Over the past two years, Darche has delved deep into design engineering, meticulously crafting and refining the ground-breaking Eclipse 270 Freestanding LED Awning. Various design iterations have been rigorously tested and fine-tuned, driven by a simple goal: to ensure that when the 270 freestanding awning is deployed, it is a product proven to excel even before it hits the market.

Darche stands apart in its commitment to making awnings that have truly been put to the test and is the first in Australia to extensively wind-test a freestanding awning. This commitment led to a comprehensive 30-day wind testing period, exposing the awning to a spectrum of winds ranging from gentle breezes to severe gales according to the Beaufort scale.

In rigorous testing, the Eclipse 270 Freestanding LED Awning showcased its strength by holding up until 50km/hr on its initial trial and withstanding 55km/hr winds in the next round of testing after repairs. The wind meter employed for the testing was the Omega OM-CP-WIND101A wind speed data logger system, calibrated using data from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and capable of recording wind speeds every second. For more information on the wind meter, please see here.

The Eclipse 270 Freestanding LED Awning further demonstrated its robustness by holding strong up to wind speeds of 90km/hr with the poles down and securely pegged. Remarkably, it was restored to full functionality post-testing. Specifically-engineered break points within the awning ensure that in the case of failure, the awning will do so in a manner that avoids damage to the vehicle and facilitates simple repairs.

Based on results and observations gained over the wind testing period, the Eclipse 270 Freestanding LED Awning is rated up to 30km/hr winds whilst freestanding. However, the recommendation is to always deploy the included poles and tie down the awning properly using pegs and guy ropes as Mother Nature is unpredictable and the investment should be protected.

Besides its durability, the Eclipse 270 Freestanding LED Awning is also full of features for comfort and convenience, including dual-colour dimmable LED strips fully integrated into the rafter arms and a two-piece backing plate design with a fully enclosed transit cover, which maximizes weather resistance while still retaining the ability to easily move the awning from one vehicle to another.

Darche's dedication to crafting outdoor solutions that exceed expectations is unwavering. The culmination of two years of design engineering stands as a testament to a commitment to innovation, excellence, and customer satisfaction. This is confidently presented as the best freestanding 270 awning on the market.

Gen 2 Awning walls perfectly complement this awning, enhancing its functionality and increasing the overall coverage to 20.5m². They are available for purchase separately, and you can find them here:

*Please note that if this awning is mounted to a roof top tent, the poles must be used at all times to avoid damaging the roof top tent.

*Ensure that the roof mounting system is fit for purpose. The supplied mounting brackets suit most commercially available roof racks or steel basket setups, however, for some platform racks, long brackets (T050801751B) may be required.