As a birthday gift to myself, I purchased a 2020 Roofnest Sparrow EYE rooftop tent to add to my camping repertoire. This explains the title of my blog post, as I am now considered a member of the Roofnest Flock.
After giving car camping a go in September, I knew I needed a bit more room than what my compact Crosstrek could provide. Don't get me wrong, I love my Crosstrek and it worked well as a camper, but it is a bit cramped for sleeping. I have been eyeing rooftop tents for over a year, and the 2020 Roofnest Sparrow EYE has all of the features I was looking for:
- Lower cost (compared to similar clam shell RTs that are available)
- Lightweight (under 150 lbs)
Made in the US(updated 11/15 - these tents are made in China)- Clam shell design
- Aerodynamic profile for better MPGs
- Enough height to allow me to sit upright or get up on my knees
- Allows all bedding, including pillows to be stored when the tent is closed
- No hardware to install (with the exception of the hardware to mount the tent to my racks)
- Ladder included
- Great customer support
I could go on, but those are the key selling points for me. An added bonus is that the tent was designed to allow for installation of a solar panel, and includes an area at the rear of the roof for storing loose gear in the supplied bag.
Here it is just after installation.
I was itching to test out this new piece of gear and chose the Lost Dutchman State Park located at the base of the legendary Superstition Mountains southeast of Phoenix near the town of Apache Junction.
On my very first trip to Arizona in February of 1980, I purposely stayed at a motel in Apache Junction even though it was 15 miles from the company I was visiting, as I had heard through word of mouth that the AJ area (as it is locally called) had some pretty special geography. In 1980, there was no Internet, so all I had to go on were AAA maps and guides. When I pulled into my motel after a late night plane flight, I checked in wondering what the area looked like. Well, let me tell you, when I awoke the next morning and pulled out of the parking lot, I was stunned at what I saw!
The picture above was taken with my phone and doesn't do these mountains justice, but Google them and you'll be astounded at the plethora of beautiful images people have taken. I took this photo from my campsite and enjoyed this same view from the large back window of my rooftop tent.
It was a bit chilly overnight (low of 43), but I was nice and warm. The mattress supplied with the tent is only 3", but it was really comfortable. I was able to use a fitted sheet and make up the bed like I would at home, using my 30 to 50 degree sleeping bag as a comforter. It was so nice to be able to sleep like I would at home. Roofnest states the tent is for two people, but I think it would be a bit tight, but doable. They do offer larger width tents in case you're interested.
Room with a view
Campsite set up
Good morning!
So there you have it! I'm all set in the camping department now. I'm still planning on using Clutch Cargo for local camping trips, but having the Roofnest opens up the entire country for me and my plan for 2021 is to take longer road trips exploring the roads less traveled. If Covid is still a major issue, I'll restrict my travels to the state of Arizona, which offers many wonderful Spring and Summer destinations, so stay tuned!!
