The Best Roof Top Tents (2019 Reviews) - Adventure Digest

The Best Roof Top Tents (2019 Reviews)

by Kieran Cunningham
November 27, 2019

 

First popularized in Africa and Australia back in the 1950s, in the last decade or so roof top tents have become the go-to choice for thousands of campers worldwide—and with good reason. For backcountry enthusiasts looking for a little more in the way of comfort, convenience, and luxury than that offered by traditional ground tents, there’s simply no better way to do it. The increase in RTT camping’s popularity has seen a concomitant rise in the number of RTTs on the market and in this article we aim to introduce you to the 25 top performers out there for 2019.

We reviewed dozens of roof tents to identify the best of the best. We examined a range of factors, including material, capacity, weather resistance, convenience, shape, cost, and average customer reviews.

Having considered a large number of rooftop tents, we chose the Smittybilt Overlander Tent as our top pick. This tent ticks all the boxes, using extremely rugged, waterproof, 600D fabric in combination with anodized aluminum frame poles and packing a wealth of handy features, including a sunroof, mosquito net, interior LED strips, an integrated, high-density foam mattress, and four sunshade awnings. It’s also easy to set up and can accommodate up to 3 people.

Editor's Picks	Brand	Rating
Best Overall	Smittybilt Overlander Tent	4.4
Runner Up	Tuff Stuff Ranger Overland Rooftop Tent with Annex Room	4.9
Best Budget Buy	Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent	4.3
Best Jeep Roof Top Tent	Tepui Kukenam Sky Tent	5.0
Best Truck Roof Top Tent	Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent	4.5

*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change

Our Top Pick: Smittybilt Overlander Tent

Having considered a vast array of options, the roof top tent that wins our vote as best model currently on the market is the Smittybilt Overlander Tent. This tent is an excellent choice for all three-season camping adventures, offering robust and durable materials, simple setup, outstanding weather protection, and enough room to accommodate two adults and a child with square footage to spare. As an added bonus, the price tag on the Overlander is far friendlier than those you’ll find on most of its three-person, three-season competitors, too.

Straight from the box, this tent oozes quality. With 600D body fabric, a PVC-coated rainfly, and a robust, anodized aluminum frame, the materials used in its construction inspire confidence and represent a significant upgrade on many budget models of roof top tent and almost all varieties of traditional ground tent.

In addition to its solid waterproofing, sturdiness, and durability, the Overland also packs a full complement of convenient and comfort-enhancing features, including three windows with mosquito netting, interior LED strips, two skylights for stargazing, an extra-wide ladder, and a plush, high-density foam mattress.

Smittybilt Overlander Tent Key Features: 

• 300kg load capacity
• 600D ripstop and waterproof polyester fabric
• 420D waterproof Oxford flysheet
• Sleeps 3
• High-density foam mattress
• 1-year warranty

Our Runner Up Pick: Tuff Stuff Ranger Overland Rooftop Tent (With Annex)

For those looking for a roof top tent that offers just a little bit more in the way of elbow room, the Tuff Stuff Ranger Overland Rooftop Tent deserves its place somewhere very near the top of your shortlist.

With enough room to accommodate a family of five or two adults plus a dining table and chairs in the 90″ x 90″ annex, the TuffStuff Ranger takes livability to a whole new level. If you happen to be the type of camper who fears the possibility a dose of “cabin fever” when spending more than a few nights out in the backcountry, or are just keen on having a little extra space for gear and sundries, then this two-level tent has you covered.

While this tent’s unique selling point might be its almost peerless roominess, however, it has a lot more going for it than oodles of space alone. First up, the Ranger uses 280g poly-cotton ripstop fabric with a waterproof polyurethane coating in the tent body and a burly, PU-coated, 420D polyester rainfly, thereby providing maximum protection against the elements and also outstanding ruggedness and durability.

The Ranger also comes with a 1000D PVC driving cover, a plush, 2.75″, high-density foam mattress (measuring 56″ x 96″), an aluminum ladder, and can be set up in just a few minutes.

Tuff Stuff Ranger Overland Rooftop Tent Key Features:

• Total combined interior space of nearly 100 square feet
• Tent plus 90″ x 90″ annex
• Waterproof
• 420D, PU-coated rainfly
• High-density foam mattress

Best Budget Pick: Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent

If simplicity and value for money rank high on your list of priorities, the Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent could well be the tent for you. This very affordably priced truck-bed tent lacks some of the bells and whistles featured on pricier models but does everything you need a tent to do without any notable omissions or flaws in terms of features or overall performance.

This tent’s footprint measures 63″ x 79″, making it a good fit for most full-sized truck beds, and its 5.25′ peak height gives it a roomier feel than many of its competitors in the truck-bed tent market. The tent body is made with 190T polyester with a 1,500 mm water-resistant coating and its defenses against the elements are further bolstered by a lightweight but highly effective rainfly. The tent inner also boasts a duo of mesh windows to aid ventilation, a pair of handy storage pockets, and a large D-shaped door that makes entering and exiting the tent hassle-free.

All in all, this tent takes no more than five minutes to set up and its four-pole, fully-enclosed design and tension strap anchoring system means that once its up, you know it will take a storm of utterly biblical portions to bring it down!

Guide Gear Full Size Truck Tent Key Features:

• Fully enclosed design
• Waterproof
• 5.25′ peak height
• Easy to set up

Best Jeep Tent: Tepui Kukenam Sky Tent

Few roof top tents are quite so well equipped to deal with the very worst the elements can throw at us as the Tepui Kukenam Sky Tent.

This may not be the cheapest roof top tent out there, granted, but in return for the additional outlay you get an awful lot in return in terms of not only weather protection, but also space, quality of build, convenience, features, and durability.

The Kukenam Sky Tent uses a spacious, A-frame style design with a generous peak height of 52″, meaning you have plenty of room to sit up and enjoy the views through the large, mesh-covered screen windows on all four sides. The tent also offers excellent durability and weather protection thanks to the 600D ripstop poly-cotton canopy fabric and 420D, PU-coated polyester rainfly.

Some features that make the Sky Tent a standout among its peers in the RTT market include waterproof YKK zippers, a 8’6″ telescopic ladder, a duo of sky-viewing panels in the roof, four large interior storage pockets, and a quick-release clip system on the rainfly that lets you whip it off in a matter of seconds when the sun comes out.

Tepui Kukenam Sky Tent Key Features:

• 600D ripstop canopy fabric
• Waterproof canopy, rainfly, and zippers
• Quick-release rainfly clip system
• Mosquito mesh on windows
• 8’6″ telescopic ladder

Best Truck Tent: Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent

For truck owners looking to turn their truck bed into an all-weather, superbly spacious backcountry sanctuary, they don’t come much better than the Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent.

This tent uses a very robust, three-quarter-inch steel tube frame that connects to clamp-on rails that attach to the sides of your truck bed. This feature provides a more secure fit and far more stability than truck-bed tents that use a strap attachment system. The frame’s tunnel-style design also makes the Kodiak superbly spacious, with a peak height of 5 feet and walls that curve outward as opposed to inward, thereby maximizing livability and headroom.

The Kodiak also scores highly in several other metrics, most notably the quality of the materials used in its construction. The tent is made with 100% cotton duck canvas with a Hydra-Shield finish that provides outstanding water resistance without sacrificing breathability, thereby making it far better equipped to deal with varying weather conditions than many cheaper truck- bed tents that use lighter polyester materials.

This tent also boasts a handful of very useful features, including a covered entry that keeps your tent’s interior dry when entering and exiting in the rain, two large gear pockets, a total of five mesh windows, and a large D-shaped door.

Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent Key Features:

• 5-foot ceiling/peak height
• Tunnel-style design
• Waterproof Hydra-Shield finish
• Heavy-duty canvas fabric

Who Should Buy a Roof Top Tent

Roof top tents have a number of benefits that make them a more appealing option than traditional ground tents to many campers. The most important of these all relate to those factors in which we are apt to gauge any tent’s desirability, namely comfort, convenience, and protection from the elements.

The most obvious difference between a traditional tent and a roof top tent is that with an RTT you are elevated off the ground. This configuration is advantageous for a number of reasons, but most notably because you don’t have to search for a flat, lump-free spot to pitch your tent, you’re up above insects and animals and reptiles that may be roaming your campsite, and “pitch time” is significantly reduced owing to the fact that your tent is already attached to what will be its foundation for the night(s) ahead.

Also, because roof top tents are not designed to be carried, the materials used in their construction are, generally speaking, far more robust and weather-resistant than standard ground tents. In terms of comfort and convenience, RTTs typically score far higher marks than traditional tents, too, with most models using a chunky integrated mattress and setting up in only a few minutes without the need to first seek out or hike to a suitable pitch point.

All of the above means that RTTs are a good choice for any would-be backcountry adventurers who are not too keen on the drawbacks inherent to camping in a traditional ground tent (lumpy sleeping spots, bugs, lengthy pitching process) and prefer a sleeping setup that provides a substantial upgrade in terms of weather protection and overall comfort.

If you’ll be trekking out and about on your trip, be sure to check out our review of the best waterproof backpacks to keep your gear dry.

Important Features to Consider

A roof top tent should do several things well. Here’s what to consider when selecting a roof top tent for your adventures in the outdoors:

 

Compatibility. To ensure that any roof-top tent will be compatible with your vehicle and roof rack, buyers should check the dynamic weight and static weight capacity of each before buying their tent. The
dynamic weight capacity will determine whether or not your vehicle and your roof rack will be able to support the weight of the tent alone while driving, whereas the static weight capacity will tell you if they are capable of supporting the weight of the tent plus its occupants when parked.

Waterproofing. Owing to the heavier and thicker materials used in their construction, most RTTs boast very reliable and solid waterproofing. Nevertheless, this attribute is still worth checking, particularly for those who plan to do their camping all year round and in varying conditions. Most tent manufacturers supply a hydrostatic head (HH) rating in their tents’ product descriptions, which usually takes the form of a figure given in millimeters, i.e. 1,500 mm. This refers to the amount of pressure the tent’s fabric was able to withstand in test conditions before allow water to seep through. The higher the number, the more waterproof the fabric. For fair-weather campers, a HH rating of 1,500 mm will be sufficient to deal with the odd unexpected shower, but those who expect to experience heavy showers while camping should opt for a model with a HH rating in the region of 2,000-3,000 mm.

Dimensions and capacity. As with traditional ground tents, roof-top tents typically come with a person rating (2-person, 3-person, etc.) supplied by the seller or manufacturer. Although this rating can give you a general idea of size when researching the available options, it should not be relied upon as an accurate guide—the marketing people at the vast majority of tent brands tend to be overly optimistic side when it comes to gauging just how little space an adult human can comfortably sleep in! Instead, look for the specific dimensions in the product listing and then calculate the tent’s square footage by simply multiplying its width by its length, i.e. 5 feet wide by 6 feet long equals 30 square feet of floor space. As a general guide, the amount of square footage required for fully-grown adults is around 15 square feet per person.

Peak height. In addition to overall square footage, it’s wise to check the tent’s peak height—an extra few inches of headroom can make a big difference in terms of overall livability, particularly if any of the tent’s users happen to be particularly tall. As a general rule, any RTT with a peak height under 5′ is likely to feel a little on the “cozy” side.

Ventilation. Beyond rainfall and bugs, the most serious potential claimant to the title of ‘The Bane of Every Camper’s Life’ is condensation. Condensation forms on the interior of tent as a result of inadequate ventilation. While the amount of condensation that builds up on the walls of your tent will depend largely on the breathability of the tent’s fabric, tents that use multiple windows or vents to encourage two-way airflow are the most effective in providing adequate ventilation and, therefore, reducing condensation.

Storage. While not a deal-making or deal-breaking factor, a few storage pockets on the walls of your tent, gear lofts, and gear hooks can all help to free up floor space in your tent and organize of your gear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a roof top tent and how does it work?

Roof top tents are shelters that can be attached to the roof rack of your vehicle to provide an elevated outdoor living space. Two main categories of roof top tent exist—soft shell tents and hardshell tents. Both types are attached to your vehicle’s roof rack during transportation and either flip open or pop open when parked. A third sub-type of roof top tents exists in truck tents, which are designed to be attached to the bed of trucks with straps and use the bed itself as a foundation.

How much does a roof top tent weigh?

Most models of roof top tent weigh in excess of 100 pounds. This is important for two reasons: compatibility and initial installation. Anyone interested in buying a roof top tent should first check that the roof rack on their vehicle will be capable of supporting the weight of the tent while driving (dynamic load capacity) and when stationary (static load capacity). Both the dynamic and static load capacity of your roof rack can usually be found in the owner’s manual.

Because of the weight of RTTs, buyers should also be aware that initial installation can sometimes be a lengthy and laborious process and often require a few pairs of helping hands.

Do you need roof racks for a roof top tent?

Yes. Almost all types of roof rack are compatible with roof top tents provided they have a dynamic weight capacity (DWC) that is equal to or greater than the weight of the tent. Varying systems are used to attach different tents to different types of roof rack, but most RTTs use bolts and mounting plates, meaning that square bars are easier to work with than the oval-shaped whisp bars, which can be too wide for the plates supplied with the tent.

How do you clean a roof top tent?

The best way to clean your roof top tent is to use a mild detergent with warm water and a sponge and then rinse the off the detergent with a clean sponge.

If you happen to find mold or mildew on your tent, first wash the affected area with a mild detergent as described above. Then, mix one cup of lemon juice and one cup of salt into a bucket of warm water and rinse off the affected areas. Leave the tent to air dry in the sun.