You’ll find our big roof tent buying guide and an overview of 15½ other models in our DOWNTOWN roof tent group review.
Table of Contents
- 1. The Test Field at a Glance – Three Concepts, One Goal: Maximum Freedom With Minimum Ballast
- 2. How We Reviewed the Lightweight Roof Tents
- 3. Which Lightweight Roof Tent Fits Which Type?
- 4. Tops and Flops in the Lightweight Roof Tent Shootout
- 5. The Final Boss for 80 kg Giants and Luxury Liners
- 6. Conclusions
For a long time, aluminium hard-shell roof tents were the undisputed kings of the road trip – proven classics that scored with maximum comfort and robust construction. That luxury comes at a price, in more ways than one: established models often weigh around 75 kg and start at €2,500. In practice, that means installation only with several people, a permanent “aerodynamic drag project” on the roof, and the question of where to store the massive thing out of season. For many EV drivers or owners of small cars with low roof load limits, the roof tent adventure simply hasn’t been a real option.
A new generation of lightweight roof tents tackles exactly these sore points, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. The basic idea is as simple as it is effective: save weight through innovative concepts like inflatable drop-stitch, aluminium exoskeletons or radical hard-shell diets. When transport, installation and storage suddenly become manageable for two people – or even solo – the roof tent turns into a flexible gadget rather than permanent rooftop real estate. Some manufacturers of lightweight roof tents also offer space-saving solutions, taking the sting out of the often tricky question of off-season storage.
In our rooftop tent comparison test with the TentBox GO, Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT and OLC Adventure Ultra Light 130, we show how this new 12 to 38 kg class opens up the roof tent market to a much wider audience. To everyone who has been left out until now: solo travellers without installation help, city dwellers without a garage, or EV drivers who keep an eye on range. We don’t just check which model wins on the scales, but which concept genuinely frees up everyday camping. And why the established mid-range should start paying attention when a €1,300 tent suddenly flips the category on its head.
The Test Field at a Glance – Three Concepts, One Goal: Maximum Freedom With Minimum Ballast
To find out which concept really revolutionises everyday use, we sent three radically different approaches into the race. What they all have in common: they sit well below the magic 40 kg mark, making them ideal for EVs or vehicles with low roof load limits.
| Brand | Model | Type | Weight (no ladder) |
Closed dimensions | Open dimensions | People | Price (RRP, €) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groenberg | WEEKEND COMFORT | Bag-style roof tent with drop-stitch floor | 12 | approx. 75 x 40 x 25 cm (packed size bag) |
220 x 147 x 120 cm | 2 | 1,199.95 |
| OLC Adventure | Ultra Light 130 | Aluminium-plastic hard-shell tent | 38 | 212 x 131 x 13 cm | 210 x 125 x 120 cm | 2 | 1,300 |
| TentBox | GO | Softshell tent with aluminium frame | 36 | 228 x 121 x 21-42 cm | 228 x 121 x 114 cm | 1–2 | 1,199 |
The Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT Roof Tent
At 12 kilograms, the Groenberg WEEKEND takes lightweight construction to the extreme, and fills a niche that classic roof tents have never really covered. Rather than travelling as a fixed unit on the roof, it disappears into the car while driving and is only set up on arrival. Stability comes not from metal plates or heavy frames, but from an inflatable drop-stitch platform. That makes the WEEKEND COMFORT not only the lightest model in the review by a considerable margin, but the lightest roof tent in the world. More importantly, it is a compelling solution for anyone who wants to travel independently, handle the entire setup alone or simply lacks storage space. Those after the classic roof tent experience, a fixed, ready-to-use sleeping platform, will likely find the concept a poor fit. Price: €999 (CLASSIC) / €1,299.95 (COMFORT). To the full review.
The OLC Adventure Ultra Light 130 Roof Tent
The OLC Adventure Ultra Light 130 sticks closely to the classic roof tent concept, but shows just how radically a hardtop can slim down. It uses a machine-welded aluminium frame with plastic honeycomb panels, turning a fully fledged hard-shell tent into a 38 kilogram package. Another plus: with its extremely low height of 13 cm, it can even glide through many underground car park entrances without drama. Add robust, high-quality materials and a solid standard spec for an affordable €1,300, and the package starts to look very convincing. Because the Ultra Light 130 requires very little pre-assembly, is easy to handle with two people and sets up at camp in no time, it removes many of the everyday pain points of roof tent life. Our clear favourite in this three-way shootout of lightweight roof tents! To the full review.
The TentBox GO Roof Tent
The TentBox GO also follows a well-considered lightweight approach, but uses a completely different principle. Instead of a floor panel, it relies on a load-bearing aluminium frame and a tensioned fabric sleeping surface. This brings it down to just 36 kilograms and shows how far weight can be reduced through consistent minimalism. The concept is most relevant for solo travellers, minimalists and those with limited storage space, as the GO can in theory be dismantled and stored in a manageable footprint, though the effort involved is considerable. It also has one clear advantage once you reach your destination: the tent is ready for use very quickly. However, if you’re looking for a plug-and-play system and want to travel comfortably as a pair, this lightweight roof tent does come with compromises. Price: €1,199. To the full review.
How We Reviewed the Lightweight Roof Tents
As with all our roof tent reviews, we threw ourselves into a real camping adventure and checked in practice how easy – or how hard – these models make camp life. We mounted the lightweight roof tents at our publishing house in Leonberg before putting them properly through their paces at a beautiful spot in southern Germany:
- Preparation and installation on the vehicle:
How involved is the pre-assembly? Do you just need to attach a set of crossbars, or should you plan for several hours of work? How many people are needed? - Setting up and packing down on site:
How long does it take until the roof tent is ready? Is unfolding complicated? Do you have to walk around the tent a lot during setup and pack-down? And what happens in windy conditions? - The roof tent in use:
How much space and what kind of room feel does the tent offer, and is the mattress comfortable? What are the materials and build quality like? Which nice extras are included as standard? - Weight and pack size:
How much weight ultimately sits on the car? In other words, how much does the tent weigh together with any crossbars and standard equipment supplied? How much storage space does the tent need when not in use? How tall is it including crossbars? Can it crack the magic 2-metre mark?
Which Lightweight Roof Tent Fits Which Camper Type?
Choosing the right lightweight tent is less a question of budget – all three sit between €1,200 and €1,300 – and more a question of your camping lifestyle. Are you after maximum independence, quick comfort at the campsite or a particularly pared-back, space-saving setup? Depending on your priorities, different tents in this rooftop tent review will be right for you.
For Solo Travellers, City Dwellers and Anyone Without Storage Space: The Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT/CLASSIC
The inflatable Groenberg is the most exciting solution for anyone who wants to handle their roof tent entirely alone and doesn’t have a garage or large basement. Instead of becoming a permanent resident on your car, the roof tent disappears into its bag when not in use, closing a gap that classic roof tents have left wide open until now.
For Couples, Frequent Travellers and Anyone Who Likes Simplicity: The OLC Adventure Ultra Light 130
The OLC is the best choice for anyone looking for the most traditional roof tent experience possible, but with less weight, minimal installation effort and uncomplicated handling. For frequent location changes, road trips and comfort-focused outdoor enthusiasts, the overall package is particularly well balanced.
For Solo Travellers, People With Limited Storage and Anyone Who Loves Easy Stops: The TentBox GO
The TentBox GO is especially interesting for adventure fans travelling solo, people without much storage space at home and anyone who wants to set up camp as quickly as possible at their destination. Its strengths lie in the dismantlable, space-saving construction and very fast readiness at the campsite.
Tops and Flops in the Lightweight Roof Tent Shootout
Tops
Flops
The Final Boss for 80 kg Giants and Luxury Liners
The real advance these three models represent is not simply a reduction in unnecessary kilos, but a challenge to an entire market logic. While other outdoor categories debate lightweight records in grams, the roof tent world has long considered 50 kg a genuine achievement. As Oliver Reetz, Product Manager of Groenberg, explains, this may be because many manufacturers came originally from the metal industry rather than the tent world. It’s hardly surprising, then, that weight reduction has rarely been a priority, or even a consideration, for many roof tent brands.
The new lightweight class now shows that using less material, smarter constructions and a different view of mobility don’t just somehow work. They actually have the potential to put the established players under pressure. With prices around €1,200 to €1,300 – and the base version of the WEEKEND, the CLASSIC, even coming in below €1,000 – this new generation of lightweight roof tents also sends a clear signal at the financial entry point to the category. Which increasingly leaves the established roof tent competition with some explaining to do.
Conclusions
Less weight, more freedom: these lightweight roof tents demonstrate how much potential lies in considered concepts.. Sure, depending on the construction, there are small compromises in comfort or handling. In return, the new lightweight generation is making the heavyweight crowd break a sweat and opening up the roof tent lifestyle to far more people. Less lugging, more living. Let’s fly!
All other roof tents reviewed by DOWNTOWN so far:
Front Runner Feather Lite (Click here) | Decathlon MH 900 (Click here) | Vickywood Cumaru Light 127 ECO (Click here) | Yakima SkyRise HD Tent MD (Click here) | Qeedo Freedom Air 2 (click here) | Thule Foothill (Click here) | Gentle Tent Sky Loft (Click here) | Arcta Vento (Click here) | Thule Approach M (Click here) | Intrepid Geo 3.0 (Click here) | Naturbummler Alu-Kraftkiste (Click here) | Thule Outset (Click here) | Naturbummler Flitzer I L (Click here) | qeedo Freedom Hybrid 2+ (Click here) | VICKYWOOD TEAK 135 (Click here) | Roof Space 2 (Click here) | OLC Adventure Ultra Light 130 (Click here) | Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT (zum Test) | TentBox GO (Click here)
Words: Felicia Nastal Photos: Tim Eckermann
