Direct4x4 Pathseeker Auto Solar vs Naturnest Sirius 1 Plus
The Direct4x4 Pathseeker Auto Solar and the Naturnest Sirius 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 Pathseeker Auto Solar is 13 kg lighter at 62 kg against 75 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 Sirius 1 Plus gives 3.36 m² of sleeping floor against 3.04 m², about 11 percent more, and it sleeps 3 to the Pathseeker Auto Solar's 2. List prices are within $77 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
They open differently: the Pathseeker Auto Solar is a pop-up and the Sirius 1 Plus 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 Pathseeker Auto Solar uses ABS polymer composite; the Sirius 1 Plus uses ABS hard shell with aluminium honeycomb base panel. Canvas differs too: 210D ripstop Poly Oxford, PU 2,000 mm, silver coating, UPF50+ against 420D waterproof Oxford outer; mildew-proof plaid Oxford inner.
Direct4x4
Pathseeker Auto Solar
The Pathseeker is a two-person hard-shell rooftop tent with a heavy-duty ABS polymer composite shell and a built-in solar panel that powers its remote-control opening mechanism and a USB device charger. It opens to 225 x 135 cm with a 130 cm interior height and a 62 kg tent weight, using a 210D ripstop Poly Oxford fly with a silver PU coating rated UPF50+. Direct4x4 offers a matching annex room, sun-shade awnings and a detachable thermal inner tent as add-ons.
- Built-in solar panel powers the remote-control opening and a USB charger
- 5 cm mattress and ABS composite shell
- Supported by Direct4x4 annex, awning and thermal inner-tent add-ons
- Two-person capacity only
Naturnest
Sirius 1 Plus
The Sirius 1 Plus is an ABS fold-out hard-shell tent that Naturnest rates for two adults plus a child. Its published open size is 210 x 160 x 120 cm, folding to 159 x 130 x 31.5 cm, with a weight of 75 kg (165 lbs). It includes a 4.5 cm double-layer mattress, interior and exterior LED strips, a USB/Anderson power interface and a roof-top luggage bar rated to 20 kg.
- Roof-top luggage bar rated to 20 kg for solar panels or gear
- Includes USB/Anderson power interface and dual LED strips
- Compatible with an optional annex room
- Manufacturer does not publish a numeric season rating
Which one to pick
Take the Pathseeker Auto Solar if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. Take the Sirius 1 Plus if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Beyond that the feature rows below — heater port, skylight, annex, cargo rails — are where the remaining difference lies.
Every specification, side by side
| Specification | Direct4x4 Pathseeker Auto Solar
| |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Pop-up | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,470— best of the tents compared | $1,549— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 137 lb— best of the tents compared | 165 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 11.8 in— best of the tents compared | 12.4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 5 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 32.7 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 36.2 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— best of the tents compared | 1.8 in— worst 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 | ABS polymer composite | ABS hard shell with aluminium honeycomb base panel |
| Fabric | 210D ripstop Poly Oxford, PU 2,000 mm, silver coating, UPF50+ | 420D waterproof Oxford outer; mildew-proof plaid Oxford inner |
| Warranty | — | 1year |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | Yes | Yes |
| Carries cargo on top | — | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Direct4x4 product page | Naturnest product page |
Related comparisons
- Pathseeker Auto SolarvsPolaris 2
- Pathseeker Auto SolarvsHD Bundu 2 Cantilever
- Pathseeker Auto SolarvsDiscovery
- Sirius 1 PlusvsPolaris 2
Or read the full spec sheets for the Direct4x4 Pathseeker Auto Solar and the Naturnest Sirius 1 Plus.