Tents are essential outdoor exploration gear, particularly during overland and camping trips. While traditional tents reigned the outdoor gear space for decades, discerning adventure enthusiasts are gradually shifting to roof rack tents.
While car roof tents are a fairly recent phenomenon, they are gaining traction and winning over discerning outdoor enthusiasts. According to one market insights report, the rooftop tent industry’s market value stood at 155.82 million dollars as of 2022. The report projects a 7.9% compounded annual growth rate in the industry by 2027.
So, what makes a car roof tent so popular? Keep reading to discover its benefits over traditional tents.
1. Convenience
The ease of erecting a car roof tent is among the primary reasons overlanders, campers, and off-road enthusiasts prefer it. Erecting a traditional tent is an extreme sport and often requires specialized skills and even extra manpower.
With traditional tents, you must identify an ideal location to set up the tent and clear it of debris. Then cover the ground with a tent base or tarp, and find stakes or posts to erect the tent while tying special knots. The process takes up to an hour, depending on your expertise and how fast you can find an ideal space.
However, a car roof tent is significantly easier to set up, regardless of whether you have experience doing the same. The process can be done in four simple steps. First, attach the car roof tent to the roof rack or crossbars on your open-road vehicle. As an avid overlander, you can install the rooftop tent once after purchasing it and skip this step during subsequent camping activities.
Second, set up the ladder you will use to ascend to the vehicle’s rooftop. Finish setting the car roof tent up by opening and unfolding the tent. Setting up a car roof tent takes a minute to ten minutes, depending on the type; soft-shell car roof tents are easier to set up than hard-shell ones.
Additionally, taking down a rooftop tent is equally easy and fast. Besides, most rooftop rack tents feature a collapsible bed meaning you can set up and sleep within minutes.
The convenience factor car roof rack tents offer allows you to spend more time enjoying your environment and panoramic sunrises and sunsets rather than hassling to set up a tent. The tents are convenient for spontaneous camping during overland trips.
2. Elevated/Above Ground Set-up
The primary disadvantage of traditional camping tents is that the ground you set up the tent must meet special requirements. For instance, it has to be flat/leveled on a raised ground to avoid rainwater pooling inside your tent. Additionally, the ground should be free of rocks for comfort.
While the rules above are necessary for camping safety, they limit the usable areas and may block your views, which makes camping with traditional tents hectic. Fortunately, a car roof tent lets you throw all those rules outside the window.
A rooftop tent’s elevation means you do not have to worry about anything on ground level, be it critters, inclines, or precipitate. Even so, you may want to consider wind and sun directionality, but these are simple to navigate because all you need to do is move your vehicle.
Nonetheless, being above ground allow overland and off-road enthusiasts to spend days and night camping on typically hazardous terrain, expanding the possibilities of camping.
3. Comfort
Comfort is a significant driving factor for purchasing a car roof rack tent. As such most consumers place waterproof bedding and mesh windows for ventilation at the top of their list when purchasing car roof rack tents.
A rooftop tent’s waterproof bedding allows campers to sleep comfortably despite wet weather. Moreover, most rooftop tents feature memory foam mattresses for a feel of home while on the go.
Also, the mesh windows facilitate ventilation during the day and night while keeping pesky insects outside the tent. The comfort features integrated into a car roof tent elevate your off-road and overland experience by allowing you to camp in style.
4. Ample Space
The space element car roof tents offer includes two perspectives. First, car roof tents occupy limited space in the vehicle’s roof rack. Additionally, it does not require installation tools like mallets and stakes, limiting the cargo volume in the vehicle while increasing leg room.
Second, while a car roof rack tent can accommodate up to five people, most models integrate with extension options like roof rack awnings and annexes, creating more room on the ground. The additional space allows for customization, creating a highly functional space for an elevated camping experience.
5. Durability
Besides comfort, car roof tents from reliable manufacturers have durability features, making them worthwhile. Such features include construction using weather and abrasion-resistant materials, including polyester, nylon, fiberglass and ripstop for soft-shell models and aluminum and steel for hard-shell models.
Conclusion
A car roof tent is an invaluable vehicle add-on ideal for a pleasant and memorable outdoor experience. From unmatched convenience, secure resting space, enhanced comfort, and ample space to extended durability, a car roof tent is a worthwhile investment for any overland, camping, or off-road enthusiast.
