 This Product
Yakima SkyRise Medium | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Softshell Rooftop Tent |  Best Bang for the Buck |  Best for Fitting More Gear | ||
| Price | $1,900 List $1,706 at Amazon | $1,999 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $1,632 List $1,428 at Amazon | $1,700 at Evo Compare at 4 sellers | $1,326 List $1,048 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | An easy to install tent that requires minimal knowledge or use of tools | A soft top fold-out rooftop tent that has massive windows | A high-performance model that doesn't injure your bank account | If you want a rooftop tent that won’t take up your entire rack, this is the one | A reasonably priced rooftop tent that offers excellent performance in almost every aspect |
| Rating Categories | Yakima SkyRise Medium | Thule Approach M | Smittybilt GEN2 Ove... | Thule Tepui Foothill | Smittybilt Overlander |
| Space and Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Durability (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Conversion (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Assembly and Installation (15%) | |||||
| Cover Convenience (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Yakima SkyRise Medium | Thule Approach M | Smittybilt GEN2 Ove... | Thule Tepui Foothill | Smittybilt Overlander |
| Seasons | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Weight | 115 lbs | 128 lbs | 154 lbs | 122 lbs | 144 lbs |
| Max Inside Height | 48 in | 40 in | 51 in | 38 in | 51 in |
| Pockets | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 |
| Windows | 3 side, 2 roof | 4 | 3 side, 2 roof | 3 side, 2 roof | 3 side, 2 roof |
| Floor Dimensions | 56 in x 96 in | 95 in x 56 in | 56 in x 96 in | 87 in x 40 in | 56 in x 96 in |
| Floor Area | 38 sq ft | 38 sq ft | 38 sq ft | 24 sq ft | 38 sq ft |
| Packed Size | 12 in x 48 in x 56 in | 11 in x 49 in x 56 in | 12 in x 48 in x 56 in | 9.5 in x 24 in x 83 in | 12 in x 48 in x 56 in |
| Floor Materials | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Welded aluminum | Aluminum |
| Main Tent Materials | 210 D nylon | 600 D polyester ripstop | 600 D | 600 D | 420 D |
| Rainfly Materials | 600 D | TPU-coated nylon | 420D Oxford | 600 D | 600 D |
| Number of Poles | 8 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Design Type | Fold-out | Fold-out | Fold-out | Fold-out | Fold-out |
| Capacity | 2-3 Person | 2-3 Person | 2-3 Person | 2 Person | 2-3 Person |
| Extras | Locks, quick release, clear sky windows in rain fly | Dual-layer foam mattress, removable rain cover, lockable mounting bracket | Interior LED, extension cords, boot bag | Double level pockets, loop inside for hanging lights and gear | Interior LED, extension cords, boot bag |
When it comes to great outdoor gear, Yakima has always been a force to be reckoned with. With decades of experience designing racks, top-rated cargo boxes, and gear baskets, it only makes sense that they'd jump into the rooftop tent game. Their first tent, the SkyRise Medium, is awesome. It's convenient, it's comfortable, and the Yakima design team has thought of small details that make car camping easier than ever.
The SkyRise is fairly comfortable and spacious. One thing we love is that if you aren't using the rainfly, there are unobstructed views out of every window. Some tents have window awnings attached to the canopy, but the SkyRise awning is completely removable. With the rainfly removed, the tent is nearly completely open air, and it barely feels like you're in a tent at all. Another very cool feature is that the rainfly has clear windows so that you can view the sky even in a storm.
If headroom is a big deal for you, the SkyRise might not be the best choice. At only 48 inches, the maximum inside height is on the shorter side. Yakima does separately sell an annex for the SkyRise, but it doesn't cover the ladder. So, if you're camping in a storm, your ladder will be wet and slippery.
To test durability, we took each tent camping a minimum of five times. While camping, we were sure to convert each tent from travel to camping mode 25 times and also open and close every zipper 25 times to uncover any design flaws or weaknesses. Durability is not the strongest element for the SkyRise.
The 210D nylon that the canopy is made of is far from being the toughest material we've seen. This canopy is great for warmer temps and intermittent use, but if you're the type of person that gives your gear a beating, you might want to go with something stronger. The rainfly is also only 210D nylon — for comparison, most of the other flies in this review are made from 420D.
While not the most durable, this tent's quality design and workmanship are apparent and will undoubtedly help to extend its life. It is not cheaply made at all; other models just have beefier components.
One of the best parts of owning a rooftop tent is that it takes just a few minutes to set your camp up. The SkyRise Medium swaps easily from travel mode to camp mode. You just undo a few clips, unzip some zippers, and then tear the velcro cover off. It has a telescoping ladder that easily adjusts to the proper height, and without the rainfly, there are no poles to attach.
Of the models that require assembly, the SkyRise is one of the easiest to put together. Once this model is assembled, it's also one of the easiest to install. Unlike the other tents that come with metric wrenches, the Yakima has easy-to-use Allen wrenches, making tightening bolts in confined areas simple. One of the best features of the SkyRise is that the mounting is a tool-free, quick-release system. If you don't own tools or if you're going to be taking your tent off of your vehicle regularly, then this is the tent for you. Also, this is the only tent we tested that comes with the option to mount your tent so that it unfolds “out the back.” All of the other tents require custom modification or drilling of the mounting tracks.
The quick-release system does have some limitations. The tracks don't reach as far as the end of the tent floor like other models we tested. We had to move our crossbars closer together than other models to mount this tent. This isn't a big deal, but if you have a wider, longer rack that isn't adjustable, this tent might not work for you.
The cover on the SkyRise is straightforward to take off. After a few zippers and clips, you can tear the velcro closures apart, and it's ready to roll up. Yakima also thought to include straps to keep it rolled up and out of the way so you can still access your car doors or truck bed. However, it's not the easiest cover to put back on. The three sides of velcro are a bit hard to align properly and can be frustrating. Having to attach velcro, zip four zippers, and clip four clips is not the easiest system.
The Yakima SkyRise is one of the more valuable tents we tested. These tents appear very similar on paper, but this one has some great features like the tool-free mounting system, the locks, and the rainfly windows. This tent is for somebody who wants the assembly and installation or removal process from their vehicle to be simple. The tool-free mounting system makes life easy if you don't own tools and don't care to. The SkyRise is also secure. If you live in a heavily populated area or know you will be leaving your vehicle at the trailhead, it's nice to know that your tent is locked to your rack.
