When a group heads out on the road together, sleeping arrangements quickly become the deciding factor between a trip that works and one that doesn’t.
Ground tents get crowded. Air mattresses deflate. Tarps leak at 2 AM. And for taller adults, most camping shelters simply weren’t designed with them in mind.
The Basecamp 190™ Long-Style Soft Shell Rooftop Tent was built to solve exactly that problem.
Designed for families, groups, and anyone who refuses to compromise on sleeping space, the Basecamp 190™ transforms a standard roof rack into a spacious, elevated sleeping platform ready for spring, summer, and autumn adventures across Canada and beyond.
This is what serious group overlanding looks like when comfort is non-negotiable.
Who the Basecamp 190™ Was Designed For
This tent isn’t a one-size-fits-all product trying to serve everyone. It was engineered with a specific kind of traveler in mind — and it does its job exceptionally well for them.
Families Who Need Real Space
Camping with children changes everything about how you evaluate gear. You need room to spread out, room for bags, room to manage morning routines without everyone bumping into each other.
The Basecamp 190™ was built around that reality. With a sleeping capacity of 4 to 5 people — typically 2 adults with children, or 3 to 4 adults who prefer more breathing room — it delivers the kind of square footage that makes family camping genuinely comfortable rather than just survivable.
Group Overlanders
Multi-vehicle overland groups often run into the same challenge: coordinating sleeping arrangements across a crew. The Basecamp 190™ consolidates that for a single vehicle, giving one rig the capacity to comfortably shelter a full group without requiring a trailer or separate camp setup.
For group travel where efficiency and simplicity matter, that’s a meaningful advantage.
Taller Sleepers
This is worth calling out directly, because it’s one of the Basecamp 190™’s most practical strengths.
Most rooftop tents — including many well-regarded hard shells — were designed without taller sleepers in mind. The result is a cramped, diagonal sleeping position that compounds into real discomfort over multi-night trips.
The Basecamp 190™ solves this with its extended 240 cm platform length, which runs along the vehicle and provides genuine legroom for taller adults. At roughly 7 feet 10 inches in length, it’s one of the most accommodating sleeping platforms in its class for people over 6 feet tall.
The Sleeping Platform: Where the Basecamp 190™ Sets Itself Apart
Everything about the Basecamp 190™ starts with its size.
Sleeping Area: 190 × 240 cm / 74 in × 94 in / approximately 6 ft 3 in × 7 ft 10 in
That’s a substantial sleeping footprint — noticeably larger than the compact and mid-size rooftop tents most buyers encounter first. The 190 cm width provides lateral room for adults to sleep side by side without contact, while the 240 cm length eliminates the diagonal sleeping compromise entirely.
The layout flexibility this creates is significant:
- Two adults can sleep comfortably with two children between or alongside them
- Three to four adults have space to spread out without feeling packed in
- Taller sleepers can stretch fully without accommodating the platform’s dimensions
For families accustomed to cramped camping setups, the first night in a Basecamp 190™ tends to reframe what rooftop camping can actually feel like.
Three-Season Performance: Built for Real Weather
The Basecamp 190™ is a dedicated three-season soft shell rooftop tent, purpose-built for spring, summer, and autumn travel. Its layered fabric system is engineered to handle sustained rain, UV exposure, and the variable conditions that Canadian camping regularly delivers.
420D Diamond Rip-Stop Polyester Oxford Rainfly
Waterproof rating: 2500 mm
The outer rainfly is constructed from 420D diamond rip-stop polyester Oxford — a fabric weave that reinforces tear resistance through its crosshatch pattern while maintaining weather protection. At 2500 mm waterproofing, it handles sustained rainfall reliably, not just light showers.
420D Rip-Stop Polyester Tent Body
Waterproof rating: 3000 mm
The tent body itself carries a higher 3000 mm waterproof rating — providing a stronger barrier against moisture at the walls and critical seam points. This layered approach, where both the body and rainfly carry high waterproof ratings, gives the Basecamp 190™ genuine wet-weather reliability.
UV 50+ Protection
Extended exposure to UV radiation degrades fabric over time, especially for tents that remain mounted to vehicles throughout camping season. The UV 50+ treatment significantly reduces that degradation, extending the working lifespan of the tent across years of regular use.
Mold-Resistant Fabric Treatment
Moisture and humidity are constants in many Canadian camping environments — coastal BC, Vancouver Island, humid Ontario summers. Mold-resistant treatment protects the fabric from that persistent exposure, keeping the tent clean and structurally sound over multiple seasons.
Heavy-Duty 680 gsm PVC Travel Cover
Waterproof rating: approximately 10,000 mm
When closed, the Basecamp 190™ packs into a compact rectangular bundle protected by a 680 gsm PVC travel cover rated to approximately 10,000 mm waterproofing. That’s a meaningfully heavy-duty protective layer — ensuring the tent interior, mattress, and fabric remain dry and protected during travel, even through extended highway driving in heavy rain.
Interior Comfort: More Than Just Square Footage
Space matters. But how that space is outfitted matters just as much for multi-night trips.
60 mm High-Density Foam Mattress
The Basecamp 190™ includes a 60 mm (2.4 inch) high-density foam mattress — a notably thicker mattress than the 30 mm inclusions common in many rooftop tents in this category.
That extra thickness translates directly into sleeping comfort. A 60 mm foam base provides meaningful cushion for adults and children alike, reducing pressure points over consecutive nights and making the difference between waking rested and waking stiff.
The mattress includes a removable, washable cover — a practical feature that families will appreciate across seasons of use. Spills, dirt, and general wear are inevitable with kids in the mix. Being able to wash the cover rather than clean the mattress directly extends its lifespan significantly.
Full-Length Integrated Mattress
Unlike some rooftop tents that use split or segmented cushions, the Basecamp 190™ features a full-length integrated mattress spanning the entire floor platform. No gaps. No seams in uncomfortable places. A consistent sleeping surface from one end of the tent to the other.
For families with children who move in their sleep, this is a genuinely useful design detail.
Ventilation: Large Windows and Doors with Insect Mesh
Warm-weather camping demands proper airflow. The Basecamp 190™ features large windows and doors fitted with insect mesh, creating cross-ventilation that keeps the interior comfortable during summer nights without compromising protection from bugs.
This balance between airflow and protection is particularly relevant for Canadian summer camping, where warm nights and active insect populations are both reliable constants.
Base Construction: Engineered for Stability and Comfort
The foundation of the Basecamp 190™ is built to perform under the demands of real vehicle travel and regular deployment.
Welded Aluminum Tube Base
The structural base is constructed from welded aluminum tubing — lightweight relative to steel while maintaining the rigidity needed to support 4 to 5 occupants on an elevated platform.
Insulated Platform with Anti-Scratch Aluminum Sheet
The insulated platform reduces cold air transfer from below — a meaningful detail for spring and autumn camping when overnight temperatures drop and a thin floor can make sleeping significantly less comfortable. The anti-scratch aluminum sheet protects both the platform and your vehicle’s roof rack system from wear over repeated deployment cycles.
Aluminum Anodized Curved Support Poles
The curved support poles are aluminum anodized for corrosion resistance — important for tents exposed to coastal moisture, rain, and the freeze-thaw cycles of Canadian shoulder seasons. Anodization extends the working lifespan of aluminum components significantly compared to untreated alternatives.
Load-Distributing Base for Crossbar Compatibility
The base is designed to distribute weight evenly across your crossbar system rather than concentrating load at mounting points. This matters both for structural integrity during travel and for compatibility across a wide range of roof rack configurations.
Setup Process: Straightforward and Repeatable
One of the genuine advantages of a well-designed soft shell rooftop tent is that setup, while not as instantaneous as a hard shell, follows a simple and repeatable process that becomes second nature quickly.
For the Basecamp 190™:
- Unclip the travel cover and remove or fold it aside
- Fold the platform out over the side of the vehicle
- Extend the telescopic ladder to the appropriate height
- Tension the poles to secure the structure
The side-fold design means the platform deploys laterally from the vehicle — a configuration that works well for tight campsites where forward or rearward clearance is limited.
Once the setup rhythm is established over a trip or two, most users find it straightforward enough to complete efficiently even after a long day of travel.
Telescopic Aluminum Ladder
Access is via a 230 cm (90.5 in / 7 ft 6 in) anodized aluminum telescopic ladder that adjusts to accommodate different vehicle heights — from standard SUVs to lifted trucks running higher rooflines.
The extended ladder length is a practical necessity for a tent this size. The 240 cm platform, when deployed laterally off a raised vehicle, sits at a height that requires proper reach. The telescopic design allows precise adjustment rather than fixed-position compromise.
Closed Configuration: Compact and Travel-Ready
When packed, the Basecamp 190™ closes into a clean, rectangular profile:
Closed Size: 195 × 125 × 28 cm / approximately 76 in × 49 in × 11 in
At 28 cm (approximately 11 inches) closed height, it maintains a relatively low profile on the roof rack — reducing wind resistance and aerodynamic drag during highway travel compared to taller closed profiles. The heavy-duty PVC travel cover keeps everything contained, protected, and dry regardless of road conditions between camps.
Total Weight: 150 lbs
This is an important specification to factor into vehicle planning. At 150 lbs, the Basecamp 190™ requires a roof rack system with a dynamic load rating that accommodates the tent weight plus any additional gear. Always confirm your specific rack’s dynamic load capacity before purchasing and mounting.
What’s Included
Every Basecamp 190™ ships as a complete package:
- Basecamp 190™ rooftop tent
- Heavy-duty PVC travel cover
- 60 mm high-density foam mattress with removable, washable cover
- 230 cm telescopic aluminum ladder
- Mounting hardware and installation manual
No additional purchases required to get set up. The included mounting hardware covers standard crossbar configurations, and the installation manual walks through the process clearly for first-time rooftop tent owners.
Three-Season Honest Assessment: What to Expect
The Basecamp 190™ is a three-season tent, and that framing matters.
It performs reliably across spring, summer, and autumn camping — handling sustained rain, UV exposure, warm nights, and variable shoulder-season temperatures with the appropriate bedding and layering.
For winter camping or sustained freezing temperatures, additional insulation — an anti-condensation mat under the mattress, an insulated sleeping bag rated to the expected low, and additional thermal layering — would be necessary supplements rather than optional upgrades.
For the three seasons it was designed for, however, the Basecamp 190™ is well-equipped. The 3000 mm body rating, 2500 mm rainfly, UV 50+ protection, and mold-resistant treatment collectively deliver reliable performance across the conditions most families and group overlanders actually encounter.
Basecamp 190™ vs. Compact Hard Shell Options: The Real Trade-Off
The most common comparison buyers make when considering the Basecamp 190™ is against hard shell alternatives.
Here’s the honest breakdown:
Where the Basecamp 190™ wins:
- Significantly larger sleeping platform for the price
- Better capacity for families and groups
- More layout flexibility for taller sleepers
- Thicker mattress (60 mm vs. the typical 30 mm in hard shells)
Where hard shell alternatives have an edge:
- Faster deployment (gas-strut assisted vs. multi-step soft shell setup)
- Bedding can remain inside the sealed shell during travel
- Lower profile when closed on some compact hard shell models
For families and groups where sleeping capacity is the priority and setup speed is secondary, the Basecamp 190™ delivers significantly more value per dollar than hard shell alternatives in the same price range.
Final Assessment: When the Basecamp 190™ Is the Right Choice
If your camping involves:
✔ Traveling with children or a group of adults
✔ Spring, summer, or autumn adventures across Canada
✔ At least one person over 6 feet tall who’s tired of diagonal sleeping
✔ A roof rack system rated to support the weight
✔ A priority on sleeping comfort and space over speed of deployment
— the Basecamp 190™ is a well-engineered, purpose-built solution that delivers on its core promise: maximum sleeping space in a rooftop tent format, without requiring a trailer.
It’s not the lightest option. It’s not the fastest to deploy. But for families and groups who camp regularly and value sleeping well over minimizing setup time, it makes a compelling, practical case for itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Basecamp 190™ suitable for winter camping?
It’s designed and rated as a three-season tent. For cold-season use, supplemental insulation — anti-condensation mat, rated sleeping bags, thermal layers — would be necessary additions.
How many people can realistically sleep inside?
4 to 5 people. Comfortably: 2 adults with children, or 3 to 4 adults who want room to spread out rather than pack in tightly.
Can taller adults sleep flat without diagonal positioning?
Yes. The 240 cm platform length provides genuine full-length sleeping space for adults up to approximately 6 ft 5 in without requiring diagonal accommodation.
What vehicles is it compatible with?
Most trucks and SUVs with a roof rack system rated to support 150 lbs dynamic load. Always confirm your rack’s dynamic rating — not static rating — before purchase.
Does it include everything needed for installation?
Yes. Mounting hardware and an installation manual are included in the package. No additional hardware purchases are required for standard crossbar configurations.
How does the 60 mm mattress compare to other rooftop tents?
It’s notably thicker than the 30 mm mattresses common in many rooftop tent models. For multi-night family trips, the difference in sleeping comfort is meaningful.
