Rooftop tents for the Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester has a dynamic roof-load limit of roughly 176 lb — what the roof may carry while you are driving. 132 of the 246 rooftop tents we track fit under it once you add a 18 lb rack.
- Dynamic limit (driving)
- 176 lb
- Static limit (parked)
- 699 lb
- Rack allowance
- 18 lb
Subaru Forester (SK, 2019-2026) owner's manual: roof rail load limit 176 lb (80 kg) while driving; up to 700 lb (317 kg) when parked on level ground (roof tent + crossbars + occupants). Wilderness trim is higher (220 lb / 800 lb).
Figure published by the manufacturer — but roof limits vary by model year, trim and market, so confirm yours.
Top picks that fit
Tents that fit the Subaru Forester
Sorted by floor area, roomiest first. Showing 12 of 132.
- RoofBunk Explorer Super XLsoftshell · 6.98 m² floor176 lb total0 lb spare
- RoofBunk Explorer XLsoftshell · 6.05 m² floor161 lb total15 lb spare
- Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL Tentsoftshell · 5.98 m² floor157 lb total20 lb spare
- Gordigear Tanami Plussoftshell · 4.61 m² floor148 lb total29 lb spare
- Gordigear Tanami Prosoftshell · 4.61 m² floor163 lb total13 lb spare
- Wild Land Voyager Pro 230hardshell · 4.6 m² floor163 lb total13 lb spare
- Latitude Tents Pioneer XLsoftshell · 4.56 m² floor165 lb total11 lb spare
- iKamper Skycamp 4.0 Quadhardshell · 4.54 m² floor174 lb total2 lb spare
- Thule Approach 2 Lsoftshell · 4.47 m² floor168 lb total9 lb spare
- Ironman 4x4 Cross 1200 MK2softshell · 4.38 m² floor141 lb total35 lb spare
- RoofBunk Explorersoftshell · 4.34 m² floor128 lb total49 lb spare
- Vickywood BIG WILLOW 4.0 (160)softshell · 4.04 m² floor168 lb total9 lb spare
Roof-load figures vary by model year, body style, market and factory rail option, and the totals here use each maker's published tent weight with no safety margin added. Treat this as a shortlist, not a clearance: always confirm the limit in your vehicle's owner's manual and your rack manufacturer's documentation before loading a roof. See our terms & disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
- Can the Subaru Forester carry a rooftop tent?
- Yes. The Subaru Forester's dynamic roof load of about 80 kg — the limit while you are driving — clears 132 of the 246 rooftop tents we track once you add a typical 8 kg crossbar set. A parked roof holds far more, so the drive is the constraint, not the night's sleep.
- How much weight can the Subaru Forester's roof hold?
- The Subaru Forester's dynamic roof load — the maximum while moving — is about 80 kg. Parked, the static limit is around 317 kg. A rooftop tent, its rack and anyone inside must stay under the dynamic figure while you drive; the higher static figure is what carries you once the tent is pitched. This figure is published by the manufacturer — always confirm it in your owner's manual.
- Which rooftop tent is best for the Subaru Forester?
- Our best-overall pick that suits this roof is the Rhino-Rack Low Profile (61052) — the highest-rated tent whose weight makes sensible use of the Subaru Forester's capacity. If your priority is different, the RoofBunk Explorer Super XL gives the most sleeping space that still fits, and the Naturnest Andromeda is the cheapest that fits. Each leaves headroom under the dynamic limit with a typical rack.
- Can I fit a hardshell rooftop tent on the Subaru Forester?
- Yes. Hardshells are heavier than softshells, but 54 of the hardshell tents we track still come in under the Subaru Forester's dynamic limit with a rack — the lightest being the Naturnest Polaris Lite at 47 kg.
- Do I need a roof rack to put a rooftop tent on the Subaru Forester?
- Yes. A rooftop tent mounts to crossbars or a platform rack, never to the bare roof, and the bars' own weight counts against the limit — our totals assume about 8 kg of rack. Check both the Subaru Forester's roof-load rating and your rack maker's stated capacity, and work to the lower of the two.
More Subaru models
All Subaru models →Next: check another vehicle or rack or read the roof-load guide.