The 10 Best Rooftop Tents in 2023

Overland Vehicle Systems Nomadic 2

The Overland Vehicle Systems Nomadic 2 is absolutely jam-packed full of features that we love.

On the interior, there are six large internal pockets and a power bank pouch to keep you organized, a hand-held LED light and an LED velcro strip to help you find your way around in the darkness, and an overhead storage loft to keep your essentials close.

Plus, we can’t get enough of the zipped window on the ceiling so you can stand up and really take in the surrounding views.

And if that wasn’t enough, it also comes with a bonus pack containing memory foam pillows, a lap table plus a mini broom and dustpan – so there’s no excuse for an untidy tent! The pillows, combined with the 3-inch foam mattress with removable cover, guarantee you a good night’s sleep, and we love the insulated base to keep you warm.

At its core, this is a super durable rooftop tent made of high-grade 600D rip-stop waterproof cotton canvas, and there’s a 400D waterproof rainfly that will keep you dry even in the grimmest of weather. The solid construction can handle a maximum weight of up to 750 lbs, and the diamond-plate base is insulated as well a being incredibly strong.

Tepui Ruggedized Kukenam

Introducing the first item on our hit list, the Tepui Ruggedized Kukenam rooftop tent.

This heavy-duty tent is an excellent choice if you’ll be exploring those rough back roads thanks to its diamond plate base, double stitching, solid bolts, and strong aluminum frame. Granted, this does make this a pretty heavy tent overall (and expensive!), but if you want something that can handle a few bumps and scrapes, this tent is the way to go.

The Tepui rooftop tent’s spacious interior can accommodate up to three people, and you can snuggle up and watch the stars at night through the dual integrated sky panels. But don’t worry, if the weather takes a turn for the worse you can always pop on the rainfly. We also love the extra-large interior pockets to help keep your gear in order.

The setup can be a little bit tricky, thanks to all that extra weight, but since the tent can handle some wear and tear, there’s no need to take it down when you change campsite for the night.

If you’re after something durable, spacious, and with some nice extra touches, then this rooftop tent is definitely the way to go!

Smittybilt Overlander

The Smittybilt Overlander is an extremely popular rooftop tent, and it’s easy to see why.

Tepui Ruggedized Kukenam, it’s a heavy-duty tent constructed from durable materials and has a waterproof rainfly, but it’s considerably lighter in terms of weight and cost.

It has some nice extra touches too, such as interior LED strips so you can find your way around in the dark, shoe storage bags, a sunroof, and side windows with mosquito netting to keep those pesky bugs at bay.

It comes with a telescopic ladder and, if you need a larger one, an extension can be purchased separately – as can an annex if you find you need more space! It’s also fairly painless to set this tent up, which is great if you’re running out of daylight when you reach camp.

One minor issue with the Smittybilt Overlander rooftop tent is that the instructions aren’t great. So, it might be worth practicing the set-up at home the very first time. Plus, the foam double mattress isn’t quite as comfy as we’d expected but, overall, this is a very well designed tent at a great price.

Front Runner

The Front Runner rooftop tent has to be one of our favorite rooftop tents out there. Its extremely low profile reduces wind resistance and, on top of that, it’s one of the lightest 2-3 people rooftop tents around, weighing in at under 100 lbs.

And although this might not be the tallest tent out there, it more than makes up for it in width – with one smooth motion it almost doubles its width!

This tent offers great views out of all the windows and doors, and they can be opened entirely to increase ventilation, fully covered for privacy, or covered with anti-bug mesh. Plus, there are mesh openings in the top for stargazing and ventilation.

The mattress is integrated, so all you need to bring is a blanket and pillows. We also like the interior pockets and hanging loops so you can keep your valuables close and hang lanterns for those cozy evenings.

The main fabric used is mold-resistant, waterproof fabric, and the rain cover is super easy to whip on and off in times of need. The lighter weight is achieved through the use of an aluminum base and ladder, which is tough and weather-resistant as well as light.

Despite the high-quality material used for the tent itself, the mattress isn’t as thick as more expensive options and the ladder is sliding rather than telescope so takes up more room when not in use and isn’t as stable.

If you’re concerned about weight or have a smaller vehicle, the Front Runner rooftop tent is a great option that also offers fantastic value for money.

Napier Backroadz

So we know that the Napier Backroadz truck tent isn’t strictly speaking a rooftop tent… but we just had to include it anyway.

Although many rooftop tents will work on truck beds as well as the rooves of larger vehicles, if you want to save some money, truck-specific tents can be the way to go.

The Napier Backroadz rooftop tent can comfortably fit two adults, and there is a range of sizes available so that you find the one that’s right for you. You still get the perks of being raised off the ground, but you get more height than with classic rooftop tents.

The set-up is quicker than with standard tents and is sped up even further thanks to the color-coding system, and no ladder is necessary, making it a much lighter bundle overall than most rooftop tents.

Two large mesh windows and a door with a mesh option make for great ventilation, but the storm flaps will keep you protected from bad weather, although it would be nice if there were zipper covers for the windows too. We also love that a tree is planted each time this tent is purchased – after all, it’s only fair to give something back to the great outdoors once in a while.

Although there is a rainfly included, the fit is quite snug, so make sure you’re careful with it during assembly. Overall, if you want the perks of not pitching on the ground, but don’t want to dish out a fortune, then this rooftop tent is a perfect choice.

YAKIMA SkyRise

The YAKIMA SkyRise is super-simple. sky-high, freestanding tent available with camouflage patterning to help it blend into those dreamy outdoor landscapes.

Its 210D body and rainfly will let moisture escape and keep the drizzle out, making it a great 3-season tent – just don’t expect it to keep you dry during monsoon. The removable rainfly means that you can stargaze to your heart’s content, and you can do so in ultimate comfort thanks to the included wall-to-wall foam mattress.

We like the foldable window covers, and the use of aluminum poles not only makes this tent robust but also helps to keep the weight down. We wish the ladder was telescopic rather than foldable, but we guess you can’t have everything.

It’s not as durable or weatherproof as some of the more expensive options out there, but if you’re looking to cut down on costs and will be camping during those sunny summer months, then this is a super cozy tent to bunker down in.

ARB Series III Sand

The ARB Series III Sand is a heavy canvas tent with taped seams to keep that bad weather at bay. The 2.5-inch foam mattress with be sure to keep you comfy, and we love that the cover is removable for ease of cleaning after trips – let’s face it, camping can be a bit smelly at times.

We also love that this tent can be configured to fold out on either side of the roof rack, or even off the back of the vehicle, so you can switch things up when you feel like it. And if you find yourself needing a bit more space, there’s the option to purchase a compatible annex separately.

There’s also a sold aluminum ladder, and there are insect screens on the windows and doors to stop you from getting nibbled at night. Although the tent cover is nice and durable, it can be tricky to put on, specifically during cold weather when it becomes particularly stiff.

Also, you might want to top-up the UV protection ever now and again, as it will slowly fade with time.

Tuff Stuff Ranger Overland

The Tuff Stuff Ranger Overland is a great rooftop tent that comes with an annex room included, unlike most others that you have to purchase separately. The annex room stretches down to ground level and offers protection from the elements while you’re popping in and out of your vehicle. They also make a great spot to store extra gear.

One minor gripe, however, is that you might struggle to set it up in the first place, thanks to the poor instructions provided – it’s probably wise to do a test set-up at home before you camp for the first time! The zippers to the annex aren’t as water-resistant as the ones to the main tent either, so make sure you don’t leave any items in there that need to be kept bone dry.

This tent can be unfolded on either side of the vehicle, or off the back, and we really like the incredibly durable, waterproof driving cover that can reportedly withstand severe wind, rain, and even snow!

Overall, this tent and annex combo offers great value for money and is just as durable as many far more expensive models.