Thule Widesky vs Yakima SkyPeak HD
The Thule Widesky and the Yakima SkyPeak HD are both hardshell tents in the same part of the market, which makes them a genuine head-to-head rather than a comparison across categories. Thule and Yakima take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
The Widesky is 15 kg lighter at 67 kg against 82 kg, which on a factory roof rated for 68 to 75 kg is often the difference between a legal fit and a rack upgrade. Floor area is close to identical at 2.95 m² and 2.89 m², so neither wins on sleeping room. Headroom separates them further: 171.45 cm in the SkyPeak HD against 117 cm, which is the difference between sitting up to dress and doing it lying down. List prices are within $1 of each other, so price is unlikely to decide this one.
Thule
Widesky
Thule's hardshell flagship, and the only tent here whose mattress converts into a backrest so the interior works as a seating space in daylight. The 20 cm closed profile matches the Roofnest Falcon.
- Mattress converts to a sofa backrest
- 20 cm closed profile
- Two dimmable USB LED lights
- $4,000 for a two-person tent
Yakima
SkyPeak HD
The SkyPeak HD is Yakima's hardshell rooftop tent, using a clamshell design with an expansion pop-out that opens the interior to 81.5 by 55 inches with a 67.5-inch peak height. It is the heaviest of Yakima's current rooftop tents at 180 lbs (82 kg) and adds USB-powered dimmable interior lighting, a floor pass-through port with solar-cable routing hardware, and tent-side T-slots rated to 75 lbs per side. Yakima rates it 4-season and backs it with a limited two-year warranty.
- Hardshell clamshell design with quick pop-out setup
- Integrated USB-powered dimmable lighting plus a floor pass-through port for solar cable routing
- Access doors on three sides and tent-side T-slots for gear (75 lbs per side)
- Heaviest of Yakima's current rooftop tents at 180 lbs (82 kg)
Which one to pick
Take the Widesky if your roof load limit is the binding constraint. Beyond that the feature rows below — heater port, skylight, annex, cargo rails — are where the remaining difference lies.
Every specification, side by side
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Type | Hardshell | Hardshell |
| Opening style | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 |
| Season rating | 4-season | 4-season |
| List price | $4,000— worst of the tents compared | $3,999— best of the tents compared |
| Weight and size | ||
| Weight | 147 lb— best of the tents compared | 180 lb— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed length | 6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 7 ft 1 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed width | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Packed height | 7.9 in— worst of the tents compared | 6.5 in— best of the tents compared |
| Living space | ||
| Sleeping length | 6 ft 11 in— best of the tents compared | 6 ft 9 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Sleeping width | 4 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared | 4 ft 7 in— worst of the tents compared |
| Floor area | 31.8 sq ft— best of the tents compared | 31.1 sq ft— worst of the tents compared |
| Interior height | 3 ft 10 in— worst of the tents compared | 5 ft 7 in— best of the tents compared |
| Mattress thickness | 2.4 in | — |
| Setup and build | ||
| Setup timeManufacturer's claim where published; otherwise estimated from tent type. Expect longer in practice. | ~60 secest. | ~60 secest. |
| Shell material | Aluminum frame with fiber-reinforced polyamide corners and aluminum honeycomb base | — |
| Fabric | 600D recycled polyester ripstop, water resistant | — |
| Warranty | — | 2years |
| Features | ||
| Integrated LED lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Heater / HVAC port | — | Yes |
| Roof skylight | — | — |
| Annex available | — | — |
| Solar ready | — | Yes |
| Carries cargo on top | — | Yes |
| Sources | ||
| Last verified | Thule product page | Yakima product page |
Related comparisons
Or read the full spec sheets for the Thule Widesky and the Yakima SkyPeak HD.