23zero Walkabout 87 Review: Roof Tent For 5

Need the biggest rooftop tent you can find? 23zero’s Walkabout 87 is just that – an 87” rooftop tent that can sleep up to five people. It’s basically just a huge bed with a comfortable mattress, and you can read more about its features right here in this review!

Materials, durability, weather resistance, ease of use, and other features that matter are covered in our detailed review of the Walkabout 87 rooftop tent. Read on to see how the tent performs, whether or not it will fit onto your car, and what you can expect from this massive five-person rooftop tent!

Materials & Durability

The 23zero Walkabout 87 tent body is made from 280GSM Ripstop Canvas. The tent base has a welded aluminum frame with insulating foam, stainless steel hinges, and a rain fly cover made from 210D Oxford Polyester Ripstop.

All the materials used in the construction of this tent are premium quality, so it’s no surprise that the Walkabout 87 tent is very durable. It’s got a sturdy floor that can handle the weight of several adults and that won’t creak or crack. The tent also features two very sturdy aluminum ladders that allow for easy tent access.

The ladders are durable, lightweight, and easy to use. They’re pretty comfortable for ladders – you might not even be considering this feature, but comfort is important if you’re supposed to climb them at least twice a day.

Weight & Size

Walkabout 87 is the absolute largest rooftop tent this brand manufactures, and one of the largest rooftop tents you can get your hands on. It’s a great option if you need a large tent for family camping, or if you just want to have plenty of space in your camping bedroom. This section covers the size and weight of the Walkabout 87 tent, so you know what to expect and whether you can fit it on your vehicle.

Packed Size

The Walkabout 87 tent is surprisingly inconspicuous when it’s packed. It’s still a huge tent but it’s only 14” tall and 48” long, so it’ packs up really nice inside the protective travel cover. There are also various straps that will hold the tent in place and ensure it doesn’t budge an inch from the roof of the vehicle.

The large size means that this tent is appropriate only for some large vehicles. Think pickups and campervans – if you’re looking for a tent that can be mounted on your classic passenger vehicle, this likely isn’t it. Consider one of the smaller rooftop tents from the Walkabout series or even a different brand.

Open Size

The Walkabout 87 tent is the largest tent 23zero manufactures and it’s absolutely massive. It can comfortably fit five adults inside and it’s basically just one huge bed because the mattress extends over the entire floor of the tent.

The dimensions of the open tent are 87” x 122” x 49”. Part of it sits on top of the roof of your vehicle, but a good part of the tent extends beyond the vehicle. It is possible to purchase additional sections that can transform the space beneath the tent into another room, so keep that in mind if you’re interested in creating a proper camping home.

Weight

The 23zero Walkabout 87 tent weighs 198 lbs. It’s a very heavy tent, so consider whether it’s a good fit for your vehicle. Campers and van lifers usually have to count every pound when purchasing new equipment to avoid overloading their homes on wheels. If you can afford the extra 200 lbs, then definitely consider putting a Walkabout 87 tent on your campervan.

Comfort & Features

Being comfortable inside a tent is crucial for a good night’s sleep. The Walkabout 87 is a comfortable tent for some five adults, and it’s got several extra features that will significantly increase your quality of life inside this tent.

LST (Light Suppression Technology)

The Walkabout 87 tent features light suppression technology that makes it possible for the interior of the tent to be entirely dark during the day. The technology is incorporated into the Polycotton Canvas material that the tent is made from, and it is capable of blocking more than 90% of sunlight.

This also means that you won’t be awakened by the sunlight in the morning or by the headlights of a new vehicle arriving at the campsite.  LST also helps reduce the temperature inside the tent, and on average you can expect it to be about 12% cooler inside the Walkabout 87.

It’s worth noting that it doesn’t have to be pitch-dark inside the tent if you don’t want it to. The Walkabout 87 features two windows that you can keep open when you want to admire the views, but close when it’s time to get a good night’s sleep.

Mattress

The Walkabout 87 features a 3” Thick Sleep Comfort mattress. It’s got rebound foam, a comfortable cotton top, and a waterproof base, for maximum sleeping comfort. The mattress would benefit from being a bit thicker – it’s not uncomfortable, but it’s not quite as supportive as the mattresses of some other rooftop tents.

However, this is an intentional design. The mattress folds over when the tent closes and putting a slimmer mattress inside the tent means a lower profile for the fully closed rooftop tent.

The mattress of the Walkabout 87 tent also lacks an Anti-Condensation mat, but this isn’t such an issue because of the waterproof base.

Weather Resistance

Weather resistance is one of the most important features of rooftop tents. You don’t just have to consider if the tent is weather-resistant enough for comfortable camping, but you also have to think about whether the tent can handle being mounted to the roof of your car 24/7.

Is the material waterproof enough to withstand multiple days of being exposed to rain? How fast will the tent dry? Will you have to take it off the car roof in the winter, to avoid mildew and water damage? What about sun damage? Will the colors fade?

Let’s start with water resistance – the Walkabout 87 is an entirely waterproof tent. The walls are waterproof, the base of the mattress is waterproof, and it’s got a rainfly that covers the ladder and tent entrance. The tent roof is also designed for minimal pooling, so rain shouldn’t be a factor on your camping trips.

What about the sun? UV resistance is another important feature of the Walkabout 87 tent. It’s important to note that not all parts of the tent are entirely UV resistant, but the good news is that they’re not extremely important parts.

The webbing straps that keep the tent packed together aren’t UV resistant and their color will fade over time. But that’s it – the rainfly, the tent body, and the travel cover are all UV resistant!

Set-Up & Take Down

Easy setup and quick take-down are not the most important features in a rooftop tent, but they matter. The good news is that the Walkabout 87 is surprisingly easy to set up. You just need to undo the straps that are compressing the travel cover and undo the zipper around the entire body of the cover.

The tent will slowly start to pop up, and you can grab the moving parts (ladders, tent floor, etc.) and adjust them to their right place. You can also adjust the awnings above the windows – just slide the poles into the designated areas and that’s it.

It takes less than five minutes to set up this rooftop tent, especially if there is more than one of you working on undoing the zipper and the straps. With frequent use and some practice, you’ll be able to get this tent open in just a couple of minutes.

Take-down is a bit trickier because there are a few more steps, but it can still be done in 5-10 minutes. Start with the awning poles and they work your way through the frame until you’re ready to just fold up the tent. Push the ladders up so that the tent floor starts to fold inwards, push in the ladders, adjust the travel cover and it’s done.

Value For Money

The 23zero Walkabout 87 is a pricey tent but it’s worth the money if you need a huge rooftop tent. You can find dozens of cheaper options, but it will quickly become obvious exactly why they are so much more affordable.

This tent is made from premium materials, it utilizes innovative technologies, and it’s incredibly sturdy. Cheaper tents can be comparably comfortable and water-resistant, but you’ll notice that the ladders aren’t as sturdy, the zippers aren’t as good, or the tent just doesn’t insulate well enough. There’s none of that with the Walkabout 87 and you can really appreciate the premium design.

Verdict

Is the 23zero Walkabout 87 tent worth it? If you’re looking to get a massive rooftop tent, it absolutely is!

This is one of the best rooftop tents on the market, in terms of design and material quality. Everything about it is premium, from the innovative technologies to the zipper pullers, and that’s precisely why it’s such an expensive tent.

If you’re looking for the biggest high-quality rooftop tent you can buy, you can’t go wrong with the Walkabout 87. But if you’re not sure it will fit on your vehicle or if it’s not in your price range, there are a few other options worth considering and you can see them in our related posts!

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