Darche Stratos vs Howling Moon Meteor Delux
The Darche Stratos and the Howling Moon Meteor Delux are both hybrid tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. Darche and Howling Moon take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Stratos is 30 kg lighter at 65 kg against 95 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 Meteor Delux gives 4.62 m² of sleeping floor against 2.58 m², about 79 percent more, though both are rated for 2. The Stratos lists $573 lower, at $2,639 against $3,212.
They open differently: the Stratos is a clamshell and the Meteor Delux a fold-out. 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 Stratos uses aluminium Alloy; the Meteor Delux uses aluminium hardshell with scratch-resistant RAPTOR coating. Canvas differs too: 190gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body; 210D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (3000mm waterhead) against 329gsm ripstop poly-cotton canvas, UV50+, breathable. Closed, the Stratos sits 7 cm lower on the roof — 29 cm against 36 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Darche
Stratos
The Stratos is a hybrid rooftop tent combining an aluminium hardshell exterior with an expandable canvas body, offered in 1440mm and 2000mm widths. It has a 60mm memory-foam mattress, an oversized removable fly with an integrated sky window and a dual-colour dimmable LED strip. A 2.3m telescopic ladder and roof rail kit are included.
- Removable fly with integrated sky window
- Ladder and roof rail kit included
- Two width options
- Manufacturer does not publish weight or dimensions
Howling Moon
Meteor Delux
The Meteor Delux is a hard-lidded fold-out tent with an aluminium hardshell and scratch-resistant RAPTOR coating, a gas-strut lifting system and a 60 mm high-density mattress. It folds out to a wide roughly 210 x 220 cm floor and uses waterproof YKK zippers. It is the widest-floored tent in Howling Moon's current line-up.
- Wide ~4.6 sq m fold-out floor, the largest in the Howling Moon range
- Aluminium hardshell with RAPTOR coating
- Waterproof YKK zippers
- Heaviest model at 95 kg
Which one to pick
Take the Meteor Delux if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Stratos 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 | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,640— best of the tents compared | $3,210— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 143 lb— best of the tents compared | 209 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 3 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 11.4 in— best of the tents compared | 14.2 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 11 in | 6 ft 11 in |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 27.8 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 49.7 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | — | 3 ft 7 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 in | 2.4 in |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~3 minest. | ~3 minest. |
| Shell material | Aluminium Alloy | Aluminium hardshell with scratch-resistant RAPTOR coating |
| Fabric | 190gsm Ripstop Polycotton Canvas body; 210D Polyester Oxford Ripstop fly (3000mm waterhead) | 329gsm ripstop poly-cotton canvas, UV50+, breathable |
| Warranty | 3years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Darche product page | Howling Moon product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Darche Stratos and the Howling Moon Meteor Delux.