Why Buy a Roof Tent? 10 Reasons to Level Up Your Camping Game
If you’ve ever spent an hour wrestling with tent poles in the rain or woken up with a literal rock embedded in your spine, you’ve probably looked at those roof tents on top of passing cars with a bit of envy.
Roof top tents (RTTs) or roof tents have exploded in popularity across the UK, and for good reason. They aren’t just a “cool looking” accessory for your car; they genuinely revolutionise the way you experience the outdoors. Whether you’re a solo weekend warrior or a family looking for a simpler way to explore the Scottish Highlands, here is why it’s time to get off the ground and why a car roof tent is the ultimate camping upgrade.
1. Lightning fast set-up times
We’ve all been there… arriving at the campsite just as the sun goes down, frantically trying to remember which pole goes where. One of the biggest benefits of a roof top tent is the speed of setup.
Especially with a hardshell roof tent like our Adventure Series, you simply unclip and let the gas struts do the heavy lifting. You can go from “just parked” to “ready for bed” in under 2 minutes.
2. The Eco-friendly way to holiday
In 2026, sustainable travel will be a huge factor when deciding on your next getaway. Choosing a “staycation” to explore the UK significantly reduces your carbon footprint compared to flying abroad.
Carbon Comparison: A short-haul return flight emits roughly 150-200kg of CO2 per passenger. In contrast, a 500-mile road trip in your car, even with the 10-20% fuel increase from aerodynamic drag, produces only 50-100kg of CO2 total, which is shared among all passengers. Swapping the airport for the open road is a win for the planet.
3. Superior comfort and built-in mattresses
Ground camping usually involves a thin roll mat or an air bed that inevitably deflates by 3 AM. Our roof tents come with a built-in, high-density foam mattress that stays inside the tent.
As long as your vehicle is parked level and even on sloped pitches, you can use levelling ramps. There’s no need to worry about lumpy ground, damp grass, or sloping pitches. It’s essentially your bedroom on wheels.
4. Maximise your car's storage space
One of the biggest headaches of any camping trip is the “Tetris” game of packing the boot. Traditional tents, roll mats, blow-up mattresses, sleeping bags, and pillows take up a massive amount of internal space.
With a roof tent, you can do away with some of the essentials for ground camping, and some roof tents allow your bedding to be stored inside. This frees up your valuable boot space for the essentials, like the coolbox, the dogs, or extra gear for your activities.
5. Weatherproof: Stay dry and mud-free
The British weather isn’t always kind. When the heavens open, a ground tent often becomes a soggy island in a sea of mud. By being elevated, you’re away from surface water and the rising dampness of the earth. Furthermore, our hardshell roof tents are aerodynamic and designed to handle stronger winds much better than a traditional nylon tent. Less flapping fabric that keeps you awake all night!
6. Better views and ventilation
There is something special about looking out your window 1.5–2 metres off the ground. Whether you’re overlooking a loch in Scotland or a valley in the Peak District, you get a panoramic view you simply can’t get from the grass. Being higher up also allows for better airflow, keeping the tent fresh and reducing condensation (check out our blog about reducing condensation).
7. The "park anywhere" freedom
Finding a “perfect” pitch for a ground tent can be a chore, especially when campsites are busy. If the ground is rocky or uneven, you’re out of luck. With a vehicle-mounted tent, if your car is level, your bed is level.
Even when parked on sloped ground, you can use levelling ramps. This opens up more opportunities for legal wild camping or using smaller, rugged pitches that a caravan or motorhome simply couldn’t reach.
8. Enhanced safety and security
Sleeping elevated provides a natural sense of security. You’re well out of the way of wandering wildlife, curious sheep, or damp-loving insects. Additionally, being attached to your vehicle means you are off the “footpath” level, giving you a more private and secure feeling while you sleep in unfamiliar locations.
9. Better temperature control: Stay warmer (and cooler)
Ground tents lose a massive amount of heat through the floor because the cold earth literally sucks the warmth out of you. In a roof tent, you have a thick mattress and an insulated base, plus a layer of air between you and the ground, which acts as a natural thermal barrier.
Conversely, in the summer, being elevated allows air to circulate underneath the tent. We combined this with our durable Rip-Stop, breathable fabrics, which will keep the interior much cooler than a stuffy tent sat on hot ground.
10. Long-term cost efficiency and flexibility
While the initial investment is higher than a budget ground tent, a roof tent is a long-term asset. It removes the need for expensive hotels or the high maintenance, insurance, and MOT costs of a dedicated campervan or motorhome.
What happens if your van’s engine fails or you fancy a new vehicle? You can simply move the roof tent to your new vehicle, unlike expensive pop-top van conversions. It’s a one-time purchase that turns any car you own into a camper for years to come.
Ready to find the best roof top tent for your vehicle?
Whether you’re looking for a lightweight roof tent like our Adventure Lite or a spacious family setup like our Discover Series, there’s a model for every car and budget.
Not sure if a roof tent will fit your car?
Or simply drop us a message, we’re always happy to help you get your adventures off the ground! (Sorry, we couldn’t resist!)
