Naturnest Polaris Lite vs Naturnest Polaris Plus
Both of these are Naturnest tents, so the question is not which brand to trust but which size and configuration suits your vehicle and how you camp. The Polaris Lite and the Polaris Plus share Naturnest's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Polaris Lite is 28.14 kg lighter at 47 kg against 75.14 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Setup is not close. The Polaris Plus opens as a clamshell in 10 seconds; the Polaris Lite takes 30 seconds. Over a trip with a new campsite every night, that gap compounds. List prices are within $100 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
The Polaris Lite uses PHC aluminium honeycomb shell with aluminium-alloy frame; the Polaris Plus uses aircraft-grade aluminium alloy. Canvas differs too: waterproof, UV-resistant canvas (Desert Olive); YKK zippers against w/R 5000 waterproof, UV-resistant fabric.
Naturnest
Polaris Lite
The Polaris Lite is an aluminium-honeycomb (PHC) clamshell tent rated for two, weighing 47 kg (103.6 lbs) - the lightest of the Naturnest models with a published weight. Its published open size is 210 x 130 x 150 cm, folding to a pack just 10.5 cm tall, and it uses a 6 cm inflatable mattress, an LED ring light, three side entries and multiple mesh windows. Naturnest cites roughly a 30-second setup.
- At 47 kg, the lightest Naturnest model with a published weight
- Packs down to just 10.5 cm tall
- Includes a 6 cm inflatable mattress and an LED ring light
- No published season rating
Naturnest
Polaris Plus
The Polaris Plus is an aircraft-grade aluminium clamshell tent rated for two adults and a child, with a strut-assisted shell the maker says opens in under 10 seconds. It uses a 5 cm three-layer mattress, a W/R 5000 canopy said to block 99% of UV, an LED light strip and multiple storage pockets. Naturnest lists a 12-month warranty alongside a 3-year durability guarantee but does not publish dimensions or weight.
- Strut-assisted shell opens in under 10 seconds per the maker
- Aircraft-grade aluminium shell
- Backed by a 3-year durability guarantee
- Manufacturer does not publish dimensions or weight
Which one to pick
Take the Polaris Plus if you move camp most days. Take the Polaris Lite 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 | $1,399— worst of the tents compared | $1,299— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 104 lb— best of the tents compared | 166 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 6 ft 11 in | — |
| Packed width | 4 ft 3 in | — |
| Packed height | 4.1 in | — |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 11 in | — |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 3 in | — |
| Floor area | 29.4 sq ft | — |
| Interior height | 4 ft 11 in | — |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 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. | 30 sec— worst of the tents compared | 10 sec— best of the tents compared |
| Shell material | PHC aluminium honeycomb shell with aluminium-alloy frame | Aircraft-grade aluminium alloy |
| Fabric | Waterproof, UV-resistant canvas (Desert Olive); YKK zippers | W/R 5000 waterproof, UV-resistant fabric |
| Warranty | 1year | 1year |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Naturnest product page | Naturnest product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Naturnest Polaris Lite and the Naturnest Polaris Plus.