Zara Launches $4K Rooftop Tent With Aluminum Shell & Mattress
There was no campaign, no influencer unboxing, and no big launch event. Zara quietly added a rooftop tent to its portfolio, and everyone is talking about it now. Dubbed Car Roof Tent, the camping gear is listed at 19,999 AED ($4,300 approx.) For a brand that most people associate with affordable linen trousers and T-shirts, that’s a strange number to see next to a listing.
Zara is venturing outside of its niche, and the one-off launch feels a bit strange. Industry observers note that apparel brands often expand into experience-based products to stay relevant beyond clothing. That is something Zara is doing, and it’s doing so with the commitment to quality and perfection that it’s associated with. The resulting Car Roof Tent is a solid option to the modern-day rooftop tents already available on the market.
The tent features a raised aluminium shell, a beige textile cover, mesh windows on the sides and a front opening. A telescopic ladder extends up roughly 7.5 feet to get you up and down to and from the tent. During travel, the tent measures 89 x 60 x 7 inches in length, width and height, respectively. Once opened, the sleeping area stretches to 102 x 57 x 49 inches, big enough for two people.
The tent also comes pre-fitted with a mattress and its storage case. Zara notes that it only works with vehicles that already have roof bars spaced 31 to 43 inches apart, and that the roof itself needs to support a dynamic load of 154 to 220 lbs. So, this isn’t something you bolt onto just any car. T3’s Matt Kollat, among the first to spot the listing, didn’t hold back on how unexpectedly polished the whole thing looks but also flagged a few points, including no mention of a waterproof rating anywhere, no wind-resistance figure, details that most established outdoor brands put front and centre.
Homecrux has closely tracked this category over the past year, and the pricing structure provides useful context for Zara’s entry. Thule’s Widesky sells for $4,000 and features a mattress that doubles as a sofa. Inspired Overland’s Trailpeak costs $1,400 and weighs just 84 lbs; It’s among the lightest hardshell tents around. Then we have $3,800 Oztent’s Apex RT-P-1600, which comes with a built-in smart command center for lighting and cooling. Zara’s tent features none of it – at least so from the information available at the time of writing – and is only relying on its aluminium shell and brand image to be priced in the top tier of the category.
Also Read: Sky Rover RTT is Top-Flight Choice for Your Next Camping Feat
That brings us to the question of whether the Zara Car Roof Tent is worth the investment. Priced at $4,300, the camping rig isn’t offering much of a discount over the competition, and the brand name alone won’t make up for a missing waterproof rating or a standout feature like a sofa or command center. Or will it?
More could be said when Zara shares details about how the sales actually perform. If you’re a fan of Zara for the innovation they keep bringing, this one is worth checking out and can be purchased on their website.
