ARB Flinders
#6 in Soft shellFull review
A roomy, low profile two person soft shell from a big off road brand, for couples who want a large bed without a tall roof box. Supply in the US is now patchy.
Amazon $1,689$1,689
The ARB Flinders is the better tent overall, rated 3.5 to 3.2. The ARB Flinders leads on weight, value and warranty. The CVT Pioneer Mt. Shasta wins on comfort. The ARB Flinders costs $310 less ($1,689 vs $1,999).
CVT Pioneer Mt. Shasta
#16 in Soft shellFull review
A slightly wider two person Pioneer for couples who want elbow room and the option of an annex. It is heavy for its size, so check the roof load before buying.
CVT $1,999$1,999
Prices were last checked October 31, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Which should you buy?
- Choose the ARB Flinders for weight (119 lb for 36.2 sq ft of bed (3.3 lb per sq ft) vs 176 lb for 35.9 sq ft of bed (4.9 lb per sq ft)), value ($46.71 per sq ft of bed ($1,689, 36.2 sq ft) vs $55.68 per sq ft of bed ($1,999, 35.9 sq ft)) and warranty (3-year warranty vs 2-year warranty).
- Choose the CVT Pioneer Mt. Shasta for comfort (3 in mattress, anti-condensation mat not stated, 2 skylights vs 2 in mattress, anti-condensation mat not stated, skylight).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every soft shell tent; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | ARB Flinders | CVT Pioneer Mt. Shasta |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.5/5 | 3.2/5 |
| Value 30% | 68 $46.71 per sq ft of bed ($1,689, 36.2 sq ft) | 55 $55.68 per sq ft of bed ($1,999, 35.9 sq ft) |
| Weight 20% | 77 119 lb for 36.2 sq ft of bed (3.3 lb per sq ft) | 31 176 lb for 35.9 sq ft of bed (4.9 lb per sq ft) |
| Weather 20% | 50 waterproof rating not published (neutral score used) | 62 waterproof rating not published, 4 season |
| Comfort 15% | 28 2 in mattress, anti-condensation mat not stated, skylight | 57 3 in mattress, anti-condensation mat not stated, 2 skylights |
| Warranty 15% | 50 3-year warranty | 25 2-year warranty |
Specifications
| ARB Flinders | CVT Pioneer Mt. Shasta | |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeping | ||
| Shell | Soft shell | Soft shell |
| Opens | Folds out | Folds out |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Mattress | 55.1 x 94.5 in | 55 x 94 in |
| Bed area | 36.2 sq ft | 35.9 sq ft |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in | 3 in |
| Skylights | 1 | 2 |
| Built-in lights | Yes | No |
| Weather | ||
| Fabric | PU coated poly cotton canvas | 320G ripstop canvas |
| Season rating | - | 4 season |
| Annex | - | Optional |
| On the vehicle | ||
| Weight | 119 lb | 176 lb |
| Closed size | 55 x 47 x 8 in | - |
| Open size | 55 x 94 x 55 in | 125 x 56.5 x 49 in |
| Closed height | 8 in | - |
| Setup time (maker) | - | 8 min |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 years |
| Released | 2022-06 | 2025-04 |