Some of you may know I had a Mombasa RTT that I recently sold and picked up an OzTent.
I really thought I'd be a rooftop tenter forever but I'm trading in my pickup for something else and which means kayaks have to go on the roof.
This isn't a long term review by any stretch, just my initial thoughts comparing the two.
The smallest OzTent, the RV2 is what I have and it is very comparable to the Mombasa RTT, 2 person tent. The MSRP is the same. The RV2 can sleep 3 people but if you want to use the tent for anything other than sleeping, I'd suggest getting the next size up if you have 2 or more people.
The Oztent is made from the same ripstop polycotton fabric but aside from that, the materials look more durable. The window screens are better on the Oztent. And for once in my life, I did not have any issues at all with the carry bag ripping while it was in transit. I was relieved about that after it's 1,000 mile maiden voyage after all the trouble I had with the cover on the RTT. Not only did the carry bag not rip, it's the perfect size to put the tent inside very easily without fighting with it or getting fabric caught in the zipper. More points for the Oztent.
The Oztent is being promoted as a convenient tent that sets up in 30 seconds. For me, quick setup is a must and it has to be easy to set up in pitch black darkness by one person.
If you start the clock before you even take it out of the carry bag and stop it before you stake the tent or put up any rain flies, yes, it's actually a little under 30 seconds.
But comparing it to the RTT, the RTT sets up in even less time if you don't factor in the window awnings.
If you just flip open an RTT and extend the ladder, that only takes about 10 seconds. Then again, that doesn't take into consideration unzipping the cover.
And if you consider that sleeping bags and linens can be stored in an RTT and you don't need to set up a cot or mattress in an RTT, you can shave off some set-up time there, but all in all, it takes about the same amount of time if you were to stake the oztent and put up a rainfly and open the awning. I'd say about 15 minutes. If you had one of the hard top crank up RTTs, you'd have everyone beat.
Once you prop up the Oztent, it can be used without a rainfly or the awning and technically it can be used without staking if it's not real windy. So if you've had a long day and you're exhausted and just want to go to sleep, I would say the Oztent has a slight advantage.
So just total setup time, they're about the same.
But setup time isn't everything.
The part that's easy to forget is the installation, removal and storage.
The RTT was a lot heavier and getting it secured to the roof rack took time and was a lot of work.
If you put it up at the beginning of the season and take it off at the end, and get a lot of use out of it in the mean time, it can certainly be worth the effort. But it's still a hell of a lot of effort.
The Oztent RV2 tips the scales at 45 lbs with all the accessories and a rubber mallet in the carry bag. It's a lot easier to throw the oztent on the roof than the RTT and it's easier to find a place to store it.
The OzTent has the clear advantage in that department. Throw it on the roof rack and a couple of rubber straps keep it tightly in place.
Despite the difference in size, weight and shape and what I assumed would be less drag with the Oztent, there was no difference whatsoever in fuel economy on the highway. None.
One of the really nice differences between an Oztent and an RTT is you can bring in chairs and a table and hang out in the tent without being in a horizontally oriented position. You can also stand up in an OzTent which eliminates the need for a separate changing room. I have really missed having a tent where you can do this in case it's raining and you want to be sheltered from the elements and it's not bed time. On the other hand, the mattress in the RTT was far more comfortable than the cot.
Another obvious convenience is when you realize you left something "downstairs" when you're in an RTT versus when you're in an Oztent.
Ventilation...
Ventilation on the Oztent could use some improvement but I wasn't surprised. You don't have big expansive windows on all sizes and the mesh is much tighter than on the RTT.
My biggest complaint with the Oztent so far is that the rear window cannot be zipped closed from the inside. I can't understand how they left out an inner flap on the rear window when they included them for the side windows!
The rear window is sloping and you can roll it open or closed or stake it open with the awning.
If you leave it open, and you sleep beside it, you can look up at the stars.
Because it's such a big window, it's one of those things where in the summer time, you will probably want to go to bed with the window open but if it gets chilly in the middle of the night, you will want to zip it closed. That requires a trip outside to the back of the tent.
The RTT, never made me do that.
The RTT windows can all be closed from inside the tent and even the mesh can be unzipped. So the RTT has the clear advantage when it comes to windows. And views. And ventilation.
The Awning...
The awning that comes with the OzTent is a nice touch. If you don't already have an awning, it's a nice thing to have. Depending on how you orient your RTT, the RTT itself can provide some shelter as well so I'd say they're actually about even here. The awning is a bit tricky to set up by one person using stakes in the ground.
http://s1253.photobucket.com/user/phoohp10/media/oztent_020830015_zps56bovkyh.jpg.html
Another thing I will miss about the RTT, is what a conversation piece it was. I couldn't take that thing anywhere without it getting compliments and people stopping by to see what it was. So far, that hasn't happened with the Oztent. It could; but it hasn't yet.
Being able to set up the tent and leave it there while going somewhere in your vehicle, if you need to, is an another benefit over the RTT.
Aesthetically, the Oztent isn't really that much to look at. It's a very utilitarian design. The fabric looks a lot more wrinkled than I was hoping for.
A couple of things remain to be seen. How it does in the pouring rain and how much the tent tolerates uneven sloping ground. I have some doubts about the floor not ripping.
So far, I'd say the OzTent is a good alternative to an RTT depending on your priorities.
I'll update after I've got some more hours on it. We'll see if I still feel that way.
I really thought I'd be a rooftop tenter forever but I'm trading in my pickup for something else and which means kayaks have to go on the roof.
This isn't a long term review by any stretch, just my initial thoughts comparing the two.
The smallest OzTent, the RV2 is what I have and it is very comparable to the Mombasa RTT, 2 person tent. The MSRP is the same. The RV2 can sleep 3 people but if you want to use the tent for anything other than sleeping, I'd suggest getting the next size up if you have 2 or more people.
The Oztent is made from the same ripstop polycotton fabric but aside from that, the materials look more durable. The window screens are better on the Oztent. And for once in my life, I did not have any issues at all with the carry bag ripping while it was in transit. I was relieved about that after it's 1,000 mile maiden voyage after all the trouble I had with the cover on the RTT. Not only did the carry bag not rip, it's the perfect size to put the tent inside very easily without fighting with it or getting fabric caught in the zipper. More points for the Oztent.
The Oztent is being promoted as a convenient tent that sets up in 30 seconds. For me, quick setup is a must and it has to be easy to set up in pitch black darkness by one person.
If you start the clock before you even take it out of the carry bag and stop it before you stake the tent or put up any rain flies, yes, it's actually a little under 30 seconds.
But comparing it to the RTT, the RTT sets up in even less time if you don't factor in the window awnings.
If you just flip open an RTT and extend the ladder, that only takes about 10 seconds. Then again, that doesn't take into consideration unzipping the cover.
And if you consider that sleeping bags and linens can be stored in an RTT and you don't need to set up a cot or mattress in an RTT, you can shave off some set-up time there, but all in all, it takes about the same amount of time if you were to stake the oztent and put up a rainfly and open the awning. I'd say about 15 minutes. If you had one of the hard top crank up RTTs, you'd have everyone beat.
Once you prop up the Oztent, it can be used without a rainfly or the awning and technically it can be used without staking if it's not real windy. So if you've had a long day and you're exhausted and just want to go to sleep, I would say the Oztent has a slight advantage.
So just total setup time, they're about the same.
But setup time isn't everything.
The part that's easy to forget is the installation, removal and storage.
The RTT was a lot heavier and getting it secured to the roof rack took time and was a lot of work.
If you put it up at the beginning of the season and take it off at the end, and get a lot of use out of it in the mean time, it can certainly be worth the effort. But it's still a hell of a lot of effort.
The Oztent RV2 tips the scales at 45 lbs with all the accessories and a rubber mallet in the carry bag. It's a lot easier to throw the oztent on the roof than the RTT and it's easier to find a place to store it.
The OzTent has the clear advantage in that department. Throw it on the roof rack and a couple of rubber straps keep it tightly in place.
Despite the difference in size, weight and shape and what I assumed would be less drag with the Oztent, there was no difference whatsoever in fuel economy on the highway. None.
One of the really nice differences between an Oztent and an RTT is you can bring in chairs and a table and hang out in the tent without being in a horizontally oriented position. You can also stand up in an OzTent which eliminates the need for a separate changing room. I have really missed having a tent where you can do this in case it's raining and you want to be sheltered from the elements and it's not bed time. On the other hand, the mattress in the RTT was far more comfortable than the cot.
Another obvious convenience is when you realize you left something "downstairs" when you're in an RTT versus when you're in an Oztent.
Ventilation...
Ventilation on the Oztent could use some improvement but I wasn't surprised. You don't have big expansive windows on all sizes and the mesh is much tighter than on the RTT.
My biggest complaint with the Oztent so far is that the rear window cannot be zipped closed from the inside. I can't understand how they left out an inner flap on the rear window when they included them for the side windows!
The rear window is sloping and you can roll it open or closed or stake it open with the awning.
If you leave it open, and you sleep beside it, you can look up at the stars.
Because it's such a big window, it's one of those things where in the summer time, you will probably want to go to bed with the window open but if it gets chilly in the middle of the night, you will want to zip it closed. That requires a trip outside to the back of the tent.
The RTT, never made me do that.
The RTT windows can all be closed from inside the tent and even the mesh can be unzipped. So the RTT has the clear advantage when it comes to windows. And views. And ventilation.
The Awning...
The awning that comes with the OzTent is a nice touch. If you don't already have an awning, it's a nice thing to have. Depending on how you orient your RTT, the RTT itself can provide some shelter as well so I'd say they're actually about even here. The awning is a bit tricky to set up by one person using stakes in the ground.
http://s1253.photobucket.com/user/phoohp10/media/oztent_020830015_zps56bovkyh.jpg.html
Another thing I will miss about the RTT, is what a conversation piece it was. I couldn't take that thing anywhere without it getting compliments and people stopping by to see what it was. So far, that hasn't happened with the Oztent. It could; but it hasn't yet.
Being able to set up the tent and leave it there while going somewhere in your vehicle, if you need to, is an another benefit over the RTT.
Aesthetically, the Oztent isn't really that much to look at. It's a very utilitarian design. The fabric looks a lot more wrinkled than I was hoping for.
A couple of things remain to be seen. How it does in the pouring rain and how much the tent tolerates uneven sloping ground. I have some doubts about the floor not ripping.
So far, I'd say the OzTent is a good alternative to an RTT depending on your priorities.
I'll update after I've got some more hours on it. We'll see if I still feel that way.
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