The Yakima SkyRise HD 2 Tent is a soft shell type with a huge waterproof rating and great windows for full protection and comfort in an off-ground outdoor sleeping.
Key features & benefits
- Soft shell type roof top tent.
- Very light.
- Skylights windows.
- Waterproof tent plus waterproof fly.
- 2 Doors.
- Cable port.
- Pouches in the corners.
What is in the name
This tent is at some places (including the brand’s site as well) under the name SkyRise HD Small, and this indicates that there is also a Medium option available. But the name in the title above is usually more used by various sellers.
The letters HD in the name tells you that this is a newer version of their previous tent that has been around for years already. The previous was in a very strange pink-red color and this is the easiest way to know which is which.
All in all, this is a typical soft shell type roof top tent, and this also implies it is extendable. So when packed, its size is relatively small as you realize from the picture below. You have the usual cover that is equipped with zippers and buckles, and you pack the ladder together with the tent.
The picture below shows two possible deployments on an ordinary car. Bear this in mind in view of possible spaces where you plan to park the car, sometimes you may not have enough space on the side of the car as in the picture shown on the left.
Features
The tent is a single-layer type but with a heavy and strong fabric. However, it comes with a fly which is shown in the top picture above. The fly is not designed to be closed, it has all those support rods that create awnings above the windows and the doors.
Below you have view inside, and this is the tent without the fly. As you see, for unobstructed views, you can roll up the flaps that you have on the doors.
The tent is built symmetric, so you have two doors, and it depends on you how you will use them. The picture below shows that the ladder is at the door on the left, but the other door still has its function.
There are also two symmetric windows on the sides. All these openings, doors and windows, are double layer type with zippered mesh and zippered panels, so you can open them completely as shown in the picture:
There are no awnings here, so when you use the tent without the fly, its profile is rather smooth. This is good also because converting it to and from camping mode is fast, you do not have to use the fly every time.
Below you see the tent with the panels rolled, but this all is completely closable.
Skylight windows
Observe also that there are two skylight windows here, and they are also with zippered mesh and panels. So you can use them as vents even if it rains because they are under the fly and fully protected.
The fly itself has solid translucent windows that match these canopy openings so you can have more daylight inside even with the fly. But to reduce glare, you can simply close the panels on the inner tent’s roof.
Other details
The tent has several storage pockets in the corners. There is also a cable port on the side, see the picture, it is under the side window and it is protected with a flap equipped with Velcro tabs.
Materials
All the elements in the package are shown in the picture. Note that you have locks for the roof clamps and keys included.
This is a synthetic tent, so you have a strong and thick 600-denier ripstop polyester. This is a quiet material and it will not make much noise in the wind. It is with a polyurethane coating that gives it a 3000 mm waterproof rating.
So you basically do not need the fly, but you have it and it adds to extra protection and it creates all those awnings which are good to have. This is again a ripstop polyester but with a 210-denier value and it has a 3000 mm PU coating.
With all this it is not surprising that users report only the best experience with this tent, 6000 mm is more than you will ever need.
The mattress: I would describe it as moderate, you have 2.5 inches (6.4 cm). If you are very heavy and also a side sleeper, you might want to add some inflatable air pad for extra comfort.
The frame poles are all aluminum. The solid bottom is some sort of synthetic material, I could not find information about it.
In this video you can see some installation steps, the video shows the mentioned previous version of the tent, but there is no difference, please have a look:
Who is this Yakima SkyRise HD 2 Roof Top Tent for
Regarding seasons & climate, this is a tent that can be used year round and in any weather conditions. The waterproof rating is simply excellent so you will be protected from the rain.
If it is too windy, remove the fly and you will still be safe, you have seen its 3000 mm for the inner tent alone. I have seen only very positive reports about performance of this shelter in adverse conditions. If you are in a cold environment and feel cold, the tent is fully closable.
Regarding the area, they describe it as a 2-person shelter, but the width is only 48 inches (122 cm). So it might accommodate two users, but I see it best suited for solo use. Note that it is quite long, if you are a tall person you will want to know this.
The static weight capacity is only 400 pounds (181 kg), this is a bit modest value when you compare with some of its 2-person competitors.
Pros & cons
What I like:
- Skylight windows.
- The weight.
- Protection it offers and overall quality.
- Numerous possible accessories, see more below.
What I dislike
- Too narrow for two people.
- Expensive.
Accessories
They have a variety of products that can be used with this tent that include:
- Shoe bags.
- LED strip.
- A three-wall annex under the name YAKIMA SkyRise Annex Rooftop Tent, see the picture showing it with the previous version of the tent.
YAKIMA SkyRise Annex Rooftop Tent.
- An awning which is under the name YAKIMA SlimShady, they have it in several lengths.
YAKIMA SlimShady awning.
- Variety of truck bed racks and other stuff.
- Even a trailer is available where you can attach this tent, see how it looks:
Yakima EasyRider trailer.
All these and many other items from this brand are available also at REI. This is convenient because all these elements are designed to fit nicely with each other.
Specifications
- Weight capacity: 400 lb (181 kg).
- Weight: 101.41 lb (46 kg).
- Box closed size: 48 x 42 x 16.5 in (122 x 107 x 42 cm).
- Interior: 84 x 48 in (213 x 122 cm).
- Area: 28 ft² (2.6 m²).
- Height: 42 in (107 cm).
- Mattress thickness: 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
- Minimum crossbar spread: 26 in (66 cm).
- Maximum crossbar spread 40.50 in (103 cm).
- Warranty: Limited Two Year Warranty.
Places to buy
Yakima Frequently Asked Questions
What is the weight limit for Yakima SkyRise tent?
This is about the static weight capacity, so for the 2-person tent this is 400 pounds (181 kg). The 3-person tent supports up to 600 pounds (272 kg).
How long is Yakima SkyRise ladder?
The Yakima roof top tents come with a ladder that extends up to 8.5 ft (2.6 m).
Is Yakima made in China?
It is far from clear and I could not find a reliable answer. It seems that some of their items are made in California and some in Taiwan or China.
Who owns Yakima?
Yakima has a long history, they started as a small machine shop in the namesake city in Washington state. The company was acquired in 1979 by Steve Cole and Don Banducci. There are no data on their site about the current ownership.
Where does Yakima ship from?
They claim that FedEx ground delivery will vary from 2-7 business days from shipping date depending on your distance from their warehouse in Riverside, CA.
Summary
In summary, the Yakima SkyRise HD 2 Tent is a reliable off-ground sleeping shelter and it offers full protection in any environment. It is light enough to fit almost any car, and they also have plenty of accessory elements to organize your life in the camp. Fully recommended.
For more stuff of this type please check under the category Off-Ground Tents.
Let me know what you think. Did I miss mentioning something important? There is a comment box below.
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