Latitude Tents Pioneer vs Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140)
The Latitude Tents Pioneer 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. Latitude Tents and Roof Lodge take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
On weight they are effectively level — 54 kg against 55 kg — so the roof load question resolves the same way for both. Floor area is close to identical at 3.36 m² and 3.36 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. List prices are within $72 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
They open differently: the Pioneer is a clamshell and the Evolution 2 (140) 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. Canvas differs too: 320g rip-stop polyester-cotton with waterproof & UV-resistant coating; oxford polyester rainfly; 550g PVC travel cover against 320 g/m2 polycotton (65% polyester / 35% cotton), PU-coated.
Latitude Tents
Pioneer
The Pioneer is Latitude Tents's softshell clamshell roof tent sleeping 2-3 adults, sitting between the Scout and the larger Pioneer XL in the range. It has a 240cm x 140cm internal floor with a 60mm high-density foam mattress, two roof skylights, and the same 320g rip-stop polyester-cotton construction as the rest of the softshell range. It needs roof bars rated above 55kg; Latitude does not publish the tent's weight or packed dimensions.
- Sleeps 2-3 adults on a 240 x 140cm floor
- Two roof skylights and a 60mm high-density foam mattress
- Fits vehicles with roof bars rated above 55kg
- Manufacturer does not publish weight or packed dimensions
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
These two are closely matched on the numbers that usually decide it. Read the feature rows below — heater port, skylight, annex — and let whichever of those you will actually use break the tie.
Every specification, side by side
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Softshell | Softshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Fold-out |
| Sleeps | 3— best of the tents compared | 2— worst of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,790— best of the tents compared | $1,860— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 119 lb— best of the tents compared | 121 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | — | 4 ft 8 in |
| Packed width | — | 4 ft 1 in |
| Packed height | — | 15.7 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in | 7 ft 10 in |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in | 4 ft 7 in |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft | 36.2 sq ft |
| Interior height | — | 3 ft 11 in |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 in | 2.4 in |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~5 minest. | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | 25mm aluminium tubing frame with 304-grade stainless steel hardware and hinges | — |
| Fabric | 320g rip-stop polyester-cotton with waterproof & UV-resistant coating; oxford polyester rainfly; 550g PVC travel cover | 320 g/m2 polycotton (65% polyester / 35% cotton), PU-coated |
| Warranty | 2years | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | — | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Latitude Tents product page | Roof Lodge product page |
Related comparisons
- PioneervsHD Nomadic 3 Extended
- PioneervsMeadowlark 2 XL
- PioneervsScout
- Evolution 2 (140)vsMeadowlark 2 XL
Or read the full spec sheets for the Latitude Tents Pioneer and the Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140).