Eezi-Awn Blade 40th Edition vs Ironman 4x4 Orion 1200 Lightweight
The Eezi-Awn Blade 40th Edition and the Ironman 4x4 Orion 1200 Lightweight 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. Eezi-Awn and Ironman 4x4 take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Orion 1200 Lightweight is 10.5 kg lighter at 71.5 kg against 82 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 $186 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
The Blade 40th Edition uses aluminium (extruded base with two 8mm accessory slots); the Orion 1200 Lightweight uses pressed-aluminium hardshell with aluminium honeycomb base. Closed, the Orion 1200 Lightweight sits 17.5 cm lower on the roof — 14.5 cm against 32 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Eezi-Awn
Blade 40th Edition
The Blade 40th Edition is an aerodynamic aluminium hard-shell tent with an extruded base carrying two 8mm accessory slots and a K9 rack platform on top rated for solar panels, bikes or kayaks. Eezi-Awn lists an 82kg weight, packed dimensions of 2200 x 1450 x 320mm (rear), two stainless-steel locks, revised gas struts and a USB port. It is one of Eezi-Awn's aluminium hard-shell models.
- K9 roof platform rated for solar panels, bikes or kayaks
- Stainless-steel locks and revised gas struts
- Published 82kg weight and packed dimensions
- Manufacturer does not publish mattress thickness, capacity or open dimensions on this page
Ironman 4x4
Orion 1200 Lightweight
The Orion 1200 Lightweight is a two-person gas-strut hardshell tent with a pressed-aluminium shell over an aluminium honeycomb base, catalogued by Ironman 4x4 USA at $2,499 (sold out at time of check). It keeps the same 2200 x 1250 mm footprint open as packed and stands 1560 mm high inside, on a 40 mm high-density foam mattress with a separate 10 mm anti-condensation mat. The maker publishes a 71.5 kg tent weight and rates the roof plates to 40 kg closed / 15 kg open for accessories.
- Lower published weight (71.5 kg) than the brand's Orion 1400 and Ursa hardshells
- Gas-strut clamshell opening the maker rates at under 3 minutes
- Blackout-coated 280gsm ripstop polycotton with a heater/cooler hose inlet
- Sold out on Ironman 4x4's US site at time of check
Which one to pick
Take the Orion 1200 Lightweight 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 | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | 3-season |
| List price | $2,690— worst of the tents compared | $2,499— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 181 lb— worst of the tents compared | 158 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 3 in | 7 ft 3 in |
| Packed width | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 12.6 in— worst of the tents compared | 5.7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 7 ft 3 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 1 in |
| Floor area | — | 29.6 sq ft |
| Interior height | — | 5 ft 1 in |
| Mattress thickness | — | 1.6 in |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | Aluminium (extruded base with two 8mm accessory slots) | Pressed-aluminium hardshell with aluminium honeycomb base |
| Fabric | — | 280gsm ripstop polycotton fly with blackout coating; 120gsm super-fine insect mesh |
| Warranty | — | 3years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | Yes |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | Yes | — |
| Carries cargo on top | Yes | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Eezi-Awn product page | Ironman 4x4 product page |
Related comparisons
- Blade 40th EditionvsClassic
- Blade 40th EditionvsKozi HighRize 1250
- Blade 40th EditionvsAluminum Pop-up
- Orion 1200 LightweightvsAluminum Pop-up
Or read the full spec sheets for the Eezi-Awn Blade 40th Edition and the Ironman 4x4 Orion 1200 Lightweight.