Sabbatical's Switchback fits a bedroom and a living room for four into a total weight of 5.7kg. It went on sale on Apr 3, 2026, at JPY 59,400 incl. tax. It comes with a 4-person mesh inner, and the interior height is 2m.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
The Switchback is a shelter that stands on its own with just four corner pegs and two poles, covered in silicone-coated 50D polyester. Polyester absorbs little water, so the fabric is slow to sag even on rainy nights. That is why I recommend it to four-person families who want to cut their load, as a replacement for a 14kg-class family tent.
Key points
- Total weight 5.7kg (with 1.1kg poles, 1.3kg inner and 280g pegs). Divided by four, that is 1.425kg per person
- With a 2m interior height you can stand to change clothes. Doors front and back, and the door and side panels flip up
- The difference from its younger sibling, the DCREST (2-person inner, 4.2kg, JPY 48,400), is 1.5kg and JPY 11,000
In this article (7 sections)
When did the Switchback come out? How much is it?
It went on sale on Friday, Apr 3, 2026, at A&F Country's directly operated stores and online store. The price is JPY 59,400 incl. tax. It is one of Sabbatical's four 2026 new models built around “lightness and strength,” in a mid size for groups.
When you sleep in a tent more than half the year, the amount of gear turns straight into travel fatigue. So even with a family tent, I look first at total weight and the longest side of the packed size. The Switchback is 5.7kg, with a longest side of 65cm.
How I judged it
First I compared its weight with another 4-person family tent. DOD's Kinoko Tent 2 is about 14kg, and the Switchback is about 40% of that (5.7 ÷ 14).
What I wavered on was that, unlike one-touch or air tents, you have to peg it down and set poles. I still recommend it because the steps are short, just four corner pegs and two poles, and once it stands you get a 2m ceiling and a living room for four. It is the right tent for families who want both light weight and space.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Sabbatical Switchback
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 59,400 (as of 10/18). Prices change daily.
How the Switchback differs from the DCREST
| Item | Switchback | DCREST |
|---|---|---|
| Price (incl. tax) | JPY 59,400 | JPY 48,400 |
| Included inner | 4-person mesh inner | 2-person mesh inner |
| Total weight | 5.7kg | 4.2kg |
| Poles | Φ25mm 200cm+160cm | Φ25mm 180cm+Φ16mm 140cm |
| Pegs | 20 duralumin pegs, 20cm | 16 duralumin V pegs, 20cm |
| Packed size | 65×30×25cm | 65×25×25cm |
| Fabric / waterproof rating | Body 50D silicone polyester, inner floor 70D nylon, 1,500mm | |
The difference is 1.5kg and JPY 11,000, and the inner goes from a 2-person to a 4-person. The packed volume is 65 × 30 × 25 = about 48.8L versus 65 × 25 × 25 = about 40.6L, only about 8L bigger. Split it this way and you will not hesitate: the Switchback for three or more, the DCREST for solo or two.
What I like
The ceiling is 2m. The interior is 2m at the tallest point of the main pole, so you can stand without stooping. It makes changing clothes and preparing meals on a rainy day easier.
Fabric that holds its shape on rainy nights. It is ripstop polyester with silicone on the outside and PU on the inside. Polyester takes in little water, so the fabric is slow to sag when wet. Pull the panels outward with guy lines and the interior opens up and resists wind better.
The layout can change. The inner attaches and detaches with SR buckles, and without it you have a large shelter. There are doors front and back, and flipping up the door and side panels extends a living space outside that shields you from sun and rain.
One more note: the waterproof rating is 1,500mm, and the floor is the inner's 70D nylon. If strong rain is frequent, laying one ground sheet underneath gives peace of mind. I put how to read the numbers in the tent waterproof rating article.
Compared with 4-person family tents
| Model | Price (incl. tax) | Weight | How it pitches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabbatical Switchback | JPY 59,400 | 5.7kg | 4 corner pegs + 2 poles |
| DOD Kinoko Tent 2 | JPY 55,000 | About 14kg | One-touch |
| Coleman Tough Speed Dome DR Roof | JPY 94,900 | About 18kg | Poles |
The price is almost the same as the Kinoko Tent 2, and it is 8.3kg lighter. The Kinoko Tent 2 wins on easy setup because it is one-touch, and the Switchback wins on light carrying. Choose by what you want to make easier.
If you want a wide comparison of family 2-room tents, the 10 two-room tents comparison will help. I put the Kinoko Tent 2's numbers in the Kinoko Tent 2 review.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Sabbatical DCREST
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 48,400 (as of 10/18). Prices change daily.
Who is it for?
It suits families of four who go in a kei car or compact car, and groups of three or four friends who split the gear. At 5.7kg, one person can carry it on foot, even at a campsite far from the parking lot.
It also suits people who want to start the 2-room style, eating in the living room and sleeping in the bedroom, with light gear.
If you mostly camp solo or as a pair, there is also the DCREST, which is 1.5kg lighter.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Sabbatical Switchback
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 59,400 (as of 10/18). Prices change daily.
FAQ
When did the Switchback come out?
It went on sale on Friday, Apr 3, 2026. The price is JPY 59,400 incl. tax.
How many people can sleep in it?
The included 4-person mesh inner gives a floor for four adults to sleep. The vestibule is also wide enough for four to eat.
Can I use it without the inner?
Yes. The inner comes off with SR buckles, and it becomes a floorless shelter.
