Hardshell roof top tents have increased in popularity due to their convenience, durability, and sleek designs. It’s no secret that roof top tents (RTTs) are pricey, so it is important to get your purchase just right!
This article will detail my favorite hardshell roof top tents, both from personal experience talking to owners and attending camping expos with these manufacturers! As you read through each section you will gain a better understanding of which features are most important to you.
Best Hardshell Roof Top Tents:
1. Skycamp 3.0 by iKamper
Kicking off my list is the Skycamp 3.0! This tent is made by iKamper, which is a highly regarded manufacturer in the RTT industry.
As far as hardshell tents go, this is one of the biggest tents you will find since it can fit up to four people and features a king-size mattress. One of the biggest limitations hardshell RTTs have is the limited space they offer, however, this tent is the exception!
| Price | Size Open | Person Capacity | Weight | Capacity |
| $4,199 | 85.8″ x 82.6″ x 43″ | 4 | 160 lbs | 900 lbs |
Even though it is bigger than most, it is still one of the fastest tents to set up and take down as you can be camping in under sixty seconds. Due to iKamper’s design and use of high-quality materials, the tent weighs in at just 160 pounds. This is a very reasonable weight considering its size and hardshell design.
Now let’s go over some unique features of this RTT. First, the tent comes with hardshell locks and 2 keys to keep your tent secure. The Skycamp also comes with specially designed mounting brackets for a faster and easier installation process. The inside of the tent has a 2.5″ high-density foam mattress and a beautiful world map graphic for a true high-quality feel.
There is no doubt the Skycamp 3.0 is a durable piece of equipment. All of the RTTs in iKamper’s lineup has an aluminum and honeycomb floor design. This might not sound like much, but it is a huge factor since the floor or carriage of your RTT will often see the most wear and tear.
All of these special features and meticulous designs come with a cost. If you can afford this tent, you will be extremely satisfied with your purchase. The last thing I would like to add to this tent is the fact that iKamper offers so many accessories and add-ons. You can upgrade your tent with so many gadgets and features, which is a nice option to have.
2. Roofnest’s Falcon
The Falcon is Roofnest’s largest aluminum hardtop tent that is less than 7″ thick! This insanely slim design looks amazing on all vehicle types and is sure to reduce wind resistance on the highway.
This tent can fit two adults and a child on its 3″ thick mattress. The mattress comes with a waterproof removable cover for easy cleaning ability as well. The inside has multiple pockets for gear and accessories so you can stay organized. Another great feature is the Falcon’s 3-door design, making it easy to enter or exit the tent from any angle!
This RTT is made for overlanding as all metal parts of it are either aluminum or stainless steel. This will ensure years of durability and no need to fix any tent parts. The base of the tent also features a durable honeycomb design.
You can equip a rack on top of the Falcon to carry bikes, skis, kayaks, etc! This attachment is sold separately but is available on their website for purchase.
The Falcon models all come with a 1 cm anti-condensation mat. If you want to extend a camping season or camp in extreme weather, this accessory is a must! An 8.5′ telescoping aluminum ladder comes with the tent as well as two sets of mounting hardware.
3. Roofnest Sparrow
To round off the list of best hardshell RTTs we have the Roofnest Sparrow! As one of the more cost-effective tents of the bunch, it doesn’t leave much out.
Newly designed in 2020, this RTT can do it all. Accommodating two adults, this tent will provide plenty of headroom inside as they added an extra 4″ with their updated design. A 3″ foam mattress, anti-condensation mat, shoe pockets, and 8’5″ telescoping ladder are all part of the impressive specs Roofnest put into this RTT.
The tent can be conveniently entered from all sides of the tent and has a 260g waterproof fabric. The ABS-reinforced fiberglass shell can hold up to 650 pounds inside the tent, much higher than the rule of thumb in the industry which is 200 hundred pounds per person!
I don’t own a Roofnest but I have been itching to try one. They bring great value along with everything you could ever want in a RTT. The price point and specs of this tent seem downright unbeatable!
| Price | Size Open | Person Capacity | Weight | Capacity |
| $2,895 | 84″ x 50″ x 40″ | 2 | 130 lbs | 650lbs |
4. FSR Odyssey Series
The FSR Odyssey 55″ by Freespirit brings some very impressive specs to the table. If you’re looking for a tent that can handle extreme weather, look no further. The Odyssey model is fitted with a specially designed tri-layer fabric that retains heat in extreme cold, yet allows for airflow and breathability during warm summer nights.
Like the Falcon, this RTT also features a sleek 7″ low profile design and an attachable roof rack for equipment. This rack is more robust than the Falcon’s, but each features a sleek and aerodynamic design. The roof rack for the FSR can hold more equipment and weight. If you need to haul multiple big items and a RTT at the same time, this pick is right for you.
Some more features that make the FSR Odyssey special are as follows. First, the additional rack can hold up to 250 pounds of extra equipment! That is huge! The inside of the tent features panoramic views and a USB-powered nightlight for the best overall visual experience. On top of all that, you can break down and set the tent up in just 60 seconds.
In my opinion, this RTT is overlooked. It is crazy robust and has all of the specs you would need to go camping at any time of the year. On top of that, I really like the way it looks, especially with the optional rack. This RTT will definitely turn some heads as you drive down the road!
| Price | Size Open | Person Capacity | Weight | Capacity |
| $3,195 | 55″W x 83″L x 43″H | 2-3 | 155 lbs | 750 lbs. |
5. Ezi-Awn Stealth
This RTT is an absolute monster weighing in at 220 pounds! It weighs so much because of its heavy-duty build, being made of aluminum and stainless steel. While it may take 3-4 people to mount the tent on the roof of your vehicle, a single person can easily set it up when camping.
The Ezi-Awn Stealth has a queen-size mattress and a unique design that isn’t considered a pop-up nor a clamshell, but a mix of both designs. The gas struts have a scissor mechanism that allows for an effortless setup process. This mattress is incredibly thick at 3.5″ and both the bottom and top of the tent has reinforced insulation.
For how thick the mattress and shell are, the tent is still a sleek 12″ thick when closed. This tent is extremely durable, which accounts for why it is so heavy. The design hides the ladder underneath the tent for a clean and streamlined look.
This tent is well equipped to handle 4-season use with its durable build and heavy-duty components around the tent. The Stealth model by Ezi-Awn stands out from the rest by its design and metal makeup. By watching this four-minute video, you can immediately see the difference in the quality and design this tent brings.
If you’re a serious overlander or a year-round camper, this tent is worth every penny. While you will have to get the proper rack system to handle the sheer weight of this tent, the Ezi-Awn Stealth is just a beauty and won’t let any owner down.
| Price | Size Open | Person Capacity | Weight | Capacity |
| $4,300 | 87” L x 57” W x 17″H (front) and 56″H (back) | 2-3 | 220 lbs | N/A |
6. Skycamp Mini by iKamper
To diversify this lineup of hardshell RTTs I had to throw the Skycamp Mini into the ring! This tent is tiny but mighty.
Being able to fit on all vehicles with its compact and light makeup. It also features the hybrid design of a foldable and clamshell RTT allowing for plenty of room for a couple to sleep comfortably.
This tent is equipped with all of the great features you have come to know and love with iKamper such as the aluminum honeycomb floors, air-insulated shells, and beautiful interior.
For campers with smaller vehicles, this is your best bet for getting a hardtop RTT. Same as the Skycamp 3.0, this tent can handle all conditions and will last you for years to come. For more specs on this tent, you can reread the Skycamp 3.0’s description or check this model out on their website! I also included a video for you as well.
| Price | Size Open | Person Capacity | Weight | Capacity |
| $3,499 | 101″ x 51″ x 48″ | 2 | 125 lbs | N/A |
Hardshell Roof Top Tent Pros
Now that you’ve seen my favorite picks for hardtop tents, let’s talk about some of the best features this particular style of tent has over soft shells!
- Style variety. Over the years, hardshell tents have expanded their styles tremendously. Pop-ups, clamshells, and hybrids are all great options. Depending on which you like best any camper can find something to fit their needs best!
- Insulation & weather. Hardshell tents generally handle extreme weather better than any softshell can. This is for a few reasons. One is that the shell provides a much more waterproof surface and insulation barrier. The second is because they can handle the weight of rain/snow pooling up on the tent.
- Durability. While all RTTs are considered durable, this is especially true for shelled tents. The tighter seal minimizes the amount of debris and dust that gets into it when shut. Additionally, the hardtop doesn’t wear and tear over time as a softshell cover would.
- Low profile/aerodynamic. These two go hand in hand and are a huge perk for these types of tents. The slim and aerodynamic design allows for a much more forgiving tole on your gas tank. Further, this will put less stress on your vehicle as well.
- Better drive. This style of tent allows for an overall better drive with less noise and wind resistance. Sometimes the cover on a softshell can flap in the wind constantly as you drive which will drive you crazy. These styles look amazing and feel way better, no doubt.
- Easy setup. Hardshell tents are assisted in the setup process by gas struts. Some require little to literally no effort. For the fastest and most simple setup, look to this style of RTT every time!
- Thicker mattress. Due to the higher overall quality of these RTTs, they have thicker mattresses. This is in part to their design allowing for more room when closing the tent, rather than folding it!
- Roof racks. I find the additional roof rack system extremely attractive. For many campers, they are also into biking, snowboarding, or some other fun hobby. A downside to roof tents is it can be difficult to bring both your toys and tent at the same time. With the optional roof rack, you don’t have to pick and choose between items anymore!
Hardshell Roof Top Tent Cons
With everything in life, there are also some downsides to a good thing.
- Price. You must be willing to pay a premium for these RTTs. As you read before, an entry-level one will run you at least $3,000. For the first time RTT buyer, I wouldn’t recommend this purchase. However, if you have the deep pockets to splurge and know you will put it to good use, then by all means go for it!
- Limited sizing. In my opinion, this is the biggest hindrance that comes with a hardtop tent. As you saw with the Skycamp 2.0 tent, there are rare exceptions. But if you don’t want that hybrid design your kind of stuck! At most, you’re looking at a 3-person tent for a traditional clamshell or pop-up style RTT!
- Fixed footprint. Expanding on my last point, the footprint of these tents are fixed. This limits most of the vehicle types to full size SUV’s or a truck of some size. There is some wiggle room with this statement but generally, I think many would agree with me.
Conclusion
The pros certainly outweigh the cons when it comes to a hardshell tent. They are super durable and perform even better than they look. If you are a current owner I envy you. I know one day I will be able to upgrade to a hardtop.
Once that day comes I will enjoy the comfort it brings and put it to the test in the middle of winter in the Sierra Nevada mountains. At least now both you and I have all the knowledge to buy the perfect hardtop RTT when the time comes!