m2 Oxford ripstop nylon canopy over the same thermoplastic honeycomb floor. Nakatanenga quotes an approximate total weight of about 46 kg, lighter than its polycotton Evolution 2, and targets it at vehicles with limited roof-load capacity. It is offered in a single 140 cm width with a 60 mm foam mattress (or an optional 10 cm self-inflating mattress). It shares the Evolution 2 140's fold-out platform, giving an open sleeping area of about 240 x 140 cm (~3.36 m2) at roughly 120 cm interior height; Nakatanenga does not separately publish these figures for the Lightweight.
- Lighter than Roof Lodge's polycotton Evolution 2 thanks to a 102 g/m2 ripstop nylon canopy
- German-made thermoplastic honeycomb floor
- Includes LED lighting, aluminium sliding ladder and two lockable roof windows with mosquito protection
- OEKO-TEX 100 certified mattress (two firmness options) plus long-term spare parts and repairs from Roof Lodge's own German workshop
- Optional thermal inner tent available for cold-weather use, extending it toward year-round camping
- Offered only in a single 140 cm width
TentBox
Lite
TentBox's fold-out two-person tent, and one of the slimmest soft-shells here at 25 cm closed. The rainfly comes off entirely for what TentBox calls summer mode, leaving mesh panels and double skylights.
- 25 cm closed, slim for a soft-shell
- Removable rainfly for open-sky nights
- 5-year warranty
- Five minutes to pitch
Which one to pick
Take the Lightweight (140) 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 | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | 3-season— worst of the tents compared | 4-season— best of the tents compared |
| List price | $2,210— worst of the tents compared | $2,070— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 101 lb— best of the tents compared | 110 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | — | 3 ft 7 in |
| Packed width | — | 4 ft 4 in |
| Packed height | — | 9.8 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 31.5 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 in | 2.4 in |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | 5 min | 5 min |
| Shell material | — | Aluminium frame with heavy-duty hinge |
| Fabric | 102 g/m2 Oxford ripstop nylon, PU-coated | Stormproof breathable UV-resistant fabric, 3000 mm hydrostatic head |
| Warranty | — | 5years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | Yes | No |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | No |
| Carries cargo on top | — | No |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Roof Lodge product page | TentBox product page |
Related comparisons
- Lightweight (140)vsFun
- Lightweight (140)vsEvolution 2 (140)
- Lightweight (140)vsMeadowlark 2 XL
- LitevsMeadowlark 2 XL
Or read the full spec sheets for the Roof Lodge Lightweight (140) and the TentBox Lite.