Wild Land Normandy Auto 120 vs Wild Land Wild Cruiser 250
Both of these are Wild Land tents, so the question is not which brand to trust but which size and configuration suits your vehicle and how you camp. The Normandy Auto 120 and the Wild Cruiser 250 share Wild Land's construction and warranty; where they part company is in the numbers below.
The Normandy Auto 120 is 41 kg lighter at 36.5 kg against 77.5 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 Wild Cruiser 250 gives 5 m² of sleeping floor against 2.46 m², about 103 percent more, and it sleeps 5 to the Normandy Auto 120's 2. Headroom separates them further: 118 cm in the Normandy Auto 120 against 100 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. The Normandy Auto 120 lists $849 lower, at $1,321 against $2,170.
Canvas differs too: 210D ripstop poly-oxford 3000mm shell (silver-coated); 190g rip-stop polycotton PU2000mm inner; 210D poly-oxford PU2000mm floor; 600D oxford PU5000mm cover against 210D ripstop poly-oxford 3000mm outer; 190g rip-stop polycotton PU2000mm inner; 210D ripstop poly-oxford PU2000mm floor; 600D oxford PU5000mm cover; silver-coated. Closed, the Normandy Auto 120 sits 15 cm lower on the roof — 25 cm against 40 cm — which is drag you carry on every mile you are not camping.
Wild Land
Normandy Auto 120
The Normandy Auto 120 is Wild Land's softshell fold-out tent with a hydraulic-assisted single-fold opening the maker says sets up in about a minute. Weighing 36.5 kg, it is the lightest tent in Wild Land's EU range and includes dimmable LED lighting and a diesel heater port. The dealer notes it cannot carry cargo on top.
- Light 36.5 kg softshell with roughly one-minute hydraulic setup
- Dimmable LED lighting and diesel heater port included
- Detailed multi-layer fabric specification published
- Cannot carry cargo on the closed shell
Wild Land
Wild Cruiser 250
The Wild Cruiser 250 is a large softshell double-fold tent opening to a 250 x 200 cm sleeping area for four to five people, on a dual-layer 3+5 cm mattress. It uses 210D ripstop poly-oxford over 190g polycotton with a 600D cover, and includes dimmable LED lighting and a diesel heater port. It is the largest softshell in Wild Land's EU range.
- Large 250 x 200 cm sleeping area for 4-5 people
- Dual-layer 3+5 cm mattress
- Dimmable LED lighting and diesel heater port included
- Cannot carry cargo on the closed tent
Which one to pick
Take the Normandy Auto 120 if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. Take the Wild Cruiser 250 if you need the sleeping room more than you need the lighter tent. 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 | 5— best of the tents compared |
| Season rating | — | — |
| List price | $1,320— best of the tents compared | $2,170— worst of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 80 lb— best of the tents compared | 171 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 7 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 1 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 1 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 6 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 9.8 in— best of the tents compared | 15.7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared | 8 ft 2 in— best of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 3 ft 11 in— worst of the tents compared | 6 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 26.5 sq ft— worst of the tents compared | 53.8 sq ft— best of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 10 in— best of the tents compared | 3 ft 3 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in— worst of the tents compared | 3.1 in— best of the tents compared |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | 60 sec | ~5 minest. |
| Shell material | — | — |
| Fabric | 210D ripstop poly-oxford 3000mm shell (silver-coated); 190g rip-stop polycotton PU2000mm inner; 210D poly-oxford PU2000mm floor; 600D oxford PU5000mm cover | 210D ripstop poly-oxford 3000mm outer; 190g rip-stop polycotton PU2000mm inner; 210D ripstop poly-oxford PU2000mm floor; 600D oxford PU5000mm cover; silver-coated |
| Warranty | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | Yes | Yes |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | — |
| Carries cargo on top | No | No |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Wild Land product page | Wild Land product page |
Related comparisons
- Normandy Auto 120vsLite Cruiser 120 XL
- Normandy Auto 120vsWild Cruiser 160
- Wild Cruiser 250vsWild Cruiser 160
- Wild Cruiser 250vsLite Cruiser 120 XL
Or read the full spec sheets for the Wild Land Normandy Auto 120 and the Wild Land Wild Cruiser 250.