Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout vs Eezi-Awn Galaxy
The Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout and the Eezi-Awn Galaxy are both softshell tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. Direct4x4 and Eezi-Awn take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Galaxy is 21 kg lighter at 45 kg against 66 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 $69 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
Canvas differs too: 285 gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas, PU impregnated, water column 2,000 mm against 260GSM ripstop canvas. Closed, the Galaxy sits 13 cm lower on the roof — 16 cm against 29 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Direct4x4
Expedition Foldout
The Expedition Foldout is Direct4x4's soft-shell fold-out tent for three (two adults and a child), available in sand, granite grey and forest green. It opens to 240 x 140 cm with a 130 cm interior height on a 2.5 cm corrosion-resistant aluminium/polyurethane sandwich base and folds down to 29 cm tall at 66 kg. The 285 gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas is rated to a 2,000 mm water column, and the tent ships with a fold-out ladder, mosquito net, zip-on annex skirt and a waterproof travel cover.
- Available in three colours (sand, grey, green)
- Ships with a zip-on annex skirt, mosquito net and travel cover
- 6 cm high-density foam mattress
- Canvas water-column rating is 2,000 mm
Eezi-Awn
Galaxy
The Galaxy is a soft-shell fold-out rooftop tent supplied on Eezi-Awn's own aluminium rack system, using 260GSM ripstop canvas with a clear PVC roof panel for stargazing. Eezi-Awn states it opens and closes in under 40 seconds using gas struts and includes a 70mm high-density mattress. The headline 45kg weight covers the tent and mattress.
- Manufacturer claims gas-strut opening and closing in under 40 seconds
- Clear PVC roof panel for overhead views
- Published 45kg weight includes both tent and mattress
- Manufacturer does not publish erected/open dimensions or a person capacity
Which one to pick
Take the Galaxy 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 | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 3— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,220— best of the tents compared | $1,290— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 146 lb— worst of the tents compared | 99 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 7 in | 4 ft 7 in |
| Packed height | 11.4 in— worst of the tents compared | 6.3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in | — |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in | — |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft | — |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 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. | ~5 minest. | 40 sec |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 285 gsm poly-cotton ripstop canvas, PU impregnated, water column 2,000 mm | 260GSM ripstop canvas |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Direct4x4 product page | Eezi-Awn product page |
Related comparisons
- Expedition FoldoutvsFeather-Lite II
- Expedition FoldoutvsFlinders
- Expedition FoldoutvsCross 1200 MK2
- GalaxyvsCross 1200 MK2
Or read the full spec sheets for the Direct4x4 Expedition Foldout and the Eezi-Awn Galaxy.