Which roof tent suits me – and my car?
The choice is huge and making the right choice is not easy.
To help you find the best roof tent for you, we have compiled all the advantages, disadvantages and differences between hard-shell, folding and hybrid roof tents here. Four simple steps will help you make the right choice when buying a roof tent.
Camping Ratgeber:
Which is the best roof tent for you?
The best roof tent is the one that best suits you and your needs – and can also be mounted on your car!
Because only if the roof load of your car is sufficient to carry the weight of the roof tent you have chosen can it be fitted.
The first step in choosing the right roof tent for you and your car is the most important.
Only when you know the roof load can you continue with our decision aid.
1st roof load: off to the car with the tent
2. roof tent size: traveling with 4 people or solo?
Let’s move on to the size.
Because of course your roof tent should be big enough so that you can all sleep comfortably in it.
Everything is possible, from a huge 4-person roof tent to a lightweight 2-person tent.
The best decision-making aid here: The size of the sleeping surface.
For an initial orientation, you can look at the width of your bed at home.
If you and your two children still feel comfortable in your parents’ double bed with a width of 180 cm, then this width will definitely be enough for your vacation.
Generally speaking, the sleeping area in the roof tent can be a little narrower than your own bed.
You will still feel comfortable.
If that doesn’t help, you can use these dimensions as a guide:
Size of the sleeping area (minimum size)
Single traveler: 90 cm → BDV Solo
Two people: 120 cm → Good Vibes, BDV Duo or Skycamp Mini
Three people: 160 cm → Adventure or X-Cover
Four people: from 180 cm (with children) → Skycamp 3.0
3. hard shell, hybrid or folding roof tent: which roof tent is right for you?
Rooftop tents are available as folding, hard shell or – as a mixture of both – as hybrid rooftop tents.
To find the right type of roof tent for you, you should briefly consider what your vacation usually looks like.
Are you planning a long road trip with lots of stops and overnight stays?
Or do you prefer to spend your entire vacation in one particularly beautiful place and want to set up a cozy camp there?
Depending on what you have in mind, the different types of roof tent are more or less suitable.
The following overview provides you with an overview of all the advantages and disadvantages.
Folding roof tent:
- Folds up in the shape of a dome or tent roof, whereby the tent extends over the roof of your car and the sleeping area is significantly larger than the pack size.
- Perfect if you need a lot of space and want to stay in one place for longer.
- Protected with a soft cover,
- is therefore lighter, which is an advantage when the roof load is tight.
Hard shell roof tent:
- Opens vertically upwards as a “pop-up” roof tent and offers a clear view in all directions.
- The hard shell roof tent takes up no more space than your car: the sleeping area does not extend beyond the footprint of the car, which is a particular advantage in small parking spaces.
- Completely ready to move into in seconds and therefore ideal for a road trip.
Hybrid roof tent:
- Combines the advantages of a hard shell and a folding roof tent in one:
- The hard shell offers the best weather protection and additional insulation.
- The fold-out sleeping area, which then extends over the roof of your car, significantly increases the size compared to the compact pack size.
- Offers plenty of space and can be converted into a large camp with awning or awning.
Wedge roof tent:
- Wedge-shaped opening hard shell roof tent.
- Opening mechanism provides particularly high stability.
- Simply unfold and lay down: These tents are ready for use in seconds.
4. accessories: more living space, more warmth, more of the roof tent
Inner tent, sun awning or awning – the possibilities are endless with many roof tents – but hardly any with others.
If you want accessories, you should make sure that there is something suitable for your roof tent.
The best way to do this is by simply zipping or attaching them.
Rooftop tent accessories – what are they and what are they for?
- Awning: With a fully enclosed awning, you can extend your living space enormously and protect it from the sun, wind and rain.
Many awnings can accommodate an additional sleeping cabin or a table and chairs.
In any case, an awning guarantees that you can get in and out of your roof tent with dry feet, have a place to store your luggage and get changed standing up. iKamper uses hard-wearing zippers for all awnings.
This is quick and easy.
Some awnings can even be fitted with an inner tent.
You can read what this is good for in the next paragraph. - Awning: An awning is even quicker and easier to set up than an awning.
Nevertheless, it offers you pretty good weather protection, especially from rain and sun.
And a shady spot in summer is worth a lot!
The awning also provides you with a roof over the entrance and exit to your roof tent so that you are not standing directly in the rain. - Inner tent: An inner tent for your roof tent helps to regulate the moisture in your tent particularly well.
The formation of condensation on the tent wall is minimized with an inner tent and your clothes, sleeping bags or pillows stay dry.
Thermal inner tents are also available for many roof tents.
The insulating properties ensure that the heat loss is not so great, especially at low outside temperatures, and that it stays cozy and warm in your roof tent.
Especially recommended for trips to the north, in winter or in the cooler off-season.
Buying a roof tent: The final decision-making aid
In the end, of course, it’s also your budget that counts and whether you like the roof tent as a whole.
You can clarify the former by taking a look at your bank balance.
If this is not sufficient, please contact us for financing.
The best way to find out about the latter is by looking at, touching, trying out and testing.
We have put together a comparison of all roof tents to help you make an even better decision.
At CAMPWERK, you can also test every tent in one of our showrooms.
And simply stay put if necessary.
By the way: We have long since decided on the right material.
All our tents are made from a high-quality poly-cotton blend fabric that is both weatherproof and breathable.
