Horntools Elements Gen II 140 vs Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140)
The Horntools Elements Gen II 140 and the Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140) are both softshell tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. Horntools and Roof Lodge take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Evolution 2 (140) is 18.299999999999997 kg lighter at 55 kg against 73.3 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 Elements Gen II 140 gives 4.64 m² of sleeping floor against 3.36 m², about 38 percent more, though both are rated for 2. List prices are within $111 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
Canvas differs too: 300 g/m2 sailcloth with PU coating; 35% cotton, 65% polyester (water column 2000 mm) against 320 g/m2 polycotton (65% polyester / 35% cotton), PU-coated.
Horntools
Elements Gen II 140
The 140 cm two-person version of Horntools's Elements Gen II folding roof tent, built on an aluminium honeycomb base with a 300 g/m2 sailcloth outer (35% cotton, 65% polyester). It opens in about five minutes to a 320 x 145 cm sleeping area with 130 cm interior height, an 8 cm foam mattress, integrated dimmable LED lighting and a Sky View roof window. It is the smallest of Horntools's three Elements Gen II sizes.
- Aluminium honeycomb base with 8 cm foam mattress
- Integrated dimmable LED lighting and Sky View roof window
- 5-year (voluntary) manufacturer warranty
- Manufacturer does not publish a season rating
Roof Lodge
Evolution 2 (140)
The Roof Lodge Evolution 2 is a German-made fold-out softshell rooftop tent built on a thermoplastic honeycomb floor with a 320 g/m2 PU-coated polycotton canopy. The 140 cm width sleeps two on a 60 mm foam mattress at a setup height of about 120 cm, and mounts to standard crossbars up to 120 mm wide. It is the narrower of Roof Lodge's two Evolution 2 widths and can be ordered as a Basic tent or as an Extended version with a large ground annex.
- Designed and assembled in Germany on a rigid thermoplastic honeycomb floor
- Package includes a 60 mm mattress, 3D-mesh underlay, aluminium ladder, LED lighting and two skylight windows
- Compatible with an optional ground annex/awning for extended stays
- Relatively heavy at 55 kg
Which one to pick
Take the Elements Gen II 140 if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Evolution 2 (140) 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 | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,970— worst of the tents compared | $1,860— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 162 lb— worst of the tents compared | 121 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 8 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 15.4 in— best of the tents compared | 15.7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 10 ft 6 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 9 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 49.9 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 36.2 sq ft— worst 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 | 3.1 in— best of the tents compared | 2.4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | 5 min | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 300 g/m2 sailcloth with PU coating; 35% cotton, 65% polyester (water column 2000 mm) | 320 g/m2 polycotton (65% polyester / 35% cotton), PU-coated |
| Warranty | 5years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Horntools product page | Roof Lodge product page |
Related comparisons
- Elements Gen II 140vsGen2 Overlander XL Tent
- Elements Gen II 140vsPioneer 2 Tent
- Elements Gen II 140vsWalkabout 62 2.0
- Elements Gen II 140vsMeadowlark 2 XL
Or read the full spec sheets for the Horntools Elements Gen II 140 and the Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140).