Freespirit Recreation Nova King vs Freespirit Recreation Nova Standard
Both of these are Freespirit Recreation tents, so the question is not which brand to trust but which size and configuration suits your vehicle and how you camp. The Nova King and the Nova Standard share Freespirit Recreation's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Nova Standard is 13.600000000000001 kg lighter at 59.9 kg against 73.5 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 Nova King gives 3.81 m² of sleeping floor against 2.61 m², about 46 percent more, and it sleeps 4 to the Nova Standard's 2. The Nova Standard lists $700 lower, at $2,295 against $2,995.
Freespirit Recreation
Nova King
The Nova King is the larger of Freespirit Recreation's two hardshell fold-out tents, opening to a 72 in wide interior that sleeps 3-4. It keeps a narrow 42 in closed width while folding out to roughly double the floor of the Nova Standard. The manufacturer rates it for 4-season use, and it includes aluminum crossbars, LED lighting and heater/AC/electrical ports.
- Wide 3-4 person fold-out interior
- Manufacturer-stated 4-season rating and 750 lb capacity
- Narrow closed width for its deployed size
- Fold-out needs side clearance and ladder support to deploy
Freespirit Recreation
Nova Standard
The Nova Standard is the smaller of Freespirit Recreation's two hardshell fold-out tents, keeping a compact 42 in wide closed footprint that folds out to a 1-2 person sleeping area. The manufacturer rates it for 4-season use and 100 percent waterproof. It ships with aluminum crossbars, dimmable LED lighting and heater/AC/electrical ports.
- Compact closed footprint suited to smaller vehicles
- Manufacturer-stated 4-season rating
- Includes crossbars, LED lighting and heater/AC ports
- 1-2 person interior only
Which one to pick
Take the Nova King if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Nova Standard if the budget is fixed. 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 | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 4— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | 4-season | 4-season |
| List price | $2,995— worst of the tents compared | $2,295— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 162 lb— worst of the tents compared | 132 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 6 ft 6 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 3 ft 6 in | 3 ft 6 in |
| Packed height | 11.5 in | 11.5 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 10 in | 6 ft 10 in |
| Sleeping width | 6 ft— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 1 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 41 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 28.1 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 7 in | 3 ft 7 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 | Extruded aluminum with polymer corners | Extruded aluminum with polymer corners |
| Fabric | Tri-Layer: polycotton fill between two layers of 210D ripstop | Tri-Layer: polycotton fill between two layers of 210D ripstop |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | Yes | Yes |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Freespirit Recreation product page | Freespirit Recreation product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Freespirit Recreation Nova King and the Freespirit Recreation Nova Standard.