If you’ve an appetite for off-road exploration, but prefer to ride with your bike largely unencumbered, the Tentbox Lite car roof tent might prove an appealing option. Quick and easy to set up and take down again, it provides a low hassle overnight base from which to explore more remote areas by bike.
Car roof-mounted tents are now ‘a thing’, it seems, and a relatively recent thing at that – in terms of popularity anyway.
As both off-road cycling and wild camping have taken off, it seems like a match made in heaven, so Hampshire-based company TentBox provided us with the Lite to put to the test.
To camp or not to camp?
Hardcore bikepackers may turn their noses up at such a ‘camping for softies’ concept as the TentBox, feeling the whole idea of gravel exploring is to get away from it all in the wilderness. Fair comment.
On the other hand, I spent two days exploring the virtually empty trails of the New Forest unburdened by luggage. I had a warm shower at the end of my sweat-drenched rides, and a proper cooked meal (shout out here for the KitchenBox we were also loaned – a fabulous piece of kit with a price tag to match), both evenings with a glass of wine as the sun went down.
Much as we avoid driving the car unless absolutely necessary, this feels different. Pull up wherever the fancy takes you, explore to your heart’s content by bike, then know that a good night’s sleep awaits – no silly inflatable mattresses, no freezing ground seeping into your bones, and no wrangling guy ropes and tent pegs for hours.
Camping… why bother?
Full disclosure: I’m no fan of camping. Years of holidays under canvas when our kids were little left an indelible mark that has proven stubbornly resistant in the decades since they flew the nest.
Once they’d gone and the financial burden of raising three children was lifted – our own fault, obviously – it was boutique hotels, Egyptian cotton and Neal’s Yard bath products all the way. No more cold and damp mornings, gradually deflating airbeds and tepid showers for us.
The final camping straw came one weekend many moons ago as I prepared to hammer home the last peg securing our monstrous, multi-roomed home-from-home into rock-hard earth as sundown approached somewhere on the Kent coast. We were around two hours into the task at this point, looking forward to opening the wine.
A vintage Mini pulled up at the pitch opposite. Two young Dutch fellas sprang out – matching tans, sun-bleached hair and perfect teeth. One whipped out a ladder from the boot, while the other undid a clip on a big box attached to the roof rack of their tiny car and – lo and behold! – a tent sprang up. They clambered inside, settled down, and were snug in their sleeping bags before we could even wield the corkscrew.
The following morning, I watched open mouthed as they reversed the process and were on their way in less than ten minutes. I vowed never again to subject the family to this ridiculous notion that any part of the experience of wrangling guy ropes, bendy poles and groundsheets was enjoyable. Perhaps we weren’t the outdoor types after all.
Back to the future
I had seen the future. It was just unclear when that future would become the present. Turns out it is now.
Brothers Ollie and Neill Shurville experienced a similar eureka moment whilst travelling around France after spotting the occasional vehicle roof-mounted tent at campsites. Why had nobody done this before?
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Well, they had, as early as the 1950s. The issue back then was finding roof bars or racks capable of securely hosting a weighty piece of kit above the passengers’ heads, so it was back to the drawing board. But nowadays, roof boxes, bicycles and pretty much anything, including the kitchen sink, can all travel safely and securely up top.
Having launched the first model in 2014, there are now over 100,000 TentBoxers worldwide and the range has expanded to half a dozen options, from the lightweight and compact GO (£999) through to a chunky Land Rover edition of the rugged Cargo 2.0 (£2,699).
And cyclists are clearly in the target market in these increasingly off-road exploration times. I first spotted TentBox at The Bike Show in Alexandra Palace in 2023 and had been keen to try one ever since. It was time to hit the New Forest, with the Van Rysel GRVL AF for company.
Small is beautiful
We were loaned the Lite to test, described by TentBox as being great for small cars. Indeed, to prove the point, it was mounted on the firm’s own Fiat Panda. It’s worth remembering, as we cyclists come with a lot of baggage (physically, rather than emotionally – though possibly both) that the space where you’d most likely usually position your bikes is taken. A boot rack is therefore going to be required. Not a problem – just something to bear in mind for owners of compact cars.
The Lite tips the scales at 50kg. For comparison, their hardshell Cargo comes in at 72kg. So it’s a fairly hefty piece of kit that will require two people to mount on specific oval-shaped roof bars. TentBox recommends Summit bars which they can supply from £149. It will take around 30 minutes to fit, according to the manufacturer. Should you not have a garage and park on the street, it will need to be removed and stored in your property. Thieves love them, sadly. But you wouldn’t leave your bike out there, would you? The same principle applies.
Mike from TentBox ran me through the features and the unpacking process, mentioning his record time for setting-up was a tad over four minutes. I took just over 10, but there was a lot to remember first time round. Given a couple more goes, the claimed five minutes looks eminently achievable.
The build quality is clear right from the off, as the heavy-duty zip holding the travel cover glides away, the bendy porch poles holding the removable rainfly cover slot perfectly into position, and numerous Velcro straps and clips keep everything neatly in place. The attached foldable ladder is actually used as a lever to open the whole shebang, which makes it a simple process to set up single-handedly. It’s a very pleasing operation all round.
Room with a view
The latest version of the Lite has had an overhaul based on feedback from owners of the first generation. Upgrades include a quilted memory foam mattress, larger air vents and a finer fly mesh to keep those pesky little biting critters at bay. On the last of those, I was nibbled far less than had I been sitting out in my south London garden. No complaints on the mattress front either. It may not be Simba standards of comfort, but a good night’s kip was enjoyed on both nights under the stars.
Talking of which, the views from the multiple windows and skylights really added to the experience of being close to nature – the New Forest tree canopy above, constellations visible though the gaps in the foliage, wagtails skittering away outside, plus a band of ponies ambling past at dusk.
As it happened, it was also the hottest May Bank Holiday on record in the UK. However, at no point was the dreaded hot plastic smell of my camping past detected, and I even woke in the middle of the second night feeling chilly as all the air vents were fully open.
The only way is up, baby
Two sweltering gravel rides in the New Forest and two nights on top of the car later, I considered the downsides to the whole concept. A news item on the high occurrence of falls from loft ladders I’d read a few years back came flooding back every time I descended. Forwards? Backwards? Sideways? I never quite got to grips with that one.
Plus, for a man of a certain age, peeing in the middle of the night is practically a given. Your options are either clamber down and make your way to a suitable spot or – without wishing to be too graphic on the subject – take a receptacle up there with you…
Minor quibbles though – and age-related, frankly. The Lite is very well-designed, beats camping on cold and uneven ground, and there’s no danger of being trampled to death by stampeding livestock – Mrs C’s recurring nightmare.
Value
Inevitably, the Instagram algorithms are now bombarding me with alternative options for roof-mounted camping. Driving home on the M3, I spotted a James Baroud – not a brand I was familiar with until researching this review. Launching its first automatic-opening rooftop tent in 2005, the Portuguese company’s products seem to go down well with 4×4 owners and big motor drivers. Starting at £1,950 and going all the way up to an eyewatering £4,200, a JB is a serious investment but appears to be built to last.
Thule, of course, we cyclists are familiar with thanks to their quality bike racks, and the Swedes have a fine range of both hardshell and softshell models worth looking at. They also do a cool range of compatible awnings and extensions to broaden the scope of the roof top unit.
British company Latitude’s products are the closest match to TentBox I found, both in terms of price and design. At £1,295, the Latitude Scout features a 20cm longer mattress than its rival for those of us on the tall side. The Lite nicks it aesthetically, for my money, but looks are totally subjective.
Conclusion
Overall, both pricewise and quality-wise, the TentBox Lite is a great piece of kit. If bikepacking feels a step too far, it is a great alternative. Whether you prefer being on solid ground or up in the air is a personal choice, but aside from the points detailed above, the ability to park up and be snug as a bug in less than 10 minutes is a winning combination and an experience I’d gladly repeat. A Grand Tour awaits.
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Test Report
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
Refreshed for 2026, the Lite now features improved comfort, better ventilation and some smart new design touches. It opens manually in around 5 minutes using a simple fold-out design. Inside, a comfy quilted mattress (that stays inside when packed down) creates a cosy sleeping space that’s always ready to go. Double skylights and large windows keep things bright and airy, while internal pockets, external storage netting, and a roll-away pole bag help keep everything nice and organised.
Lightweight, practical and road-trip friendly – the Lite is a great choice if you want everyday versatility and minimal bulk.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
Fast-opening, fast packing away, spacious and airy with great views too. Sleep where you want, when you want.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
Stacks up well against the opposition, with Latitude’s products being the closest in terms of price and quality.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
Nothing to fault.
About the tester
Age: Height: cmWeight: kg
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: I ride: I would class myself as:
I regularly do the following types of riding:
39 thoughts on “TentBox Lite”
V v tempting.
@cardch V v tempting
Do you seriously want to be associated with people like this?
@wtjs I’m confused, this one’s taxed and MOTd. Is it just a crime against style / aerodynamics?
I think it’s just an allergic reaction to the badge.
@mdavidford Same day, Same badge. They’re out there! and no such driver has ever considered ‘not driving’ anywhere, or climate change, or not having a Panzer or ‘cyclist ahead’ etc. etc.
ttps://upride.cc/incident/pg21fwa_bmw_uwlcross/
If you’re not trying to escape from wild animals, what would be the advantage of putting a tent on top of a car, rather than setting up a similar tent on the ground? Seems rather unnecessary to me – even if the price was comparable, I would choose a ground-based version.
Famous last words:
We’re safe from leopards up here.
It was counting on you thinking that.
There isn’t a ground based version. Because the whole point is the giant solid base that doesn’t fit in a car.
The next nearest thing is a trailer tent which is dearer and requires a towbar.
@Secret_squirrel If you put it on the ground, you don’t need a “giant solid base”. I still don’t get the point of it.
Is it because cars and driving are about convenience (for a price), so there is mileage in selling more (quite expensive) related things that are about convenience?
When was the last time you had a groundsheet with a built in mattress? The point is predictable comfort.
My old boss loved his 2nd hand trailer tent.
@Chris RideFar For starters, by being 1,5 m above the ground you are mostly protected from dew.
In many countries it also protects you from frost or really low temperatures. You’d be surprised how much of a difference it actually makes.
Bugs, ants, spiders etc. are another thing, as is the purely mental feeling of security by being isolated from the ground. You’d be surprised how much that means to some of us and our better halves 😉
Sleeping on the ground also means more mechanical damage to the floor from rocks, hard roots etc., which could make a big difference in some areas and on longer trips, where a ripped tent floor could really break your holiday.
I’m not saying a roof tent is the answer to all one’s troubles with camping. But these factors definitely to make a difference to many of us.
@Chris RideFar main benefit for me is that it frees up space in the boot as I have a baby and dog and gives my wife the option to go by herself. If I was put our current tent on a roof rack she would struggle to get it down by herself.
However, the price is ridiculous, at that point I think I would rather start looking at a van
A dog in the boot of an estate is one thing, but I’m not sure you should be putting the baby in there too.
@mdavidford Its how you keep the dog quiet, give him something to chew on 😉
@philhubbard Or you can DYI and mount two OSBs with a hinge between them to use as the floor for a traditional tent.
Most of the cars that I have owned have had a roof-box limit (bars, box and contents) of 70kg. How does a textbox fit with that? Is the limit only applicable when the vehicle is moving?
@C3a Presumably it’s to do with turnover stability while moving. I saw a Tentbox today, just being driven through Garstang. I can certainly see the advantage of these boxes over tents, because I have suffered lifelong from the ‘Get orf my land’ brigade, and there’s a much greater tolerance among them for those ‘camping’ in vehicles than for those much more worthy real campers in tents. Add to that the convenience of just stopping in any old free spot by the roadside, where there isn’t a decent site for a tent, and you can see the attraction.
@C3a Those are just dynamic load limits – the roof can hold significantly more weight (i.e. the occupants of the tent) while it’s stationary.
As long as you don’t try to get dynamic in your tent…
I think you sort of miss the point. The idea of ” pulling up whenever you fancy ” just isn’t possible with a roof tent as they overtly advertise your being there. You are limited to camp sites, themselves getting more and more expensive. A van remains the only viable choice for a true adventurer, as you can legitimately just pull up and go for a ride. Stealth… Stealth is the name of the game and a big orange triangle on your roof is only going to attract attention and end one way….
roadcc sinks to new low, next week wee reviewing electric cars !
@swagman
– Lots of cyclists own cars
– Lots of those car-owning cyclists like to drive their bikes nice places to cycle (we don’t all live in the Lake District)
– Lots of those holiday-making-car-owning cyclists like to use campsites when they do that
– Lots of those holiday-making-car-owning-camping cyclists would find this setup interesting
– Ergo, it’s not a new low for road.cc but a perfectly legitimate and appropriate product review.
@swagman
– Lots of cyclists own cars
– Lots of those car-owning cyclists like to drive their bikes nice places to cycle (we don’t all live in the Lake District)
– Lots of those holiday-making-car-owning cyclists like to use campsites when they do that
– Lots of those holiday-making-car-owning-camping cyclists would find this setup interesting
– Ergo, it’s not a new low for road.cc but a perfectly legitimate and appropriate product review.
I think you’re crossing the line here .
I cycle camp and for that I might expect reviews for camping gear sleeping bags, stoves etc.
But if im cycle camping im not looking for roof tents that are aimed at campers and nothing to do with cycling.
A few people go camping in their cars with bikes so should you start car reviews on the best vehicle for that ?
There was a bit in the forum a while back, someone was attempting to create a web based thing.
Forum went a bit sour with the upgrade, but I do remember mark1a’s fine travelling tool kit…
It may be a review of a product on the fringe of applicability, but it’s not totally irrelevant. My lad is after one to use for MTB bike park weekends. I wouldn’t mind one either for similar.
@swagman So it’s “crossing the line” and “a new low” to review a product that doesn’t fit with the way that you like to do your cycle holidays? Just a tiny bit solipsistic, don’t you think? It’s a tent, it fits on a car, some people take their cycling holidays using their cars and camping, therefore it may be of interest to those cyclists. It’s not what you’re looking for, that’s fine, for other readers it might be just the ticket.
@Rendel Harris Yes – it is. And you’re personally responsible for it.
@swagman
But what if they are sleeping bags or stoves that are not specifically designed for cycling, just might be useful for some cyclists, that would definitely be crossing a line to a new low, wouldn’t it?
@swagman I agree, it’s pretty off-topic, and can open the door to so many other categories. For instance, (nearly) all of us shower after a bike ride, but I haven’t seen any reviews of different soaps on road.cc yet – very disappointing.
Nothing new – they did a good review of a fiver back in’t day.
@Chris RideFar
@ktache thanks very much, you have a good memory, the thread was about a crowdsourced site to give details of cars that would fit road bikes without a rack outside. I’ll post the links separately as they’ll be stuck in moderation.
I’ve just got back from a brilliant weekend cycling in France, in Suisse Normande.
Apologies for double post, comments function still not fully sorted…
Site here:
https://norackneeded.co.uk/
Forum thread here:
As we spend some time on formal campsites we often see these, and are genuinely mystified.
Compared to a high quality lightweight tent that boringly goes on the ground they cost far more, seem to take at least as long to set up, have less space inside, don’t let you so easily cook in bed or easily get to all your stuff, and require you to get in and out via a ladder, as well as taking up all your roofbar space and making your fuel ecomomy worse.
Our bikepacking tent cost a fraction of that, is easier to get in and out of, judging from setup times I see at campsites isn’t really more of a problem to put up, leaves all our kit immediately to hand and being 48 Kg lighter and packing much, much, much smaller means we can take it by bike if we want.
🤷♂️