Car camping is a bit like backpacking, except that instead of a backpack, you have a multi-ton vehicle to lug all your gear.
So yes: when your car plays double-duty as base camp and storage, you鈥檙e entitled to luxuries you definitely wouldn鈥檛 have while backpacking. Sleeping in a penthouse atop your vehicle鈥攁way from dust, dirt, mud, and creepy crawlies鈥攊s one of those luxuries.聽
Enter , a South African company with more than 30 years of experience crafting vehicle-based expedition gear. It makes field-proven that have long been the premier choice for intrepid explorers in Africa looking for a good night鈥檚 sleep in the bush.
For Eezi-Awn鈥檚 customers鈥攁 group that consists of safari guides, around-the-world travelers, and four-wheel-drive aficionados鈥攖he only comfortable bed they鈥檒l retire to after a week of adventure is the one mounted to the roof of their vehicles.聽
Setting up an Eezi-Awn tent takes less than two minutes once you鈥檝e gotten the hang of it. Simply remove the tent鈥檚 waterproof cover, use the attached ladder to help you unfold the tent on the car鈥檚 roof, then climb up, crawl in, and fall asleep. Having spent quite a few nights in an Eezi-Awn (with temperatures ranging from zero to 95 degrees), I have yet to find a more comfortable shelter to sleep in at the end of a long day.
Did I mention the tent comes with a built-in mattress? Well, it does, and it is light years ahead of the backpacking pad I usually sleep on. I was also pleasantly surprised how well sealed the tent was against the elements. A durable wax-impregnated ripstop poly-cotton fabric keeps the rain, sleet, and snow outside, while still allowing the tent to breathe effectively. In short, it鈥檚 old-school tech done right.
This comfort comes at a price. Starting at just over $2,000, Eezi-Awn roof tents are more expensive than their competitors. And at more than 100 pounds, they鈥檙e not exactly lightweight either. (Granted, no rooftop tents are light.) But when it comes to durability and build-quality, the Eezi-Awn products are unsurpassed.