Single-fold or double-fold roof tent – what's the difference?
When you look at roof tents you'll often come across the terms single-fold (enkelvikt) and double-fold (dubbelvikt). It isn't about quality or material, but about how the tent is folded when closed – and above all it affects how long the tent is on the roof. That in turn decides how well the tent suits your car, especially if you have a shorter car where the boot/tailgate may get in the way.
Here we explain the difference in a simple way, the pros and cons of each type, and how to choose the right one for your car.
What do single-fold and double-fold mean?
The difference is about how the tent folds up. A double-fold tent folds in the middle, a bit like a book. When closed, its length is then roughly equal to the tent's width – so relatively short on the roof. A single-fold tent does not fold in the middle, but lies out across almost its full sleeping length even when closed. It therefore becomes long on the roof, often around 200–220 cm.
An easy way to recognise the type is to look at the closed measurement: if the closed length is roughly equal to the tent's width it's double-fold, and if the closed length is roughly equal to the sleeping length it's single-fold.
One important thing to remember: double-fold doesn't automatically mean short. A narrow double-fold tent becomes short on the roof, but a wide double-fold family tent is still long, because the width itself is large.
Advantages of double-fold
The biggest advantage of a (narrow) double-fold tent is that it's short on the roof when closed. That makes it a good choice for smaller and shorter cars, where a long tent could otherwise block the tailgate.
Because the tent folds in the middle, half of it hangs out beyond the car when it's open. That gives a slightly more open sleeping area, but can feel a touch less stable than a single-fold tent. For most people it's not a practical drawback.
Advantages of single-fold
A single-fold tent rests with its whole footprint on the roof when open, because it doesn't fold out beyond the car. That gives a stable, solid feel, and setup is often a little faster because there are fewer steps.
The downside is that the tent is long even when closed. On a longer car that's no problem, but on a short car it can mean the tailgate won't open properly.
Short car roof? Length matters
If you have a shorter car, for example a small hatchback, it's the tent's closed length that matters most – not the fold type itself. A long tent (around 200–220 cm closed) can make the tailgate hit the tent so it won't open fully.
Our most compact tents for short roofs are the Lite Cruiser 120 XL and Voyager Pro 130, both of which are short when closed and leave the tailgate clear on most cars. If you're unsure, we always recommend measuring the distance from the front of your roof bars to the tailgate and comparing it with the tent's closed length.
Hardshell, softshell and folding
A common misconception is that single-fold/double-fold is tied to hardshell or softshell. It isn't. Both single-fold and double-fold tents exist in both hardshell and softshell – they are two completely separate things.
The shell type is about the material and how quick the tent is to use, while the fold is about how long the tent is on the roof. So when choosing a tent it's worth thinking about both: first which shell type suits the way you travel, and then whether the length works on your car.
Comparison: single-fold vs double-fold
| Priority | Usually the best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Short car roof / reaching the tailgate | Double-fold (narrow) | A short closed length rarely blocks the tailgate. |
| Maximum stability | Single-fold | The whole tent rests on the roof. |
| Fastest handling | Single-fold | Often a few fewer steps when setting up. |
| Shortest closed length | Double-fold (narrow) | The tent folds in the middle. |
| Large family tent | Both work | Available in both single-fold and double-fold. |
Which of our tents are which?
Here's an overview of how our Wild Land tents fold. Bear in mind that the wider double-fold family tents are still long when closed – it's the narrower models that are most car-friendly on short roofs.
Double-fold
- Lite Cruiser 120 XL
- Voyager Pro 130
- Voyager Pro 160
- Voyager Pro 230
- SE-180
- Wild Cruiser 160
- Wild Cruiser 250
Single-fold
- Normandy Auto 120
- Desert Cruiser 120
- Desert Cruiser 140
- Desert Cruiser V2 130
- Bush Cruiser V2 Pro 120
- Bush Cruiser V2 Pro 140
- Rock Cruiser Pro
Our advice
Start by looking at your car. If you have a shorter car and want to reach the tailgate, a compact double-fold tent is usually the easiest choice. If you have a longer car, length is rarely a problem, and you can choose freely based on sleeping area and shell type.
If you want maximum stability and the fastest possible handling, a single-fold tent works well – as long as the car roof is long enough for the tailgate to clear.
Summary
Double-fold folds in the middle and is shorter on the roof – best for short cars (in the narrower sizes). Single-fold doesn't fold in the middle, is longer on the roof but stands stably and is often quick to set up. Both come in hardshell and softshell.
So the key question is: how long is your car's roof, and do you want to prioritise a compact closed size or maximum stability? If you're unsure, we're happy to help you find the right one.
Have questions? Contact us and we'll help you find the right tent.
