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The open road beckons, its horizon shimmering with the promise of adventure. Above your motorcar sits a rooftop tent, an invention as practical as it is audacious. But, before these marvels graced social media feeds, they were the embodiment of rugged ingenuity, born of necessity, and fine-tuned through the decades.
Before we look at what different the styles have to offer, let me guide through the history.
ORIGINS
With stories dating back to the 1930’s, there is some debate to the rooftop tent’s beginnings, but popular sources claim they found their origins in the austere, yet innovative post-war years. To this end, we read of two Italian out-of-the box thinkers, Stefano Stogl and Giuseppe Dionisio, who each filed a patent for their own style of rooftop tent: one was a vertically opening design, the other folding out to one side. Both offering the same basic principle of sleeping on top of the car, but each with a unique approach. In fact, because the designs were so different, the two engineers joined forces to present their new inventions at exhibitions in Milan and Cuneo in 1959.
A new era was born and the soft-shell folding rooftop tent emerged as a symbol of resourcefulness and wanderlust. In those days, European families, empowered by increased automobile ownership, sought the romance of the countryside without succumbing to its inherent discomforts. The rooftop tent provided safe refuge from creepy crawlies and damp ground while epitomising the spirit of the age: practical and adventurous.
The rooftop tent knew no boundaries and soon found its way to other continents where it captured the imaginations of overlanders and explorers. These adventurous characters saw the tents not as a nice-to-have, but as essential kit for exploring remote terrain.
THE SOFT SHELL
By the 1990s the soft-shell rooftop tent had shaken off its spartan simplicity and matured, adopting a design akin to the ground tent, but with loftier aspirations:
- Foldable
- Lightweight
- Spacious inside
- Compact packed dimensions
Whereas the soft-shell tent provides an affordable solution for families and weekend warriors, setting up requires some effort, which can be demanding after a long day or in adverse weather conditions.
As much as its appearance instills images of a modern day Dr. Livingstone, the soft-shell rooftop tent has the benefit of taking up little space on the roof when packed away, whilst doubling its footprint when opened, providing plenty of space inside.
The added benefit, in some cases, of attaching a ground tent beneath the floor provides an extra room and further protection against the elements. However, you should bear in mind the additional ground tent will need to be stowed, and the necessary space might not be readily available.
Soft-shell rooftop tents often come with a welcome diversity: they can be positioned on the roof to open to either side of the vehicle, over the tailgate, or even over the bonnet.
THE HARD SHELL
Sometime around the turn of the century, a revelation appeared: the hard-shell tent. With its rigid top and base, this new breed of tent opens swiftly, requiring either a crank handle to wind up to its full height, or merely the release of the latches before gas struts do the heavy lifting. These tents are impervious to inclement weather and their aerodynamics reduce the drag experienced with their soft-shell counterparts. Characteristics of a hard shell include:
- Sturdy
- Easy to set up and take down
- Large footprint
- Limited interior space respective exterior dimensions
The hard-shell roof top tent occupies a lot of real estate on the roof, because it is essentially the size of the mattress plus a bit more in every direction. This directly impacts the remaining space available on the roof to carry other items.
Hard-shell tents can open either vertically, with a flat roof and four vertical walls, or to form a wedge shape. The walls of a hard shell are usually made from tent material, but there are a few on the market that have solid walls (which increase the overall weight).
Positioning a hard-shell tent on the car is a given and follows the length of the roof. A big benefit is that many models offer you the ability to store bedding inside the tent when it is closed.
THE HYBRID
A far cry from compromise. As the name suggests, the hybrid blends benefits from its predecessors as if to resolve the quarrel between soft- and hard-shell devotees. The hybrid rooftop tent combines a rigid base and top with foldable fabric walls that increase the interior space. This is an ideal solution for those who desire comfort, space and resilience.
- Lighter than a hard shell
- Takes up less space than a hard shell when closed
- Offers interior space similar to a soft shell when opened
- Some can be positioned to open either side of the car
THE MODERN IMAGINATION
Today, rooftop tents are more than mere shelters. They are emblems of freedom, the nomad’s badge of honour, and the newest models feature luxury accessories such as LED lighting and mattresses so plush you’ll be reluctant to return home.
IN CLOSING

Rooftop tents have journeyed far since their humble beginnings. Whether you prefer the classic soft shell, the durability of a hard shell, or the versatility of a hybrid, there is a rooftop tent for every traveller.
NEXT: The Interior
