Darche Buffalo 1535 vs Darche Ridgeback Eco Poly
Both of these are Darche tents, so the question is not which brand to trust but which size and configuration suits your vehicle and how you camp. The Buffalo 1535 and the Ridgeback Eco Poly share Darche's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
Inside, the Buffalo 1535 gives 3 m² of sleeping floor against 2.4 m², about 25 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Ridgeback Eco Poly's 2. The Buffalo 1535 lists $396 lower, at $2,903 against $3,299.
The Buffalo 1535 uses 6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb base; the Ridgeback Eco Poly uses 6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb Insulation base. Canvas differs too: 180gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas with blackout coating (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford fly (1500mm) against ecoWGAF 280gsm Polyester Oxford Ripstop body (100% recycled); ecoWGAF 140gsm fly (3000mm).
Darche
Buffalo 1535
The Buffalo 1535 is a side-opening aluminium hardshell rooftop tent with a low 180mm closed profile, fitting two to three people. It has a full-width sky window, blackout-coated canvas, white/amber LED strips and a 50mm memory-foam mattress. A 2.3m telescopic ladder is included.
- Low 180mm packed profile
- Full-width sky window and blackout canvas
- Sleeps up to three
- No published weight or open dimensions
Darche
Ridgeback Eco Poly
The Ridgeback HD Shell Eco is an aluminium clamshell hardshell that uses Darche's ecoWGAF fabric made from 100% recycled polyester for both body and fly. It has three full-width entry doors, a zippered sky window, internal USB LED lighting, Stabilus gas struts and a 55mm memory-foam mattress. The fly carries a 3000mm waterhead rating.
- Body and fly use 100% recycled ecoWGAF polyester
- Three full-width doors and zippered sky window
- German-engineered Stabilus gas struts
- No published weight or dimensions
Which one to pick
Take the Buffalo 1535 if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. 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 | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 3— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,900— best of the tents compared | $3,300— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 187 lb | 187 lb |
| Packed length | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 5 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 7.1 in— best of the tents compared | 8.5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 32.3 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 25.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 2.2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | 6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb base | 6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb Insulation base |
| Fabric | 180gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas with blackout coating (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford fly (1500mm) | ecoWGAF 280gsm Polyester Oxford Ripstop body (100% recycled); ecoWGAF 140gsm fly (3000mm) |
| Warranty | 3years | 3years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Darche product page |
Related comparisons
- Buffalo 1535vsAdventurer
- Buffalo 1535vsCUMARU EASE 135
- Buffalo 1535vsAspen Pro Standard
- Buffalo 1535vsCloud 140
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Buffalo 1535 and the Darche Ridgeback Eco Poly.