Hardshell vs. Soft-Shell Rooftop Tents: One Is Clearly Better
Let’s get one thing clear up front: most of us don’t need a rooftop tent. Legend has it rooftop tents were originally created so adventurers could sleep off the ground away from dangerous wildlife. I live in the Southern Appalachians, so I’…
Let’s get one thing clear up front: most of us don’t need a rooftop tent. Legend has it rooftop tents were originally created so adventurers could sleep off the ground away from dangerous wildlife. I live in the Southern Appalachians, so I’m not worried about lions and tigers, and car campers have survived for decades pitching tents on the ground. Rooftop tents aren’t strictly necessary.
But they’re appealing for a variety of reasons, the most important of which is that sporting a rooftop tent on your Subaru tells everyone in the Trader Joe’s parking lot that you do badass adventures on weekends. I’ve had a series of rooftop tents on vehicles over the years and developed some very strong opinions, which boil down to this: rooftop tents make car camping easier, especially if you get the right tent for you and your vehicle.
Having a popup tent already attached to my vehicle minimizes prep, gets me out the door faster on weekends, and means I’m more likely to go camping. Many rooftop tents are easier to set up than a traditional tent when you’re at camp, and just as easy to break down when it’s time to go home. Streamlining that process has resulted in my camping more often when I have a tent on my vehicle. And that’s the single best argument I can make for these expensive pieces of gear.
I also like getting off the ground. It rains all the damn time in the Southern Appalachians, and getting the tent off the ground and out of the muddy soup is an absolute delight. It also means you don’t have to spend 20 minutes clearing rocks and sticks before pitching your tent.
There are two basic types of rooftop tents: hardshell and soft-shell. The question you have to answer is which style is right for you. Keep reading and I’ll break down the pros and cons of each so you know exactly what you’re getting into before you drop your hard-earned cash on one of these tents.
Hardshell Rooftop Tents Are Easier—But You Pay for That Convenience
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