Howling Moon Comet Deluxe vs Howling Moon Comet Ultra
Both of these are Howling Moon tents, so the question is not which brand to trust but which size and configuration suits your vehicle and how you camp. The Comet Deluxe and the Comet Ultra share Howling Moon's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Comet Ultra is 20 kg lighter at 70 kg against 90 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. The Comet Ultra lists $660 lower, at $1,709 against $2,369.
The Comet Deluxe uses lightweight aluminium shell and base; the Comet Ultra uses slim aluminium base. Canvas differs too: 380gsm poly-cotton military-grade canvas against 380gsm poly-cotton military-grade canvas, UV and water resistant.
Howling Moon
Comet Deluxe
The Comet Deluxe is the upgraded version of Howling Moon's Comet pop-up hardshell, with an aluminium shell and base, an 80 mm high-density memory-foam mattress, larger windows with fine insect mesh and a wider-step telescopic ladder. It opens on gas-assisted struts and uses a UV-stabilised PVC cover. The manufacturer lists an approximate 90 kg weight.
- Thicker 80 mm memory-foam mattress than the base Comet
- Upgraded wide-step telescopic ladder and larger windows
- Gas-assisted pop-up setup
- Only an approximate weight (~90 kg) is published
Howling Moon
Comet Ultra
The Comet Ultra is the slim member of Howling Moon's Comet pop-up hardshell family, with a 90 mm packed height on a slim aluminium base and a 50 mm high-density memory-foam mattress. Its interior floor measures about 206 x 120 cm and the included 2.3 m telescopic ladder is rated to 150 kg. Aero mesh and carpet are fitted to reduce condensation.
- Slim 90 mm packed height
- Ladder rated to 150 kg
- Published interior floor dimensions
- Thinner 50 mm mattress than other Comet models
Which one to pick
Take the Comet Ultra if the budget is fixed. Take the Comet Ultra 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 | Pop-up | Pop-up |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $2,370— worst of the tents compared | $1,710— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 198 lb— worst of the tents compared | 154 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 1 in | 7 ft 1 in |
| Packed width | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 7.1 in | — |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | — | 6 ft 9 in |
| Sleeping width | — | 3 ft 11 in |
| Floor area | — | 26.6 sq ft |
| Interior height | — | — |
| Mattress thickness | 3.1 in— best of the tents compared | 2 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | Lightweight aluminium shell and base | Slim aluminium base |
| Fabric | 380gsm poly-cotton military-grade canvas | 380gsm poly-cotton military-grade canvas, UV and water resistant |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Howling Moon product page | Howling Moon product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Howling Moon Comet Deluxe and the Howling Moon Comet Ultra.