The Trustmade Nomad Hardshell Rooftop Tent is a very typical tent of this type, easy to use and with an ABS shell, but with a price that is hard to match.
Key features & benefits
- Pop-up hardshell rooftop tent.
- Easy to use.
- ABS shell.
- Gear loft.
- Place for two users.
- Very good price.
What is in the name
When you see one of these roof top tents, you have a feeling you saw them all. My guess is most of them come from the same factory in China, and then the sellers just add different names to them, and most importantly very different price tags. But there are some exceptions as well.
So in this case, the brand behind this rooftop tent was reasonable regarding the price. In fact, it is hard to find a match for it in this roof top tents group.
In any case, this is a pop-up type hard shell roof top tent, so it is extremely easy to use because of its integrated mechanism that lifts and supports the upper lid.
You have 4 openings around, and all of them are double-layer with mesh and with panels. There are metal lips for ladder attachment on several sides, so you can use the one that suits you best dependent on your vehicle and also on how you park the car.
The tent comes with a set of rods shown in the picture so you can use them to create two awnings on its longer sides.
Materials
The shell is an ABS construction, and the top lid is not flat so you cannot attach anything on top of it. The picture below shows how it looks.
It is relatively thin, 11 inches (28 cm). See how it looks on a car when it is closed:
The walls are built from a waterproof UV-protective 600D Oxford fabric with a 2000 mm polyurethane coating. I have seen some different data on Amazon, and double-checked at the brand’s site.
You also have a high-density 2 inches thick foam mattress, and an aluminum telescoping ladder with 700-lb bear weight included.
The kit also includes:
- LED light.
- Shoe bag.
- 8 Flat Brackets, 8 Bolts & Nuts, 2 Spanners, see the picture below.
- Instruction manual.
Once the box is fixed on the roof rails, you will need less than 2 minutes when you want to go to bed.
Inside you have several hanging pockets to keep your small items off the mattress. There is also a large gear loft, a net attached underneath the lid.
Who is this Trustmade Nomad for
Regarding capacity, the box measures 82.7 x 49 inches (210 x 124 cm), so it is quite long and the width is almost good enough for two people.
I am not really impressed with the thickness of its mattress, if you are a side sleeper you would want something thicker. But there are wider options and with a thicker mattress presented here in the site.
Regarding weight, it is surprisingly heavy with its 207 lb (94 kg). So you might want to check specifications of your car to be sure the roof can support such a dynamic weight.
Regarding seasons, all these roof top tents, and in particular hard shell type, are more suitable for year-round use than the so-called winter ground tents. You have insulated bottom and roof, and the walls are fully closable and the fabric is enormously thick and strong,
Regarding price, you will hardly find something more affordable, I am really impressed. There are several sellers listed below and you can compare the prices.
Pros & cons
What I like:
- The price.
- Ease of use.
- Windows.
What I dislike
- The weight.
- Thin mattress.
Specifications
- Weight capacity: 660 lb (300 kg).
- Weight: 207 lb (94 kg).
- Box closed size: 82.7 x 49 x 11 in (210 x 124 x 28 cm).
- Box open size: 82.7 x 49 x 35.4 in (210 x 124 x 90 cm).
- Mattress: 2 in (5.1 cm).
Places to buy
Summary
In summary, this Trustmade Nomad Hardshell Rooftop Tent is a very typical representative of those pop-up tents, easy to use and with great views around.
It is quite long and the width is good enough for two adults. But it is the price that sets it apart from its competitors. Fully recommended.
For more stuff of this type please check under the category Off-Ground Tents. In particular, the Freespirit Evolution Rooftop Tent is of the same type, so follow the link and compare them. Read also about condensation in roof top tents.
Bookmark this site and keep as a reference, you will always have new texts added here and this will keep you informed. Thank you for reading and have a nice day.