ARB Flinders vs Howling Moon Deluxe
The ARB Flinders and the Howling Moon Deluxe 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 Howling Moon take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Deluxe is 6 kg lighter at 48 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 Flinders gives 3.36 m² of sleeping floor against 2.88 m², about 17 percent more, though both are rated for 2. List prices are within $172 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
Canvas differs too: PU-coated polycotton against 380gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated.
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
Howling Moon
Deluxe
The Deluxe is Howling Moon's entry-level softshell fold-out tent and the base model of the range, offered in widths from 1.2 m to 2.4 m. It uses a 380gsm military-spec poly-cotton canopy with a 75 mm high-density foam mattress and ships with an extension ladder and a UV-stabilised welded-seam PVC travel cover. It is compatible with the brand's extension/annex.
- Uses the same 380gsm poly-cotton canvas as the higher softshells
- Compatible with Howling Moon's extension/annex
- Multiple width options from 1.2 m to 2.4 m
- Manufacturer does not publish warranty or season rating
Which one to pick
Take the Flinders if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Deluxe 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 | $1,350— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 119 lb— worst of the tents compared | 106 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 7 in | — |
| Packed width | 3 ft 11 in | — |
| Packed height | — | 14.2 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in | 7 ft 10 in |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 31 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in | 3 ft 11 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 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 | 380gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated |
| Warranty | 3years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | ARB product page | Howling Moon product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the ARB Flinders and the Howling Moon Deluxe.