Top 5 Best Rooftop Tents 2023
In this article, we review some of the highest rated roof top tents for 2022. We look at key features of each to determine the best roof top tents and how they rate overall. This includes size, weight, drag factor, ease of setup, weather protection, mattress, ventilation and bonus features.
NAME
BEST FEATURE
CAPACITY
TOTAL SQUARE FEET
SQUARE FEET PER PERSON
iKAMPER SKYCAMP ROOF TOP TENT
Best weather protection
4-PERSON
44 sq. ft.
gives 4 adults 11 sq. ft. each
THULE TEPUI FOOTHILL ROOF TOP TENT
Best for carrying bikes and kayaks
2-PERSON
27 sq. ft. of space
gives 2 adults 13.5 sq. ft. each
ROAM VAGABOND XL ROOF TOP TENT
Best bonus features
4-PERSON
48 sq. ft., with an additional 24 sq. ft. annex vestibule
gives 4 adults 12 sq. ft. each in the main tent
YAKIMA SKYRISE HD ROOF TOP TENT
Best weight / size ratio
3-PERSON
37 sq. ft. of space
gives 3 adults 12 sq. ft. each
SMRT TENT SUMMIT SUITE ROOF TOP TENT
Best rack mounting
3-PERSON
33 sq. ft.
gives 3 adults 11 sq. ft. each
Best weather protection: iKamper SkyCamp
About the iKamper SkyCamp:
The iKamper SkyCamp is a luxurious way to camp. Rated as one of the best hardshell rooftop tents, the SkyCamp has a universal mounting system that works with most vehicles, a built-in king-size mattress, and a lightweight, sleek design.
The SkyCamp also has a strong, angled hardshell rooftop which provides durable protection in rainy, windy weather. The rooftop tent is also light enough to meet the industry standard of 160 pounds, which is the most that most cars and trucks can carry at highway speeds.
The tent is also easy to set up and take down, which makes it great for people who are just starting out camping.
Features:
- 4-Person
- 4-Season
- Hard Shell Rooftop Tent
- Weight: 160 pounds
- Size / Weight: We give the iKamper SkyCamp high marks on square footage. The amount of space is a significant upgrade, especially when compared to the almost identical SkyCamp Mini rooftop tent. The regular Sky Camp roof top tent provides 44 sq. ft. of space, which gives 4 adults 11 sq. ft. each. However, we deduct points on weight. This rooftop tent weighs a hefty 165 pounds!
- Ease of Setup: Setup is super easy for the Sky Camp roof tent with the new and improved lock latches.One person can setup and break down the tent within 60 seconds!
- Drag Factor: The roof top tent packs down to a height of 13 inches, which is on the taller side compared to other tents in our list. However, the Sky Camp’s aerodynamic hardshell rooftop slices through wind and reduces drag to a minimum. This ensures that you won’t run into issues with wind slowing you down with the Sky Camp.
- Weather Resistance: The 75D polyester, waterproof, ripstop rainfly and 300G poly-cotton canvas are strong enough to withstand heavy rain without leaking.
- Ventilation: The SkyCamp roof top tent offers great ventilation and stargazing through large skyview windows that can all be opened at same time. Use the outside cover as blinds.
- Mattress: The roof top tent includes a built-in 2.5 inch mattress with insulated lining, cover and breathable pad to prevent dampness while you sleep. This is a .5 inch thinner than other models we reviewed, so we deducted a point for comfort.
- Bonus Features: The SkyCamp really stands out with its insulated, double shell roof top tent that is strong, soundproof, and resistant to condensation There’s also extra room in the hardshell to store bedding, sleeping bags, and pillows.
What we like about the iKamper SkyCamp:
- 60 second, 1 person setup
- Insulated double shell roof
- Weather protection
- Hardshell storage
- Breathable mattress
- Great ventilation
What we don’t like about the iKamper SkyCamp:
- Expensive price tag
- Too heavy for sedans
What rack mounts work best with the SkyCamp?
The iKamper rooftop tent has a universal mounting system and can be mounted most vehicles. Their tents are designed to be mounted on two normal cross bars which do not directly attach to the rooftop. Aerobars, Round Bars, and Square Bars will work. For the SkyCamp, the roof rack must have a minimum dynamic weight capacity of 165 pounds.
Best for carrying bikes and kayaks: Thule Tepui Foothill
About the Thule Tepui Foothill Rooftop Tent
The is big enough for two people and folds up small, so you can still put bikes, kayaks, and other things on your . The Foothill is half as wide as other and can be mounted on either side of your rack.
When folded, it’s low-profile, with a soft cover and a redesigned foundation that reduces weight while increasing strength and stability. Unzipped and unclipped, it’s simple to assemble with telescopic internal poles that snap into position.
The has a big door that is easy to get in and out while carrying gear, but is a little hard to access from inside the . The door is placed on the side of the , rather than at the end. Therefore, accessing the door will usually require climbing over other people. With its large rear window and two skylights, the has great airflow and lets you see the stars from all sides.
Features:
- 3-Person
- 2-Season
- Soft Shell Rooftop Tent
- Size / Weight: We give the Foothill high marks on space, especially for a 2 person roof top tent. The Thule Tepui Foothill provides 27 sq. ft. of space, which gives 2 adults 13.5 sq. ft. each. It is also the lightest on our list at 108 pounds! One downside is the Thule Tepui‘s peak height is shorter by 1 feet compared to other tents.
- Ease of Setup: Setup is a breeze with a telescopic internal frame that allows for easy, one-person setup and breakdown.
- Drag Factor: The roof top tent folds down to a height of only 9.5 inches – one of the most compact on our list. This low-profile symmetrical design makes transport easy with little wind resistance.
- Weather Resistance: We give the Thule Tepui Foothill high marks on weather resistance. The 600D polyester withstands rain, snow and sun. Breathable to reduce condensation inside the tent.
- Ventilation: The Tepui Foothill has oversized, panoramic windows with dual skylights to provide excellent ventilation and star gazing.
- Mattress: The roof top tent falls short on mattress comfort. It has a 1.6 inch built-in foam mattress, which is very thin compared to other tents. It has a 1.6 inch built-in foam mattress, which is very thin compared to other tents.
- Bonus Features: One of the best features of the Thule Tepui Foothill is the symmetrical design that allows the tent to be mounted on one side of your vehicle, which frees up rack space for other gear. This also makes it easy to store in the off-season.
What we like about the Tepui Foothill:
- Light weight of 108 pounds – the lightest on our list!
- One minute, One-person setup
- Leaves room to carry other gear on top fo the car.
- Heavy duty fabric
- Panoramic windows
What we don’t like about the Tepui Footfill:
- Door is difficult to access from inside the tent, making it tricky to enter and exit because you have to climb over other people.
- Mattress is a thin 1.6 inches.
What mounts work best with the Tepui Foothill?
The Tepui Foothill is designed to work with the Thule Xsporter Pro, Thule TracRac – Truck or the Thule TracRac – Van. The roof rack must have a minimum dynamic weight capacity of 165 pounds.,
Best bonus features: Roam Vagabond XL
- Features:
- 4-Person
- 3-Season
- Soft shell rooftop tent
- Size / Weight: The Vagabond XL scores high marks on space. Provides 48 sq. ft. which gives 4 adults 12 sq. ft. each, with an additional 24 sq. ft. annex vestibule. One drawback is that the tent is a heavy 160 pounds.
- Ease of Setup: The Vagabond takes longer to setup than other tents in our list. Although setting up the main roof top tent can be done in 5 minutes, setting up the rainfly and annex can take another 15 – 20 minutes and require 2-3 people.
- Drag Factor: The rooftop tent packs down to a moderate height of 12 inches, which is likely to have some wind resistance. This is due to luxury components like the 3 inch mattress and annex vestibule.
- Weather Resistance: The Vagabond XL can withstand most weather with its waterproof rainfly made with 600D ripstop nylon, and 280G ripstop poly/cotton roof top tent body that is UV, water, and mold resistant.
- Ventilation: Large panoramic windows with rollup mesh blinds and 2 skylight windows provide excellent airflow.
- Mattress: The 3 inch foam, king-sized mattress is one of the most comfortable beds on our list. It has an anti-condensation mat to regulate body temperature while you sleep.
- Bonus Features: The Vagabond XL rooftop tent has several bonus features that we love.
- First, is the 1 inch internal aluminum frame that helps prevent the rooftop tent from tipping over in heavy wind.
- Second, it’s the only roof top tent on our list that includes an annex vestibule. This extra room adds more square footage, additional storage and a private area apart from the main tent.
- Third, the rooftop tent is supported by a reinforced diamond base plate. This provides long lasting structural support and is insulated to regulate temperature.
- Includes nice perks like boot bags. The Vagabond takes longer to setup than other softshell tents like the Tepui Foothill.
We like the Roam Vagabond XL’s:
- Durable fabric
- High-density mattress
- Wind resistance
- Diamond plate bed base
- Ventilation
- Annex vestibule
We don’t like the ROAM Vagabond XL’s:
- Heavy weight of 160 lbs
- Manual setup that takes 15 – 20 minutes and requires 1-2 people
Best weight / space ratio: Yakima Skyrise HD
About Yakima SkyRise Rooftop Tent
For campers thinking about purchasing a rooftop tent, the weight and cost are two major deterrents. The Yakima SkyRise HD is both lightweight and reasonably priced. It’s also the tent design most recognizable to those who like hiking and automobile camping.
The SkyRise is constructed from 600D nylon, which is lightweight and breathable, and has mesh ventilation panels that function as windows. The tent includes windows and two skylights with zip-open solid and mesh panels for excellent airflow.
A three-person rooftop tent is ideal for families with children and animals. The SkyRise is also one of the simplest roof rack mounted tents. It installs and removes without the need of any tools. It also latches to the rooftop using the same technique as all Yakima bars and mounts.
Features:
- 3-Person
- 4-Season
- Soft Shell Rooftop Tent
- Size / Weight: The SkyRise HD roof top tent provides 37 sq. ft. of space, giving 3 adults 12 sq. ft. each. Ample headspace and light weight of 114 pounds gives this tent the best space / weight ratio.
- Ease of Setup: The roof top tent loses points on the setup process. It’s a manual setup that takes about 10 – 15 minutes.
- Drag Factor: The Yakima SkyRise packs down to a height of 17 inches, the tallest rack height on our list. This is likely to produce wind resistance, especially on smaller cars.
- Weather Resistance: This rooftop tent features the sturdiest, most weather resistant fabric of all on our list. It’s made with 600D PU-coated ripstop nylon with a 3,000mm waterproof coating.
- Ventilation: The Tepui Foothill has large windows and sky lights to provide 360 views and great ventilation.
- Mattress: The 2.5 inch foam mattress is not the most plush on our list, but it’s still a big improvement over what you get with an everyday sleeping bag.
- Bonus Features: The Skyrise features bonus perks like extra rack locks to secure the tent even more firmly so it doesn’t jostle or move around during transport. There are also several ladder mounts to enter the tent at multiple points, making access even easier.
Why we like the SkyRise HD:
- 3,000mm waterproof coating
- 600d ripstop fabric
- Large windows
- Extra rack locks
- Multiple ladder mounts
What we don’t like about the SkyRise HD:
- Manual setup
- Thin mattress
- Limited rack mounting system
Best rack mounting: SMRT Tent Summit Suite
Features:
- 3-Person
- 4-Season
- Hard Shell Rooftop Tent
- Size / Weight: The Summit Suite truly excels in terms of livable space. It provides 33 sq. ft., giving 3 adults 11 sq. ft. each. This tent also has the tallest peak height of 4.6 ft., more than any other tent on our list. It’s also heavy, weighing 160 pounds.
- Ease of Setup: It scores perfectly on ease of setup. New and improved stainless steel levered latches make setup easier and faster, optimized for 1 person setup in under 1 minute.
- Drag Factor: The rooftop tent packs down to a rack height of only 6.3 inches, the most low-profile design on our list. Zero wind resistance, with upper and lower mounting makes transporting other gear a breeze.
- Weather Resistance: The tent provides superior weather protection, with mold and mildew resistant 280G ripstop poly-cotton canvas, 1900mm waterproof finish and a UPF 40 rating.
- Ventilation: 3 doors provides great airflow and makes entry / exit easy to the rooftop tent.
- Mattress: The 3 inch high density foam mattress is plush, temperature regulating and water resistant.
- Bonus Features: Our favorite bonus feature is the Summit Suite’s upper and lower mounting. Attach extra gear like bikes, storage bins, or solar panels on top of the tent.
Why we like the Summit Suite:
- Extra headspace
- 1 min. / one person setup
- Slim design
- All-weather fabric
- 3 doors
- Comfy mattress
What we don’t like about the Summit Suite:
- Heavy weight of 160 pounds
- Expensive price tag
Rooftop Tent FAQ
What is Dynamic Load Capacity?
The dynamic load capacity of your vehicle indicates how much weight it can handle on the rooftop when driving. This figure shows the maximum allowable load that the automobile roof rack can sustain when in motion for an extended length of time.
Things to remember when choosing a roof rack system:
- The most important details to know when purchasing a roof rack for your rooftop tent is the dynamic load capacity of the car’s roof rack, the dynamic weight requirements of the tent and the amount of available space you have on your car.
- Most cars have a minimum dynamic weight capacity of 165 pounds / 75 kilos. According to the website 10TS Tents, these include Honda Accord, Kia Picanto, Land Rover Discovery 2, Tesla Model 3, and the Toyota Yaris.
- If your car or SUV does not a factory installed roof rack, you should plan on spending an additional $500 – $800 for a rack system.
- Check the Thule and Yakima roof rack finders to figure out what type of rack system you need. Make sure to correctly identify if your car has a naked roof without side rails or a roof with side rails or fixed points.
- Unless you have previous experience, we recommend that you get your roof rack professionally installed rather than doing it yourself. Even with the most lightweight rooftop tent, you will be carrying more than 100 pounds on top of your car and traveling at fast speeds. If your rack and tent come off during travel you can cause serious injury to yourself and others.
- Make sure to purchase key locks with your rack system. This will ensure that your gear and roof top tent can’t be stolen. Thule and Yakima require that you buy these separately, and people often overlook this very important component.
