Since roof top tents have exploded in popularity in recent years, more and more companies continue to emerge. While competition is good for more options, better pricing, and continuous innovation, it also muddies the water on which brands are actually reliable.
I have spent endless hours making videos and writing articles on roof top tents, yet I still see some people posting about brands I have never heard of. While most are very quality tents, just about all of them are in fact made in China.
Some of the best roof top tent brands are James Baroud, iKamper, Alu-Cab, Tepui, Free-Spirit Recreation, Eezi-Awn, Roofnest, CVT, and Go Fast Camper.
Now it is important to note that there are other great brands available on the market. These are just a handful of extremely popular, durable, and reliable roof top tent (RTT) brands.
What makes each of these respective brands so popular? That is what we will be focusing on for the remainder of this article.
If you’re looking for an in-depth Buyer’s Guide or want to see which Roof Top Tent are Best For The Money, I give my unbiased advice on these respective topics and both are extremely helpful!
Why are these roof top tent brands “the best”?
It’s not happenstance that these brands have emerged from all of their competitors. Once you own a RTT of your own, you will notice them more often than ever and the same brands always seem to pop up.
Bang for your buck
Value is one of the most important buying considerations people tend to weigh. Why overpay when you can get a similarly made product for much less?
Enter Tepui and Roofnest! Tepui is probably one of the most popular RTT brands and is sold primarily through REI’s website. They price their tents reasonably starting at the entry-level models all the way up to their flagship tents.
Tepui is primarily a softshell line with just one hardshell model in its portfolio. Softshell and hard shells both have their own set of pros and cons. But if you’re leaning towards a softshell, you really can’t go wrong with a Tepui tent.
Roofnest targets customers looking for a hardshell RTT with all of the features you need, but still at a reasonable cost. Hardshell style tents will cost you a fair price jump due to the materials used to make them.
What makes Roofnest even better is the added features they put inside their tents. You won’t be getting a barebones tent with no features to show for it. Rather, a quality product with everything you could ever want in the tent.
Things like anti-condensation mats, telescoping ladders, a slim design, and many sizing options go along way in adding value. Roofnest is a great cost-effective option with an expansive line of hardshell models!
Best of the Best
Now, it really isn’t fair to lump so many RTT brands together, but in this case, I think it is fair.
iKamper, CVT, Free-Spirit Recreation, James Baroud, Alu-Gen, and Eezi-Awn are all considered premium brands in the space. They are all very different from one another in their own respective way, but when you buy from one of these brands you know you’re getting an amazing product.
Companies like Eezi-Awn got their start all the way back in 1983 and have become a pillar in the industry. These companies were formed in the United States, South Korea, South Africa, Australia, and Portugal!
After years of development and honing their crafts, we as consumers get a perfected product. The only downside to that is having to pay a premium for it.
For many, this is a no brainer and see the value in these RTTs since they will last you many years to come.
Again, this isn’t discounted other brands as not being quality or worth your money! I firmly believe these are by far the most popular and they are considered that for a reason.
Differentiation
All brands attempt to differentiate themselves in their own way. James Baroud adds a circulating fan into their tents, iKamper has a very unique design that stands out, and FSR offers very slim tents.
However, one brand does this more than any other out there. Go Fast Campers are in a class of their own.
This company manufacturers their tents in the United States and are some of the slimmest RTTs on the market. At just 6″ thick when closed, you have the option to bolt the tent to the roof of your vehicle, or put it on an existing rack!
Even better for all you truck owners out there, they have a camper shell and RTT combination you can customize!
When you see these tents on the road, you will question if they are even a RTT. They look too slim and the all-metal design separates itself from the rest.
What matters most?
Both quality and value are two of the major considerations I look for in any product. Buying the brand name will usually guarantee fantastic if not the best quality. Oftentimes, you will also overpay when buying THE brand name in any category.
RTTs aren’t much different. They will cost you a minimum of $1,000 and creep up close to $5,000 at the max.
Quality is so important when it comes to RTT since they will be put through all sorts of weather conditions. Also, comfort comes in many different levels.
The mattress pad, breathable fabric, ventilation, insulation, and much more are tiny perks that add up to be a huge difference maker.
Honorable mentions
I would be remiss if I didn’t add in some brands that are well worth your money as well. Smittybilt is probably the most popular “entry” level RTT due to its low price and solid build.
Full disclosure, my first RTT was actually a Smittybilt and I have nothing but good things to say about it.
Maggiolina, Roam, Tuff Stuff, Yakima, and Front Runner are all reputable brands as well. There are a ton of RTT companies out there, but if I were to recommend a brand to a friend or family member, it would definitely be from the group above.
Wrapping Up
For the most part, you can’t go wrong with a RTT. The level of comfort, quality, and convenience is completely different from what a ground tent can offer.
I have been camping my whole life. Having a RTT has given me a sense of freedom and ability to use my car in ways I wouldn’t have before. It’s also a huge upgrade to car camping where you literally sleep in your car or bed of your truck, which I have also done many times!
If you find a great deal and read many reputable reviews about a company, you should go for it! I would be cautious because a lot of smaller brands that you don’t recognize just slap their logo on a product and call it good!
If you’re already spending thousands of dollars, I say you should ensure you’re making a safe purchase by ordering from a known company that other campers can vouch for!