Go-Pods vs Capsule Mini - how do they compare?

On paper, it’s already pretty clear where the practicality gap opens up:

The Go-Pod is lighter and gives you significantly more carrying capacity.

That single fact affects everything: food, bedding, chairs, awning bits, levelling gear, extra battery/solar, clothes for real British weather, and the random “why did we pack that?” items we all somehow end up bringing.

Payload is boring right up until you run out of it.

The Go-Pod's payload is 170kg, versus 100kg for a Capsule Mini.

That 70kg difference is not a rounding error. That’s:

• an awning setup,

• chairs and a table,

• food and drink,

• bedding,

• spare water containers,

• plus the “nice-to-haves” that stop a weekend feeling like survival training.

If you tour regularly, payload is freedom. And on payload, the Go-Pod is simply the more practical tool.

A lot of people buying micro caravans aren’t trying to become full-time caravanners. They want something they can:

• store at home,

• hitch up quickly,

• use for weekends, short breaks, and spur-of-the-moment trips.

Go-Pods travel at 2.05m high with the pop-top closed. The Capsule Mini lists 2.3m overall height.

That height difference matters in the real world: garages, carports, height-restricted storage, and generally not having your caravan loom over your driveway like a fibreglass lighthouse.

Both have a U-shaped seating/dinette concept. The Go-Pod’s interior spec is very much built around usable touring:

• wrap-around seating (up to 4 for seating/dining),

• quick bed conversion,

• internal kitchen with sink, 2-burner hob and fridge,

• and the pop-top for standing height when you need it.

That pop-top point matters. You don’t need full height all the time, only when you’re:

• cooking,

• getting changed,

• sorting bags,

• rearranging storage

So the Go-Pod stays compact for towing and storage, but still gives you proper usability on site.

The Capsule Mini includes a compact washroom setup (including a pull-out shower head and curtain).

If an internal washroom is top of your list, that’s a genuine plus for the Capsule.

But here’s the trade-off people don’t think about until later:

A tiny shower space in a tiny caravan means moisture management becomes your hobby. Unless you’re meticulous with ventilation and drying, you can end up with that persistent “warm wetsuit” atmosphere. Some people don’t care. Some people absolutely hate it.

Go-Pods take a different approach: keep the interior simple, dry, and easy to maintain, and use campsite facilities (or add external solutions if you’re going off-grid). For most UK touring, that’s the more practical long-term choice.

Both Go-Pods and Capsule Mini list a double bed as featured, but in reality, the Go-Pods bed is closer to King Size (157cm W x 192cm L), while the Capsule Mini's bed is actually more like a generous single (109cm W x 190cm L).

That's a massive difference when it comes to getting a good, restful night's sleep.

If you travel solo, that's likely not an issue for you. But if you tour with a partner, unless you're comfortable with being pressed up against eachother throughout the night, the Go-Pod's bed is far more practical.

At the time of writing, pricing isn’t as close as it used to be:

• Go-Pods start from £14,995

• Capsule Minis start from £17,995 (prices have increased recently)

When two micro caravans sit under the same 750kg MTPLM ceiling, value is mostly about how much usable touring spec you get without immediately diving into option packs.

Here's what's included as standard in each:

• Leisure battery included (85Ah)

• 12V compressor fridge included

• 12V + 240V electrics with charger/control gear listed

• Full kitchen with sink, tap, water pump & 2 x gas powered hobs

• Fiamma Porta Potti

• 12V lighting/USBs + 12V compressor fridge + single gas hob (as reported in UK reviews)

• Porta Potti included as standard (per reviews)

• Leisure battery/solar appears to be tied to the optional off-grid pack

If you want the most usable touring spec per pound, Go-Pods have a strong argument: lower starting price, more payload headroom, and a leisure battery already included.

When you’re buying a micro caravan, “build quality” isn’t just about how smart it looks on day one. It’s about how it holds up after years of road miles, wet weekends, bumpy campsites, and being opened, shut, cleaned and packed repeatedly.

Go-Pods have been manufactured in Portugal for over 25 years, with the concept refined over a long production run rather than rushed out as a new idea.

They’re also not a “mystery import” with a thin support layer. In the UK, Go-Pods are brought in and finished to customer spec, with a manufacturer backed warranty & optional extended 3 year nationwide warranty, allowing you to use the workshop of your choosing for any repairs (should they be needed).

• A long production run usually means the annoying little weak spots get engineered out over time.

• A bigger owner base and longer presence means more real-world feedback, more “known fixes”, and fewer surprises.

• Established UK support and final fit-out makes aftersales and upgrades more straightforward.

The Capsule Mini is built by Umarsan, a Turkish manufacturer with decades of experience in fibreglass moulds, and it’s a fresh concept for the UK market.

To be clear: where something is built doesn’t automatically decide quality. What matters is design, QC, and support. But it’s also fair to say that some UK buyers have historically been cautious about certain Turkish caravans sold here, and even the UK press has referenced “previous Turkish caravans” when discussing the Capsule’s arrival.

So the practical takeaway is simple:

• Capsule Mini may be interesting, but it’s newer in the UK, with zero track record.

• Go-Pods have a deep, well-documented track record of being used, toured, and lived with for years.

The Capsule Mini is an interesting new entrant and it's nice to see some innovation in the micro tourer niche of the leisure vehicle industry. But if you want the micro caravan that’s easier to own, easier to load, easier to store, and easier to use repeatedly without compromises, the Go-Pod is the better all-rounder - they offer all of the convenience of a regular caravan, with an eye-catching, streamline and aerodynamic design to boot.

It’s the difference between:

• a cool gadget you like the idea of, and

• a proven, refined, practical tool you’ll actually use loads.