Roofnest Meadowlark 2 XL vs Vickywood BAOBAB AIR 135
The Roofnest Meadowlark 2 XL and the Vickywood BAOBAB AIR 135 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 Vickywood 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 Vickywood BAOBAB AIR 135 counters with 43 kg, 2.86 m² of floor, 123 cm of headroom and sleeps 2.
The BAOBAB AIR 135 is 11 kg lighter at 43 kg against 54 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 Meadowlark 2 XL gives 3.6 m² of sleeping floor against 2.86 m², about 26 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the BAOBAB AIR 135's 2. Their list prices are within a few percent of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
They open differently: the Meadowlark 2 XL is a fold-out and the BAOBAB AIR 135 an inflatable. 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. Canvas differs too: 600D rip-stop polyoxford, 2000 mm waterproof rating against 280 g/m2, 3,000 mm water column, UV 50+. Closed, the BAOBAB AIR 135 sits 6 cm lower on the roof — 27 cm against 33 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
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
Vickywood
BAOBAB AIR 135
The BAOBAB AIR 135 is Vickywood's inflatable folding tent, using a single-chamber air frame that unfolds as it inflates rather than poles. It sleeps 2 on a 220 x 130 cm area, has two roof windows and dimmable USB-C LED lighting, and the maker states inflation takes over a minute. It is the lightest-weight option among Vickywood's folding models by published figures.
- Pole-free single-chamber inflatable frame
- Low packed height (27 cm) and modest weight
- Two roof windows and dimmable USB-C LEDs
- Mattress thickness not published
Which one to pick
Take the Meadowlark 2 XL if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the BAOBAB AIR 135 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 | Inflatable |
| Sleeps | 3— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | 4-season | — |
| List price | $2,095— worst of the tents compared | $2,040— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 120 lb— worst of the tents compared | 95 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 5 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— best 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 | 10.6 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 5 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 38.8 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 30.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft— 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 | — | Aluminum honeycomb base |
| Fabric | 600D rip-stop polyoxford, 2000 mm waterproof rating | 280 g/m2, 3,000 mm water column, UV 50+ |
| Warranty | 2years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | Yes |
| Annex available | — | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Roofnest product page | Vickywood product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Roofnest Meadowlark 2 XL and the Vickywood BAOBAB AIR 135.