7 Softshell Roof Top Tents For Overlanding In 2022

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The Best Soft Shell Roof Top Tents for Overlanders In 2022

Roof Top Tents are special, there's something about them that just make your journey or adventure a better and more satisfying one. They are the item that perfectly blend camping with overlanding, and maybe that's why they've been attracting so much attention recently.

Well, it’s no secret that at Off Road Tents we sell them, but we also like to share our passion for tents, the outdoors and adventures with whoever is as enthusiastic about all these things as us.

It’s time to dedicate a piece to Softshell Rooftop Tents, we had already written a piece on Hardshells (read here), and on the overall best roof top tents (read here). This time around we’ll focus only and exclusively on softshells. Now, it’s important for anyone to know that they are not ranked in any particular order, we are just mentioning some of the ones we consider the best and coolest out there, and we do not sell all of them.

Of course some of the models we sell them, and the ones we do, we will offer you a hyperlink to the product page if you wish to buy it. The goal of the article is to INFORM our readers, but since we are a retailer, please understand we are also taking the opportunity to at least show our products.

ALSO, before you start reading if you would like to share info, pictures or anything roof top tent or overland related, please feel free to do so Joining Our Facebook Group HERE.

Gear up! It’s time for the fun to begin.

 

Softshell Roof Top Tent Models

Wanaka 55" - by Guana Equipment

wanaka 3 person roof top tent

The Wanaka is a special roof top tent that has been making some noise. The guys at Guana Equipment wanted to design something better, a rooftop tent with all the bells and whistles, and something special. That's when the extra large annex with three awnings came into the game, making this tent a roof top tent setup.

Name

Price

Size Open

Size Closed

Person Capacity

Weight

Wanaka 55"

$2249

122" L x 56" W x 49.5" H

48" L x 56" W x 12" H

3 and an extra one in the annex

139 lbs

Includes: It comes with a 3” thick high-density foam mattress, YKK zippers, aluminum ladder, XL Annex with removable floor and 3 awning doors, the poles for the awnings, 2 boot bags, LED light strip, anti-condensation mat.

Overview: There are many things that we like about the Wanaka, but the truth is that the best feature is the extra large annex.

This is the largest annex in the market, it comes with a removable floor, and it's big enough not only to store anything in it and keep it dry, but it's big enough for an adult to comfortable sleep inside it. It's more of a room than an annex.

Also, the three doors open up to become awnings, giving you extra shade and coverage, making this tent a full camping setup.

On top of that the tent is a 4-season softshell. It can be opened and closed in a few minutes. The mattress is very comfortable, and the anti-condensation mat already included is definitely a handy thing.

It also includes 2 shoe bags to store shoes safely, comfortably, and keep your tent clean.

The guys from Guana Equipment did a great job. This is an excellent tent.

 

Kukenam Ruggedized 3 - by Tepui Tents

Kukenam ruggedized SKY soft-shell rooftop tent by tepui tents

It’s probable that if you are looking to buy a rooftop tent you have heard about Tepui. Well, no surprise, they are one of the biggest player sin the market and that’s because they have good tents and a lot of different models. Their secret for success has been coming up with different designs that can satisfy many different needs. They have different series, such as the Baja series (look here), but our personal favorite is the Kukenam series. Now let’s check it out.

Name

Price

Size Open

Size Closed

Person Capacity

Weight

Kukenam Ruggdized 3

$2249.95

56" x 96" x 52" 

56" x 48" x 12"

3

180 lbs

Includes: 2.5” thick foam mattress with removable cotton cover, a travel cover for the tent, aluminum ladder, and rainfly.

Overview: This tent is what we like to call a beast, built for 4 seasons with strong and durable materials and available in three colors (expedition orange, olive green and gray). It fits three people comfortably, and it only has one small issue: the weight. For being not as large of a tent it weighs a bit more than expected. The reason? The materials. This is a RUGGEDIZED car top tent, meaning that it has a very strong heavy-duty diamond plate base. Then, the canopy fabric is a 360g Poly-cotton, with 600D ripstop fabric. Add to all that a 420D rainfly and you’ve got yourself a strong and extremely reliable roof top tent. 

Take it anywhere, during summer, winter, fall or spring, this baby will not disappoint.

The price is fair, the durability is not in question and neither is the comfort. If you are a couple, we highly recommend it as you will have a lot of space, and the two SKY panels (hence the SKY name) in the roof of the tent are ideal for checking out the stars at night.

Yes, we do sell this model and you can check it out or Buy it HERE, otherwise shoot us with an email, write to us in the chat box on the bottom right corner, or call us to our Toll Free.

 

Yulara Roof Top Tent - by TJM

yulara soft-shell roof top tent by tom

Everyone knows TJM, the Australian car accessory, overlanding and even camping gear manufacturer. They’ve got pretty much everything you need for your off road adventure, and their Roof Top Tent, the Yulara, is one of our favorites. Time to learn why.

Name

Price

Size Open

Size Closed

Person Capacity

Weight

Yulara

$1200

55” W x 126” L x 51” H

55” W x 48” L x 11” H

2

115 lbs

 Includes: Mattress, extendable aluminum ladder, rainfly, travel cover.

Overview: Let’s start with the first thing that makes it a favorite for us: weight. This RTT is one of the lightest out there, weighing only 115 pounds. Yes, the downside is that it’s only for two people, but the two will fit in very comfortable as the length of the tent is of 126 inches. Hardly will you find other tents with such a length, which will allow you to even jump up with bags and other things and being sure everything will fit inside.

Another great feature is how easy it is to open it, in literally less than ten minutes (this is a good timing for softshells) you can pull it open, pull down the ladder, climb up, set up the mattress and you’re good. As to closing it, it will take just a bit more time, but when you are on a weekend away, time is the least of your concerns.

Finally, we Sell it here at Off Road Tents, this is one of our highly recommended models for the excellent price it has. TJM being such a big manufacturer has better prices and always has stock. You can see it or Buy it HERE. Also, such a great price will allow you to add an Annex for an extra cost, but that in the end it’s still cheaper than most of the other models. We offer Free Shipping. Otherwise, take a look at TJM's overlanding gear equipment here.

 

High Country 80" Premium - by Freespirit Recreation

GoFSR High Country 80" Premium Roof Top Tent

FSR is one of our favorite roof top tent manufacturers, mostly due to the fact that their tents tend to have the most innovative designs in the market. As a matter of fact, the High Country series are the fastest softshell roof top tents to open and close. It takes you less than 60 seconds to have the High Country 80" Premium set up, or packed down.

Name

Price

Size Open

Size Closed

Person Capacity

Weight

High Country 80" Premium

$3495

80” W x 98” L x 50” H

85” W x 52” L x 14” H

5

182 lbs

 

Includes: 2” thick king size high-density foam mattress, as well as a 2" EPE Foam Floor for almost 4" of comfort. It includes a telescoping ladder as a tri-layer body for better insulation.

Overview: Design wise, this can be perhaps the best designed softshell roof top tent in the market. It literally opens and closes just as fast a hard top tent, it takes less than 60 seconds to have it ready, which is impressive.

It's also extremely comfortable, not for nothing the 80" Premium can fit 5 people, 2 adults and 3 children. The quality is outstanding, and thanks to the tri layer technology, this roof top tent will provide great insulation especially during winter. It's truly a 4 season roof top tent.

Price is slightly higher than most of the other models, but you are getting a better design, more space and even a more comfortable interior. It might not be suitable for smaller vehicles, due to the 85" x 52" footprint, but of you have the space over the rack, then with the FSR High Country 80" Premium, you are sure to have enough space for the whole family to camp!

 

Mt. Rainier Extended Stargazer Summit - by Cascadia Vehicle Tents (CVT)

mt. rainier extended stargazer softshell rtt by CVT

CVT is one of the best-known brands in the roof top tent market, if not the best known. Their products range from tents to off road trailers, and they are all great quality. We personally, out of all their interesting models, have a weak spot for the Mt. Rainier, and we’ll show you why.

Name

Price

Size Open

Size Closed

Person Capacity

Weight

Mt. Rainier Extended Stargazer Summit

$3095

72″ W x 132″ L x 50″ H

72″ W x 48″ Lx 15.5″ H

3

270 lbs

 

Includes: Travel cover made of Heavy-Duty PVC, mattress with removable waterproof cover, rainfly, telescoping ladder, LED light, two shoe holders, two USB ports, and annex.

Overview: First things first, the Mt. Rainier is an expensive model, but for a bit over $3000 you get a fantastic rooftop tent. It comes with an annex included (which separately will cost quite some money), and a lot of cool features that make the price absolutely worth it. For example, LED lighting, USB ports, and more. This RTT by CVT is pretty much the ideal model for a comfortable, safe and unforgettable experience.

Furthermore, it is a heavy-duty model, able of withstanding heavy rain, powerful wind and even snow. It is for experience overlanders and off road enthusiasts that know their business and want to camp even during winter or fall. The Mt. Rainier has a thicker canvas than most others, with a 380g poly-cotton ripstop canvas, which provides enough insulation to be used in the snow. It is also waterproof, breathable and mold resistant.

 

Series 3 1200 - by Eezi-Awn

series 3 1200 soft-shell rooftop tent by eezi-awn

Eezi-Awn is one of South Africa’s heavy weights when it comes to Roof Top Tents. This company has been manufacturing RTTs for over 30 years and they certainly know what they’re doing. Their name has become a synonym of reliability, quality and swagger. Yes, they are slightly more expensive than other brands, but that’s because all their products are made in South Africa, and trust us, they are very good. Just as their website says: “Remember that long after the sweetness of price is gone – quality prevails.” Now let’s find out why.

Name

Price

Size Open

Size Closed

Person Capacity

Weight

Series 3 1200

$2150

948” W x 96” L x 51” H

48” W x 48” L x 11” H

2

110 lbs


Includes: 2.5” thick foam mattress with cover, aluminum ladder, travel cover, YKK zippers, and a rainfly.

Overview: This is one of the benchmarks for all the Roof Top Tents that exist. Eezi-Awn utilizes a folding platform that makes the opening and closing of the tent literally a piece of cake. No wonder why it was chosen as Overland Journal’s Editor’s Choice for best roof top tent in 2011. This model isn’t good, it’s great.

Despite fitting only 2 persons, the Series 3 has other bigger models that can fit up to 5, so depending on your needs you can look for bigger ones. We like this one because it’s more than enough to fit two comfortable, the price isn’t too much, and the quality is fantastic.

Made with 420g Poly-cotton canvas, it’s built to withstand the four seasons. The frame is made of stainless steel; it can be bought with an annex made of also quality materials. When it comes to the features, it has four large doors and windows allowing an excellent ventilation and air flow, two large window shades, pockets for valuable items, and more. If we were to pick a tent for beginners that want something that lasts for a long long time, this would be our choice!

 

Jalama Expedition Grade - by Hinterland Industries Tents (HIT)

jalama ct rtt softshell by hit

HIT is one of those brands that have started to get some visibility, and the reason behind this is the quality of their products. They’re not the biggest manufacturer, they don’t have hundreds of models or a massive stock, but they make sure that what the customers get is quality. All of their tents go through a STRICT quality control before leaving their warehouses, it is a family run business and they make sure it shows it. We sell their tents and we can tell you they are top quality, with their tents being shipped even in a special wooden crate that fully protects them!

Name

Price

Size Open

Size Closed

Person Capacity

Weight

Jalama Expedition Grade

$2174

56” W x 96” L x 50” H

56” W x 48” L x 15.5” H

3

130 lbs


Includes: 3” thick high-density foam mattress with cotton cover, aluminum ladder, heavy-duty travel cover and rainfly.

Overview: The Jalama Expedition Grade is our favorite model by HIT. A bit pricey, yes, but as said above you pay for quality. This rooftop tent is built to last and it is a four-season tent. The CT initials stand for Curved Top, a characteristic design of the tent that makes it have a lower height without taking out the comfort in the inside, pretty ingenious isn’t it?

What can we say about the materials? Let’s start by saying it’s a hand made tent, with a 400g-ripstop poly-cotton canvas, both waterproof and pretty breathable. Every window comes with a small cover that lets the air flow well, but stops the rain from coming in.

What we like the best though, is that this is not the classic roof top tent, but it can fit smaller cars, and the weight (only 130 lbs) is the proof. This can be an SUV tent of a truck tent, ideal for the back of pick-up trucks such as Ford 150, Isuzu, Toyotas, you name it.

 

Let’s Wrap It Up

It’s time to come to an end. We want to remind you that this list is not a ranking and that there are also many other EXCELLENT Softshell roof top tents out there. There are tons of brands and models to choose from. We just decided to pick eight that truly catch our eye.

We hope that if you are looking for a rooftop tent, this list will help you as a guide ir at least help you discover a few new brands you didn’t know of. And if you’re still searching and don’t know which model might suit you, shoot as an email at: info@offroadtents.com, call us at out Toll Free: 844-200-3979, or access our collection to Buy your model HERE.

***If you're not sure whether your vehicle has the right roof rack, please take a look at our roof rack collection, most of which will be able to support any roof top tent.***

ALSO, if you would like to share info, pictures or anything roof top tent or overland related, please feel free to do so Joining Our Facebook Group HERE.

 

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