6 Best Roof Top Tents for Kia Soul

by Sumanth | Published: September 20, 2022

Can you even mount a roof top tent on Kia Soul?

YOU CAN, but they must be lightweight and compact.

Kia Soul's roof weight capacity is only 160 lbs. Hence, you won't be able to mount heavy and large roof top tents on it.

In the list below, we will go through 6 of the best roof top tents for Kia Soul. We will also show you how to install a roof top tent on Kia Soul at the end.

SPOILER ALTER: Most tents below can only sleep 2-3 people. We couldn't find any 4-5 person roof top tents that are light enough to fit on Kia Soul.

Best Roof Top Tents For Kia Soul

• GOAT - iKamper Skycamp 3.0 Mini
• Best Value - Roam Vagabond Lite
• Best Affordable - Thule Tepui Ayer 2
• Best Clamshell - Roofnest Sparrow Eye
• Best Elevated - FSR Adventure Manual
• Best Hybrid - iKamper X-Cover Mini

GOAT - iKamper Skycamp Mini

Best Kia Soul Roof Top Tent

iKamper Skycamp Mini is the best by a long shot. It is expensive but worth every penny.

iKamper Skycamp Mini will put a nice dent in your bank account. But it is MILES AHEAD in quality and performance compared to other tents.

You can use Skycamp Mini in ANY WEATHER. The whole body is 100% waterproof. No water leaks. EVER!

Overall, the body construction of Skycamp is excellent! You never have to worry about something breaking or tearing apart. High-quality materials all around.

Skycamp Mini's 9-zone mattress is an absolute PLEASURE to sleep on. It's cushy, and you don't have to worry about getting body pains in the morning.

You can leave your bedding, sleeping bags, and pillows inside the tent when you close it. It is convenient as you won't have to haul everything from your car daily.

There's insulation all around Skycamp mini. You will be warm and cozy even when it's freezing outside.

Setting up and taking down Skycamp mini is SUPER EASY! Doesn't take more than 60 seconds. Night and Day difference compared to ground tents.

Skycamp Mini is the GOAT of Kia Soul roof top tents. No other tent even comes close. Yeah, it costs a lot, but you won't regret buying it.

Best Value - Roam Vagabond Lite

Best Value Roof Top Tent for Kia Soul

Vagabond Lite is a bang-for-your-buck. Nothing like iKamper but easily the second best option.

UNDERPRICED!

That's my one-word description of Roam Vagabond Lite Kia Soul roof top tent.

You cannot compare Vagabond with tents like iKamper Skycamp. It's nowhere close.

But it outperforms all tents in this price range with flying colors.

Vagabond is an ALL-WEATHER tent. Its body fabric is waterproof, UV resistant, and mold resistant.

It is a bit bulky and creates drag. You will see a slight drop in your MPG.

The mattress of Vagabond Lite is 3" thick. Very similar to Skycamp Mini's mattress--cushy and comfortable.

As this tent is compact, If you are over 6", your head and feet will touch the end. It can be a bit irritating.

There's good insulation on the base of Vagabond. It keeps the temperature inside reasonably warm even when it's cold out.

Roam Vagabond Lite gets a lot of things right in the sleeping department. You won't have any issues getting a good night's sleep in it.

You can set up and take it down in 5 minutes on average. Not as quick as Skycamp Mini, but the process is almost EFFORTLESS.

Overall, Vagabond lite is a KILLER option that over-delivers in most departments. Few flaws here and there, but they are not a dealbreaker.

Best Affordable - Thule Tepui Ayer 2

Cheapest Roof Top Tent for Kia Soul

Tepui Ayer 2 is a basic tent that's the best in its price range. It does a few things right and a few things wrong.

Thule Tepui Ayer is a great beginner tent. There's nothing fancy or extraordinary about it. But it does a decent job for the price.

You can use Ayer 2 in any weather. The body fabric is waterproof. You won't find any leaks -- holds up well even in heavy rain.

You might find condensation below the mattress if you camp in very cold weather. It can be a pain to remove it -- Investing in a $150 anti-condensation is a must for you.

Ayer 2 does an OK job in the sleeping department.

Its foam mattress is 2.5" thick. Not super comfortable. But 100% BETTER than sleeping on the ground.

There's no insulation anywhere—very good chance it will get chilly inside at night. You will have to use some good blankets or sleeping bags to keep you warm and cozy.

On the plus side, there are two skylight windows on the roof. You can enjoy the night sky before going to sleep.

Overall, Tepui Ayer 2 is nowhere near perfect, but it is 100 times better than ground tents. And with a few upgrades like an anti-condensation mat, mattress, etc -- you can turn this into a BEAST.

Best Clamshell - Roofnest Sparrow Eye

Clamshell Kia Soul Roof Top Tent

Roofnest Sparrow Eye is an excellent alternative to iKamper Skycamp. Bit cheaper and has tons of impressive features.

Roofnest Sparrow Eye is a close competitor of the GOAT - iKamper Skycamp Mini.

It falls short in a few minor areas but does a PHENOMENAL all around.

The fiberglass top shell and body fabric of Roofnest Sparrow are TOUGH AS NAILS. They hold up well in bad weather. Light rain, thunderstorms, or high winds -- you won't find ANY dust or water inside.

In high winds (over 30 mph), body fabric flaps a lot and makes noise. It can be quite disturbing when you want to go to sleep.

The 2.75" foam mattress of Sparrow is nothing like the mattress of Skycamp mini. But it is COMFORTABLE enough sleep without adding sleeping bags or sleeping pads on top.

There's excellent insulation on the roof and the base. You will be WARM and COZY even on cold nights.

You can open and close Sparrow in under a minute. It is just as easy as iKamper Skycamp.

Overall, Roofnest Sparrow Eye is a premium Kia Soul roof top tent that does a great job of keeping you comfortable. It's the best cheaper alternative to Skycamp Mini we could find.

Other than a few issues I mentioned, This tent is an absolute BEAST.

Best Elevated - Freespirit Adventure Manual

Elevated Roof Top Tent for Kia Soul

FSR Adventure Manual is one step up from basic options like Tepui Ayer. It does a decent job all around for the price.

Freespirit Adventure Manual is a HIDDEN GEM. Not many people know about it, but it's a steal at this price.

The body of the Adventure Manual has an aerodynamic design. This helps to reduce wind drag and prevent MPG reduction.

You can use this tent in any weather—no issues like wind noise or water leaks. It can also automatically shed rainwater (LESS work for you).

It is available in vibrant colors like pink, purple and blue. An eye-catcher for sure!

The mattress of the Adventure Manual is 2.75" thick, and there's an additional 2" foam padding on the base. It's cushy, but the quality is OK.

You will have to use a good sleeping bag on top or upgrade to an Exped Mattress to make it cozier.

There's no skylight window, but the enormous front window makes up for it. It gives you a fantastic wide view of your campsite -- makes it easy to take good photos for Instagram.

Setting up and taking down this Kia Soul roof top tent is 3x EASIER and FASTER than basic tents like Tepui Ayer 2. You can do it in 3-5 minutes with your eyes closed.

Overall, Freespirit Adventure Manual over-delivers in some areas and underdelivers in others. It is still way better than a basic Kia soul roof top tent and an excellent option at this price.

Best Hybrid - iKamper X-Cover Mini

Hybrid Kia Soul Roof Top Tent

iKamper X-Cover Mini is a hybrid of Skycamp 3.0 and traditional tents like Roam Vagabond. Quality is unquestionable, but it is overpriced for sure!

iKamper X-Cover's main appeal is the ability to carry extra gear when the tent is closed.

It has crossbars that allow you to mount bikes, kayaks, or anything else you want to carry around on your trip. The weight limit is 65 lbs.

X-Cover is not for everyone. If you are not going to use the crossbars, It's hard to justify the price.

The body fabric of the X-cover Mini is the same as the fabric of the Skycamp Mini. It's high quality, durable, and 100% waterproof.

iKamper X-cover is very SPACIOUS compared to other tents on the list. The dome-style design creates a lot of head space. Even 6" dudes can sit up straight and stretch comfortably.

The mattress of the X-cover is the same as Skycamp Mini. Cushy and comfortable. You will sleep like a baby.

Set up and take down takes a bit longer than iKamper Skycamp. But it is EFFORTLESS. You can do it in a couple of minutes.

Overall, X-cover has a lot of pros. But it is not easy to justify the price if you do not make use of every feature it offers.

How To Install A Roof Top Tent on your Kia Soul?

You are going to need a pair of crossbars to install the tent. They cost anywhere around $200-$500.

If your model comes with roof rails, DON'T try to mount your roof top tent directly on them. They don't have enough weight capacity to hold it. You have to use crossbars.

Here are a few of the best crossbars for Kia Soul for installing an RTT:

Verdict

All the roof top tents mentioned on this list are great for any Kia Soul models. They have their pros and cons. See which one fits your requirement the best and go for it.

But if you only want the best, iKamper Skycamp Mini is the clear winner. Expensive but worth every penny.

Whichever roof top tent you buy -- Remember to avoid heavier ones. Kia Soul can't handle them.