Gordigear Bonito vs Howling Moon Meteor Delux
The Gordigear Bonito and the Howling Moon Meteor Delux are both hybrid tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. Gordigear and Howling Moon take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
On weight they are effectively level — 98 kg against 95 kg — so the roof load question resolves the same way for both. Inside, the Meteor Delux gives 4.62 m² of sleeping floor against 3.27 m², about 41 percent more, and it sleeps 2 to the Bonito's 3. Headroom separates them further: 110 cm in the Meteor Delux against 95 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. List prices are within $199 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
They open differently: the Bonito is a pop-up and the Meteor Delux 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 Bonito uses aluminium 18 mm honeycomb core with aluminium planking; the Meteor Delux uses aluminium hardshell with scratch-resistant RAPTOR coating. Canvas differs too: 320 gr/m2 ripstop polyester-cotton blend, polyurethane impregnated and UV resistant against 329gsm ripstop poly-cotton canvas, UV50+, breathable. Closed, the Bonito sits 8 cm lower on the roof — 28 cm against 36 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Gordigear
Bonito
The Bonito is a hybrid aluminium hard-shell tent for 2-3 people, built with a compact footprint aimed at pick-up truck cargo areas. It opens semi-automatically in about 30 seconds to erected dimensions of 215 x 152 cm with a 210 x 140 cm sleeping surface and a 50 mm memory-foam mattress. It is the heaviest of Gordigear's hard shells at a published 98 kg.
- Compact 152 x 133 cm packed footprint suited to pick-up beds
- Dimmable 2-colour LED lighting and heater-port preparation
- Stated 5000 mm tent / 3000 mm flysheet water columns
- Heaviest Gordigear hard shell at 98 kg
Howling Moon
Meteor Delux
The Meteor Delux is a hard-lidded fold-out tent with an aluminium hardshell and scratch-resistant RAPTOR coating, a gas-strut lifting system and a 60 mm high-density mattress. It folds out to a wide roughly 210 x 220 cm floor and uses waterproof YKK zippers. It is the widest-floored tent in Howling Moon's current line-up.
- Wide ~4.6 sq m fold-out floor, the largest in the Howling Moon range
- Aluminium hardshell with RAPTOR coating
- Waterproof YKK zippers
- Heaviest model at 95 kg
Which one to pick
Take the Meteor Delux 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Opening style | Pop-up | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 3— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $3,010— best of the tents compared | $3,210— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 216 lb— worst of the tents compared | 209 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 5 ft— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 11 in— best of the tents compared | 14.2 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 5 ft— worst of the tents compared | 7 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 35.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 49.7 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 1 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 2.4 in— best of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | 30 sec | ~3 minest. |
| Shell material | Aluminium 18 mm honeycomb core with aluminium planking | Aluminium hardshell with scratch-resistant RAPTOR coating |
| Fabric | 320 gr/m2 ripstop polyester-cotton blend, polyurethane impregnated and UV resistant | 329gsm ripstop poly-cotton canvas, UV50+, breathable |
| Warranty | 2years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | Yes | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | Yes | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | Yes | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Gordigear product page | Howling Moon product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Gordigear Bonito and the Howling Moon Meteor Delux.