Most people assume rooftop tents are a relatively new innovation, but they first emerged in Western Europe in the s. Back then, it was known as “auto camping” or “air camping” and was marketed as a way to avoid crowded hotels and save money. Fast forward a few decades to the s, and it seems like rooftop tents have suddenly exploded in popularity. So what’s been driving the new wave of adventurous “auto campers”? You only have to look at the types of vehicles on the road today to understand a major reason why rooftop tents are trending. In New Zealand, Australia, and other parts of the world, more people are buying 4WD vehicles — utes, trucks, SUVs and station wagons. As a result of this, off-roading and overlanding is also becoming an increasingly popular outdoor activity. It’s fair to say that rooftop tents have benefited from both of these trends as roof tents are most commonly fitted to 4WD vehicles. But rooftop tents didn’t just hop on the 4WD bandwagon and ride it all the way to the bank. There are several key reasons why rooftop tents have captured the imagination of adventurers the world over.
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A well-designed rooftop tent can be set up in just a few minutes and packed down in the same amount of time. For a lot of people, this is much more appealing than mucking around with tent poles, pegs, and guy ropes that never seem to work how they’re supposed to.
A good roof tent costs a fraction of a campervan, caravan, or motorhome — and after a few years of use it probably works out cheaper than hotels, Airbnbs, and holiday parks. While the initial investment is nothing to snivel at, you’re essentially transforming your vehicle into your very own Airbnb on wheels.
What’s better is, the more your use, the faster it pays itself off. As if you needed another excuse to go on adventures.
One of the best things about roof tents is that they’re always set up and ready to go. After work on a Friday, you can chuck some clothes in a bag, buy some groceries, and head off into the wilderness for the weekend. All of your bedding and essentials can be conveniently packed away inside the roof tent, which means less time spent on planning and making sure you’ve got the right gear.
A rooftop tent allows you to camp in some of the most stunning, remote locations on earth. While it’s often possible to hike to these places with a normal tent, it takes a lot more time. With the roof tent, you can use 4WD tracks to access these areas faster. The best part is, you get to escape the crowds and noise of busy campgrounds. Hard to put a price on that.
If you live in a country with dangerous wild animals or insects, then a rooftop tent provides extra peace of mind. As a roof tent is screwed into your vehicle's crossbars and features more heavy-duty hardware than a tent you carry on your back, it’s also more secure and durable in wild weather conditions. This is especially true if you have a hard-shell rooftop tent, like the Bushbuck Armourdillo®.
Of course, a rooftop tent provides superior views to a regular tent. Having that extra elevation helps to eliminate any obstructions to your outlook. You could pay hundreds of dollars a night for a fancy hotel or resort with a scenic view, or you could get a rooftop tent and treat yourself to a “room with a view” whenever you want.
Another benefit of elevation is that you’re not sleeping directly on the damp, cold ground. You’ll also avoid the possibility of surface flooding under and around your tent in heavy rain. Some rooftop tents, such as the Bushbuck Armourdillo®, have insulation in the hard shell, which provides additional warmth and protection from the wind.
This is probably the most important question when you’re looking to buy a rooftop tent. It’s much cheaper to find a roof tent that fits your vehicle than to change your vehicle to fit your favourite roof tent. If you’ve got a decent SUV, 4x4 or utility vehicle, chances are it will be compatible with most rooftop tents on the market today. But it’s always a good idea to double check. The two numbers you want to check are:
Vehicle roof load rating (dynamic and static)
Crossbar (roof rack) load rating
As long as the roof tent weighs the same or less than your vehicle’s dynamic (moving) roof load capacity, it should be compatible. We recommend having roof racks with a load rating of at least 100kg and encourage our customers to use Rhino Rail Tracks (or roof racks of similar quality), especially if you’re planning on taking your roof tent off-road. Of course, you want to make sure the roof tent is compatible with the dimensions of your roof, not only its load capacity.
There are two main considerations when it comes to size:
The size of your roof and roof racks — both crossbar length and the distance between them
The size of the roof tent itself. Is it big enough for your needs?
Most roof tents will specify roof rack size requirements. For example, for the Bushbuck Armourdillo® Rooftop Tent we recommend a minimum crossbar length of 100cm and a minimum distance between the bars of 75cm (recommended distance: 90-110cm). Choosing the right size for your needs depends on how many people will use the tent and personal preference. Most rooftop tents are designed for 1-2 people and allow around 700mm per person. So, if you’re after a 2-person roof tent, a width of about 140cm or 1.4m should be comfortable. If you’re planning to bring a child or dog along, you may want to consider something slightly bigger. The other size considerations are length and height. The average height of a man in New Zealand, Australia and the United States is 178cm, so most people will be looking for a roof tent that’s longer than that — around 2m is a safe bet as it allows extra space for gear. As for height, most rooftop tents will be designed to allow you to sit up comfortably, get changed, and get in and out quickly. We’ve found the optimal height to be around 1.1-1.3m. Obviously, a rooftop tent can’t be too big, or it will be too heavy. There’s always a balancing act between size and weight.
The design and layout of a rooftop tent has a significant influence on your camping experience. You want your roof tent to be functional, comfortable, and ultimately, to feel like home on the road. Here are some things to think about.
One of the main design considerations is how your roof tent opens. A side opening roof tent has its entrance on the passenger or driver’s side of the vehicle, whereas a rear opening roof tent has its entrance at the back. If your vehicle has a trunk, boot or rear door that opens upward, then a rear opening roof tent may prevent you from accessing it. However, a rear opening roof tent allows you to set-up at narrow campsites or roadsides. A side opening roof tent generally provides a wider sleeping area, suitable for two or more people. If you combine your roof tent with an annex or awning, you can access your vehicle from inside the annex. There’s no “better or worse” option when it comes to roof tent openings, but in general, people seem to prefer side openings as they’re more versatile. Our Ardvark Soft Shell Roof Tent has the option of both side and rear opening configurations.
There’s often not a lot of space for storage in a rooftop tent (that’s what the vehicle’s for), but you want to have easy access to the core essentials, such as clothes, shoes, outdoor gear. A simple and effective solution is gear bags fitted to the outside of the tent on either side of the ladder. You may also want to look for internal pockets and wardrobe for storing electronics and clothing you might use during the night or first thing in the morning. If you’re just using a roof tent for one person, there will always be plenty of storage space.
The other storage consideration is: Can you leave your bedding set up when the roof tent is closed? Hard shell roof tents, like our Armourdillo®, typically have more internal storage when the tent is closed. This allows you to store things like pillows and blankets when you're driving between campsites, freeing up space inside your vehicle. Most soft shell rooftop tents don't have storage space for bedding.
One of the greatest benefits of a rooftop tent is the elevated view you get from your “bedroom” so you want to make sure there are windows that allow you to appreciate it. Also, it can get pretty toasty when you’re camping in summer so having insect mesh fitted in the door, windows and air vents is essential for airflow.
Skylight windows are a luxury feature in some rooftop tents, which allow you to star gaze at night and wake up with the sunrise.
Obviously, you can use a head torch when you’re camping, but it’s much more convenient to have built-in lighting in your rooftop tent. With the Bushbuck Armourdillo®, we included both internal and external LED strip lighting, which can be plugged into a USB power bank. This is a ‘nice to have’ not a ‘must have’, but it adds a touch of homely comfort to your roof tent experience.
This one's a biggie. When you go camping, the less time spent setting up your tent, the better. Some roof tents take 30 seconds to set up, while others require a lot more time and effort. We've designed our rooftop tents to set-up super fast—both around the 30-second mark once you get the hang of it. Features like gas struts, self-deploying windows, and minimal poles, pegs, and ropes, can make a real difference to your set-up time.
We’ve got this far without even talking about the tent itself. When you’re buying a roof tent, the materials and quality of the tent are essential to how well it performs. Most rooftop tents will be made from a durable material, usually ripstop polyester, nylon or canvas. However, cheaper tents may not use quality fabrics. We recommend looking at the detailed specifications of the fabrics used and doing a Google search to understand how suitable they are for camping in a wide range of conditions. The fly and tent fabric should be waterproof, but may have different waterproof ratings (it’s more important for the fly to have a higher waterproof rating). The materials should also be UV-resistant as they’ll be exposed to plenty of sun on camping trips. If you’re serious about choosing the best rooftop tent, you’ll also want to take a close look at the hardware — mounting bars, bolts, screws, rivets, zips, latches etc. This is something we pride ourselves on at Bushbuck.
When you’re buying a roof tent, it pays to take a look at the accessories and add-ons you can purchase down the line, such as an annex, awning, wall body, or additional ground tent. All of these things can take your camping experience to the next level. You might buy a rooftop tent for yourself and a partner to begin with, but if you have kids in the future you may want extra space to bring them along. Or you may buy a roof tent with the intention of taking it on hardcore outdoor missions, but may also want to use it on more laidback family camping trips. Having the option of add-ons that increase the living space of your rooftop tent gives you the freedom to expand and adapt over the years. As an example, the Bushbuck Armourdillo® Rooftop Tent has an Annex, Wall Body, and Airbeam Tent that can transform your roof tent into a multi-room camping set-up with kitchen, dining, storage and two extra bedrooms.
Buying a canvas tent requires a lot of decision-making and planning. With countless choices of canvas tents on the market, the standard in quality and special features is vast. If you’re not careful or don’t know where to start, choosing a canvas tent can lead to disappointment and wasted money.
So, how can you be sure you’re about to purchase the best canvas tent? Here is a list of the top five mistakes to avoid when buying a canvas tent.
Not all canvas is made the same. While there are a lot of canvas tents available, many are not constructed with a rugged, heavy-duty canvas one truly needs to withstand the elements in all seasons. Overlooking the canvas weight and density of a canvas tent is one of the most common mistakes an outfitter or camper can make.
Lightweight canvas sounds tempting. It would make your canvas tent’s overall weight lighter and easier to carry and transport, after all. But don’t be fooled! A thicker canvas material has more benefits to be aware of. For starters, a thicker fabric makes it more resistant to wear and tear. Also, a denser canvas material offers far better protection against wind, rain, and snow, preventing leaks and other issues over time.
How dense do you need a canvas tent material to be? You should aim for 10 oz per square yard at a bare minimum. You can find brands like Beckel Canvas that offer hunting and outfitter canvas tents made of heavy-duty 10.1 oz. Sunforger® cotton canvas. However, Life inTents offers canvas tents and bell tents constructed of DoekTec™ canvas, the thickest you can find, weighing in at 11.5 ounces per square yard, or 390 GSM (grams per square meter).
So, always check the specific canvas weight before investing in a canvas tent. Life inTents can also send you a fabric sample. Just or call, and we’ll ship you a canvas swatch to touch and see for yourself.
Another mistake folks make when considering a canvas tent is not inspecting the seam quality and frame construction. The canvas’s weight and density are two aspects, but looking for quality stitching and frame materials is another step in guaranteeing you’re buying a canvas tent that will last for years to come.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of canvas roof top tent. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Seam Quality
When it comes to the canvas itself, look for features like double-stitched seams and reinforced corner gussets. These sturdy features ensure the canvas section is well constructed and can take on wear and tear brought on by the frame poles, strong winds, and more. The last thing you need in the wilderness is a canvas tent with a bad seam.
Frame Construction
Your canvas tent frame should be sturdy and offer plenty of support. Ideally, your tent’s frame should be metal, never plastic. Again, this is a heavy but necessary feature that many canvas tent purchasers think they can avoid in hopes of making their load lighter. But it’s highly unrecommended.
Instead, look for canvas tent frames made of durable galvanized steel. You can get away with aluminum poles in certain sections, such as less structural exterior poles, but as a whole, the main metal frame poles, door poles, and center pole should be heavy-duty steel.
The same goes for your canvas tent stakes. You need strong stakes to secure your canvas tent in strong winds and ensure it stays standing. Regular plastic ground stakes will not do. For a robust canvas tent, you need something powerful like rebar stakes to secure it in place and even possibly break-through rock beds and hard icy ground.
Canvas weight and density are very important, but so are the added treatments. Some treatments help maintain the life of your tent, while others could even save your life. Let’s break down what kind of canvas treatments you should look for and why.
Water-Resistant Canvas Treatments
When seasoned properly, even an untreated canvas tent is water-resistant to a small degree. The canvas tent fibers will swell and tighten to create a somewhat water-resistant material, but it still might not be enough. If you plan on camping long-term or intend to use your tent in rainy climates (like the Pacific Northwest), avoid buying a canvas tent without a waterproof or water-resistant treatment.
Look for canvas tents treated in a silicone or paraffin-based waterproofing that still offers breathability. Life inTents' proprietary DoekTec ensures the water beads up and rolls off the canvas fabric, keeping you and your crew perfectly dry. Of course, reapplying the waterproofing treatment after some extended use is always a good idea.
Mold and Mildew Resistant Canvas Treatment
One major reason you need a water-resistant canvas is to avoid mold and mildew. Anything left outside in the elements is prone to mold and mildew. However, it’s an extra prevention feature that many canvas tent buyers overlook, eventually leading to rotting fabric, tears, and even bad smells inside your space. Also, mold growth can be harmful and toxic.
Look for canvas tents made with mold-resistant treatments to discourage mold and mildew growth. Most quality canvas tents claim to be treated for mold resistance and waterproofing – but pay close attention to the facts! Make sure it has been tested under AATCC 30 antifungal protocol, and stay diligent! A canvas tent with a mold-resistant treatment still requires maintenance.
Flame Retardant Canvas Treatment
Last but not least is a flame retardant treatment. If you use a hot tent or canvas tent with a stove inside, set up near open-flame campfires, or simply camp in regions prone to wildfires, this should be a requirement! And yet, it’s often overlooked.
Always look for canvas tents treated with flame retardancy. Check to ensure it meets the CPAI-84 standards. The CPAI-84 is a testing method standard that means the canvas tent is flame resistant. All camping tent suppliers (canvas, nylon, or otherwise) must submit their tent materials to a third-party organization licensed to perform the required CPAI-84 flame retardancy testing. After meeting these standards, the tent supplier will receive an official certificate of approval. If there’s no approval, you may want to look for another canvas tent.
There are various styles of canvas tents in a wide range of shapes, from small canvas teepees to spacious safari wall tents. And while it’s obvious that the larger your group is, the more space you’ll need, the less obvious is how to choose the appropriate square footage, shape, and seasonality.
Canvas Tent Sizes and Square Feet
Let’s talk about tent sizes. You must account for enough elbow room for everyone in your family or camping party. Conversely, you could mistakenly buy a canvas tent that’s too big. While it’s a nice thought to have a spacious tent all to yourself, don’t choose an oversized tent that is too cumbersome or complicated for one person to set up.
A good general rule is to account for 30-40 square feet per personif you plan to use it camping, plus a little more for gear and storage. (Of course, canvas tents have multiple uses, so that number could shift based on what you plan to use it for.)
Consider the canvas tent configuration and shape, too. A canvas tent roof’s slope and sidewalls might prohibit standing-room space. For example, a wall tent offers more headspace than a bell tent or pyramid tent. So consider that when choosing the right square feet and size.
What does seasonality have to do with canvas tent size?
One major benefit of canvas tents is the ability to use a wood stove. However, the larger your tent interior, the harder that wood stove must work. And depending on the stove size, you will also burn through more wood.
To avoid this and help a wood stove run efficiently, consider the following:
You will need a stove if you plan to do any winter or hot tent camping with your canvas tent. And for that, you need to understand; the larger your tent, the larger your stove firebox should be, at least, if you want to warm your tent efficiently.
On the other hand, you can also choose a canvas tent that's too small to equip with a wood stove, which can lead to producing too much heat or even smoking you out.
Here’s what we suggest: Decide if you need a wood stove, then choose a large enough flame-retardant canvas tent to do so. From there, follow our guide on selecting the right stove to find the ideal firebox capacity to tent cubic foot ratio.
Buying a Four-Season Canvas Tent
Canvas tents perform differently across various environments. Failing to match your tent to expected winter conditions can lead to freezing nights and dangerous circumstances.
Breathable canvas fibers and extra features like mesh windows and doors allow plenty of circulation in humid summer months. But keeping a canvas tent warm in winter is vital. All canvas tents should be capable of being hot tents, meaning that they can be equipped with some small or large stove, providing plenty of warmth.
However, take note of other four-season canvas tent features, such as snowfall capacity (the frame metal and construction should reflect this), a steep roof pitch (for shedding snow), and reinforced grommets and guy-line points (to withstand strong winds).
A quality canvas tent is a significant but worthwhile investment. Search online for canvas tents, and you can find prices ranging from $500 to $3,000, depending on size and features. And sure, that $500 canvas tent might get you by for a season, maybe two. But you might find yourself reselling it or even throwing it away when it inevitably breaks down or it doesn’t live up to your standards. Instead, save yourself the frustration. Skip the cheaply made canvas tents and invest in quality. The old adage is true - "you get what you pay for".
Sacrificing quality over affordability is a common mistake we're all guilty of, especially when it comes to camping gear and tools. As a protective shelter, a canvas tent should not be one of those mistakes. It might be a greater upfront investment, but it will outperform far longer and in harsher conditions than its cheap counterparts.
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