Darche Highland 1300 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 Highland 1300 and the Ridgeback Eco Poly share Darche's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Highland 1300 is 13 kg lighter at 72 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 Highland 1300 gives 2.63 m² of sleeping floor against 2.4 m², about 10 percent more, though both are rated for 2. The Highland 1300 lists $990 lower, at $2,309 against $3,299.
The Highland 1300 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 body (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford fly (1500mm) against ecoWGAF 280gsm Polyester Oxford Ripstop body (100% recycled); ecoWGAF 140gsm fly (3000mm).
Darche
Highland 1300
The Highland 1300 is a low-profile side-opening aluminium hardshell that packs to a 180mm profile. It features a full-width sky window, white/amber LED lighting, extendable internal hoops and a 50mm memory-foam mattress. A Darche roof rail accessory kit (T50801554A) is available separately.
- Low 180mm packed profile
- Full-width sky window
- Extendable internal hoops for headroom
- 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 Highland 1300 if the budget is fixed. Take the Highland 1300 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 | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,310— best of the tents compared | $3,300— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 159 lb— best of the tents compared | 187 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 5 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 6 in— worst 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 11 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 28.3 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 25.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | — | 4 ft 9 in |
| 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 body (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
- Highland 1300vsKozi Skyline
- Highland 1300vsBuffalo 1535
- Highland 1300vsStreamliner 1250
- Ridgeback Eco PolyvsStreamliner 1250
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Highland 1300 and the Darche Ridgeback Eco Poly.