Softshell rooftop tents

A softshell packs under a fabric cover and folds out over the side or back of the vehicle, doubling or more its footprint. That fold is why softshells give the most sleeping floor per kilogram of any type — there is no rigid shell to carry — which keeps them the right answer whenever a vehicle's roof-load limit is tight.

The trade-offs are a slower pitch, a taller packed profile that costs a little fuel, and a cover that is less weatherproof than a moulded lid. These are the softshells in the database, cheapest first.

86 softshell rooftop tents in the database, the ones with a published price listed first. The order is a straight sort by price, not a “best in test” opinion. How the types compare.

1. NaturnestAndromedaSoftshell109 lb · 34.7 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$999
2. Eezi-AwnJazzSoftshell110 lb est. · sleeps 2$1,010
3. Overland Vehicle SystemsLD TMBK 3Softshell108 lb · 37 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$1,099.99
4. ARBFlindersSoftshell119 lb · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,180
5. Tuff Stuff OverlandTrailheadSoftshell110 lb · 37.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,183
6. Front RunnerRoof Top TentSoftshell95 lb · 33.6 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,199
7. Front RunnerFeather-Lite IISoftshell108 lb · 34.4 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,209
8. ARBSimpson IIISoftshell148 lb · sleeps 2$1,280
9. Eezi-AwnGalaxySoftshell99 lb · sleeps 2$1,290
10. Ironman 4x4Uber LiteSoftshell104 lb · 30.4 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,299
11. TentBoxGOSoftshell73 lb · 29.6 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,310
12. HorntoolsTrack 130Softshell101 lb · 30.8 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,310
13. DarcheDetachableSoftshell119 lb · sleeps 2$1,320
14. DarcheHi-View 1400Softshell125 lb est. · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,320
15. DarcheIntrepidor 2Softshell123 lb est. · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,320
16. Wild LandLite Cruiser 120 XLSoftshell75 lb · 29.7 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,320
17. Wild LandNormandy Auto 120Softshell82 lb · 26.5 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,320
18. GordigearTanami Ultra Light 130Softshell99 lb · 34.7 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,390
19. VickywoodLITTLE BAMBOO 125 GEN. 2Softshell95 lb · 29.1 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,390
20. RoofBunkExplorerSoftshell110 lb · 46.7 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$1,480
21. Overland Vehicle SystemsHD Nomadic ExtendedSoftshell147 lb · sleeps 2$1,499.99
22. SmittybiltGen2 Overlander Standard TentSoftshell132 lb est. · 36.9 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$1,499.99
23. Tuff Stuff OverlandTrailhead ProSoftshell120 lb · 36.8 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,500
24. Howling MoonStargazer Delux New GenSoftshell123 lb · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,540
25. Howling MoonStargazer TourerSoftshell141 lb · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,540
26. Eezi-AwnSeries 3 40th EditionSoftshell— · sleeps 2$1,550
27. Overland Vehicle SystemsHD Nomadic StandardSoftshell152 lb · sleeps 2$1,599.99
28. GordigearTanami Light 140Softshell115 lb · 37.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,610
29. NaïtUpCamisarde 125Softshell95 lb · 31 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,610
30. HorntoolsTrack 155Softshell126 lb · 36.7 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$1,640
31. Direct4x4Expedition FoldoutSoftshell146 lb · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$1,650
32. Wild LandWild Cruiser 160Softshell106 lb · 39.1 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$1,650
33. Latitude TentsScoutSoftshell99 lb est. · 33.6 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,660
34. 23ZeroWalkabout 56 2.0Softshell130 lb · 37.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,699
35. Tuff Stuff OverlandRanger 65Softshell164 lb · 43.4 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$1,705
36. Overland Vehicle SystemsHD Nomadic 3 ExtendedSoftshell156 lb · 42.4 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$1,749.99
37. Latitude TentsPioneerSoftshell119 lb est. · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$1,790
38. 23ZeroWalkabout 62 2.0Softshell152 lb · 41.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$1,799
39. Ironman 4x4Cross 1200 MK2Softshell125 lb · 47.1 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$1,799
40. Rhino-RackSoft Shell (61026)Softshell99 lb · 28.7 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,800
41. NaïtUpCamisarde 125 4 SaisonsSoftshell95 lb · 31 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,840
42. Howling MoonStargazerSoftshell121 lb · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,840
43. Harva OutdoorsUddenSoftshell110 lb · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$1,860
44. GordigearTanami PlusSoftshell130 lb · 49.6 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$1,860
45. SmittybiltGen2 Overlander XL TentSoftshell139 lb est. · 64.4 sq ft floor · sleeps 4$1,949.99
46. 23ZeroWalkabout 72 2.0Softshell165 lb · 48.1 sq ft floor · sleeps 4$1,999
47. Cascadia Vehicle TentsPioneer 2 TentSoftshell— · sleeps 2$1,999
48. RoofBunkExplorer XLSoftshell143 lb · 65.1 sq ft floor · sleeps 5$2,000
49. VickywoodBAOBAB AIR 135Softshell95 lb · 30.8 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$2,040
50. TentBoxLiteSoftshell110 lb · 31.5 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$2,070
51. RoofnestMeadowlark 2 XLSoftshell120 lb · 38.8 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$2,095
52. ThuleFoothill 2Softshell122 lb · 28.4 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$2,099.95
53. Eezi-AwnFunSoftshell110 lb est. · sleeps 2$2,160
54. Latitude TentsPioneer XLSoftshell148 lb est. · 49.1 sq ft floor · sleeps 4$2,170
55. Wild LandWild Cruiser 250Softshell172 lb · 53.8 sq ft floor · sleeps 5$2,170
56. Roof LodgeLightweight (140)Softshell101 lb · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$2,210
57. RoofBunkExplorer Super XLSoftshell158 lb · 75.1 sq ft floor · sleeps 6$2,260
58. Harva OutdoorsViken 2.1 LillenSoftshell130 lb · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$2,270
59. Roof LodgeEvolution 2 (140)Softshell143 lb · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$2,320
60. Direct4x4RoofTrekk ExpeditionSoftshell176 lb · 49.9 sq ft floor · sleeps 4$2,370
61. Roam Adventure CoVagabond 2.0Softshell150 lb · 37.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$2,399
62. HorntoolsElements Gen II 140Softshell161 lb · 49.9 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$2,410
63. GordigearTanami ProSoftshell146 lb · 49.6 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$2,470
64. VickywoodBIG WILLOW 4.0 (160)Softshell150 lb · 43.5 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$2,470
65. VickywoodBIG WILLOW 4.0 (180)Softshell168 lb · 48.8 sq ft floor · sleeps 4$2,470
66. Harva OutdoorsViken 2.1 LagomSoftshell146 lb · 41.3 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$2,480
67. ThuleApproach 2 SSoftshell110 lb · 28 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$2,499.95
68. DometicTRT 140 AIRSoftshell104 lb · 34 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$2,499.99
69. YakimaSkyRise SLSoftshell121 lb · sleeps 3$2,499.99
70. HorntoolsElements Gen II 165Softshell170 lb · 56.8 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$2,630
71. DarcheBasecamp 2200Softshell192 lb est. · 54.5 sq ft floor · sleeps 4$2,640
72. Roof LodgeEvolution 2 (165)Softshell137 lb · 42.6 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$2,650
73. Harva OutdoorsViken 2.1 StörreSoftshell163 lb · 49.1 sq ft floor · sleeps 5$2,690
74. VickywoodWILLOW PRO 1 ECO 160Softshell161 lb · 41.3 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$2,710
75. Roam Adventure CoVagabond XL 2.0Softshell170 lb · 48.1 sq ft floor · sleeps 4$2,749
76. Roof LodgeEvolution 2 Extended (140)Softshell143 lb · 36.2 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$2,860
77. 23ZeroWalkabout 87 2.0Softshell198 lb · 58 sq ft floor · sleeps 6$2,995
78. Wild LandAir CruiserSoftshell112 lb · 30.6 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$2,999
79. ThuleApproach 2 MSoftshell128 lb · 36.8 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$2,999.95
80. Tuff Stuff OverlandEliteSoftshell194 lb · 52.7 sq ft floor · sleeps 5$3,025
81. Roof LodgeEvolution 2 Extended (165)Softshell137 lb · 42.6 sq ft floor · sleeps 2$3,190
82. HorntoolsElements Gen II 220Softshell216 lb · 75.8 sq ft floor · sleeps 4$3,290
83. YakimaSkyRise HDSoftshell115 lb · 37.4 sq ft floor · sleeps 3$3,499.99
84. ThuleApproach 2 LSoftshell150 lb · 48.1 sq ft floor · sleeps 4$3,599.95
85. Eezi-AwnT-Top XklusivSoftshell— · sleeps 4$4,150

1 more is sold without a published list price (Eezi-Awn Family) and is listed on its own spec page rather than ranked here on a price we would have to guess.