Our biggest complaint with cartop-tent camping?
They can be a little unwieldy. Sure, it’s nice to sleep well above the critters on two-and-a-half inches of evenly distributed memory foam, but they can also be a hassle — from hoisting the 100+-lb. beasts in your driveway to actually erecting them once you make camp.
But we’ve got high hopes for a new exclusive collaboration between gearhead mainstays Yakima (they of the roof racks and cargo bins) and Poler Stuff (Oregon-based purveyors of all things campsite).
The SkyRise Tent is no svelter than existing options — it checks in at 115 lbs.; industry leaders Tepui offer a handful of models that are just under 100.
But what the tent lacks in gossamer it makes up for with some nifty features that make setup and breakdown a breeze. It mounts on your car sans tools or bolts, for one. (If you’ve ever built a piece of IKEA furniture, that alone should have you rubbing your palms together.) Second, the aluminum poles that support the tent are preset into the their plants: simply extend them to full length, et voila, you’ve got a bedroom for two on your roof.
Other features include two skylight windows for stargazing, a wall-to-wall foam mattress and Poler’s contribution, that snazzy camo rainfly.
More info and purchasing details can be found here.
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