The qeedo Freedom Air 2 roof top tent – 12 ½ roof top tents in direct comparison

That’s it with claustrophobic tents and cave-like bivouacs: with the Freedom Air 2, qeedo take on the competition with an inflatable roof tent that impresses with breath-taking panoramic views, generous amounts of space and easy handling. Can the € 2,199 qeedo roof tent live up to its name, or is it just a load of hot air?

We tested 12 ½ of the most exciting roof top tents in a direct comparison and took along 20 roof tent newbies and experts, 2 small kids, 2 dogs and 1 giant teddy bear on an epic road trip – here for our buying advice, and an overview of all the roof tents we tested.

qeedo are part of CLICKCONCEPT GmbH, who sell their roof tents online and at your local dealer. The German team is always available for queries and puts big emphasis on sustainability, offering countless interchangeable spares for their tents. Their extensive product range includes both hard-shell and soft-shell tents, as well as a new inflatable model, the Freedom Air 2. At 52 kg, it’s one of the lighter players on the market, making roof tents an option even for vehicles with a lower roof load. The qeedo roof tent is designed for roof tent newbies and is built to the highest quality standards and with many well thought-out details. It’s self-inflatable and offers 360° views as well as a generous amount of space.

qeedo roof top tent: preparation and car installation

The qeedo roof tent comes pre-assembled and doesn’t require further accessories before installation on the roof. The standard assembly bag contains everything you need: a fix kit as well as a loop and a peg to secure the ladder. The qeedo roof tent itself bolts to the roof bars using U-shaped, rubberised steel brackets. The German manufacturer includes a set of both short and long brackets to suit a wide range of roof bars – awesome! Another practical detail are the big knurled screws, which can be tightened by hand without the need for additional tools. Overall, this ensures a faster, less painful installation than almost all the other tents in this test, which are often more expensive. Our tip: all bolts should be tightened by the same person to ensure consistent torque across the roof. Another impressive detail is that the bolts can be threaded into the rail under the tent from both sides and in the centre, so you don’t have to lift the entire structure again during assembly.

qeedo roof top tent: assembly and disassembly

You can tell that the manufacturer has thought about every little assembly detail: the cover is grey on the unfolded side, which allows you to spontaneously decide which side to put the ladder. This rests directly under the soft cover and is used to unfold the tent during assembly. No other folding tent in this test had this smart feature either: once you open the tent, the two-part floor panel is held in place by a locking rail with a safety catch. This prevents the tent from rocking or even folding up if the ladder is unstable, and you won’t wake up your partner when you go to the toilet in the middle of the night.

Tuning tip: Backup hand pump in case there’s a problem with the electrics

Now the qeedo roof tent can be inflated and you have 2 options: you can either connect the integrated electric air pump to the cigarette lighter or a power bank, or you can use a hand pump, which is not included in the price – if you use a hand pump, use one with a long hose! The integrated electric pump stops supplying air as soon as it reaches the target pressure, with a pressure relief valve preventing the whole thing from exploding. After about 4-5 minutes, the qeedo roof tent fully inflates itself, meaning that you can enjoy a coffee and take a look around the campsite in the meantime. At 55 Db, the pump is surprisingly quiet, allowing you to set up camp even late at night, without bothering your neighbours. Once the qeedo roof tent is up, there’s no need to set up an outer tent; everything’s done with the pump. Now you can extend the ladder, and secure it with a peg to prevent it from slipping.

Sharing the work: Chris times how long the qeedo tent takes to inflate itself.

Ideally, it takes two people to dismantle the tent. The qeedo has to be thoroughly pushed down to let all the air out. The best way to do this is to leave the valve open. There’s an elastic band on the inside that pulls the fabric inwards when the air is released. Nice detail: the elastic band can also be used as a washing line during the day. The four elastic bands of the soft cover are difficult to stretch, and it takes some practice to pull them over the fastening buttons on the bottom of the tent. However, they’re still better than the zippered systems we tested, which tend to snag easily. You can also leave your bedding in the tent for transportation, provided this is not too bulky. It’s best to try this out, as the soft cover still has to fit over the folded tent when taken down. If there’s too much stuff in there, it gets cramped. The ladder also fits on the roof and hides under the soft cover. Dismantling takes a maximum of 5 minutes.

The qeedo roof top tent in action

As soon as you open the qeedo tent, you realise how much light and room there is inside. The big entrance, huge side windows and the opening at the back provide a 360° panoramic view, making you feel as if you were sleeping outdoors – the perfect setting for envy-worthy Insta posts. The roof window can be opened like a small roller blind, so you can stargaze while lying on your back. With an interior height of 132 cm, the qeedo roof tent is in the mid-range. With a size of 210 cm x 140 cm, the mattress offers a generous sleeping area for 2 people. Here, qeedo have spared no expense on the material. The 5 cm cold-foam mattress is covered with a thermal cotton fabric that can be removed for washing. Top tip: a mesh underlay is already included in the price, ensuring good ventilation of the mattress.

The qeedo tent has so many cool details – I was surprised how much I liked it! – Chris

The good quality of the qeedo Freedom Air 2 is also reflected in the materials: the breathable membrane fabric on the outside is paired with a robust cotton blend fabric on the inside. Even with the rain cover on, the qeedo is well ventilated at all times with its many windows. Integrated fly screens on the windows and the entrance protect stop any irritating bloodsuckers from messing with you in your sleep. As soon as you open the qeedo tent, there’s already a shoe bag hanging in the entrance. Plus, there are two nets and various hooks on the inside. We recommend buying the optional Roof Organiser, which allows you to stow away several more items. For winter campers, there’s also a dedicated opening for a stationary air heater pipe.

Who should take a closer look at the qeedo roof top tent?

To make life easier for roof tent newbies and campers with two left hands, qeedo offer a tent that doesn’t require pre-assembly and can be set up in just a few easy steps. The spacious interior offers enough room for two people, while an opening for a stationary air heater makes it a great option for all-year adventurers.

Thanks to its compact pack size (150 cm x 102 cm x 38 cm), the qeedo roof top tent is a good match for medium-sized cars. At 52 kg, it’s also a great option for cars with a low roof load. Always note: permissible dynamic roof load: 52 kg (tent weight) + 5 kg (ladder) + base carrier weight. And at € 2,199, it’s still in the middle of the test field in terms of price.

In this test, there are lighter, more compact tents, tents with more headroom, as well as tents that are quicker and easier to set up. However, no model in this test field offers a more complete all-round package for such a reasonable price like the qeedo Freedom Air 2.

Our conclusions about the qeedo Freedom Air 2 roof top tent

With the Freedom Air 2, qeedo deliver an all-round carefree package with many useful details. No other manufacturer was able to match this, so the qeedo roof tent secures our coveted Best in Test badge! At € 2,199, it’s also suitable for beginners who are looking for a little space miracle with plenty of freedom of movement and breath-taking panoramic views – all at a very fair price! Everything, including set-up, is well thought out, so you can focus on having a good time on your holidays and, of course, getting a few good pictures for Insta!

Tops

• Well-thought-out installation process
• Locking rail increases platform stability
• Mega all-round visibility, good sense of space
• Good quality (mattress and tent)

Flops

• Dismantling: the elastic bands for the cover are hard to stretch over the fastening buttons on the underside of the roof tent.

For more info, visit qeedo.de

The test field

Click here for our big comparison test – 12 ½ roof top tents in direct comparison

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 | 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)

Words: Susanne Feddersen, Julian Schwede Photos: Mike Hunger, Robin Schmitt