Roofnest Meadowlark 2 XL vs TentBox Lite

The Roofnest Meadowlark 2 XL 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. Roofnest and TentBox take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.

By the numbers, the Roofnest Meadowlark 2 XL brings 54 kg, 3.6 m² of floor, 114 cm of headroom and sleeps 3. 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 — 54 kg against 50 kg — so the roof load question resolves the same way for both. Inside, the Meadowlark 2 XL gives 3.6 m² of sleeping floor against 2.93 m², about 23 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Lite's 2. Setup is not close. The Meadowlark 2 XL opens as a fold-out in 60 seconds; the Lite takes 5 minutes. Over a trip with a new campsite every night, that gap compounds. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one. TentBox also backs the Lite for 5 years against 2.

Canvas differs too: 600D rip-stop polyoxford, 2000 mm waterproof rating against stormproof breathable UV-resistant fabric, 3000 mm hydrostatic head. Closed, the Lite sits 8 cm lower on the roof — 25 cm against 33 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.