What are the differences between hard-shell and soft-shell roof tents?
What is a hard-shell roof tent? A hard-shell roof tent has a rigid shell made of fibreglass, aluminium or hard plastic. The rigid shell forms the ceiling and floor of the tent. The tent walls are made of a durable, waterproof fabric, such as nylon or canvas. The fabric walls are attached to the edges of the rigid ceiling and floor, joining them together. When closed for storage and driving, the rigid floor and ceiling shells sandwich the bedding and tent walls. Hard shell roof tents open vertically. They come in two main styles. The wedge or flap models have a hinge at the front or foot end of the tent. When open, the top shell is at an angle. The ceiling is high at the head side and low at the foot. The hinges point towards the front of the vehicle. The pop-up hard-shell roof tent opens directly in a box shape. All four walls are vertical and the ceiling is flat. Advantages of a hard-shell roof tent 1. Faster and easier to set up - a well-designed hardshell roof tent can be set up by