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Camping. American culture romanticized it long before it looked macho in John Wayne westerns. But laying on the floor and sleeping on a thin pillow isn’t everyone’s cup of bucolic brew; it can be inconvenient and setting up and tearing down almost always takes longer than expected.
Therefore, rooftop tents — boxes that live above the car and can be easily deployed to create a home that you clamber into via a fold-out ladder — offer a more convenient solution to many potential, semi-in-earth types (aka your significant other who isn’t as fond of pine-scented goodness as you are).
Think of the best rooftop tents as relatively expensive gateways to the great outdoors. Sure, they’ll give you four digits back – but once bought, you’ll always have an instant AirBnB with you. And it’s cheaper and more convenient than buying a custom RV or rugged off-road trailer.
What should you pay attention to when buying a roof tent?
- Make sure your tent fits your vehicle. Compact cars with shorter roofs can’t distribute the weight of a heavy shelter over 100 pounds the way a longer SUV can.
- How easy is the tent to install. Tool-less is better than tool-intensive. You may need a friend or partner to help with the initial assembly.
- How easy is the tent to set up and pack. The purpose of a rooftop tent is to make camping faster and easier.
- How aerodynamic the tent is. Fuel is not cheap at the moment. Lower profile tents have less impact on fuel economy.
- Whether it makes sense to level up. Softshell tents are generally lighter and cheaper. But they also need a cover when packed — and often a rainfly for bad weather.
The best rooftop tents you can buy
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