Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tent vs Vickywood BAOBAB AIR 135
The Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tent 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. Smittybilt and Vickywood take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tent brings 63 kg, 5.98 m² of floor, 129.54 cm of headroom and sleeps 4. 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 20 kg lighter at 43 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 2.86 m², about 109 percent more, and it sleeps 4 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 Gen2 Overlander XL Tent 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 heavy-duty ripstop polyester, waterproof polyurethane-impregnated top; 420D oxford rainfly against 280 g/m2, 3,000 mm water column, UV 50+.
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 mattress thickness
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 Gen2 Overlander XL Tent 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 | 4— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,949.99— best of the tents compared | $2,040— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 139 lb est.— worst of the tents compared | 95 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 6 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 11.5 in— worst of the tents compared | 10.6 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 10 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 64.4 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 30.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | — | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | — | Aluminum honeycomb base |
| Fabric | 600D heavy-duty ripstop polyester, waterproof polyurethane-impregnated top; 420D oxford rainfly | 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 | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Smittybilt product page | Vickywood product page |
Related comparisons
- Gen2 Overlander XL TentvsPioneer 2 Tent
- Gen2 Overlander XL TentvsStargazer
- Gen2 Overlander XL TentvsLite
- BAOBAB AIR 135vsLite
Or read the full spec sheets for the Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tent and the Vickywood BAOBAB AIR 135.