TentBox Lite vs Vickywood BAOBAB AIR 135
The TentBox Lite 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. TentBox and Vickywood take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
By the numbers, the TentBox Lite brings 50 kg, 2.93 m² of floor, 105 cm of headroom and sleeps 2. 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 7 kg lighter at 43 kg against 50 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Floor area is close to identical at 2.93 m² and 2.86 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. Headroom separates them further: 123 cm in the BAOBAB AIR 135 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.
They open differently: the Lite 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. The Lite uses aluminium frame with heavy-duty hinge; the BAOBAB AIR 135 uses aluminum honeycomb base. Canvas differs too: stormproof breathable UV-resistant fabric, 3000 mm hydrostatic head against 280 g/m2, 3,000 mm water column, UV 50+.
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
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 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | 4-season | — |
| List price | $2,070— worst of the tents compared | $2,040— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 110 lb— worst of the tents compared | 95 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 3 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 9.8 in— best of the tents compared | 10.6 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 3 in | 7 ft 3 in |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 4 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 31.5 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 30.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 in | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | 5 min | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | Aluminium frame with heavy-duty hinge | Aluminum honeycomb base |
| Fabric | Stormproof breathable UV-resistant fabric, 3000 mm hydrostatic head | 280 g/m2, 3,000 mm water column, UV 50+ |
| Warranty | 5years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | No | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | — | Yes |
| Solar ready | No | — |
| Carries cargo on top | No | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | TentBox product page | Vickywood product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the TentBox Lite and the Vickywood BAOBAB AIR 135.