Roof Top Tent - The Softshell

The Softshell

Not all the tents you see online are created equal. You'll see a variety of similar looking products spread over a large price range and it can be hard to tell which ones are rubbish, which ones are over priced and which ones are a practical combination of value and quality.

At SMRT Tent we provide products which we believe are right in the sweet spot, balancing great features and quality with reasonable pricing.

After personally using a variety of Roof Top Tents ourselves over the past 10 years here's what we have discovered.

Comfort is by far the most important aspect of your purchase.

If you don't sleep well then your tent isn't serving it's number one purpose. If this happens you'll hate sleeping in it and so will you wife/partner/camp buddy. Make sure which ever tent you choose has a good quality high density foam mattress which is at least 60mm thick. Not only does this provide more comfort, especially for side sleepers, but it also creates a greater thermal barrier from the cold outside. You are more likely to get a good nights sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day's activities.

Useable functionality is the second most important consideration.

Does it work in a simple, reliable and well thought out fashion day after day and trip after trip? If you're like us you've probably spent more time sleeping at campsites than in hotel rooms.  That's our preference every time, but let's be honest, camping is not always seamless. There's the pre-trip packing to sort out, followed by what is usually a long drive and then the inevitable en-route delay or un-forecast rain shower on arrival. These things all add to the flavour of the adventure, but there are some things we can do to make our lives easier, such as choosing well thought out reliable equipment which has been thoroughly tested by real people in your local environment. With a quality Roof Top Tent strapped on your roof your camp setup will be quick, easy, stress free and comfortable.

Most tent brands, including ours, will bombard you with a list of specifications, fabric types and weights, UV ratings and endless lists of detail. Some people love this and it makes sense to educate yourself and compare products. If you scroll down you'll find all of that info on our tents too. However, If that level of detail seems overwhelming to you then let me summarise our products for you. We have already done all the things we should so that you don't have to worry about the detail. Our tents are extremely comfortable, durable, simple to operate and suitable for real world use in New Zealand's unpredictable weather.

We also understand that this is a big financial commitment.

If you have read this far though, you are obviously serious about finding a quality product which will enhance your outdoor experience. We are outdoors people ourselves who understand the importance of reliable gear and the equal importance of reliable service from the businesses we deal with.

We are confident that your SMRT Tent will be a valued and much loved travel companion for many years to come and you can sleep easy knowing we'll be here for you should you need anything along the way.

The Softshell

Being lightweight and packing up small this tent is flexible enough to fit all types of vehicles, especially those with lower roof carrying capacities. This tent fits up to 3 people, or 2 with plenty of room to spread out!

The Softshell is constructed with 25mm aluminium internal covered tent poles (compared to standard exposed tent poles at 16mm), stainless-steel reinforced hinges and all stainless steel hardware. The base of the tent is constructed with honeycomb aluminium, covered with 1mm coated aluminium diamond plate. The tent body is made of 320 gsm ripstop polycotton PU coated canvas, with a mould and mildew resistant rainfly made from 420D Polyester Oxford ripstop fabric with waterproof PVC coating - all canvas is PU coated for waterproofing and UV protection. The exterior travel cover is made from 650D Waterproof PVC coated fabric. While the tent is open the cover can be fastened out of the way with Velcro straps, leaving your vehicle doors accessible. The exterior cover has a YKK Zipper with a pull rope on the bottom to attach it to the tent base. This tent features SBS zippers on the tent body and windows, the most used zippers have pull rope ends. 

The interior of the tent features 4 internal storage pockets for camping accessories, two high quality large shoe bags, a base mounted tent pole storage pocket and a heavy duty cargo storage net located underneath the base for added storage when set up. Sleep soundly on an upgraded 60mm ultrahigh density open cell mattress. The removable mattress cover is made of a soft poly cotton on top and 420D oxford ripstop waterproof fabric on the bottom. 

4 features which separate our Softshell from the crowd!

1. Black telescopic Ladder - Not only does this look great, but it fits a wider range of vehicles and is easily 'micro adjustable' to suit uneven or raised ground.

2. Lower profile - Our tent packs up lower in profile than many others as we don't have a double-slide ladder creating bulk on the roof.  This means less drag and wind resistance and also looks really sleek. 

3. Upgraded reinforced mounting rails - Most tents have rectangular aluminium mounting rails.  We use reinforced oval extrusions on our tents for a significant gain in strength and stiffness.

4. Fabric covered 25mm internal aluminium poles - which are stronger and less prone to cold transfer and condensation than the standard 16mm exposed poles many other brands use. 

What's in the box?

• 2.3m Black Aluminium Telescopic Ladder
• Upgraded double reinforced mounting track
• 60mm Upgraded High Density Foam Mattress
• 2 high quality extra large Shoe Bags
• All stainless steel installation Hardware
• 6 Steel window poles
• Base mounted tent pole storage pocket
• Base mounted heavy duty storage net
• 1 removable rainfly - Choose from 3 colours... Grey, Black or Green.

Other stuff you want to know about:

• 4 internal storage pockets
• Light weight and universal mounting capabilities, making it appropriate for most vehicles. 
• Velcro straps for storing the tent cover, giving easy access to your vehicle 
• 320 gsm poly cotton canvas, with a 420D Polyester Oxford mould and mildew resistant rainfly
• 25mm aluminium tent poles (compared to regular tent poles at 16mm) fabric covered for durability and comfort.
• stainless-steel reinforced hinges and all stainless steel hardware.
• Removable mattress cover.  Made from waterproof poly cotton on top and 420 oxford ripstop canvas on the bottom, for added durability and damp/mould resistance. 

Specifications and Dimensions: