Roofnest Meadowlark 2 XL vs Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tent
The Roofnest Meadowlark 2 XL and the Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL 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. Roofnest and Smittybilt take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Meadowlark 2 XL is 9 kg lighter at 54 kg against 63 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 Gen2 Overlander XL Tent gives 5.98 m² of sleeping floor against 3.6 m², about 66 percent more, and it sleeps 4 to the Meadowlark 2 XL's 3. Headroom separates them further: 129.54 cm in the Gen2 Overlander XL Tent against 114 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. List prices are within $63.99000000000001 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
Canvas differs too: 600D rip-stop polyoxford, 2000 mm waterproof rating against 600D heavy-duty ripstop polyester, waterproof polyurethane-impregnated top; 420D oxford rainfly.
Roofnest
Meadowlark 2 XL
Roofnest's soft-shell entry point, and the cheapest tent they sell. It delivers a 3.60 m² three-person floor for well under half the price of the hardshell Condor, at the cost of a fabric cover instead of a shell.
- Well under half the price of Roofnest's hardshells
- 3.60 m² floor for three
- 54 kg suits mid-size SUVs
- Soft cover means slower pack-down in bad weather
Smittybilt
Gen2 Overlander XL Tent
The Gen2 Overlander XL is the larger of Smittybilt's two soft-shell fold-out rooftop tents, sleeping 3-4 on a king-size 92.5" x 74.8" mattress. It shares the 600D ripstop polyester construction, anodized aluminum frame and LED strip of the standard model but adds a wider footprint and a higher 770lbs/350kg load rating. It is backed by a 2-year warranty.
- King-size mattress and wider footprint than the standard Gen2 Overlander
- 770lbs/350kg rated load
- Integrated LED strip and mosquito screens
- Manufacturer does not publish tent weight or mattress thickness
Which one to pick
Take the Gen2 Overlander XL Tent if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Meadowlark 2 XL 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 | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 3— worst of the tents compared | 4— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | 4-season | — |
| List price | $1,886— best of the tents compared | $1,949.99— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 120 lb— best of the tents compared | 139 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 5 ft 5 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 13 in— worst of the tents compared | 11.5 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 5 ft 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 10 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 38.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 64.4 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2.5 in | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | 60 sec | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 600D rip-stop polyoxford, 2000 mm waterproof rating | 600D heavy-duty ripstop polyester, waterproof polyurethane-impregnated top; 420D oxford rainfly |
| Warranty | 2years | 2years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Roofnest product page | Smittybilt product page |
Related comparisons
- Meadowlark 2 XLvsEvolution 2 (140)
- Meadowlark 2 XLvsElements Gen II 140
- Meadowlark 2 XLvsPioneer
- Gen2 Overlander XL TentvsElements Gen II 140
Or read the full spec sheets for the Roofnest Meadowlark 2 XL and the Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tent.