ARB Flinders vs Eezi-Awn Galaxy
The ARB Flinders and the Eezi-Awn Galaxy 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. ARB and Eezi-Awn take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Galaxy is 9 kg lighter at 45 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. List prices are within $107 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
Canvas differs too: PU-coated polycotton against 260GSM ripstop canvas.
ARB
Flinders
The Flinders is a fold-out softshell tent with a low pack-down profile and a large bed footprint of roughly 2400 x 1400mm. It includes a 50mm high-density foam mattress, an integrated dimmable LED light with USB charging, a skylight window and five mesh-screened windows. It uses 25mm anodized aluminium poles.
- Large sleeping footprint for a softshell
- Integrated LED light with USB charging
- Low pack-down profile with attached cover
- Slower fold-out setup than ARB's hardshells
Eezi-Awn
Galaxy
The Galaxy is a soft-shell fold-out rooftop tent supplied on Eezi-Awn's own aluminium rack system, using 260GSM ripstop canvas with a clear PVC roof panel for stargazing. Eezi-Awn states it opens and closes in under 40 seconds using gas struts and includes a 70mm high-density mattress. The headline 45kg weight covers the tent and mattress.
- Manufacturer claims gas-strut opening and closing in under 40 seconds
- Clear PVC roof panel for overhead views
- Published 45kg weight includes both tent and mattress
- Manufacturer does not publish erected/open dimensions or a person capacity
Which one to pick
Take the Galaxy 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,180— best of the tents compared | $1,290— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 119 lb— worst of the tents compared | 99 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | — | 6.3 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in | — |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in | — |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft | — |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 2.8 in— best of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | 40 sec |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | PU-coated polycotton | 260GSM ripstop canvas |
| Warranty | 3years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | ARB product page | Eezi-Awn product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the ARB Flinders and the Eezi-Awn Galaxy.