Hardshell Rooftop tents are constructed with durable materials that make them more sturdy than their soft shell counterparts. Unlike canvas or polyester, which can allow water to penetrate, hard-shell rooftop tents have a solid exterior made of fibreglass, aluminium, or hard plastic.

The rigid shell serves as the ceiling and floor of the tent, while the walls are made of waterproof fabric like nylon or canvas. When closed for storage or driving, the floor and ceiling shells encase the bedding and tent walls. Check out the best options available in Australia if you're considering purchasing one.

1. Kings Grand Tourer MkIII

Best Overall Hard Shell Rooftop Tent

This tent is best for outdoor camping due to its ease of setup and high comfort levels. This Kings Rooftop Tent has three openings that help increase the entrance areas. These openings can also be used as windows to allow for greater view angles. Plus, it increases the air circulation in the tent, giving you a cool breeze and fresh air.

The Kings Tourer rooftop tent is a proper all-season solution. The flooring and roof cover are insulated and finished with a plush carpet, which allows the temperature to be comfortable throughout the scorching summer days and frigid winter nights. The model is spacious with a large-size mattress that increases your experience. It supports the car moving at high speed as it is fastened tightly on the roof of the car roof.

The side and back walls are made of sturdy 320 GSM ripstop canvas that keeps the elements out. And the internal netting is made of fine enough mesh to keep the critters out without messing with the airflow.

Pros

• Easy and fast installation
• Spacious
• Well fastened to the car’s rooftop

Cons

• Expensive to purchase
• Only suitable for vehicles with a flat roof

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2. Kwiky Hard Shell Rooftop Tent

Best Rooftop Tent for Solo Travelers

The Kwiky Hard Shell Rooftop Tent is best for single travellers due to its tiny size and ease of pitching. This rooftop tent practically sets itself up. All you have to do is give it a little push after releasing the two buckles—one at each end. It comes with internal heavy-duty gas struts that take over from there, and in a split second, it is fully open! Add the ladder and four awning poles, and you are ready to set up camp.

For build quality, the external case of the Kwiky is made from ABS anti-ageing polymer. This gives it an improved design with additional internal bracing and modified stress points. The tent also has supporting rods that fasten its wall after it is mounted to ensure it does not collapse from harsh winds. Kwiky's solo tent is fitted with a decorated interior and side pockets, offering enough room to sit up and read a book.

Pros

• Affordable
• Easy to set up

Cons

• Only ideal for solo travellers

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3. OCAM Rooftop King Tent

Best Hard Shell Rooftop Tent for Groups

The OCAM Rooftop Tent is a comfortable and spacious rooftop tent that can fit up to four people. It comes with a king-size mattress and is fairly easy to set up. Thus, making it the ideal tent option for teams willing to get out for outdoor camping. To set up the tent, you must first open the latch, pull the ladder, and stretch the tent out. You then stabilize the tent’s walls with poles and add an extended awning to the rear of the tent to have more space for other activities.

OCAM's Rooftop Tent fabric is made of waterproof materials, so you don't have to worry about getting wet when you’re hanging out in the awning. Its mosquito nets and mesh walls protect you from bugs and other elements. Additionally, the Rooftop King camping tent has high-quality aluminium poles. The newer models save weight by making the roof lid out of ABS plastic.

Pros

• Very spacious
• Extended awning
• Fairly easy to setup

Cons

• Expensive
• The awning must be purchased separately

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4. Eezie Awn Stealth Rooftop Tent

Best Rooftop Tent for Couples

The Eezie Awn Stealth Rooftop Tent is best for long-distance travellers as it fits tightly to a car’s roof with its four hooks fastening it safely. We recommend it for romantic duo retreats—it can accommodate two to three individuals. The hardshell rooftop tent also has a decorated interior that cools the experience when relaxing in the tent. Combined with the decorations, the tent can become as comfortable as a home environment.

Pitching the tent is easy as it has a hydraulic pump that pushes it up automatically when you pull the gear levers. This facilitates a faster installation process. The tent also comes with a mattress, and two large storage pockets on either side. And with hooks that firmly hold the tent to your car’s roof, you can travel faster without fear of wobbling, or worse, the tent falling off.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Short setup duration
• Durable
• Integrated ladder

Cons

• Expensive
• Automatic opening mechanism isn't reliable

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5. Camp King Rooftop Tent

Most Comfortable Rooftop Tent

The Camp King Rooftop Tent is proudly Australian-made. It is an easy-to-setup hard-shell rooftop tent with large windows that are covered by an insect-proof mesh. It also includes side entrances that can be accessed with a telescopic ladder and offers enough room space to stand straight for anyone up to 6 feet tall—it maxes out at 7 feet.

To set up the Camp King Rooftop Tent, you must first open the two latches; the tent will raise automatically. Then get the poles from inside and stick them on the canvas so your tent can be fully upright. The poles are specially designated, so you’ll know where they go.

When packed, Camp King's rooftop tent is tiny enough to fit in even the most miniature automobiles while transported by road. The King Roof top tent boasts a durable wrap telescopic staircase and a wrap floor surface. It can accommodate up to four individuals.

Pros

• Easy setup
• Comfortable height for tall individuals
• Increased durability levels

Cons

• Expensive

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6. iKamper Sky Camp 3.0

Most Versatile Hard Shell Rooftop Tent

The iKamper Sky Camp 3.0 is a good option for a rooftop tent for small families. It can accommodate up to three people. Its design is suitable for individuals with lesser build car models as it can easily fit onto any car. Thus, why we recommend it as the most versatile tent choice. Weighing 55 kg, this tent can be considered lightweight in the hard-shell rooftop tent category.

The iKamper tent is also aerodynamic, so driving around is not cumbersome. The tent opens by flipping the two latches off. But you must hook it up to several poles to secure the rear awning and the walls. The unique feature of the iKamper Sky Camp is the sky view. You can enjoy stargazing without climbing down from the tent.

iKamper's Sky Camp tent has a door is at the rear, and two windows on the sides. It has three panels; the solid canvas wall, the clear cover, and the mesh cover to keep the bugs away. It also includes a lock on the hard shell top to secure your tent when you’re away.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Sky view feature
• Can fit in numerous car models
• 4-season tent
• Protected by a hardshell casing

Cons

• This tent is a lot smaller
• It’s costly given its size

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Using Hard Shell Rooftop Tents in Australia

Camping is a great way to get close to nature and have fun in the great outdoors. People often use camper vans or caravans to travel around Australia's huge land area. Most of the time, setting up camp takes a lot of time and work, but if you have the right gear and equipment, it can be quick and easy. Rooftop tents are becoming more popular in Australia because they have features that traditional tents don't always have.

A rooftop tent is a piece of camping gear that is attached to the roof of a car and gives people a safe, comfortable place to sleep or rest while they are on the move. Getting a good rooftop tent is helpful in a lot of ways. More and more people choose to use them because they are easy to use and quick to set up. A rooftop tent is easier to set up and take down than a traditional tent, giving you more time to do other things.

Types of Roof Top Tents

There are two types of rooftop tents; Hardshell pop-up and Hardshell clam. Which should you choose?

1. Hardshell – Pop Up

When unpacked, hardshell pop-up rooftop tents resemble a large cargo box on top of your car. They have gas or spring struts that keep the walls taut during a storm, making them quieter and sturdy tops that shield you from the elements. They are, however, more expensive and less spacious than a soft-shell rooftop tent.

Reasons to Buy

• Quick set up and pack up
• Can usually close it with your pillows and blankets inside
• The walls are not as flappy and therefore quieter in a storm
• Can house a thicker mattress as it doesn’t need to fold over to close
• Some models can have solar panels mounted on top
• No overhang when set up

Reasons to Avoid

• Heavy
• Head height is often reduced
• Usually the most expensive rooftop tent
• The moving parts are inside the fabric making it harder to repair

2. Hardshell – Clam

Clamshell rooftop tents are the easiest to set up and take down. When set up, they look like a big triangle on top of your car. All of the hardware, including the hinges, etc., is mounted on the same tracks, which makes repairs and maintenance easier. Like the pop-up, the fabric is stretched tight so it doesn't flap as much in bad weather. However, you can also move your car and tilt the roof to deal with bad weather.

Reasons to Buy

• Quick set up and pack up
• The walls are taught and not as flappy in a storm
• Moving parts are easier to access
• Can angle the roof to deal with the weather by moving your car

Reasons to Avoid

• Expensive
• Heavy

Features of a Quality Hard Shell Rooftop Tent

The following are the essential qualities you should look for in a rooftop tent. Here are five of the most important.

1. Heavy-Duty Aluminum Frame

A sturdy aluminium frame is durable and can withstand harsh weather conditions and accidents such as dropping. Also, ensure that mounting brackets are included so they can be easily attached to the roof racks.

2. Durable Canvas or Polyester

Durable rooftop tent material allows you to enjoy the product and experience. Some of the best rooftop tents use a high-quality double-stitched aluminized polyester and a tear-resistant mesh to keep mozzies at bay.

3. Modern Design

With a clever design, a rooftop tent can provide you with a beautiful 360-degree view of your surroundings. Modern designs also offer sufficiently ventilated and a more relaxed tent experience.

4. Quality Ventilation System

Even with very spacious rooftop tents, inspect the size of the windows as they majorly contribute to the quality of ventilation. Besides this, some tent models have floors made of synthetic foam panels on an aluminium frame that provides optimal insulation against low temperatures.

5. Weatherproof Design

Your hard-shell tent should be waterproof and wind-tested to speeds as high as 120 km/h if possible. This would ensure that it is sufficiently weatherproof and can hold tightly to your car when you travel. Also, check for layers of reinforced fibreglass on the upper and lower hulls.

Roof Up and Adventure On

When buying a rooftop tent for camping in Australia, it's important to make an informed decision to get the most value for your money. The Kings Grand Tourer MkIII is a popular choice with great reviews, but understanding the available options is key, especially since buying a rooftop tent is a costly undertaking.

Hopefully, you have all you need to make a better decision from our detailed and in-depth guide. To learn more, here's how we assess, review, and evaluate all our tent roundup articles.