The Roofnest Sparrow
Roof top tents are becoming extremely popular. Weekend campers, overlanders and even RV enthusiasts are taking an interest. But are they really worth it? After hours of research and a lot of discussion, we can honestly say a big YES!
First, what is a roof top tent? It’s a tent similar to a traditional tent but which mounts to the top of your vehicle. There are several different manufacturers and designs, we decided a 2020 Roofnest Sparrow was the right choice for us.
As many of you know, we are out camping nearly every weekend. The Roofnest Sparrow offers us the convenience of a fast set up, a comfortable mattress, the ability to camp anywhere and storage.
Roofnest is known for its hydraulic open design. After unlatching, a gentle push on the front and the back enables hydraulic arms to extend. In less than 30 seconds the tent is open and ready for use.
Mike can sleep anywhere but I definitely need a bit of comfort. The Roofnest memory foam mattress is a dream come true. Cold is another problem for me. The extra thick and durable canvas sides block the weather while the overall design of the Roofnest keeps the interior warm and comfortable. The canvas also blocks light which makes it easy to sleep through the night.
The elevation gain from a roof top tent is better than we could have imagined, now we can take advantage of a roof top view! Elevation also means safety at night as well as being up and away from the ground.
We can camp anywhere! Any place its legal to park overnight is a camping spot. This opens up an exciting new world where overlanding, long trips and unique locations are now possible. The ability to mount a solar panel also ensures we can get the power we need.
We work during the week and want to be out camping as quickly as possible on the weekends. This means oftentimes getting to a campsite in the dark on a Friday. Setting up a tent in the dark is no fun, with a Roofnest this isn’t a problem. Set up is easy and if we wake up and need to move it’s as easy as moving the car.
Living in a small city apartment, storage is a big deal to us. Our bedding and some small items can be stored permanently in the Roofnest. The Sparrow also offers a built-in gear storage area which includes a specially designed storage bag.
A few things you should know…
Some roof top tent owners have reported lower gas mileage. We choose the redesigned more aerodynamic 2020 Sparrow for this reason and so far so good. We have not noticed a difference on our gas mileage but we haven’t been on an extra long trip yet.
Middle of the night bathroom breaks can be a bit challenging with a ladder, but honestly it’s never convenient to use the bathroom in the middle of the night when you’re out camping.
The ladder can block an entire side of your car. A little planning ahead is involved with the ladder to be sure you have access to the things you need inside the car but there are three locations to place the ladder so at least you have a choice.
(Check back soon for a full write up on roof top tents.)
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