Description
The 🦘 Wallaby POPALU HYBRIDE embodies the perfect balance between a rigid aluminum-shell tent and a side-folding tent.
It combines the strength and durability of a 100% aluminum shell with the spacious ergonomics of a side opening, to offer unrivalled sleeping comfort in a compact, elegant format.
Double opening concept
Thanks to its ingenious double hinged shell design, the POPALU HYBRIDE deploys easily in seconds, thanks to its powerful gas struts.
The first shell lifts up to free up the main area, while the second opens sideways to create a real family sleeping area.
This unique architecture offers greater rigidity than conventional hybrid tents with ABS shells, while remaining simple to handle and easy to close.
It's even possible to leave sleeping gear inside: for example, on a POPALU 160H, you can keep a mattress, sleeping bag or premium comforter weighing up to 6 kg between the upper shell and the stretch floor (by closing the first shell first, then the second).
Two sizes available
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POPALU HYBRIDE 160: external dimensions 160 × 125 cm (closed) / 160 × 210 cm (open).
Sleeps approx. 150 × 200 cm, ideal for 2 adults and a toddler.
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POPALU HYBRIDE 200: external dimensions 200 × 125 cm (closed) / 200 × 210 cm (open).
Sleeps approx. 190 × 200 cm, perfect for 2 adults and 2 children, wider at the shoulders for greater comfort.
Closed height: 26 cm(28 cm with rails).
Structure and comfort
The 100% black aluminum shell ensures exceptional strength and rigidity, while keeping the weight down (approx. ~85-95kg).
The 340 g/m² polycotton fabric offers excellent thermal insulation, natural breathability and superior durability to synthetic materials.
Inside, everything is designed for comfort and practicality:
Thanks to its gas struts, it opens and closes effortlessly in seconds.
Can be mounted on a minimum of 2 roof bars, or on a complete roof rack.
Durable, premium all-aluminum design
Unlike hybrids with ABS shells, the POPALU HYBRIDE benefits from a one-piece welded aluminum shell, a guarantee of solidity and resistance to impact, heat and humidity.
It can easily carry light equipment on its upper section (roof bars optional).
Available options
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Anti-condensation mattress creates an air gap under the mattress to improve thermal comfort and reduce humidity.
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Interior insulation : reinforces insulation for cold nights and improves overall indoor temperature.
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Additional roof bars For attaching boards, kayaks, solar panels or small storage units without obstructing the opening.
📹 Presentation and opening videos available on the product page.
Availability and logistics
The product is usually in stock.
All available items are shipped within 48 hours.
If not in stock, it will be clearly marked as "Available on order".
Installation and removal are possible in our workshops in the Lot (46), by appointment only.
Product compatibility
🦘 Wallaby POPALU HYBRID tents are compatible with the majority of standard aluminum roof racks and crossbars, as well as with many freestanding awnings and bivouac accessories.
They can be easily integrated into existing layouts, provided a few essential technical points are taken into account to guarantee optimum installation.
Gallery compatibility
POPALU tents can be attached to most aluminum modular roof racks on the market (Wallaby Store, Frontrunner, Rhinorack, etc.), or directly to conventional crossbars.
Their sliding bottom rail system allows precise positioning on the rack, whatever the center-to-center distance.
They are therefore compatible with :
💡 ATTENTION - Positioning according to gallery:
Depending on the gallery width chosen, the tent will position itself differently on the vehicle:
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on a 135 cm gallery, the tent can be centered or slightly offset;
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on a 125 cm gallery, it will be more eccentric to one side to leave space for the opening shell or a FREE 🦘 awning.
This choice ensures balanced visual alignment and fluid opening of both awning and canopy.
A minimum of two well-spaced bars is recommended to ensure even weight distribution.
Compatible with awnings and side accessories
POPALU HYBRID versions open sideways, with a rigid shell that protrudes approximately 25 cm over the side of the vehicle when open.
This is crucial when fitting a self-supporting awning (e.g. FREE 270°, 360°, 450°, etc.) or any accessory mounted nearby.
🧭 Practical example:
If an awning is mounted directly flush with the tent, the side shell can touch or block the awning arm when it is opened.
To avoid this problem, there are two simple solutions:
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Install the awning lower than the top of the tent (using descending brackets), so that the shell can rise freely.
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Shift the awning outwards by about 25 cm, to leave enough room for the hull to open completely.
These two methods ensure perfect compatibility between POPALU HYBRIDE tents and Wallaby FREE 🦘 freestanding awnings (or equivalents), while preserving rigidity of assembly and accessibility to side openings.
⚠️ Important: when erecting an awning, be sure to leave enough space for the tensioning rods of the window coverings.
If necessary, move the awning slightly apart or position it lower to avoid interfering with the tensioning of the fabrics.
Compatibility with accessories
POPALU HYBRIDE tents feature longitudinal profiles on the upper shell, allowing lightweight equipment to be added by means of cage nuts:
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Solar panel, surf or paddle board, small roof box, storage racks, etc.
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Compatible with optional Wallaby top bars, which can be attached without obstructing the opening.
They are also compatible with Wallaby Store annexes and tarps, allowing you to create additional living space under the tent or a side shade area as required.
Fasteners - Installation instructions
Every tent 🦘 POPALU HYBRIDE comes with a universal fixing kit, compatible with the vast majority of roof bars and roof racks on the market.
The sliding bottom rail system runs the entire length of the tent, making it easy to adjust the position of the fixings to suit each vehicle.
Binding compatibility
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Suitable for crossbars up to 4 cm high and 10 cm wide (beyond this, longer M8 bolts are required - enlarged counterplates can be supplied)
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If your bars exceed these dimensions, longer M8 bolts or enlarged counterplates can be used (available on request).
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Galvanized steel fasteners for quick assembly/disassembly without complex tools
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Sliding bottom rails (~67 cm) to adjust to different center-to-center distances
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Compatible with Thule, Norauto, Feu Vert, Rhinorack and Frontrunner bars, as well as original equipment manufacturer bars.
Recommended positioning
For optimum stability, the roof bars should be positioned :
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at approximately ¼ and ¾ of the total tent length,
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with a tolerance of ±20 cm depending on the vehicle and roof rack.
🧭 Practical example:
For a POPALU HYBRIDE 160, the poles can be positioned between 20 and 60 cm and 100 and 140 cm from the front edge.
This positioning allows a slight overhang, perfectly acceptable as long as the tent remains well balanced and centered on the vehicle.
Step-by-step assembly
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Position the tent centered or slightly off-center, depending on the presence of an awning.
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Slide the brackets into the bottom rails.
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Align them with the roof bars, then hand-tighten the nuts before proceeding with the final tightening.
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Check that the tent is perfectly stable, aligned and symmetrical before use.
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Average assembly time: less than 30 minutes with two people.
Additional tips
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A tightening check is recommended after the first few kilometers, and then regularly (especially after a long trip or trail).
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Additional fixing kits and extended counterplates are available for purchase for intensive or professional use.
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In the case of a short gallery, be sure to distribute support evenly on both bars.
⚠️ ATTENTION:
As the bottom rails of POPALU HYBRIDE tents are 20mm, the assembly of a truly self-supporting awning, whose brackets are often more cumbersome, may require the tent to be raised slightly using
shims (e.g. : Wallaby 30 mm shim kitWallaby 25 mm freestanding awning brackets).
⚠️ ATTENTION also:
When installing a side awning, you must leave enough space to install the tensioning rods for the window guards.
Remember to position the awning slightly wider or lower than the tensioning rods, so as not to interfere with their installation or tensioning.
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