RooftopTentCompare

Darche Buffalo 1535 vs Darche Streamliner 1250

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 Streamliner 1250 share Darche's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.

The Streamliner 1250 is 16 kg lighter at 69 kg against 85 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 Buffalo 1535 gives 3 m² of sleeping floor against 2.4 m², about 25 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Streamliner 1250's 2. List prices are within $132 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.

The Buffalo 1535 uses 6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb base; the Streamliner 1250 uses 6-Series Aluminium / EPE composite. Canvas differs too: 180gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas with blackout coating (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford fly (1500mm) against 280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (1500mm).

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

Streamliner 1250

The Streamliner 1250 is a low-profile aluminium composite clamshell hardshell that packs down to 150mm and publishes a 69kg weight. It has three full-width access doors with a removable fly, dimmable bi-colour USB LED lighting, self-repairing coil zips and a 50mm memory-foam mattress. Darche lists a 3-year warranty on it.

  • Very low 150mm packed height
  • Published weight (69kg) and 3-year warranty
  • Self-repairing coil zips and removable fly
  • Open/external dimensions not published

Which one to pick

Take the Buffalo 1535 if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Streamliner 1250 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

Side-by-side specifications for Darche Buffalo 1535, Darche Streamliner 1250
Specification
Hardshell
  • Cheapest
  • Most floor space
Check current price
Hardshell
  • Lightest
  • Most headroom
Check current price
Overview
TypeHardshellHardshell
Opening styleClamshellClamshell
Sleeps3— best of the tents compared2— worst of the tents compared
Season rating
List price$2,900— best of the tents compared$3,040— worst of the tents compared
Weight and size
Weight187 lb— worst of the tents compared152 lb— best of the tents compared
Packed length7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared
Packed width5 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared
Packed height7.1 in— worst of the tents compared5.9 in— best of the tents compared
Living space
Sleeping length6 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared6 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared
Sleeping width4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared3 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared
Floor area32.3 sq ft— best of the tents compared25.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared
Interior height4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared
Mattress thickness2 in2 in
Setup and build
Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice.~60 secest.~60 secest.
Shell material6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb base6-Series Aluminium / EPE composite
Fabric180gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas with blackout coating (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford fly (1500mm)280gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (1500mm)
Warranty3years3years
Features
Integrated LED lightingYesYes
Heater / HVAC port
Roof skylightYes
Annex available
Solar ready
Carries cargo on top
Sources
Last verifiedDarche product pageDarche product page

Related comparisons

Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Buffalo 1535 and the Darche Streamliner 1250.