The VICKYWOOD TEAK 135 Hybrid Roof Tent – 15 ½ Roof Tents in Direct Comparison

Small, sleek, and super light, but what’s really hiding under the hard shell of VICKYWOOD’s TEAK 135 hybrid roof tent? We took the € 2,390 tent for a spin to find out where it shines, and where there’s still room for improvement.

We put the 15 ½ most exciting roof tents to the ultimate test – with 25 first-timers, seasoned campers, two toddlers, two dogs, and one giant teddy in tow. Epic road trips included. Check out our buyers’ guide and get the full rundown on all the roof tents we tested.

VICKYWOOD – a brand by Winch Industry GmbH – have been making a name for themselves in the camping scene since 2020. This Bavarian outdoor brand offers a roof tent for every kind of adventure, whether it’s hard shell, hybrid, foldable or inflatable. Now, they’re aiming to complete their lineup with the compact TEAK 135 hybrid tent made for smaller vehicles. But how does the TEAK 135 stack up against the other two hybrid models on test, the qeedo Freedom Hybrid 2+ and the Roof Space 2? qeedo Freedom Hybrid 2+ and the Roof Space 2?

Hybrid Roof Tent VICKYWOOD TEAK 135: Prepping and Installation

Spoiler alert: Mounting it on the roof almost made us quit the whole test. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Just like with the two other hybrid models from qeedo and Roof Space, there is no pre-assembly needed – the mounting rails came pre-installed. At just under 63 kg, the VICKYWOOD is the lightest hybrid tent on test, which made lifting it onto the car surprisingly doable. Like the Roof Space 2, it uses heavy-duty steel brackets to bolt the tent to the roof rack. Solid, yes, but they’re not pre-shaped or coated, just plain metal plates. That means you’ll want to be extra careful not to scratch your rack. So far, so okay.

But what we’ve never seen – and we’ve mounted 15 tents by now – was hardware this poor: some of the screws were so bad that the nuts literally chewed into the threads. Two out of eight were stuck for good. No tightening, no loosening. End result? Bolt cutters, a hacksaw, and off to the hardware store to buy replacements. Our nerves? Wrecked. Thankfully, we weren’t about to head off on holiday. Pro tip: Never try to mount a brand-new roof tent right before your trip – unless you’re in the mood for maximum stress. Upon request, VICKYWOOD informed us that this issue was known from one of the early production batches and has since been resolved. If you still happen to come across faulty screws, their customer service will quickly and easily provide replacements and support.

Assembly and Disassembly

The hard shell of the VICKYWOOD roof tent opens via two latches, and thanks to gas struts, the lid – which forms the back wall of the tent – pops up on its own with a gentle push. After that, things get a little less intuitive: where do the tension cords go? How exactly does the included lever bar work to open the floor? Pro tip: Read the manual beforehand. Using the lever, the base plate folds out fairly easily, though the process is a bit cumbersome. The lever itself doesn’t exactly inspire confidence as it noticeably flexes under pressure. Only time will tell whether it holds up.

The unfolding process of the VICKYWOOD hybrid roof tent definitely takes some getting used to. But once it’s open, there’s no need to attach tension rods or shoe storage bags. Everything you need is already built into or onto the tent. A cool surprise feature: the organiser net on the underside of the shell is super handy for stashing small items like sunglasses or a notebook during the day.

On another positive note, the ladder feels sturdy, and the locking and release mechanism between the rungs is simpler and safer than on the other two hybrids. The clever half-step system helps prevent pinched fingers.

Unfortunately, every time you set up or pack down the VICKYWOOD hybrid roof tent, you have to attach or detach the Velcro on the entrance rainfly. And when packing it up, the U-bar of the front awning can snap down suddenly if you’re not careful – hitting the unlucky helper standing below right on the head.⁠

The VICKYWOOD Hybrid Roof Tent in Action

Once set up, we were hit by a pungent plastic smell – the mattress exudes pretty much everything the chemistry set has to offer. Even after several days of airing it out, the stench lingers. As such, just buying it and hitting the road isn’t really an option. It’ll probably take one or two full trips before the smell is neutralised. When asked, VICKYWOOD described this issue as an isolated case. Nevertheless, the manufacturer announced plans to replace the mattress in future production runs with the lightweight AirPro air mattress, which has already proven itself in other VICKYWOOD models.

On the other hand, storage is where the VICKYWOOD roof tent really shines: a multi-pocket organiser net at the head of the bed, attached to the inside of the hard shell lid, makes smart use of the space and is easy to reach when lying down. Just don’t overfill it – otherwise the net ends up hanging annoyingly in your face while you sleep. There are also two additional pockets on both sides.

Furthermore, the VICKYWOOD hybrid roof tent includes two shoe bags with external compartments for water bottles and the like – we haven’t seen a setup this well thought out before. The perforated bottom allows for ventilation and keeps things dry, plus the bags can slide along the keder rail.

There’s even more storage space at the foot of the TEAK 135, since the interior length of the tent exceeds that of the mattress – perfect for clothes and gear. The additional organiser pockets mounted outside on the underside of the shell are a unique feature in the test field, offering a super handy spot for sunscreen, books, and other small items.

The interior height is a comfortable 120 cm. Since the hard shell forms the rear wall, there’s no window at the head end, making the inside darker than in the other two hybrid tents on test. An integrated LED light helps, but it’s split into two sections, meaning you’ll need two power banks to run it. The included rainfly also blocks a fair bit of natural light.

That said, the rainfly on the VICKYWOOD hybrid tent has plenty of upsides: when fully set up, it lets you keep the windows open even in rain. In dry weather, you can roll it up at the sides to let in significantly more light. And when removed entirely, it reveals large windows – even above, where the panoramic window suddenly opens up unexpected views. The zippers on the rainfly are a bit stiff, especially at the corners, and it generally takes some patience to fully unzip or reattach it.

Who Should Take a Closer Look at the VICKYWOOD Hybrid Roof Tent?

For two people, the narrow 108–120 cm mattress in the VICKYWOOD roof tent means you can expect lots of cuddle time. But the mattress isn’t great for side sleepers since your hip starts to press uncomfortably into the base after some time. Back sleepers definitely have the advantage here.

At just 62.9 kg – hard shell included – the VICKYWOOD TEAK 135 is light enough for vehicles with a roof load limit of up to 65 kg. It’s a great choice for couples who don’t mind getting cozy and prefer sleeping on their backs – or for solo travelers hitting the road with a rooftop tent.

Those who like to bring gear like aluminum boxes, water canisters or even a kayak will appreciate the additional roof rack system, which comes included and pre-installed.

If the TEAK 135 feels too tight, you can always size up to the larger hybrid model, the Mighty Oak Light, featuring a 195 x 140 cm mattress. However, that does bump the weight and price up to 69 kg and € 2,690, putting it on par with the qeedo Freedom Hybrid 2+.

Our Conclusion on the VICKYWOOD TEAK 135 Hybrid Roof Tent

At 62 kg and € 2,390, the TEAK is both the lightest and most affordable of all the hybrid roof tents on test. It’s also the smallest. Thanks to the rainfly, the ventilation is decent even in bad weather. Weaknesses show up in the mounting and the mattress: The screws were of poor quality, and the mattress in our test unit had a really unpleasant smell and needed two weeks to air out before use. In short: small, but definitely not mighty in every respect.

Tops

• versatile rainfly
• smart storage layout
• extra roof rack for gear

Flops

• mattress in our test unit smelled absolutely awful
• (as stated by the manufacturer: resolved) potential mounting fiasco due to cheap screws

Tip: mount it and let it air out well in advance; side sleepers, get a mattress topper.

For more info, visit VICKYWOOD.com.

The Test Field of the 2024 and 2025 Roof Tent Group Tests

Click here for our big group test – 15 ½ roof 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 (Click here) | Thule Foothill (Click here) | Gentle Tent Sky Loft (Click here) | Arcta Vento (Click here) | Thule Approach M | 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+ | VICKYWOOD TEAK 135 (Click here) | Roof Space 2 (Click here)

Words: Susanne Feddersen, Felicia Nastal Photos: Jan Fock