The best rooftop tents in Australia in 2024

Spending some time in croc country and want a little bit of extra security, then a rooftop tent has you covered.

The technology of rooftop tents has come a long way in recent years. There are still basic fold-out set-ups available, but now there are all kinds of variations of hard- and soft-shell tents. From straight pop-tops to clamshells, setting up and packing up a has never been quicker or easier.

Soft-shell tents typically consist of a small, hard base the canvas tent is mounted to. The tent usually features a frame of poles and folds out to double the floor size of its mounted footprint. These types are the cheapest available and are typically lighter than hard-shell varieties. An example of a soft-shell rooftop tent is OZtrail Birdsville 1400 rooftop tent. Find out more about it here.

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Hard-shell tents usually consist of a metal case with a top and bottom half that are linked together with canvas walls. The original generation typically included the entire top half lifting evenly to create essentially a box with a metal roof and floor and canvas walls. The newer generation are called ‘clamshell’ and are hinged at one end so the roof raises from one side only. An example of a hard-shell rooftop tent is James Baroud's Odyssey. Find out more about it here.

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Setting up a soft-shell rooftop tent is around a five-minute proposition, while it'll take around one minute for a hard-shell tent. Pack-up times have a similar difference: around 10 minutes for a soft-shell versus around two minutes for a hard-shell. Soft-shell rooftop tents require around half the roof footprint of their hard-shell alternatives. There’s no doubt hard-shell tents are quicker and easier to set up and pack up.

One of the biggest differences between hard- and soft-shell rooftop tents is cost. So, for that reason, we have split them into two categories.

JUMP AHEAD

Soft-shell rooftop tents

• OZtrail Birdsville 1400
• TJM soft shell rooftop tent
• OZtrail Tarkine 1400
• Darche Panorama
• Front Runner
• 23Zero Dakota 2200

Hard-shell rooftop tents

• James Baroud Odyssey
• James Baroud Evasion Evolution RTT
• Campboss RTT Boss Tent
• Darche Ridgeback
• Drifta Stockton 1.2
• The Bush Company AX27
• Motop MT-135 V5

OZTrail Birdsville 1400

The Birdsville 1400 rooftop tent is a hybrid design blending hard- and soft-shell features. The RTT weighs 71.5kg (excluding ladder) and fits within the weight limits of many vehicles.

The tent boasts heavy-duty 280gsm ripstop polycotton canvas construction, a 210D seam-sealed ripstop polyoxford fly, and multiple fly tension poles for windows. An optional annex is available for extra space. Tent seams show quality workmanship, and tie-down straps keep it stable in windy conditions. With doors and windows closed, the tent offers a pitch-black interior for late risers.

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The spacious interior accommodates two adults comfortably and features SkyMesh panels on the ceiling for stargazing. LED lighting strips, powered by OZtrail's Lumos tech, offer interior illumination, and storage pockets provide convenient storage options. The tent's 60mm memory foam mattress with a luxe-comfort flannel cover ensures a comfortable night's sleep, supported by an anti-condensation mat for airflow. Overall, the Birdsville 1400 RTT is an appealing choice for campers seeking comfort and ample storage for extended camping trips.

TJM soft shell rooftop tent

The TJM soft shell rooftop tent is a spacious camping tent that can comfortably accommodate up to three people. It is made from durable, waterproof and UV-resistant materials to ensure long-lasting use in various weather conditions.

The tent comes with a 75mm high-density foam mattress that offers a comfortable sleeping surface, and a removable and washable cover for easy maintenance. The tent features large windows with zippered mesh screens that provide excellent ventilation and protection from insects.

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It has a retractable ladder that allows easy access to the tent and a fully enclosed annexe that offers additional living and storage space. The annexe comes with a removable floor, making it easy to clean and maintain. The tent can be easily installed on most roof racks with its universal mounting system, taking only a few minutes to set up or pack down.

OZtrail Tarkine 1400

The Tarkine is the entry-level rooftop tent in the OZtrail Overlander range, and the only one made in a pure soft-shell construction.

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It is lightweight and its size means it’s suitable for smaller 4x4s and SUVs. It weighs 59kg when set-up (inc. ladder) and measures 2.4m x 1.43m x 1.3m when open (1.43m x 1.23m x 0.31m when closed).

A comfortable 60mm high-density foam mattress is included, and it utilises a 280gsm Ripstop polycotton canvas and 210D polyoxford flysheet, so it'll protect occupants from both heat and rain. It also includes an LED lighting strip and a SkyMesh roof panel to enable campers to gaze at the stars while they drift off to sleep.

Darche Panorama

Boasting premium 320gsm Ripstop polycotton canvas, seam sealing and a removable polyester fly, the Darche Panorama is ready for just about any conditions.

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The fly provides window covers to allow that all-important airflow, even in rainy conditions. But if clear skies are around, rip off that fly and enjoy starry-night views from the zippered sky window.

One of the biggest negatives about soft-shell tents is a wet pack up. Folding all that wet canvas straight on to your bed means that the next night is likely to be less than pleasant. This is where another huge advantage of that 210D Ripstop polyester fly comes in. Whip off the wet fly in the morning and pack up a relatively dry tent.

Front Runner

One of the smaller and definitely lightest tent in this class, coming in at only 43kg, this is the tent for those with limited roof-rating capacity – calling all zuke owners.

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The main tent is constructed of 260g polycotton Ripstop canvas and the fly is 400d polyester Oxford fabric. The fly doesn’t cover the entire tent but does provide good roof coverage and small awnings over windows and doors.

Purchase the optional quick-release mounting kit and this tent is ideal for those that remove the tent during the week and put it back on for the weekend. If you want to leave the tent on full-time, then don’t be too worried about wind drag because at 33cm thick, it’s one of the thinner tents in this class. The downside of this is you will need to remove bedding to pack it up.

23Zero Dakota 2200

The big difference with this rooftop tent is that it’s, well, big. At 2200mm wide there’s almost an extra metre of space compared to competitors in this class. More than this, the tent has two ladders and can be split with an internal wall.

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If you have a young family and thought that rooftop tents were for couples only, the 23Zero is here to enlighten you. This tent is rated to sleep 5, but realistically 2 adults and 2 small kids is feasible. As a result of its size, this tent is heavy (87kg), so will only suit certain vehicles and set-ups.

With features including Light Suppression Technology (LST), 280gsm polycotton and a 210d polyester fly, this tent is ready to keep everything out. The LST is a dark coating on the inner walls of the tent to keep it darker in the mornings and cooler on warm days. The frame has 25mm aluminium poles that pivot on a stainless-steel yoke. 23Zero claims its tents do not need seasoning due to the pre-shrunk canvas and seam sealing.

James Baroud Odyssey

The Odyssey is a premium rooftop tent designed for outdoor enthusiasts seeking comfort and convenience.

This spacious and durable tent is constructed with high-quality materials to withstand various weather conditions. The Odyssey features a durable ABS plastic hull that ensures both lightweight portability and enhanced durability. Its aerodynamic design minimises wind resistance during travel. The tent opens and closes effortlessly with gas strut-assisted mechanisms, allowing for quick setup and takedown.

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Inside there is a comfortable mattress that accommodates two adults and one child. The mattress is made from high-density foam for optimal comfort and support. The tent is well-ventilated with large windows offering full 360-degree views. The Odyssey features an integrated solar-powered ventilation system, which circulates air even when the tent is closed, keeping the interior fresh and reducing condensation.

For added convenience, the tent comes equipped with built-in storage pockets and a shoe bag, allowing campers to keep their belongings organised. The tent's entrance has an extendable canopy that provides shelter and protection from the elements. Plus, they now have the option of roof racks on the tent's hull, a first for the brand.

The Odyssey is designed for easy installation on various vehicle types and roof racks, ensuring compatibility with most off-road adventures. Its rugged construction and reliable hardware make it suitable for both weekend getaways and long-term expeditions.

James Baroud Evasion Evolution

The beauty of James Baroud’s Evasion Evolution rooftop tent is that once you pull the handbrake at a campsite for the night, you can be set-up in seconds.

All the user has to do is release the catches, and gas struts automatically raise the upper hull to expand the tent space. Pack-down is just as easy, as elasticised seams draw the fabric sides into the hull when the upper hull is lowered by hand.

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The hard-shell tent is waterproof and wind-tested to 120km/h, and its compact size when set-up means it’ll have minimal impact when touring on-road. The upper and lower hulls feature three layers of reinforced fibreglass with a sleek gelcoat finish. Two built-in aluminium rails and six mounting brackets are included, so it can be easily attached to roof racks.

Once set-up, all openings and doors are completely screened against insects, and a 65mm high-density foam mattress is provided for cosy siestas. A folding ladder with telescopic legs makes entry and exit an easy affair, and a ventilation fan, silent and automatic in its operation, keeps the air fresh.

The canvas is a patented James Baroud design, which encompasses six spray layers of aluminium-impregnated canvas that is heat-reflective and insulating, as well as waterproof. The fabric used is a high-quality double-stitched aluminised polyester, while a tear-resistant mesh keeps mozzies at bay. The clever design provides 360-degree views.

Campboss RTT Boss Tent

One of the big issues with metal shelled rooftops tents is condensation - cold metal and hot-water vapour in the form of your breath equals condensation.

Campboss has tackled this with a 20mm anti-condensation mat under the mattress and a carpet lined roof. So that will help keep things dry on the inside and 280gsm polycotton Ripstop canvas should stop water from the outside getting in.

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This tent is ideal for lifted vehicles with a 2.6m-long ladder. The shell is aluminium to keep weight down and has been constructed in sections to allow replacement of sections in the event they are damaged. It’s got clever inclusions like USB charging outlets, LED strip lights and a clear pocket hanging from the roof for a tablet/iPad for those rainy-day movies.

The awning fly extends around the sides and front to allow open windows even when it rains. The tent is thick when closed, but this does mean you can leave your bedding in when closing.

Darche Ridgeback

This one is all about the windows. The Darche Ridgeback has taken some cues from the Panorama range and includes massive side and rear windows plus a rooftop window.

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The design is a little different to others in this category. Rather than a straight section of canvas joining the top and bottom of the tent at the rear, with an awning over the entry, this tent makes that awning space into internal space. This means sitting up inside is a lot more user friendly, as that rear wall slopes outwards rather than inwards and as a result, the inside of the tent will feel bigger.

The result of this design is no fly cover over windows meaning they need to stay closed in rain. To help condensation in this scenario, Darche has included a 10mm anti-condensation mat. The unique Ridgeback design of the shell is claimed to be more aerodynamic than competitors, which is super handy given that diesel is now priced per kidney rather than in dollars.

Drifta Stockton 1.2

One for those who prefer side entry. This tent is hinged along the edge rather than the short edge, meaning it’s the only one set-up for side entry as a priority.

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This tent comes with handy inclusions like roof racks, LED lighting and USB points inside the tent. At 56kg, it’s far and away the lightest tent in this class. Drifta achieves this by having a floor that consists of rails rather than a solid floor. It might seem a little unusual at first but does work well with the supplied ‘solid base’ mattress.

At only 16cm thick, this is also the thinnest tent in this class. Fantastic news for aerodynamics and the suffering hip pocket. The downside is that all bedding needs to be removed to close the tent. The tent comes with included roof racks and an internal LED light. The fly design allows airflow for those warmer nights and also means the main portion of canvas stays dry in a wet pack up.

The Bush Company AX27

Straight out of the land where rooftop tents were originated: South Africa. The biggest and best awning in this class provides excellent coverage over both side and the rear window/entry.

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This is a premium rooftop tent and is priced accordingly. With the biggest open height in class at 1.7m, the smaller humans among us would be able to stand in this tent, which is a very rare capability for a hard-shell rooftop tent. The tent comes prewired with a 50amp Anderson plug that when plugged into your vehicle provides USB and cigarette outlets plus LED lighting. The mattress is 80mm thick and includes two layers of foam: a high density layer, and a softer, comfort layer.

Another with a 2.6m ladder, meaning it’s well-suited to lifted vehicles. If cold climates are where you spend your camping, the dual-layer 310 polyester Ripstop acrylic infused mould and mildew resistant canvas should provide plenty of insulation and the steep angle of the roof/shell when open means it’s well suited to snow.

Motop MT-135 V5

This rooftop tent sits in the middle of the class in terms of price but does offer a few high-end features.

The tent features a three-sided fly that covers all three windows and entry doors, and includes internal power for USB charging and lighting. The first few generations of the Motop tents came with a bunch of issues, including condensation and leaks, but it appears Motop has listened to its customers and gradually improved the design with each update.

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Now at version 5, these issues are all but gone with revised tent-to-shell connections, new anti-condensation mat and roof lining/insulation. This tent comes in a slimline version and a ‘plus’ version. The slimline version is one of the thinnest in this class at only 16cm, with the obvious aerodynamic advantage and the disadvantage of limited space for bedding.

Motop has addressed this too, by providing a self-inflating mattress standard with the tent that both provides extra comfort over foam and allows some bedding to be stored in the tent when the mattress is deflated.

A buyers’ guide to rooftop tents

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