What is a rooftop tent?
Jul 13, 2024
Rooftop tents have been making headlines as one of the best ways to camp, but what is a rooftop tent? A rooftop tent is a portable shelter that is mounted on top of a vehicle or roof rack system. They can be deployed quickly, are popular with off-roaders, and bridge the gap between traditional tents and recreational vehicles.
Origin of rooftop tents
The first rooftop tents originated in Europe in the mid-20th century. At that time, independent travel and self-driving tours went hand in hand, and these new tents solved many annoying problems. Daily explorers no longer had to worry about whether roadside hotels were full when they arrived in unfamiliar towns. Rooftop tents also saved travelers the cost of formal accommodation.
The first designs were pop-up types with hard shells and foldable canvas tents, now called "soft shell" types. These rooftop tents are often called "air camping" because they are located high on the top of the vehicle. The appeal of air camping was obvious from the beginning, but in recent years, air camping has re-emerged as new designs have changed the market potential. These include foldable hardshell tents like the Skycamp, hybrid tents with a book-folding design, wedge-shaped tents, and even micro tents that can fit on compact cars.
What are rooftop tents good for?
Rooftop tents have many advantages over other tents, the most important of which is ease of use. If you are still wondering what rooftop tents are good for? Here are 10 reasons to buy one.
They remove the intimidating barrier of camping due to their simple design and easy installation. Without any special experience, you can jump in your car, drive to the campsite, and unlatch the tent.
You can camp in your car while still being outdoors under the stars and breathing in fresh air. Many rooftop tents have skylights, which add another layer of romance to the camping experience.
The view is better. No need to imagine what the view would look like without the picnic table and neighboring campers setting up. From the roof of your car, you can enjoy the view you see when you drive out, completely unobstructed.
Rooftop tents free up storage space in your car and make it easier to organize your gear without blocking rearview mirrors or blind spots.
Rooftop tents can be parked anywhere a car can reach. This makes them especially useful for overlanding and dispersed camping, since there's no trailer or bulky RV to maneuver.
Most rooftop tents come with a mattress that can be stored inside the tent, which reduces the amount of extra gear you need to pack. (Goodbye, camp beds and air beds!) Some RTT tent shells are large enough that you can also store your sleeping bag and pillow inside the tent between trips to your destination, freeing up more space in your vehicle.
Rooftop tent camping is more comfortable and convenient than traditional tents, and a more affordable alternative to an RV or camper.
They get you off the ground. Literally. You don't have to worry about finding a flat spot to pitch your tent. You don't have to worry about whether there are rocks or roots under your sleeping bag. You'll even find fewer unwanted visitors (critters) making their way through your tent's doorway.
From up high, weather conditions are more favorable. Camping in the shoulder season is more comfortable if the tent canvas isn't sucking in mud, rain, and snow. A summer night breeze is nice, too!
Since the roof of your vehicle is the base of your tent, it's much warmer than sleeping directly on the ground. A hard shell rooftop tent can also act as a windbreaker, further protecting you from the elements.
