This Roofnest Meadowlark vs TentBox Lite 2.0 comparison is aimed at showing how different two roof top tents can be even when they formally belong to the same soft shell type group.
Why this comparison
If you follow this roof top tents industry, you probably know that the Roofnest Meadowlark is currently the only soft shell type that they have. They have many other tents but they are of a different hard shell type.
The picture below shows the tent when ready to use, with its extended floor and the included ladder in place. This is a true two-layer soft shell tent suitable for year round use.
You will see more about it the video below, please have a look, and more is in the text that follows.
On the other hand, the TentBox brand currently has a series of three soft shell tents under the name Lite. This Lite 2.0 is the smallest of the three.
So these Roofnest Meadowlark and TentBox Lite 2.0 belong to the same type. Even their official capacity is the same, but you will see below that the inner area is very different. However, from the pictures you realize that they look quite different.
Some common features
Here are some of the most important features that these tents share:
- Both tents are compact when packed for transportation. You will see the numbers below, they fold to roughly half the floor size. This is because they are extendable type, so when you unfold the tent, its floor area doubles.
- They have a part that hangs on the side of the car, and here you have the ladder that doubles also as a support.
- As of the moment of writing this text, the prices are nearly the same.
- Both are built from a polycotton fabric.
- They have openings with mesh on all four sides. However, these openings are very different.
Roofnest Meadowlark and TentBox Lite 2.0 differences
See now how these two tents differ, I have collected some numbers and features into the table below:
Weight, lb (kg)
Size when open, in (cm)
Area, sq.m
Box thickness, in (cm)
Size when closed
Peak height, in (cm)
LED
Skylight windows
Roofnest Meadowlark
90 (41)
80 x 43 (203 x 109)
2.2
12 (30)
47 x 44 (119 x 112)
36 (91)
yes
none
TentBox Lite 2.0
110 (50)
86.6 x 52.4 (220 x 133)
2.9
9.8 (25)
52.4 x 43.3 (133 x 110)
41.3 (105)
no
2
About size and area: The differences are obvious, note that the Roofnest Meadowlark is quite narrow and it is not for really tall people. I cannot describe it as a 2-person tent.
This is quite different in the TentBox Lite 2.0, it is both wide and long, with plenty of space for two people.
Packed size: This parameter included the base size when closed and the thickness when closed. There are differences in numbers, but both tents are compact when packed for the road, see the picture.
In fact, the volume of the Roofnest Meadowlark is 0.4 m³, and the volume of the TentBox Lite 2.0 is 0.36 m³. As you see, the difference is negligible, but the TentBox Lite 2.0 is indeed a bit lower profile.
With such a relatively small size, this allows you to transport some extra stuff on the roof. The picture shows what you can do with the Roofnest Meadowlark:
As you see, you can still keep the bicycle on even when you have the tent ready for sleeping. This is convenient when you are on the road and have to stop somewhere and to sleep.
LED: So you have this included with the Roofnest Meadowlark, the picture below shows how it looks, this is indeed useful to have.
Regarding the openings: The Roofnest Meadowlark has one door, and it offers two-layer windows on the other three sides. The door is with a window as well.
The TentBox Lite 2.0 is completely symmetric with the same openings on its opposite sides. But it also has two skylight windows with mesh and panels. The fly has solid translucent windows that match these skylights.
Vents: The picture above shows two vents on the wall above the window on the right side. There are two more on the opposite wall.
There are no vents inside of the Roofnest Meadowlark. This is needed when it rains and you have to keep all the windows closed.
My rating
Based on all that I showed above, here is my formal “rating”. I give + for the feature which I find better in one or another tent:
Weight
Protection
Area
Windows & doors
Sleeping capacity
Fabric
Peak height
Ventilation
Roofnest Meadowlark
TentBox Lite 2.0
You have already seen parameters and features above, so there is no need to explain each and every + in the table. But I want to say something about the following a few.
Protection: If you inspect the tents, you realize that the Roofnest Meadowlark is a true double-layer and both layers are excellent. So you can not have more protection from the cold, and it is better than most of ground tents built for winter.
With the TentBox Lite 2.0 the design is a bit different, although even here you have a thick and strong fabric that provides excellent protection. But I see it inferior in windy places.
Fabric: You have excellent materials here. In the TentBox Lite 2.0 the tent is built from a great polycotton fabric and the fly is a very strong Cordura. Zippers are the best quality YKK. The waterproof rating is 3000 mm for the inner and 5000 mm for the rainfly.
With the Roofnest Meadowlark you also have an excellent stuff. The walls are a 190 gsm coated polycotton with a waterproof rating of 2000 mm. The fly is a 210D coated polyoxford with a waterproof rating of 3000 mm.
Places to buy
Roofnest Meadowlark:
TentBox Lite 2.0:
Final thoughts
In summary, both Roofnest Meadowlark and TentBox Lite 2.0 are indeed excellent tents and you will be fine with any of them. As mentioned above, the price is almost the same, so it is the matter of preference when you inspect all their features.
Bear in mind the width of the Roofnest Meadowlark, this is a great choice for solo use, but too narrow for two. I am convinced this is a better choice if you know you will use it in very cold places.
But regarding the rest, you have seen the rating above, the TentBox Lite 2.0 looks like a better choice in many ways.
Let me know what you think, there is a comment box below. For more stuff of this type please check under the category Off-Ground Tents.
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