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 rates 3.5 among soft shell tents; the Freespirit Recreation Aspen Pro XL rates 3.3 among hard shell ones. The ARB Flinders costs $1,406 less ($1,689 vs $3,095).
Freespirit Recreation Aspen Pro XL
#11 in Hard shellFull review
For couples with a full size SUV or truck who want a low, insulated clamshell with a roomy bed that opens in seconds.
Freespirit Recreation $3,095$3,095
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.
Scores side by side
These two sit in different type classes (soft shell and hard shell), and each is scored against the reference points for its own class, so a rating says how well each does among its own type peers. How we rank explains each factor.
| Factor weight | ARB Flinders | Freespirit Recreation Aspen Pro XL |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.5/5 | 3.3/5 |
| Value 30% | 68 $46.71 per sq ft of bed ($1,689, 36.2 sq ft) | 50 $99.43 per sq ft of bed ($3,095, 31.1 sq ft) |
| Weight 20% | 77 119 lb for 36.2 sq ft of bed (3.3 lb per sq ft) | 30 154 lb for 31.1 sq ft of bed (4.9 lb per sq ft) |
| Weather 20% | 50 waterproof rating not published (neutral score used) | 100 3,000 mm waterproof rating, 4 season |
| Comfort 15% | 28 2 in mattress, anti-condensation mat not stated, skylight | 50 mattress and extras not published (neutral score used) |
| Warranty 15% | 50 3-year warranty | 25 2-year warranty |
Specifications
| ARB Flinders | Freespirit Recreation Aspen Pro XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeping | ||
| Shell | Soft shell | Hard shell |
| Opens | Folds out | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2 | 3 |
| Mattress | 55.1 x 94.5 in | 55 x 81.5 in |
| Bed area | 36.2 sq ft | 31.1 sq ft |
| Mattress thickness | 2 in | - |
| Skylights | 1 | - |
| Bedding stays inside | - | Yes |
| Built-in lights | Yes | Yes |
| Weather | ||
| Fabric | PU coated poly cotton canvas | Tri-Layer (poly-cotton fill between two layers of 210D ripstop) |
| Waterproof rating | - | 3,000 mm |
| Season rating | - | 4 season |
| Annex | - | None offered |
| On the vehicle | ||
| Weight | 119 lb | 154 lb |
| Closed size | 55 x 47 x 8 in | 86.5 x 59.5 x 7.375 in |
| Open size | 55 x 94 x 55 in | - |
| Closed height | 8 in | 7.4 in |
| Static load | - | 750 lb |
| Ladder | - | 90 in |
| Setup time (maker) | - | 0.5 min |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 years |
| Released | 2022-06 | - |