Direct4x4 ClamTrekk vs Naturnest Orion 1 Plus
The Direct4x4 ClamTrekk and the Naturnest Orion 1 Plus are both hardshell tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. Direct4x4 and Naturnest take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The ClamTrekk is 15 kg lighter at 76 kg against 91 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. List prices are within $15 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
They open differently: the ClamTrekk is a clamshell and the Orion 1 Plus a pop-up. 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 ClamTrekk uses honeycomb aluminium; the Orion 1 Plus uses ABS hard shell. Canvas differs too: 65% polyester / 35% cotton, mould-proof, water resistant 10,000 mm against 305 g plain Oxford, waterproof (rating grade 3.5).
Direct4x4
ClamTrekk
The ClamTrekk is Direct4x4's two-person hard-shell clamshell tent, built around a honeycomb aluminium shell that opens on gas struts from either side. Direct4x4 publishes closed dimensions of 210 x 130 x 20 cm and a 76 kg weight but does not list the open dimensions, interior height or mattress thickness. It ships with a telescopic ladder, two door poles, a camping light with 12V internal sockets, an anti-condensation mat, boot bags and two roof-rack bars.
- Honeycomb aluminium shell opens quickly on gas struts
- Ships with ladder, camping light, 12V sockets and two roof-rack bars
- Fabric rated to a 10,000 mm water column
- Open dimensions and interior height are not published
Naturnest
Orion 1 Plus
The Orion 1 Plus is Naturnest's boxy ABS pop-up hard-shell tent, rated for two people. Listings cite a size of about 213 x 132 x 104 cm (84 x 52 x 41 in) and a net weight of 178.5 lbs, with a three-layer mattress on a solid oak base, blackout 305 g Oxford fabric, built-in lighting and a climate-control port. Naturnest states setup and pack-down in under a minute.
- Pop-up design deploys in under a minute per the maker
- Three-layer mattress on a solid oak base
- Built-in lighting and a climate-control port
- Folded dimensions are not clearly published
Which one to pick
Take the ClamTrekk 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 | Pop-up |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,980— best of the tents compared | $1,999— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 168 lb— best of the tents compared | 201 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 7.9 in | — |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 7 ft |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 4 in |
| Floor area | — | 30.2 sq ft |
| Interior height | — | 3 ft 5 in |
| Mattress thickness | — | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | Honeycomb aluminium | ABS hard shell |
| Fabric | 65% polyester / 35% cotton, mould-proof, water resistant 10,000 mm | 305 g plain Oxford, waterproof (rating grade 3.5) |
| Warranty | — | 1year |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | Yes |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Direct4x4 product page | Naturnest product page |
Related comparisons
- ClamTrekkvsAluminum Side Opening
- ClamTrekkvsBush Cruiser V2 Pro 120
- ClamTrekkvsPolaris 2
- Orion 1 PlusvsStealth
Or read the full spec sheets for the Direct4x4 ClamTrekk and the Naturnest Orion 1 Plus.