Howling Moon Deluxe vs TentBox GO
The Howling Moon Deluxe and the TentBox GO 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. Howling Moon and TentBox take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The GO is 15 kg lighter at 33 kg against 48 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Floor area is close to identical at 2.88 m² and 2.75 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. List prices are within $45 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
Canvas differs too: 380gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated against stormproof breathable UV-resistant fabric, 3000 mm hydrostatic head. Closed, the Deluxe sits 9 cm lower on the roof — 36 cm against 45 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Howling Moon
Deluxe
The Deluxe is Howling Moon's entry-level softshell fold-out tent and the base model of the range, offered in widths from 1.2 m to 2.4 m. It uses a 380gsm military-spec poly-cotton canopy with a 75 mm high-density foam mattress and ships with an extension ladder and a UV-stabilised welded-seam PVC travel cover. It is compatible with the brand's extension/annex.
- Uses the same 380gsm poly-cotton canvas as the higher softshells
- Compatible with Howling Moon's extension/annex
- Multiple width options from 1.2 m to 2.4 m
- Manufacturer does not publish warranty or season rating
TentBox
GO
At 33 kg this is the lightest tent in the database by a wide margin, and it opens within the vehicle's own footprint rather than folding over the side. That combination puts a rooftop tent within reach of small cars whose roof limits rule out everything else.
- 33 kg, lighter than any other tent here
- Opens within the vehicle footprint
- 5-year warranty, longer than most tents near its price
- 45 cm closed height is the tallest packed profile here
Which one to pick
Take the GO 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 | — | 4-season |
| List price | $1,350— worst of the tents compared | $1,310— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 106 lb— worst of the tents compared | 73 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | — | 7 ft 5 in |
| Packed width | — | 4 ft |
| Packed height | 14.2 in— best of the tents compared | 17.7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 31 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 29.6 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 3 in | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | 60 sec |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 380gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated | Stormproof breathable UV-resistant fabric, 3000 mm hydrostatic head |
| Warranty | — | 5years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | No |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | No |
| Roof skylight | — | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | — |
| Solar ready | — | No |
| Carries cargo on top | — | No |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Howling Moon product page | TentBox product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Howling Moon Deluxe and the TentBox GO.