7 min read

The best roof tent for families

When the whole family is sleeping in the roof tent, the requirements are a little different than for a couple. Above all you need enough sleeping width, but you also have to think about the car's roof load since bigger tents weigh more. The good news is that there are spacious family tents in both hardshell and softshell.

Here we go through what to consider when the tent also has to fit children, and which of our models suit families best.

What does a family need?

A family tent above all needs space. For two adults and a couple of children you want a wide sleeping area so everyone fits comfortably. At the same time, many families want easy handling, since it's often more hectic to get the whole family going than travelling solo.

The three things to weigh up are: how many will sleep in it, how quick and easy the tent is to use, and what your car's roof can carry.

Size and sleeping width

The sleeping width decides how many fit. For a family of two adults and two to three children you usually want one of our widest tents. Two adults and one child often manage in a slightly narrower model, but most families are happiest with extra room.

Remember that children grow – choosing a bit bigger from the start means the tent lasts longer as the family develops.

Hardshell or softshell for the family?

Both work excellently for families. Hardshell is fastest to open and close, which many parents of small children appreciate, and has a low profile on the car. Softshell often gives plenty of sleeping space for the money and can hold more bedding inside when closed.

If you want to read more about the difference, we recommend our guide on hardshell and softshell, which goes through the pros and cons in detail.

Mind the roof load

Bigger family tents weigh more, which makes the car's roof load extra important to check. The total weight on the roof is the tent plus the roof bars. Some of our largest family tents are heavy, so make sure the car's dynamic roof load is enough with some margin.

You can find the car's maximum roof load by searching the registration number on car.info or in the manual. If you're unsure, we're happy to help you check that the tent suits your car.

Our best family tents

These are the models we most often recommend for families, because they have a large sleeping area:

Voyager Pro 230 – our spacious hardshell family tent with quick opening and closing. A top choice for 4–5 people.
Wild Cruiser 250 – a large softshell family tent with a generous sleeping area for 4–5 people.
SE-180 – suits smaller families of 3–4 who want a hardshell.
Voyager Pro 160 – a good choice for two adults and one child who want a little extra room.

Our advice

For most families of two adults and two to three children, the Voyager Pro 230 is our first choice – large sleeping area, hardshell and quick handling. If you'd rather have softshell with maximum space for the money, the Wild Cruiser 250 is a strong alternative.

If you're a smaller family, a slightly narrower model is often enough, which frees up both lower weight and a lower price. Always check the car's roof load before choosing one of the larger tents.

Summary

For the family it's mostly about sleeping width and easy handling, while keeping an eye on the car's roof load since family tents weigh more. The Voyager Pro 230 (hardshell) and Wild Cruiser 250 (softshell) are our roomiest choices for 4–5 people.

Tell us how many you are and which car you have, and we'll help you find the right family tent.