Cascadia Vehicle Tents Pioneer 2 Tent vs Vickywood BAOBAB AIR 135
The Cascadia Vehicle Tents Pioneer 2 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. Cascadia Vehicle Tents and Vickywood take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The BAOBAB AIR 135 lists $390 lower, at $1,609 against $1,999.
They open differently: the Pioneer 2 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. The Pioneer 2 Tent uses 1000D PVC travel cover; the BAOBAB AIR 135 uses aluminum honeycomb base. Canvas differs too: 320g canvas against 280 g/m2, 3,000 mm water column, UV 50+.
Cascadia Vehicle Tents
Pioneer 2 Tent
The Pioneer 2 is Cascadia Vehicle Tents's fold-out softshell, offered in four sizes named for mountains: 48-inch Mt. Bachelor, 56-inch Mt. Shasta, 72-inch Mt. Rainier and 87-inch Mt. Denali, priced from $1,999 to $3,199. CVT rates it for 4-season use and lists a 5-8 minute setup, a 47-inch maximum headroom, dual stargazer windows and annex compatibility on the larger sizes. It uses a 320g canvas body over a 1000D PVC travel cover with a 3-inch mattress, and CVT's guide lists it in 2 to 4+ person sizes.
- Four sizes spanning roughly 2 to 4+ people
- Manufacturer-rated for 4-season use
- Lower entry price ($1,999) than CVT's hardshells, with annex compatibility on larger sizes
- Longer 5-8 minute setup than CVT's hardshell models
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
These two are closely matched on the numbers that usually decide it. Read the feature rows below — heater port, skylight, annex — and let whichever of those you will actually use break the tie.
Every specification, side by side
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Inflatable |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | 4-season | — |
| List price | $1,999— worst of the tents compared | $1,610— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | — | 94 lb |
| Packed length | — | 4 ft 7 in |
| Packed width | — | 3 ft 11 in |
| Packed height | — | 10.6 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 7 ft 3 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 3 in |
| Floor area | — | 30.8 sq ft |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 3 in | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | 7 min | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | 1000D PVC travel cover | Aluminum honeycomb base |
| Fabric | 320g canvas | 280 g/m2, 3,000 mm water column, UV 50+ |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Cascadia Vehicle Tents product page | Vickywood product page |
Related comparisons
- Pioneer 2 TentvsWalkabout 62 2.0
- Pioneer 2 TentvsElements Gen II 140
- Pioneer 2 TentvsGen2 Overlander XL Tent
- Pioneer 2 TentvsMeadowlark 2 XL
Or read the full spec sheets for the Cascadia Vehicle Tents Pioneer 2 Tent and the Vickywood BAOBAB AIR 135.