Howling Moon Lunar vs Howling Moon Solar
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 Lunar and the Solar share Howling Moon's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Solar is 15 kg lighter at 60 kg against 75 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 3.12 m² and 3.36 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. Headroom separates them further: 140 cm in the Solar against 105 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. The Solar lists $924 lower, at $2,105 against $3,029.
Canvas differs too: heavy-duty ripstop canvas with YKK zips against 370gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated. Closed, the Solar sits 6 cm lower on the roof — 27 cm against 33 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Howling Moon
Lunar
The Lunar is a clamshell hardshell tent with a fibreglass top and bottom raised by a gas-strut lifting mechanism, fitted with a fully quilted 100 mm high-density foam mattress. Aluminium mounting rails are built into the top of the lid to allow fitting a solar panel or other accessories. It has large screened aperture windows and is available in black, grey or white.
- Thick 100 mm quilted foam mattress
- Fibreglass shell with lid mounting rails for solar/accessories
- Fully published open and packed dimensions
- Ladder is sold separately
Howling Moon
Solar
The Solar is a clamshell hardshell tent with a hard lid and gas-assisted struts, an openable roof window for stargazing and an 85 mm high-density foam mattress. Roof-bar mounting points allow fitting a solar panel or other accessories, and it has insect-screened windows and doors with a ventilated flysheet layer.
- Openable roof window for stargazing
- Roof-bar mounts for a solar panel or accessories
- Published open dimensions and interior height
- Two different weights (60 kg and ~70 kg) appear in the listing
Which one to pick
Take the Solar if the budget is fixed. Take the Solar 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 | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $3,030— worst of the tents compared | $2,110— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 165 lb— worst of the tents compared | 132 lb— best of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 3 in | — |
| Packed width | 4 ft 11 in | — |
| Packed height | 13 in— worst of the tents compared | 10.6 in— best 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 | 4 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 33.6 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 36.2 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 5 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 3.9 in— best of the tents compared | 3.3 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 | Fibreglass with scratch-resistant coating | — |
| Fabric | Heavy-duty ripstop canvas with YKK zips | 370gsm military-spec poly-cotton canvas, fluorocarbon impregnated |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | — |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | Yes |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | Yes | Yes |
| Carries cargo on top | Yes | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Howling Moon product page | Howling Moon product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Howling Moon Lunar and the Howling Moon Solar.