Hardshell vs. softshell rooftop tent: which one suits you?
Anyone shopping for a rooftop tent quickly faces the key question: hardshell or softshell? Both have their place, but they suit different types of travellers. In this article we compare the differences honestly — including the downsides of both.
What is a softshell rooftop tent?
A softshell rooftop tent is a fold-out fabric tent, usually with a section that extends beyond the roof of the car. Think of the classic “book” that folds open, often with an annex underneath.
Pros: lower purchase price, often a larger sleeping area relative to the roof footprint, and usually expandable with an annex — handy for families.
Cons: longer setup and pack-down time (10–30 minutes, especially with a wet cover), more wind noise and higher fuel consumption on the road, the fabric wears faster, and packing away a wet softshell is a recurring frustration.
What is a hardshell rooftop tent?
A hardshell rooftop tent has a hard shell — aluminium on our LCM models — that sits closed on your roof like a suitcase and pops open with a click-open mechanism.
Pros:
- Set up in 60 seconds — arrive, release the clips, done. Packing down takes a minute too
- Aerodynamic: less wind noise and a smaller fuel penalty than a softshell
- More durable: an aluminium shell withstands hail, branches, sun and years of use
- Bedding stays inside: duvet and pillows can simply stay in the tent while driving
- Waterproof to 5,000 mm and better equipped for strong wind thanks to its low profile
Cons: higher purchase price, and the sleeping area is limited by the size of the shell — something we solve with the 3-person LCM Oasis and the extra-wide LCM Savannah.
The comparison at a glance
| Hardshell | Softshell | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | ± 60 seconds | 10–30 minutes |
| Driving & consumption | Aerodynamic, quiet | More drag |
| Lifespan | Very long (aluminium shell) | Fabric and cover wear faster |
| Sleeping area | Fixed surface | Often fold-out + annex |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
| Packing away wet | No problem, shell closed | Tricky, fabric needs drying later |
Which one suits you?
Choose softshell if you're on a tighter budget, travel with a big family and want an annex, and don't mind spending longer setting up and packing down.
Choose hardshell if you change locations regularly (road trips!), value speed and comfort, want to keep your car economical and are looking for a tent that lasts for years. For the travellers we see at LCM Offroad — from weekends in the Ardennes to five weeks in Mauritania — the hardshell is almost always the better choice in practice.
Also read our article on dynamic vs. static roof load to check whether a rooftop tent fits your car.
Collecting your rooftop tent? We'll help with fitting
If you collect your rooftop tent from us, we'll help fit it to your car on the spot. As an extra service, we fit the tent with stronger, better-quality bolts than the ones supplied in the package. One thing you arrange yourself: suitable roof racks for your car — they're not included with the tent. Not sure which roof racks you need? We're happy to advise. Drop by for a “test lie-down”, or browse all our hardshell rooftop tents online.
