A soft shell model typically allows more living space, and can accommodate more people. Because they fold out from the footprint on your roof, these tents often have more floor area when deployed, and can sleep more people. If you have a family of four, this can be a critical pro.
An added feature to these tents is the small awning created by the landing that is suspended off the side of the vehicle. This covering can provide a small shaded area for lounging or setting up a prep area for food and cooking clean up that’s protected from the elements.
Provides Shade
Soft shell roof top tents are typically smaller in size for transport, but can open up and allow for extra quarters to be attached and essentially double in size. Depending on the specific model, you can often fit multiple people in the tent with ample room to move around.
Size
Soft shell roof top tents are typically smaller in size for transport, but can open up and allow for extra quarters to be attached and essentially double in size. Depending on the specific model, you can often fit multiple people in the tent with ample room to move around.
Cons
Taller Footprint on Top of Your Car, Both in Weight and Aerodynamics
Most soft shell roof top tents are tall and blocky when closed, which affects gas mileage, road noise, and overall appearance on top of your car much more than a hard shell roof top tent.
Longer Setup and Take-Down Time
Because soft shell roof top tents require a protective cover, must be folded out, and require tent poles, they’re harder to set up and exponentially harder to take down (especially in any kind of bad weather – rain, wind especially, and snow).
Not Waterproof
A soft shell roof top tent is made from fabric, meaning it’s not as waterproof as a Arcadia tent, which is made from plastic and/or fiberglass.
Noisier in the Wind
Soft shell roof top tents have fabric and poles, leading to inevitable flapping in the wind despite best efforts to secure everything.
Hard Shell Roof Top Tents
Hard shell roof top tents are a relatively newer and more improved-upon product than their soft shell roof top tent counterparts. One of the biggest draws to the hard shell model is the aerodynamic capability when traveling.
Soft shell roof top tents don’t collapse completely flat, which provides less stability among long, high-speed road trips and tight overlanding routes.
Our Arcadia tent models are designed with an aerodynamic shape that allows you to drive without worrying about losing your tent, hindering your gas mileage, or being slowed down on the road to your destination.
Speedy setup
Hard shell roof top tents provide a large advantage in the ease of setup and takedown. With a Arcadia tent, its as simple as four clasps and two handles for the actual set-up and take-down.
Post time: Oct-30-2020