I've had one of each. IMO there are two groups of pop-ups: the really light and compact and the heavier full size. Each one of them has their own pros and cons. The biggest con for me is the lift mechanism and limited support. If the mechanism fails or the pop-up material gets ripped or fails you can't go to your local RV dealer for repairs, you're probably running to Colorado for repairs. Maybe you can do it yourself...?
I really like the hardside. Any RV dealer can work on it if needed, I'm not hitting my head going in/out the door, and it's always "up" and ready to use or travel.
