The Finest Rooftop Tents of 2024

Should you’ve by no means slept in a rooftop tent, it’s arduous to think about how completely different it’s from sleeping in a conventional tent. Usually, we’ve discovered that rooftop tent sleeping has sure key benefits over sleeping in a tent on the bottom.

Rooftop tents supply a chicken’s-eye view of your environment, airflow that’s remarkable in a floor tent, safety (and peace of thoughts), and usually superior consolation for sleeping.

The drawbacks: In contrast to a floor tent or a tow-behind camper, when your tent is in your roof, it’s important to break camp earlier than you drive away. And, for many who make nighttime visits to the toilet, there’s a ladder to barter between you and aid (except you’re prepared to get artistic).

Additionally, in case your canine will get to share the human mattress, observe your one-handed ladder climb earlier than you try and hoist them up. Multiply that effort if in case you have a couple of canine.

Not each rooftop tent matches each automobile or each price range. However some tents work for nearly each automotive or truck. Rooftop tents are all pricier than even the plushest backpacking tent, however in the event you’re capable of make investments, you gained’t remorse it.

When you’ve determined if a rooftop tent is best for you, it may be tough to select the precise mannequin. In recent times, the GearJunkie workforce and our better community of skilled gear testers have researched and sampled the entire main kinds available on the market. We’ve used these tents for overlanding, automotive tenting, and cross-country roadtripping. We’ve intently examined their options at commerce reveals and expos in far-flung corners of the globe.

After a whole lot of nights of elevated sleeping and hours of poring over specs, we’ve determined that the rooftop tents on this record are the very best of the very best. Rooftop tents are nonetheless a younger growth on the planet of life on the street. We anticipate that they’ll solely get higher.

Scroll by way of to see all of our advisable fashions. Our helpful comparison chart, buyer’s guide, and FAQ will show you how to make an knowledgeable buy.

Editor’s observe: This information obtained an replace on April eighth, 2024, and now consists of 5 extra superior rooftop tents. We’ve added the Sparrow 2 and the four-season Falcon 3 EVO from Roofnest to the lineup, together with the rugged iKamper BVD Duo. We’re additionally excited to introduce two new manufacturers to our information with the inclusion of the distinctive Dometic TRT 140 Air inflatable RTT and the Sylvan Sport Loft.

The Finest Rooftop Tents of 2024

Rooftop Tent Comparability Desk

How We Examined Rooftop Tents

The GearJunkie workforce consists of overlanders, auto specialists, and seasoned automotive tenting fanatics. Over a few years, we’ve tried and rigorously examined practically each form of tenting gear available on the market — together with rooftop tents.

Our lead tester for rooftop tents is Berne Broudy. Based mostly in Vermont, Berne has amassed over 20+ years of mountaineering, biking, climbing, ski touring, and overlanding. Berne’s broad portfolio of out of doors actions has added as much as many nights of tenting outside — many spent in a rooftop tent.

To compile this record of the very best rooftop tents of 2024, Berne and the remainder of our workforce combed the market and in contrast the professionals, cons, and specs of dozens of fashions. We’ve mounted tents on rigs of all sizes and shapes — from compact sedans to full-sized vehicles. We’ve spent many nights — some wonderful and others stuffed with tosses and turns — testing the standard and luxury of rooftop tent mattresses.

Our evaluation course of is detail-oriented. No refined characteristic or flaw goes unnoticed. On this record, we’ve included all kinds of fantastic rooftop tents to satisfy all kinds of wants. From compact SUV drivers to large-family street trippers, at the very least one of many fashions on this record needs to be a superb match.

For more information on automotive tenting choices, check out GearJunkie’s information to truck campers and motorhomes.

Purchaser’s Information: The right way to Select a Rooftop Tent

What Suits Your Automobile?

Not each rooftop tent will match each automobile. Know the load capability of your roof rack, and the space between your roof rack bars to find out if a particular rooftop tent will match. The unfold of the bars is the space between the entrance roof rack crossbar and the again one. Most rooftop tents have a “minimal bar unfold” spec. Earlier than buying a rooftop tent, you’ll want to bodily measure your rack’s unfold to make sure your rack and tent are a match. 

When doubtful, contact the rooftop tent producer and confirm that your deliberate setup will probably be secure and sound. Many tents on this record can work with sedans, vehicles, trailers, and every little thing in between — offered you’ve obtained the correct rack and mounting system.

What Else Do You Have to Carry?

Some rooftop tents require you to hold the entry ladder inside your automotive. Different tents incorporate the ladder straight into the tent’s packed-away design. Some tents have accent choices, together with awnings and extensions. Sometimes, these will have to be saved individually inside a automotive or truck mattress.

As for sleeping luggage, and pillows, many rooftop tents may be totally folded and tucked away with the bedding saved inside. This characteristic is extra frequent in hardshell fashions.

Some rooftop tents with smaller footprints go away additional house in your roof for bikes, boats, and different gear. After all, the sq. footage of your leftover roof house will rely on the scale of the tent and the scale of your rack.

Some hardshell rooftop tents present gear storage on high or house to mount a photo voltaic panel. Normally, you’ll have to buy extra racks to make the most of the roof of your tent’s shell for cupboard space.

Hardshell vs. Softshell

Hardshell rooftop tents are sleeker trying when compressed and extra aerodynamic. Additionally they are typically decrease clearance when packed — an essential consideration for these planning to park in a storage.

Usually, hardshell rooftop tents are fast and straightforward to arrange and pack up. Most come use hydraulic struts that do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. Softshell tents sometimes include conventional aluminum or fiberglass poles that require meeting. Inflatable tents are comparatively new to the market. They’re nearly as fast and straightforward to arrange as a hardshell, and may be spacious inside.

Some hardshells have useable cupboard space on high of the outer shell. However many are wedge-shaped and don’t provide you with 360-degree views.

Softshell rooftop tents are typically much like conventional tenting tents. They are typically cheaper and tougher to arrange. However they often have nice airflow and a few are massive sufficient to accommodate three to 5 folks.

Area vs. Weight

Rooftop tents sometimes sleep two to 5 folks and match a double to a king-size mattress. The larger the tent and mattress, the heavier and extra cumbersome the rooftop tent.

Most rooftop tents weigh between 100 and 200 kilos — an essential spec to know, particularly in relation to your roof rack’s advisable capability.For a household of three or a pair with a canine, we just like the Roofnest Falcon 3— a roomy and cozy choice with a luxurious wall-to-wall mattress.

In case your roof house is proscribed and also you’re searching for a svelte in your roof, full measurement when unfurled sleeper, the Dometic TRT 140 Air is compact and nicely suited to smaller rooftops.

Handbook vs. Automated Opening

Some hardshell rooftop tents elevate with a mild nudge, whereas most softshells need to be flipped open manually and the awning bars inserted. Rooftop tents with gasoline struts that elevate the tent open have gotten extra frequent. They typically price extra, however they’re handy — particularly if you’re organising your tent within the rain.

No matter tent you purchase, preliminary meeting may be difficult with a steep studying curve. Some tents supply the choice to ship totally unassembled. That may prevent as much as $400, and it could take hours and instruments to construct the tent platform and connect the tent to it earlier than you load it in your roof. 

As soon as assembled, rooftop tents require a heavy elevate to get the tent onto a automobile’s roof rack. Pan to get a hand from a buddy or two relying on the load of the tent and the peak of your roof. Whilst you can repeatedly set up and uninstall, it’s at all times a clumsy operation.

Sturdiness

Rooftop tents are a serious funding — they’ll price as much as $5000. Handle your funding, and it’ll final for a few years. 

We suggest storing your rooftop tent in a dry, lined place when not in use. When the tent isn’t in your roof, place 2x4s or 4x4s on noticed horses to imitate your roof bars and retailer the tent on high in the identical orientation that the tent was in your roof. Go straightforward on the zippers, struts, ladders, and poles — these intricate mechanical elements have a tendency to interrupt first. And at all times completely dry the within of your tent after use. 

In our expertise, the entire rooftop tents on this record supply aggressive sturdiness when correctly cared for.

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