TentBox helps you pitch up in style whenever you like
WINTER is not when most people are thinking of a camping trip. This is where the TentBox is the perfect weekend companion as it does away with all the hassle of pitching a tent on soggy ground.
As the name suggests, this is a tent in a box and it fixes to the roof of almost any car. You don’t need an off-roader or big estate – even a supermini can turn into a weekend away with the TentBox.
We tried out the Classic model, which needs two people to lift on to the roof bars of a car. The fittings make it quick to attach and the tent comes with its own ratchet spanner to make life simple.
Once in place, TentBox Classic is all ready to go and, while driving to our wild camping spot there was only a little wind noise from above. It’s no more than you get with a bike fitted to roof rails, so you can still chat away even on the motorway.
When we arrived, it took all of a minute to have the TentBox ready. Undo four straps and it just springs up. Inside, there’s a lightweight aluminium extendable ladder that hooks on to latches and you can choose which side works best as there are zip-open flaps on both sides.
Climbing into the TentBox for the first time is an adventure in itself as it seems a bit strange to be camping six feet in the air. Once in, the built-in thick mattress makes it very comfortable and there’s more than enough space for an adult and two kids. At a push, you could have two grown-ups and a couple of children in here, though it will be very snug.
During our winter weekend away, we left the car parked up, so we didn’t need to lower the TentBox until we headed for home on the Sunday afternoon. On our first night, there were sub-zero temperatures, yet we were perfectly happy inside the tent thanks to its thick lining.
In the morning, a bit of rain was no problem as the side opening doubles as an awning. While I got breakfast on the camping stove, the kids had a great time peering out at our lochside home for the weekend while staying cosy in their sleeping bags.
A second night in the TentBox was even better as we were used to who would sleep where. With a couple of torches on hand, it was easy to ready a book and the built-in storage net in the tent’s roof made it easy to stash toys and clothes for the morning.
Another advantage of the TentBox over traditional canvas is the hard roof keeps the rain well away from the side, so there’s much less drying out to do afterwards. There’s a skirt around the bottom of the TentBox that sends water running off the bottom edge too.
At the end of our trip, stowing the TentBox was as easy as setting it up. Straps at the front and back let you pull it down swiftly and secure it in place, then all you do is tuck in the sides.
Costing £1995, including free delivery, the TentBox Classic is not the cheapest roof tent but it is the easiest to use. This means you can head off whenever you fancy knowing you won’t be dealing with soggy canvas and sleeping bags when you get home. That’s worth every penny for years of adventures.