Eezi-Awn Blade 40th Edition vs Smittybilt Aluminum Side Opening
The Eezi-Awn Blade 40th Edition and the Smittybilt Aluminum Side Opening 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 Smittybilt take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Aluminum Side Opening lists $285.01 lower, at $2,399.99 against $2,685.
The Blade 40th Edition uses aluminium (extruded base with two 8mm accessory slots); the Aluminum Side Opening uses aluminum. Closed, the Aluminum Side Opening sits 13.969999999999999 cm lower on the roof — 18.03 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
Smittybilt
Aluminum Side Opening
The Aluminum Side Opening RTT is a hard-shell rooftop tent with a low-profile aluminum shell that opens to the side, sleeping 2-3 people. It uses gas-assisted struts, a 2.5" high-density foam mattress, an LED light strip with inline remote, internal mesh storage and external roof rack bars on the shell. Smittybilt rates it for a 661lbs load and backs it with a 5-year warranty.
- Aluminum hard shell with 5-year warranty and gas-assisted setup
- External roof rack bars allow cargo carrying on the closed shell
- 2.5" mattress and LED strip with remote
- Manufacturer does not publish tent weight or season rating
Which one to pick
These two are closely matched on the numbers that usually decide it. Read the feature rows below — heater port, skylight, annex — and let whichever of those you will actually use break the tie.
Every specification, side by side
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2— worst of the tents compared | 3— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,690— worst of the tents compared | $2,399.99— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 181 lb | — |
| Packed length | 7 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 12.6 in— worst of the tents compared | 7.1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 7 ft 1 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 4 ft 7 in |
| Floor area | — | 32.5 sq ft |
| Interior height | — | 3 ft 2 in |
| Mattress thickness | — | 2.5 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) | Aluminum |
| Fabric | — | — |
| Warranty | — | 5years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | Yes | — |
| Carries cargo on top | Yes | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Eezi-Awn product page | Smittybilt product page |
Related comparisons
- Blade 40th EditionvsClassic
- Blade 40th EditionvsKozi HighRize 1250
- Blade 40th EditionvsAluminum Pop-up
- Blade 40th EditionvsOrion 1200 Lightweight
Or read the full spec sheets for the Eezi-Awn Blade 40th Edition and the Smittybilt Aluminum Side Opening.