Since first attempting a rooftop tent three decades ago, I’t become a convert. I sleep on the majority of my car camping trips in one. They give a significant platform, and a few separation from the floor and hungry raccoons (or worse) which will come true for scraps. I’m not the only convert. Rooftop tents are everywhere. I recently analyzed three models in this comparatively new class with the objective of seeing which would come out on top–no pun intended.
The Test
I put up and took down all three tents in my Honda Element, a buddy ’s Subaru Outback, and yet another buddy ’s Subaru Forester to judge ease of use. I also slept immediately in every one, napped inside them throughout the afternoon, and had the Outback and Forester owners would do exactly the exact same to find a consensus on comfort. Ultimately, I opted to make each tent a winner in a class given their strengths.
Finest for All Four Seasons: Tepui Kukenam 3 Ruggedized ($2,100)
(Sarah Jackson)
Specs
Weight: 180 Pounds
Dimensions When Closed: 56 x 48 x 12 inches
Living Space Dimensions: 56 x 96 x 52 inches
Performance
Finding the Tent on the off the Car: 1/5
Pitching/Collapsing the Tent: 3/5
Comfort: 5/5
Ease of Use: 3/5
Takeaway
At a whole 60 pounds heavier compared to Roofnest Sparrow, the Kukenam is a monster. Getting it onto my Element’s roof rack has been no joke, and it should go without saying that it requires at least 2 people (and no little amount of swearing). The Kukenam flips open and closes just as a novel, so after it’s in it your vehicle ’s a small bear break down, particularly if you & rsquo; re operating alone and then to pitch. When the installation is complete Nevertheless, this really is my tent –rooftop or otherwise. For one, it boasts excellent climate management. I had been just fine sleeping in it on times with just a synthetic comforter the Kukenam wasn’t matter when temperatures manifold. The secret is that the heavy duty canvas-like cloth holds heat, however there’s ample ventilation with all the windows open and rain fly away, in capturing breezes and the elevation from being perched on top of the vehicle will help. Another plus is the Kukenam’s really large footprint. I managed to fit within the tent with a weekend’s values of gear, and my wife, kid, and I each had lots of room around the cushy 2.5-inch-thick mattress.
Best for your Budget Conscious: Yakima SkyRise Poler ($1,521)
(Sarah Jackson)
Specs
Weight: 115 Pounds
Dimensions When Closed: 56 x 48 x 16.5 inches
Living Space Dimensions: 56 x 96 x 48 inches
Performance
Finding the Tent off and on the Car: 5/5
Pitching/Collapsing the Tent: 4/5
Sleeping: 3/5
Ease of Use: 5/5
Takeaway
This tent was by far the easiest to get off and on the roof of all three cars. Credit the pinchers–Yakima calls them rate clamps–that look vaguely like the claws around these impossible-to-win arcade crane games. They shut around the crossbars and may be tightened or loosened simply by turning a knob, which I loved all the more after struggling with all the attachments of the other two tents on this list. Yakima’s platform saved me a whole 20 minutes of installation time. Concerning setup and sleeping, this tent has been similar to this Kukenam–it folds and works exactly the identical manner and has comparable space when installed, in addition to large windows. There is one large gap: weight. The lighter SkyRise was easier for one person to deploy and reclose. But it didn’t possess exactly the same four-season chops, provided the lighter-fabric wall (testers had to seriously package up during a night in the low forties). But if you’re planning to camp just to autumn, this tent is warm, and it didn't let in a drop of rainfall during a downpour that is nighttime. It ’therefore less costly than the other two tents.
Best for User-Friendliness: Roofnest Sparrow ($2,495)
(Sarah Jackson)
Specs
Weight: 120 Pounds
Dimensions When Closed: 47 x 82 x 11 inches
Living Space Dimensions: 45 x 80 x 36 inches
Performance
Finding the Tent off and on the Car: 3/5
Pitching/Collapsing the Tent: 5/5
Sleeping: 4/5
Ease of Use: 5/5
Takeaway
“If I owned a Tesla, this would be my rooftop kayak, ” I commented to a friend as we put the Sparrow on top of my vehicle. The hard-shell Roofnest is still a sleek number. And you’re not possible to throw out your back opening and closing it. Due to arms at all four corners is unclip the straps and also give every side a small nudge to generate the roof pop straight up. The inside is insulated on the top and base; coupled with the burly walls, this gives the Sparrow heat retention that is impressive. In addition, the 2.75-inch mattress is the double of this bunch. This tent might have been my favourite except for one drawback: a footprint that was considerably smaller . Even though those clothing ’ flip-open construction doubles their width once deployed, the Roofnest stays square. I managed to squeeze in there with my wife and kid, but it made for claustrophobic for the three people.
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