roof space one is a panoramic car tent that can be easily set up in just one minute

COMBINING THE ADVANTAGES OF A FOLDING TENT + A HARD SHELL TENT

Founded by Immanuel Schneider and Jakob Heider, German company Roof Space is developing rooftop tents for outdoor camping that are easy to set up and made from high quality, sustainable materials. Their first model, the Roof Space One, combines the advantages of a folding tent as well as a hard shell tent. Packed in an aluminum case that takes up only half of the lying area on the car roof, the tent unfolds quickly and can be easily set up in just one minute. It can be mounted on almost any car, and comes with a Panorama Mode, which allows it to open up to its surroundings and offer nature lovers and photographers a unique 270° view.

‘When we wanted to buy a rooftop tent for our next trip two years ago, none of the conventional models were really an option,’ explain Roof Space founders and longtime friends, Immanuel Schneider and Jakob Heider. ‘After quite some research and several conceptual designs, we finally started to develop a rooftop tent completely according to our ideas. What came out of it? A product designed from scratch, with features not found anywhere else on the market.’

all images courtesy of Roof Space

THE SUSTAINABLE FEATURES OF THE ROOF SPACE ONE

Available to pre-order via a crowdfunding campaign, the Roof Space One weighs 67 kg and can support up to three adults. Due to its aluminum case, the tent has increased static properties, rendering it more stable than other rooftop tends, according to its creators. The construction and the materials used are designed to be recycled to the greatest possible extent after their life cycle. Thus, about 90% of the tent can be recycled. In addition, the materials used are designed to have the lowest possible CO2 balance. ‘An example of this is the Hydro Reduxa aluminum used, which produces only 1/8 of the CO2 emissions compared to conventional aluminum,’ explains the team at Roof Space.

Likewise, the choice of textiles used is a key factor in sustainability. ‘A conscious choice of German and French quality fabrics was made to reduce the impact of harmful chemicals on the environment. An additional aspect of sustainability is the regional value chain, which is why there is an enormous saving in CO2 in relation to production in China and shipping to Germany.’

A special feature of the tent is the Panorama Mode, which separates the front fabric part from the rest of the tent with a circumferential zipper, and allows it to open up to its surroundings. On their last road trip in February, from the production site in Ottersberg, Lower Saxony, to Rome and back, Immanuel Schneider and Jakob Heider put The Roof Space One to the test. Despite nightly sub-zero temperatures in southern Germany and heavy rain showers in northern Italy, the tent always offered a comfortable space.

the tent unfolds quickly and can be easily set up in just one minute