Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140) vs Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tent
The Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140) and the Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tent 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. Roof Lodge and Smittybilt take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Evolution 2 (140) is 8 kg lighter at 55 kg against 63 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 Gen2 Overlander XL Tent gives 5.98 m² of sleeping floor against 3.36 m², about 78 percent more, and it sleeps 4 to the Evolution 2 (140)'s 2. List prices are within $91.99000000000001 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
Canvas differs too: 320 g/m2 polycotton (65% polyester / 35% cotton), PU-coated against 600D heavy-duty ripstop polyester, waterproof polyurethane-impregnated top; 420D oxford rainfly. Closed, the Gen2 Overlander XL Tent sits 10.79 cm lower on the roof — 29.21 cm against 40 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
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
Smittybilt
Gen2 Overlander XL Tent
The Gen2 Overlander XL is the larger of Smittybilt's two soft-shell fold-out rooftop tents, sleeping 3-4 on a king-size 92.5" x 74.8" mattress. It shares the 600D ripstop polyester construction, anodized aluminum frame and LED strip of the standard model but adds a wider footprint and a higher 770lbs/350kg load rating. It is backed by a 2-year warranty.
- King-size mattress and wider footprint than the standard Gen2 Overlander
- 770lbs/350kg rated load
- Integrated LED strip and mosquito screens
- Manufacturer does not publish tent weight or mattress thickness
Which one to pick
Take the Gen2 Overlander XL Tent 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— worst of the tents compared | 4— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,860— best of the tents compared | $1,949.99— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 121 lb— best of the tents compared | 139 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 4 ft 8 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in— worst of the tents compared | 3 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 15.7 in— worst of the tents compared | 11.5 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 7 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 4 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared | 10 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 36.2 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 64.4 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 4 ft 3 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 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 | 600D heavy-duty ripstop polyester, waterproof polyurethane-impregnated top; 420D oxford rainfly |
| Warranty | — | 2years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | — |
| Roof skylight | Yes | — |
| Annex available | Yes | Yes |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | — | — |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Roof Lodge product page | Smittybilt product page |
Related comparisons
- Evolution 2 (140)vsMeadowlark 2 XL
- Evolution 2 (140)vsPioneer
- Evolution 2 (140)vsHD Nomadic 3 Extended
- Gen2 Overlander XL TentvsElements Gen II 140
Or read the full spec sheets for the Roof Lodge Evolution 2 (140) and the Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tent.