Darche Ridgeback Eco Poly vs Darche Solar
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 Ridgeback Eco Poly and the Solar share Darche's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
On weight they are effectively level — 85 kg against 88 kg — so the roof load question resolves the same way for both. Floor area is close to identical at 2.4 m² and 2.4 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. The Ridgeback Eco Poly lists $660 lower, at $3,299 against $3,959.
The Ridgeback Eco Poly uses 6-Series Aluminium; Heavy-Duty Aluminium Honeycomb Insulation base; the Solar uses 2mm 6-Series Aluminium Alloy; Heavy-Duty 15mm Aluminium Honeycomb Insulation base. Canvas differs too: ecoWGAF 280gsm Polyester Oxford Ripstop body (100% recycled); ecoWGAF 140gsm fly (3000mm) against 380gsm polycotton canvas with Darche Darkness (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (2000mm). Closed, the Ridgeback Eco Poly sits 8.5 cm lower on the roof — 21.5 cm against 30 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
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
Darche
Solar
The Solar is an aluminium hardshell rooftop tent with an integrated 148W monocrystalline solar panel (22% efficiency) built into the shell. It has a 70mm memory-foam mattress, three full-width doors, a zippered sky window and bi-colour LED lighting. The battery and solar regulator are sold separately.
- Integrated 148W monocrystalline solar panel
- Thickest published mattress in Darche's hardshell line (70mm)
- 380gsm blackout canvas with 3000mm waterhead
- Battery and solar regulator not included
Which one to pick
Take the Ridgeback Eco Poly if the budget is fixed. 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 | $3,300— best of the tents compared | $3,960— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 187 lb— best of the tents compared | 194 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 8 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 8.5 in— best of the tents compared | 11.8 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 7 in | 6 ft 7 in |
| Sleeping width | 3 ft 11 in | 3 ft 11 in |
| Floor area | 25.8 sq ft | 25.8 sq ft |
| Interior height | 4 ft 9 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 2.2 in— worst of the tents compared | 2.8 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 Insulation base | 2mm 6-Series Aluminium Alloy; Heavy-Duty 15mm Aluminium Honeycomb Insulation base |
| Fabric | ecoWGAF 280gsm Polyester Oxford Ripstop body (100% recycled); ecoWGAF 140gsm fly (3000mm) | 380gsm polycotton canvas with Darche Darkness (3000mm); 420D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (2000mm) |
| Warranty | 3years | 3years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | Yes |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Darche product page |
Related comparisons
- Ridgeback Eco PolyvsStreamliner 1250
- Ridgeback Eco PolyvsBuffalo 1535
- Ridgeback Eco PolyvsHighland 1300
- SolarvsStreamliner 1250
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Ridgeback Eco Poly and the Darche Solar.