The 7 Best Rooftop Tents to Take Your Camping to the Next Level

Best Easy-install Rooftop Tent

SkyRise HD – 2-Person 4-Season
Yakima

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Best Premium Rooftop Tent

Skycamp Mini
iKamper

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For years, Thule’s Tepui line has been a mainstay of the rooftop tent world. The Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3, in particular, has become something of an industry standard, and it’s our pick for the best softshell rooftop tent with a balance of weight, conversion (how long to set up and breakdown), price, and overall livability. The tent’s watertight design is second to none, and we appreciate how comfortable the mattress is. At 119 pounds, it’s lighter than most of its competition, making installing and uninstalling easier than most. The high-quality construction is solid all around, with above-average durability. Even priced at nearly $2,000, we think it’s well worth the money. A ruggedized version adds off-road-centric features and sky panels for stargazing.

• Category: Softshell
• Sleeps: 3
  
• Dimensions (open): 96 x 56 inches
• Peak internal height: 52 inches
• Weight: 119 pounds

Hardshell rooftop tents are better than their softshell counterparts in every way (more on that below). They’re more durable, more weatherproof, and infinitely easier to set up and break down. If money is no object and you’re ready to jump all-in on a premium rooftop tent, Roofnest’s Condor is the way to go. It’s the company’s most compact model, with a 60-by-48-inch footprint designed to fit almost any vehicle. Once converted, it sleeps two adults and a kid (or dog) comfortably. Out of the box, it’s ready to go with nice-to-have features like a privacy tent and a detachable interior LED light. Plus, it’s expandable with Roofnest’s own accessories, including the Condor Annex, Condor Awning, and a mountable solar panel. For a little more room, check out the spacious Condor XL.

• Category: Hardshell
• Sleeps: 2+
• Dimensions (open): 83 x 60 inches
• Peak internal height: 50 inches
• Weight: 135 pounds

As awesome as they are, rooftop tents are heavy. That makes them cumbersome to install, and they can seriously impact your vehicle’s gas mileage. Front Runner solves that problem with its simply named Roof Top Tent. The featherweight design “tips the scales” at a paltry 93 pounds, meaning it’s nearly light enough for one person to install by themselves. Coupled with a universal design, it’ll mount safely to almost any vehicle roof, even smaller cars and trucks. Once installed, the 330mm-tall, low-profile design helps reduce road noise and wind resistance. Inside, it’s plenty roomy for a couple and even a small dog, and the included rainfly and 2.25-inch thick foam mattress provide a dry, reasonably comfortable sleep space. We’ve seen whispers of quality-control issues due to the lighter-weight materials and fabrics, but in our experience, Front Runner stands squarely behind its products.

• Category: Softshell
• Sleeps: 2+
• Dimensions (open): 131 x 90 x 52.4 inches
• Peak internal height: 51 inches
• Weight: 93 pounds

From recovery gear to rooftop tents, Smittybuilt makes some of the best bang-for-your-buck equipment for campers and overlanders. Its GEN2 Overlander Tent XL is a great option for anyone new to the rooftop tent game. With a massive, king-sized footprint, it’s spacious enough to sleep a family of four or a couple with a pack of dogs in tow. What truly sets it apart is the roughly $1,500 price tag that makes it incredibly affordable relative to other comparably sized options. The budget-friendly price is thanks largely to budget materials, however. While it seems durable enough, some customers complain of long-term quality issues. Setup and breakdown are also more complicated than more premium rooftop tents. Still, few tents on the market deliver this much for so little.

• Category: Softshell
• Sleeps: 3-4
• Dimensions (open): 122 x 76 inches
• Peak internal height: 51 inches
• Weight: 148 pounds