Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140) vs Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (165)
Both of these are Roof Lodge tents, so the question is not which brand to trust but which size and configuration suits your vehicle and how you camp. The Evolution 2 (140) and the Evolution 2 (165) share Roof Lodge's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Evolution 2 (140) is 7 kg lighter at 55 kg against 62 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Inside, the Evolution 2 (165) gives 3.96 m² of sleeping floor against 3.36 m², about 18 percent more, though both are rated for 2. Roof Lodge does not publish a list price for the Evolution 2 (165), so a direct cost comparison means getting a quote from a dealer.
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
Roof Lodge
Evolution 2 (165)
This is the wider of Roof Lodge's two Evolution 2 widths, giving a 165 cm sleeping width versus 140 cm on the same 240 cm-long fold-out softshell platform. Like the 140 it uses a thermoplastic honeycomb floor, a 320 g/m2 PU-coated polycotton canopy, a 60 mm mattress and an approximate 120 cm setup height, and can be built as a Basic tent or an Extended version with a ground annex.
- Wider 165 cm sleeping area on the same Evolution 2 platform as the 140
- German honeycomb floor with a robust PU-coated polycotton canopy
- Includes mattress, 3D-mesh underlay, ladder, LED lighting and two skylight windows
- Heavier than the 140 version at 62 kg
Which one to pick
Take the Evolution 2 (165) if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. Take the Evolution 2 (140) 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 | — | — |
| List price | $1,860 | — |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 121 lb— best of the tents compared | 137 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 8 in— best of the tents compared | 5 ft 6 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in | 4 ft 1 in |
| Packed height | 15.7 in | 15.7 in |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in | 7 ft 10 in |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 5 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 42.6 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in | 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 | — | — |
| Fabric | 320 g/m2 polycotton (65% polyester / 35% cotton), PU-coated | 320 g/m2 polycotton (65% polyester / 35% cotton), PU-coated |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | Yes |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Roof Lodge product page | Roof Lodge product page |
Related comparisons
- Evolution 2 (140)vsMeadowlark 2 XL
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- Evolution 2 (140)vsHD Nomadic 3 Extended
Or read the full spec sheets for the Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140) and the Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (165).