After years of admiring iKamper as the trendy innovator behind the expandable three/four-person rooftop tent (RTT), we expect we have discovered a brand new favourite family-size RTT. The Imaginative and prescient XL from Topoak affords a considerate design for lower than half the MSRP of iKamper’s Skycamp 3.0 and different main rivals. Whereas it won’t be good, the tent packs a formidable mix of supplies and options for that cut price worth. And its greatest disadvantage is definitely fixable.
At this level, expandable hardshell RTTs have develop into standard sufficient to wish no introduction. However as a fast recap, this fashion tent combines the advantages of a hardshell case – faster packing, harder on/off-road safety and quicker setup – with the expandable measurement that was as soon as solely the area of soft-shell RTT fashions. They obtain the additional house with a fold-out ground that packs contained in the laborious case or doubles as the hard case top.
Topoak contacted us round springtime to see if we would be interested by testing one in all its tents. Hesitant at first as a result of we had been unfamiliar with the model, we took a better have a look at its merchandise and specs, checked out a number of critiques, together with a glowing YouTube video titled “Greatest Rooftop Tent for 2025,” and determined the model was value a better look, significantly given its low worth factors.
Since I do most of my tenting with my household, I requested the Imaginative and prescient XL, the corporate’s largest mannequin.
The supply
Topoak’s HQ and manufacturing and are based mostly in China, however the firm has California and New Jersey warehouses to cowl distribution round the US. It operates an email-based customer support and guarantee declare system to resolve any points and advertises a 24-hour response time on emails. It additionally has an internet site dwell chat function and operates a Fb Topoak homeowners group as additional communications instruments.
It is a type of hybrid enterprise mannequin that falls between Alibaba-style direct-from-factory RTT producers that do not supply help and even a lot as deal with import duties and US manufacturers or model workplaces that promote and distribute tents made in China or elsewhere through a storefront and/or in-country retail community. You’d look forward to finding the bottom costs from the previous, the very best from the latter, with a hybrid mannequin like Topoak falling in between.
Being in Utah, my tent shipped from California and arrived on a freight truck. What was instantly hanging in regards to the drop-off was that the tent was packed inside a wood crate. This provides significantly to the transport weight, which Topoak lists at a cool 335 lb (151 kg), or 137 lb (62 kg) greater than the tent itself. With the tent and {hardware} packed tightly inside, protected by sheets of packing foam, it additionally affords significantly strong safety throughout transport.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
Admittedly, my prior expertise in rooftop tent supply was restricted, and the final time I had beforehand had one shipped to my doorstep was again in 2018. That tent, from one of many greatest model names on the time, had arrived bare atop a transport pallet – simply the soft-sided tent with a form-fitting waterproof tent cowl that had been ripped and crushed up fairly totally.
That 2018 tent was a media demo unit that shipped from one tester to the subsequent with out intermediate inspection by the corporate’s PR group. And whereas they did rapidly exchange the duvet with a brand-new one that would correctly shield the tent from climate, it did not make for first impression in any respect.
Since then, I’ve learn some nightmare critiques of torn-up cardboard bins and dented and broken RTTs shipped from different producers to prospects, so the Topoak supply expertise was a lot better than I had ever anticipated. And there are different accounts and photographs on the market of the identical wooden crate packaging, so it doesn’t seem specifically staged for the aim of a media evaluate.
The numbers
Topoak solely makes hardshell RTTs, and the Imaginative and prescient XL is the most important of the bunch, rated for as much as three adults and one little one. It finally sizes in as a type of hybrid between a full-on four-person tent and a three-person mannequin – perhaps name it a “three+.” It measures 75 x 83 x 47 in (191 x 211 x 119 cm) when open and packs right into a case that we confirmed to be 75 in lengthy x 46 in huge (191 x 117 cm). The tent packs up and rides lengthwise on the automobile however sleeps widthwise because of the fold-out ground.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
As is typical with this fashion of tent, the fold-out ground panel is narrower than the fastened ground panel secured to the automobile crossbars due to the best way it is hinged. The mattress tapers together with it, which producers have a tendency to not word of their dimensions. We verified the max mattress dimensions of 70 x 78 in (178 x 198 cm, W x L), sizing between a residential queen and king, but additionally famous the foot space tapers in to a width of 62.5 in (159 cm).
The 70-in mattress width is fairly tight for 4 folks, breaking all the way down to solely 17.5 in (44.5 cm) per individual, below the 20+ in (50.8+ cm) of tent sleeping width that is the lowest we have seen really useful for even a baby. So becoming 4 folks is basically greatest for a household of 4 with youthful kids. You may also optimize house by alternating mendacity head to toes. In any other case, you would possibly wish to restrict it to 3 folks.
I used to be snug mendacity with my two pre-teen kids within the mattress whereas my spouse slept on a mattress within the truck with our Swissy (she would not like heights anymore than the canine likes ladders).
Topoak
Different four-person RTTs embody a little bit extra sleeping space. IKamper specs the Skycamp 3.0 with a sleeping space that features a max width of 77 in and a size of 82.8 in (196 x 210 cm), and Overland Automobile Methods’ (OVS) Bundu tent spreads even wider at 82 inches (208 cm) by 81 inches (206 cm) lengthy.
One four-person-rated tent that’s even narrower than the Imaginative and prescient XL is Roofnest’s Condor 2 XL Air, however that packs additional size for extra general sleeping space. Its sleeping space sizes solely 68 in (173 cm) huge however has 89 in (226 in) of size. Maybe it was that slim, rectangular house that led the model to introduce the Condor 2 XXL Air sequence earlier this 12 months, which it payments because the world’s largest hardshell RTT. It charges it a “4-person+” measurement and carves out an enormous whole sleeping space of 80 x 95 in (203 x 241 cm), gaining inside width aggressive with different four-person RTTs to enrich its additional size.
Three-person expandable hardshell tents, usually provided by manufacturers that do not promote a four-person, have a tendency to return with a max sleeping width of 60-something inches. For instance, the Ironman 4×4 Ursa 1300 is marketed for 2 adults and a baby, providing a sleeping house of 60 x 78 in (152 x 198 cm). The 23Zero Armadillo Horizon 3 has a 68 x 83-in (173 x 211-cm) sleeping space.
Lengthy story quick, it is best to deal with producer individual capacities as gentle tips and examine precise mattress or sleeping space sizes. In that case, the Imaginative and prescient XL is fairly comfortably a 3+ as an alternative of an all-out 4.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
As soon as packed up, the Imaginative and prescient XL’s 10-in (25-cm) top, which we verified, is the bottom we have seen for this measurement/fashion of tent, with a number of rivals tying it and others, such because the 13.5-in (34.3-cm) Skycamp 3.0, exceeding it by a number of inches. Notice, nevertheless, the Imaginative and prescient XL can be basically one large 10-in-tall block with a very flat roof, whereas some hardshell RTTs, together with the Skycamp, have roof designs with a excessive level that arches down towards the entrance and/or again.
The Imaginative and prescient XL’s listed 198-lb (90-kg) weight places it towards the highest of the RTT market as a complete however falls across the center of the pack for this fashion and measurement hardshell tent, a class wherein listed weights generally vary from 165 to 240 lb (75 to 109 kg).
The construct
We would not say Topoak has finished something significantly authentic with the Imaginative and prescient XL design – it is mainly the identical fashion of fold-out hardshell we have seen from one RTT firm after one other since iKamper debuted the original Skycamp in 2017. What’s exceptional about Topoak’s tent, although, is the variety of options it squeezes in as commonplace for a worth that is manner decrease than common.
The Imaginative and prescient XL commonplace options package deal begins with an all-aluminum shell building. In the event you plan to maintain your rooftop tent put in all or many of the 12 months, it is sure to see some climate extremes. That is positively true in my yard in Northern Utah, the place circumstances vary annually from triple-digit warmth to single-digit chilly or decrease, to not point out the toes of snow that fall some winters. Bushes are few and much between, and shade is usually a rarity. I park my truck outdoors year-round, the place it is immediately within the solar and climate for the higher a part of daylight.
I’ve personally seen the potent solar right here flip laborious cooler and delicate storage crate plastic right into a brittle shell that simply breaks aside by hand. And whereas plastic composite RTT our bodies are fortified for resisting UV harm, they’re nonetheless recognized to shrink, crack and put on from solar publicity. Aluminum is superior for holding as much as the UV radiation and general climate to which any rooftop tent will get uncovered. It is also extra prone to dent or bend on influence reasonably than crack.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
All-aluminum shells are sometimes reserved for costlier hardshell RTTs, however the sub-$2K Imaginative and prescient XL is among the many lower-priced choices that function one. It feels to be a sturdy building, too, with thick, strong, T-track-burrowed edges throughout. I am positive the thinner high panel would possibly dent or warp from a direct hit by one thing like a giant falling tree department, but it surely feels a lot sturdy for regular on/off-road put on and tear.
Preserving that hardshell closed is a pair of huge, beefy aluminum latches with a decrease swing arm that clasps to a closure bar through a pair of hooks. The higher pull deal with drops all the way down to pop the decrease latched arm open and pushes as much as safe it in place.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
Topoak enhances the burly shell building with aluminum honeycomb ground panels and a tent physique made out of 300gsm poly-cotton blackout canvas designed to replicate UV rays and maintain the inside cooler in scorching climate. The rainfly is a thinner 180-gsm poly ripstop waterproof-rated to eight,000 mm and coated in a black-out end of its personal. The tent materials positively feels strong, not like skinny floor tent ripstop, and the ground panels appear strong and durable.
From there, Topoak contains options which might be normally solely obtainable on the choices sheet. Of explicit word, two crossbars are included with the bottom worth. They safe to brackets that bolt to the T-track working your complete fringe of the tent and supply as much as 99 lb (45 kg) of carry capability atop the tent.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
Different options we did not count on to see packaged commonplace on a $2K RTT are the Anderson SB50 electrical port for hooking as much as the automobile battery or a separate leisure battery to energy the inner LED gentle strip and USB/12V retailers, an HVAC port for working air-blown warmth or AC, a clear stargazing panel with black-out shade, and a pair of shoe luggage that slide into the T-track subsequent to the ladder and maintain your footwear off the bottom however out of the tent.
The mount
I will not get into precisely how my spouse and I mounted this 200-lb aluminum/cloth brick onto the Kuat Ibex rack aboard my 2018 Toyota Tundra on a scorching, shadeless July afternoon with assist from solely a Rovr Rollr cooler. I’ll simply say that this technique is totally unrecommended.
What I do suggest is getting at the least two different hardy adults, perhaps three, that can assist you carry the tent immediately up onto the truck or roof rack. Use no matter cost or bribery is critical. It would most likely take mere minutes reasonably than the hour+ we spent wrestling the massive block of scorching, black steel up the again of the truck and rack in quite a lot of methods, none of them nice. We finally acquired it, however there have been no ensures.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
As soon as the tent is up there, one way or the other, you’ll be able to breathe straightforward as a result of the remainder of the job is straightforward and suited to only one individual. The Imaginative and prescient XL mounts similar to another rooftop tent, utilizing a sequence of 4 brackets. Two T-bolt assemblies per bracket slide into the tracks on the bottom of the tent to safe every bracket round a crossbar.
Topoak contains each giant, gear-like quick-release nuts and smaller anti-slip steel nuts. It says to put in the hand-turned quick-release nuts first, then the steel nuts, however as a result of our crossbars are apparently a little bit thicker than others, we needed to do it within the reverse order.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
The corporate says you’ll be able to simply use the anti-slip nuts with out the quick-release ones, however we threw the hand-tightened fast bolts on after, figuring the combo would possibly deter a thief who thought he discovered a straightforward, hand-loosened carry solely to then get to the steel nuts. Not an enormous deterrent, but it surely could not damage.
The drive
As might be the case for many rooftop tents, much more of my time with the Imaginative and prescient XL has been spent within the driver’s seat under it than sleeping inside it. The truck is my on a regular basis driver in addition to a tenting/biking/snowboarding shuttle. I haven’t got a lot storage house to retailer an RTT, so my plan was all the time to maintain the Imaginative and prescient XL mounted throughout testing.
I anticipated that large, vertical front-end to suck cash out of my pockets by the use of decreased gasoline economic system, however I suppose I used to be overthinking it. Or I am simply used to $100+ fill-ups for my EPA-estimated 15-mpg-combined Tundra with 5.7-liter V8. My every day driving is a mixture of open nation roads at 60 mph+ (96.5 km/h+) and slower stop-and-go visitors, and I usually hover proper round that 15-mpg determine.
I have not obsessed about it, but it surely’s wanting like I am nonetheless getting proper across the identical 15 mpg with the Imaginative and prescient XL mounted. I believed for positive I would be dying to take it off to avoid wasting fuel cash, but it surely hasn’t made the massive, devastating influence I used to be anticipating. A nice shock.
The setup
After a pair deliberate tenting journeys acquired cancelled due to sickness, I lastly acquired to make use of the Imaginative and prescient XL for precise tenting, reasonably than simply shuttling round city for no cause. I attempt to make a fall break tenting journey yearly, and it would simply be my favourite journey of every 12 months – altering leaves contrasting with the already brilliantly coloured mountains and monoliths of Southern Utah, good reasonable climate that developments towards clear and sunny, and not one of the campfire restrictions that may make summer season campsites a little bit darker, duller and chillier.
My household headed all the way down to do a multi-day mountain biking journey at a newly developed path space outdoors St. George, with plans to camp alongside the path system on a primitive plot of US Forest Service land.
All the things was going easily till the final slow-going 2-mile stretch of dust street resulting in the tenting and path space. Instantly, my abdomen dropped to my ankles upon a sobering realization: the KEY!?! I had mindfully packed all the standard tenting gear, extras for primitive tenting, and mountain bikes – even remembering a number of issues I normally overlook – and strapped every thing down tight sufficient to ship intercontinentally. However I would forgotten the rattling key to open the little triangular locks on the tent latches.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
I began to really feel sick nicely past simply the combination of poorly paired relaxation cease snacks and Dr. Pepper smashing like storm waves round my abdomen. Right here we had been 5 1/2 hours into the drive, a number of miles down a slim dust street, and going through the prospect of spending the night time within the automotive, sleeping outdoors, backtracking to a lodge … I wasn’t even positive but. And whereas we nonetheless had a few hours to work with, nightfall was hovering quietly. Did I simply screw up your complete journey by forgetting a small however obligatory piece of kit?!
I assured myself that I had most actually left the second of the 2 keys that got here with the tent within the glove compartment or middle console once I first mounted the tent. That might have been the logical factor to do. I would just need to rifle by means of and discover it once we acquired there and that may be that. Shut one, but it surely’s good to be a high-functioning, accountable grownup.
Or not. Quick-forward to actuality: half-hour after shifting into park on a gorgeous hunk of grassland between mountains and purple rock basin, and with the contents of the glove compartment, console and each small nook and cubby emptied onto the seats, the Decked drawers within the pickup field huge open and rummaged – No. Tent. Key.
I used to be by no means positive precisely why Topoak had secured the latches to the tent with hex bolts, as an alternative of one thing extra fastened like rivets, however now I used to be extraordinarily glad it had. I used to be finally in a position to loosen the bolts, pull the latches open and free the hardshell, bypassing the locks all collectively. And, considerably uncharacteristically, I noticed this earlier than attempting to smash the locked latches to bits with a tire iron or scavenged rock – a high-functioning, accountable grownup in any case.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
It most likely quadrupled setup time or extra, however we had been again to the comfy night time of RTT sleep we had deliberate all alongside.
Past that hiccup, setup is breezy. The hardshell takes a little bit push earlier than the struts take over and open it into full lean-to place. Then, the prolonged ground panel folds out as you pull and lengthen the telescopic ladder out and down. After that, you merely regulate the ladder to face stably on the bottom and degree the tent ground out, make sure the rungs are locked in place, and climb as much as set up the skinny, pliable steel rods that maintain open the awnings over the entry and facet home windows.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
The one manner you are getting the Imaginative and prescient XL arrange in Topoak’s declare of 30 seconds is when you go away these awning rods alone and simply do a fast, partial setup by dropping the ladder and climbing inside – choice for late, drowsy nights with out a lot wind. In any other case, you’ll be able to count on to spend a couple of minutes getting every thing in place.
The campout
With all these commonplace options, I knew Topoak needed to have reduce prices someplace, and I rapidly discovered that someplace when surveying the inside. I had learn some less-than-flattering critiques in regards to the skinny, laborious 1.6-in (4-cm) foam mattress and agreed that it was missing in consolation, even by RTT mattress requirements.
We nonetheless slept higher than we’d have on a floor tent with rocks and twigs poking by means of the ground – at the least the Imaginative and prescient XL is degree and uniform – however we weren’t precisely snug. And after a protracted day of biking, it wasn’t in any respect the comfortable mattress you wish to drop aching muscle mass and bones on.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
On the upside, the felty soft-touch cloth overlaying the mattress is good – superior to the rougher, noisier nylon that generally serves as an RTT mattress cowl. That very same cloth strains the within of the hardshell, however whereas it seems like quilted padding, it is actually simply skinny, low cost cloth with little insulating worth.
The inside affords loads of cupboard space with a detachable multi-compartment organizer that straps to the within of the laborious high, inside facet pockets, and the aforementioned shoe luggage that hold to the edges of the ladder. A skylight is all the time a pleasant function for falling asleep whereas gazing on the stars, and the mesh home windows with zippable black-out panels present flexibility for fast adjustment, even whereas half asleep. There’s additionally a pair of foldable clear plastic window panels that Velcro over the window cutouts for having fun with views with climate safety.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
All in all, the Imaginative and prescient XL made for a strong night time’s sleep nicely higher than we would have anticipated in a floor tent. However we’d suggest utilizing a skinny inflatable pad or delicate topper on the usual mattress or simply changing it with a brand new mattress. We plan to do exactly that for future journeys.
The teardown
Our final morning, we stayed a little bit longer than deliberate into the primary day of searching season – which is all however a calendar-printed vacation in these components. Whereas I am usually blissful to share the bounty with different public land customers, the children acquired significantly freaked out when echoes of gunfire drew nearer … like simply throughout the dust street. With zero vibrant orange clothes or gear, we determined it greatest to pack up and transfer alongside to a busier trailhead outdoors standard searching grounds.
Due to the gunshots and nervous youngsters, we had been attempting to pack every thing – bikes, baggage, furnishings, cooking gear, rest room tent and extra – as rapidly and effectively as attainable. The Topoak was fairly cooperative on this endeavor, its ladder collapsing through push tabs as I lifted it to leverage the ground extension again into the primary tent physique on the rooftop.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
The tent’s laborious cowl pulls down with an built-in strap and laborious seize deal with, and the one actual trick to packing all of it up is making certain that each one the facet and entrance cloth is absolutely tucked in so the laborious lid would not shut with something dangling out. You will even be letting air out as you compact every thing down, and generally it takes a pair tries to get all the material in, air out, and lid closed and latched.
We needed to stand on the latch-side tire to totally push the tent down and shut and lock the latches. A set of car facet steps or perhaps a folding stool would make it a extra sure-footed job.
Our breakdown took a couple of minutes longer as a result of I needed to reattach these 4 latch bolts I had eliminated. Minus that, breakdown ought to take 5 minutes for one or two folks, and the one cause it would take that lengthy is as a result of it takes a number of tries to get all the material inside field. With a little bit expertise, it’s going to most likely go much more rapidly.
The worth
The Imaginative and prescient XL wears an MSRP of US$1,998 and is at present on sale for $1,868 till Christmas, perhaps longer in the event that they lengthen the sale like they did after Cyber Monday. Past being lower than half the MSRP of the $4,395 fiberglass-shelled iKamper Skycamp 3.0, Topoak’s four-person tent can be half the value of the $4,145 aluminum-shelled Roofnest Condor Overland 2 XL Air (on sale now for $3,523).
Having famous the differing sleeping areas, we have not seen something to counsel that the additional couple thousand brings a complete lot of worth past a extra recognizable identify on the facet of the shell. Sure, the two.5-in-thick foam mattress on the Skycamp 3 and the 2-inch self-inflating foam-core mattress on the Condor must be good upgrades over the journey canine bed-thin mat within the Imaginative and prescient XL, however that is finally an affordable repair that’ll value far lower than 2 grand.
Topoak
Roofnest’s tent shares a few of the options of the Imaginative and prescient XL, together with HVAC ports, built-in LED lighting and a skylight panel, however crossbars for the tent roof value an additional $170. The Skycamp 3.0 has a skylight, however few of the Imaginative and prescient XL’s different options, and iKamper would not even suggest mounting crossbars on high of its fiberglass shell, not to mention embody them as commonplace.
The 23Zero Armadillo Horizon 3 sizes closest to the Imaginative and prescient XL by way of sleeping space, however costs in a unique bracket at $4,295 (on sale now for $3,436). That mannequin runs fairly carefully to the Imaginative and prescient XL by way of options, with an aluminum shell, crossbars, HVAC port, electrical hookup and lighting, stargazer panel, and a great deal of inside group. But it surely’s nonetheless greater than double the MSRP, and even evaluating sale costs, it is an additional $1,568.
Pricing will get extra aggressive when dropping downmarket to match the Imaginative and prescient XL with three- and four-person expandable hardshell tents from different funds manufacturers.
Overland Automobile Methods (OVS) has develop into a staple within the funds overland market, hawking a really wide selection of merchandise, together with an in depth RTT choice. The generously sized HD Bundu we talked about earlier is at present its most cost-effective marketed amongst a number of three- to four-person expandable hardshell fashions, pricing fairly carefully to the Imaginative and prescient XL at $2,000. However that worth comes courtesy of a beneficiant sale, and the MSRP is definitely $3,200. It, too, comes with a pleasant array of options, together with inside lighting, a canine ramp and two hanging shoe luggage.
At that sale worth, the HD Bundu competes fairly nicely towards the Imaginative and prescient XL, and we would select it for the additional sleeping house. But it surely doesn’t embody {an electrical} hookup or an HVAC port, and options an ABS plastic shell, not an aluminum one. The plastic ratchet straps additionally seem a lot flimsier than Topoak’s steel ones. There’s discrepant info on crossbars, however not one of the photographs or setup directions present them.
Ironman 4×4 additionally affords a few of the higher costs on the overland market. Its aforementioned Ursa 1300 three-person tent retails for $3,000, has a sleeping space 10 inches narrower than the Imaginative and prescient XL and has an ABS shell.
Backside line
Actually, we do not assume it is even an in depth name: the Topoak Imaginative and prescient XL is one of the best worth we have seen on the three/four-person expandable hardshell market, the kind of product that ought to get different firms upping their recreation and/or reducing their costs. Tents just like the OVS HD Bundu can provide it a run for the cash at drastic reductions, however not at head-to-head MSRP pricing.
Additional issues
Topoak RTTs are topic to a $299 transport price when ordered immediately by means of the corporate. It can save you the price by choosing the tent up your self at its warehouse in Eastvale, California (LA/Anaheim space). You could possibly additionally order the tent from a retailer with a decrease transport price and even free transport (the Imaginative and prescient XL just isn’t at present obtainable by means of Amazon, however different Topoak tents are marketed there with free supply).
Supply charges range by producer or retailer for the opposite tents talked about. IKamper costs a flat $199 freight price for transport within the contiguous US, whereas OVS advertises free transport on orders over $100, together with RTTs.
After all, all these costs are “as of publishing” and topic to alter thereafter.
The Imaginative and prescient XL comes with a three-year guarantee. Whereas we did not want to check that guarantee or use customer support in any respect, the critiques we have seen for Topoak’s customer support have been largely optimistic. We do take Net critiques with a giant grain of salt since they’re straightforward to govern.
Topoak has additionally talked about working to develop its retailer community within the US, so it might need an elevated bodily presence sooner or later, which might present one other helpful outlet for saving on transport, guarantee repairs and common customer support.
We plan to maintain testing the Imaginative and prescient XL to see if we discover any untimely put on and tear or the rest which may make a deep reduce into that worth proposition, however thus far, we’re fairly impressed with this little model we hadn’t heard of a 12 months in the past.
Because the Imaginative and prescient XL comes with claims of four-season design, we additionally hope to check it for winter tenting within the coming weeks to see the way it holds up within the chilly. We’ll have a follow-up evaluate or replace as soon as we do.
Product Web page: Topoak (Click on to alter from “L” to “XL” simply above the “Order” button)
New Atlas could obtain fee if you are going to buy by means of our hyperlinks
