ARB Flinders vs Front Runner Feather-Lite II
The ARB Flinders and the Front Runner Feather-Lite II 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 Front Runner take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Feather-Lite II is 5 kg lighter at 49 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. Floor area is close to identical at 3.36 m² and 3.2 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. List prices are within $31 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
Canvas differs too: PU-coated polycotton against 260g poly-cotton ripstop body; 400D polyester oxford rainfly, 2000 mm water column. The Flinders adds integrated LED lighting, which the Feather-Lite II does not offer.
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
Front Runner
Feather-Lite II
The updated Feather-Lite, with an overhang that shields the entrance and telescopic ladder from rain and transparent stargazing panels in the roof. It shares the original's 260g poly-cotton body and 6 cm mattress but runs slightly larger and heavier at 49 kg, with a 2000 mm-rated rainfly.
- Overhang covers the entrance and ladder
- Transparent stargazing panels in the roof
- 2000 mm water column rainfly
- 6 kg heavier than the original Front Runner tent
Which one to pick
Take the Feather-Lite II 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 | $1,209— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 119 lb— worst of the tents compared | 108 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 7 in | — |
| Packed width | 3 ft 11 in | — |
| Packed height | — | 12.6 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared | 8 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 34.4 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 2.4 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. | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | PU-coated polycotton | 260g poly-cotton ripstop body; 400D polyester oxford rainfly, 2000 mm water column |
| Warranty | 3years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | No |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | No |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | — | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | ARB product page | Front Runner product page |
Related comparisons
- FlindersvsExpedition Foldout
- FlindersvsGalaxy
- FlindersvsCross 1200 MK2
- Feather-Lite IIvsExpedition Foldout
Or read the full spec sheets for the ARB Flinders and the Front Runner Feather-Lite II.