The Lightest Roof Tent in the World – Can the Groenberg WEEKEND Kick Off the Lightweight Revolution?

A 12 kg roof tent packed away in a bag. The Groenberg WEEKEND only comes out of the cupboard when you need it, then disappears again – compact enough for smaller apartments. And particularly for self-sufficient solo travellers who prefer to handle everything themselves, from purchase to installation. Strap it to the car on arrival and the setup is done. But does the lightest roof tent in the world deliver on its ambitious brief?

This article is part of our lightweight roof tent comparison test. You’ll find our roof tent buying guide and an overview of 15½ other models in our big DOWNTOWN roof tent review.

Inhalt

1. Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT on Review: How Much Effort Do Prep and Roof Tent Installation Take?
2. How Does Setup and Pack-Down Work?
3. How Does the Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT Perform in Action?
4. Who Should Take a Closer Look at the Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT Roof Tent?
5. Our Conclusions about the Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT

When is a tent a roof tent? When it rides on the roof for the whole journey? Most of the camping community would probably say yes. But who holds the definition? If the tent sits on a car roof at the moment of camping, does anything else matter? That is the question German manufacturer Groenberg builds the WEEKEND around, and the answer reshapes the category. Rather than a fixed box or platform, the concept centres on a tent erected on arrival and strapped to the crossbars via a dedicated belt system. While driving, the whole system disappears into the boot: aerodynamically neutral, with multi-storey and underground car park clearances no longer a concern. Classic poles and a stable inflatable drop-stitch floor, familiar from SUPs, complete the structure on site. The result looks, from most angles, like an ordinary ground tent.

Groenberg claim the WEEKEND COMFORT is the world’s lightest roof tent, and we found nothing to suggest otherwise. The ambition behind it is clear: to set a new benchmark and prove that roof tent holidays can be lightweight and free of dependence on outside muscle power. At 12 kg, it’s in all likelihood the only roof tent on the market that a single person can mount and remove without assistance, making it a compelling option for solo travellers who have no interest in relying on outside help, whether storing the tent at home or fitting it to the car. The Schleswig-Holstein brand also wants its bag-style roof tent, priced at just under €1,000 to €1,200 depending on the version, to address the problem that has kept city dwellers away from roof tent camping for years: space. Not everyone has a house or garage where a roof tent can sit out the off-season. The WEEKEND, by contrast, takes up about as much space as a large travel bag.

Multifunctionality is another part of Groenberg’s pitch: thanks to the drop-stitch floor plate, the tent works both on the car roof and independently on the ground. Whether you’re out in nature or at a festival, long nights usually end horizontally at some point. Here, you even get to choose your level: grounded or elevated. The inflatable platform can also be separated from the rest of the tent and used at home as a guest bed or air track gym mat. The WEEKEND is available in the “Classic” version for €999.95, or for an additional €200 in the COMFORT version. The latter adds a Sky-View roof window, protective awnings over the entrances and a special blackout material for a dark, cool interior.

Given this impressive package, expectations were high for the Groenberg WEEKEND among our test team. Can this “bag-style roof tent” compete with the two other ultralight roof tents in the shootout, the OLC Adventure Ultra Light 130 and the TentBox GO, or does the new concept turn out to be hot air?

Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT on Review: How Much Effort Do Prep and Roof Tent Installation Take?

Before the first use, the process is straightforward: take the bag from storage, put it in the car and go. No further preparation required before arriving at your destination. Those with a full-length roof rack who prefer to transport the tent on the roof while driving can add the waterproof WEEKEND SPEEDBAG, secured like any other travel bag with tension straps.

How Does Setup and Pack-Down Work?

Rather than heavy mechanics, the Groenberg WEEKEND runs on air pressure and manual effort at ground level. The process will feel familiar to anyone with stand-up paddling experience: inflating drop-stitch mats by hand takes time. Those who view that as a workout are well served by the supplied pump. Everyone else should reach for an automatic compressor, which cuts total setup time to around six to seven minutes and is considerably more practical. Some manufacturers, including group review winner qeedo Freedom Air, include an electric pump as standard.

The next steps feel very much like pitching a tent when ground camping: the poles have to be assembled and connected to the tent cube. Once you’ve figured it out after the first attempt, the procedure gets faster with each attempt. And if you’d rather sleep down below instead of on the car roof, you could already use the WEEKEND as a normal ground tent at this stage. In the rain, the drop-stitch mat keeps the sleeping surface completely dry.

Why not just take a ground tent then?

Multifunctionality aside, roof tent performance is the focus of our real-world test on the meadow. So, onto the car it goes, and according to the manufacturer, that should be possible completely solo. We can confirm it: with the right technique, which the video tutorial covers, getting the tent onto the roof is effortless. It attaches to the roof rack with tension straps and slightly stubborn buckles, and the ladder is fixed with a single buckle and strap. It feels less solid than a traditional roof tent bolted firmly in place, but it also spares the installer the protracted screwing that conventional mounting demands.

Good to know: sleeping pads or mattresses still have to be inflated separately during setup, because the tent doesn’t come with a mattress, which is absolutely essential.

If rain is forecast, the included rain cover can be attached from inside the pitched tent, preventing water from entering through the roof windows. Groenberg rates the tent fabric at a water column of 5,000 mm.

Packing down is done in just a few minutes: unhook the ladder, take down the tent, reverse all the steps and back into the bag it goes.

In short: the Groenberg WEEKEND saves time before the trip by eliminating pre-assembly, but gives it back on site, where setup is far from lightning-fast. For many, that speed is central to the roof tent experience. In the group review, the OLC and TentBox competition make a more convincing case on that front.

How Does the Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT Perform in Action?

If you want to use your car during a short trip, the Groenberg WEEKEND shows one of its practical sides: removal takes under a minute.. Just undo the buckles, put the ladder aside and lift down the featherweight package – ready to drive. Still, our practical review raises a fairly valid question: why does this tent need to be used on the roof at all? We’ve covered the specific reasons for sleeping up high in detail in our big DOWNTOWN group review including buying guide (just jump to “Stairway to Heaven” there!) – and they apply to the WEEKEND too.

Space and Interior

Once positioned on the roof, the WEEKEND COMFORT has two lightly covered entrances with additional mosquito mesh doors. A total of six openings – two per side and two in the roof – will satisfy anyone who sleeps best with the air moving. On four of them, the mosquito mesh can be fully unzipped, allowing air to flow freely. Despite this “roof ventilation”, the Groenberg isn’t one of the brightest tents in the test field. Since the short sides don’t have any additional windows apart from the vents, comparatively little light enters the interior. If you like it pitch-black for a siesta, however, you’ll appreciate the special coating that doesn’t let a single ray of light through.

The interior organisation is top-notch: all four sides have two mesh pockets each, while an extra small mesh pocket in the roof works as a “hammock” for your phone or lamps. Tip for the next generation: making it tablet-sized would be the cherry on top. Plenty of fixing points for additional camping gear round off the well-thought-out storage offering.

A valuable safety feature for solo travellers: the ladder can be pulled into the tent, protecting you from unwanted visitors at night. One drawback remains the ladder itself: the aluminium telescopic steps aren’t angled, which is genuinely painful barefoot. Maybe barefoot shoes make it more comfortable? You’ll find our review of 7 barefoot shoe models here.

Sleeping Comfort and Stability

At 217 cm, the sleeping area of Groenberg’s lightweight roof tent is generously long, leaving plenty of space for clothes at the foot end. With two people in the tent, each person gets a comfortable 65 cm, and the 120 cm height provides plenty of room to move. Important: the tent is supplied without a mattress. You absolutely have to buy one separately, which we see as a hidden cost factor – and that costs it points. The Ultra Light roof tent from OLC Adventure, one of the competitors in the lightweight roof tent shootout, is much more generous here and even includes a mesh underlay alongside the mattress.

One design-related drawback is stability: because the drop-stitch plate isn’t a rigid platform, it moves and curves noticeably when two heavier people sit in the middle. This is where the optional BRIDGE mat makes sense, its crossbars providing the necessary stiffness. One or even two lightweights won’t need this accessory. But whether you’re sitting inside alone or as a pair, the entire construction on the roof feels wobblier overall than the firmly bolted-on roof tent competition.

Light and Shade in the Materials

While the drop-stitch platform and aluminium poles leave a high-quality impression, the tent fabric requires clear compromises. The material of the actual tent cube is extremely thin and feels vulnerable to damage. On our pre-series test model, small holes were already visible in the blackout fabric, and some seams are so large that you can see the sun through them (wisely, the manufacturer includes a repair kit with adhesive patches right away). The material also means that the WEEKEND flaps far more in stronger winds and stands less solidly on the car overall than any other tent we’ve tested so far. Also not great: the material of the sleeping surface, which is stretched directly over the drop-stitch plate, has a plasticky feel and doesn’t seem very breathable.

The manufacturer explains its choice of tent fabric with the use of ultralight materials from the trekking world and has announced a different material composition for the next generation, which is currently in production. Even so: with a retail price of €1,199, we expected more in terms of material quality and longevity. Groenberg urgently needs to improve here so that the innovative “bag-style roof tent” lasts more than just one or two seasons.

Who Should Take a Closer Look at the Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT Roof Tent?

Like its competitors in the lightweight roof tent shootout, the WEEKEND is a genuine all-rounder thanks to its low weight and compact dimensions, fitting almost any car. Overall, it is particularly interesting for …

• … anyone who needs roof space for other equipment, such as a canoe or bike
• … small cars or vehicles with low roof load limits. But: the length of the roof rails must allow sufficient distance between the crossbars. We recommend at least 100 cm to create a sense of stability.
• … people without a garage or spacious basement
• … solo travellers who want to be independent from the moment of installation
• … spontaneous travellers who want to be ready to leave in a few minutes

Our Conclusions about the Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT

The WEEKEND poses a fundamental question: what is a roof tent? It presents itself as an idiosyncratic boundary crosser that reframes roof tent camping entirely. Groups previously excluded from the format suddenly find themselves with an option. Singles can enter without any outside help for the first time, and camping fans without storage space can join in too. The sticking points remain the time-consuming on-site setup, even if it is manageable solo, and a price that feels hard to justify given the material quality and necessary accessories. The concept is still finding its footing, but it marks an exciting start for the new category of bag-style roof tents.

Tops

• currently the lightest “roof tent” on the market
• leaves space for kayaks and co. on the roof rack when travelling
• can be used completely without outside help
• no garage or basement storage space required

Flops

• time-consuming setup
• poor-quality tent fabric finish
• essential mattress not included
• unstable attachment/wobbly construction

Tip: Get an electric pump – it saves a lot of time during setup.

More info at groenberg.com.

Das Testfeld beim Dachzelt Test 2024 und 2025

Hier gehts zum großen Vergleichstest – 15 ½ Dachzelte fürs Auto im Dachzelt Test

All roof tents in test: 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 (Zum Test) | qeedo Freedom Hybrid 2+ (Click here) | VICKYWOOD TEAK 135 (Click here) | Roof Space 2 | OLC Adventure Ultra Light 130 (Click here) | Groenberg WEEKEND COMFORT | TentBox GO (Click here)

Words: Felicia Nastal Photos: Tim Eckermann