Topoak Galaxy 1.0 Rooftop Tent Overview

I used to be skeptical concerning the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 provided that comparable aluminum hardshell wedge-style fashions, like the favored Roofnest Falcon 2, value over $3,000. I’ve seen and used “funds” rooftop tents (RTTs) that have been janky and felt tremendous flimsy. They jogged my memory of low-cost garden furnishings.

Nevertheless, after I acquired the Topoak Galaxy 1.0, it was instantly apparent that it wasn’t an affordable copy of an current RTT. Sure, it regarded eerily much like the Roofnest Falcon collection, however the aluminum hardshell felt burly, and the tent itself appeared legitimately weatherproof. So, I made a decision to mount it on my Subaru Outback Wilderness and provides it a strong run. Particularly contemplating the fractional value.

I stored the Galaxy 1.0 on my automotive for 4 months and deployed it a handful of occasions for in a single day journeys with my 11-year-old daughter and canine sidekick. We have been all pleasantly shocked by this RTT’s worth proposition.

Briefly: The Topoak Galaxy 1.0’s value can’t be ignored when in comparison with the competitors. And regardless of being a lot cheaper than others, the RTT punched method above its weight class. It proved straightforward to make use of, comfy, proof against reasonable precipitation, and sturdy all through the testing interval. I don’t suppose there’s a higher money-to-performance ratio in hardshell RTTs at the moment in the marketplace.

Topoak Galaxy 1.0 Rooftop Tent Overview

For an RTT that prices a lot lower than others, the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 had surprisingly stout development and plentiful options.

The Galaxy 1.0 arrived by way of freight truck ($299 payment to ship wherever within the contiguous U.S.), correctly encased in cardboard, wooden, and foam. Topoak ensures all deliveries, however judging by the way it was packed, I doubt the RTT might be broken outdoors of very violent dealing with.

Mounting, Important Specs, and Options

After unraveling all of the packaging and coercing a powerful climbing buddy to return over, we hoisted the 176-pound RTT onto the Thule crossbars on my Outback. As soon as positioned, set up solely took just a few extra minutes. 4 brackets have been secured by way of two handwheels every to conclude the complete course of.

It was notable that there was no included approach to lock the RTT to the crossbars. Topoak contains crossbars for many who don’t have any.

Hardshell and Tent Important Specs

The burly-feeling 83″ x 56″ x 8″ hardshell is product of aluminum alloy. It’s held shut by two steel buckles that make use of a low-security lock with keys. At finest, they might discourage the informal opening of the RTT, however I wasn’t involved, as deploying the tent is a far cry from stealing it.

4 massive hinges articulate the hardshell, and two gas-charged struts help opening. The tent is 53 inches tall on the peak, and the ground is 79″ x 52″. It’s lined with a 2-inch-thick high-density foam mattress with a quilted cowl and moisture barrier. It additionally has a mesh underlayer to help in drying moisture from condensation. Topoak states that it’s sized for “two adults and a baby.”

The tent cloth is 280gsm ripstop poly-cotton canvas, which the model says is breathable. The detachable fly is 420D waterproof Oxford cloth, rated at a 6000mm water column.

The Topoak Galaxy 1.0 has a novel inside U-shaped bar the consumer swings up and rearward, increasing the tent’s inside quantity by a claimed 35%. For a wedge-style RTT, the Galaxy 1.0 had a way more open really feel than “customary” wedge RTTs.

All three obtainable aspect partitions have a big perimeter-zipped door with a mesh panel. The included telescopic ladder will be positioned below any of those doorways. The roof has a zipped panel, and there are two vents close to the height of the tent.

Important Topoak Galaxy 1.0 RTT Options

The inside of the tent is well-appointed for residing in restricted area. A suspended panel has six pockets, which might separate from the roof to carry bulkier objects like camp blankets. At the least one flat pocket is on each obtainable wall.

A USB-powered LED mild strip is mounted within the high nook of the ceiling and is managed by a wired distant that reaches the ground.

Topoak features a detachable shoe bag that hangs outdoors the tent. I don’t know why I didn’t consider this myself. Every time I exploit an RTT, I by no means like storing my moist, soiled sneakers contained in the tent. However leaving them on the backside of the ladder means my ft harm utilizing the ladder, and the sneakers sit out within the parts.

There’s an elastic loop across the exterior of the tent. When the tent is open, it reveals in a slot on the hardshell. When the tent is closing, the elastic pulls the partitions in. Lastly, the fly has a big clear window for stargazing.

The Topoak Galaxy 1.0 Rooftop Tent within the Area

Though I used to be impressed with the Galaxy 1.0’s construct and options, I used to be nonetheless skeptical about its efficiency in actual life. A couple of summer time overnighters with my 11-year-old daughter and canine would flesh it out.

First, the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 was quiet on my roof. With no cloth cowl to flap within the wind and a brief 8-inch profile, it was virtually silent in comparison with different RTTs I used over the previous couple of years. Not surprisingly, I gained about 1.5 mpg over the past tent I had on the roof, the Thule Strategy M.

One necessary notice: the handwheels used to safe the tent to the crossbars rattled unfastened a number of occasions in fast succession. So, swapping these out with Nylock nuts is a should.

Setup

As with different wedge-style tents, erecting the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 was the quickest amongst RTT kinds. I merely unlatched the 2 closure buckles and gave the lid an rise. The fuel struts did the remaining. Then I pulled down the elastic loop that pulls the sidewalls of the tent, prolonged and connected the ladder, and crawled inside.

The subsequent step was to swing the U-shaped extender bar rearward. Two arms are then prolonged, snapped to the extender, after which locked to maintain the roof and rear panel of the tent open. This higher part of the tent truly prolonged previous the again of the tent ground by a major quantity. This “bump out” instantly made the tent really feel extra cavernous than different wedge-style RTTs with a vertical again panel.

That was it! This course of took lower than 2 minutes as soon as I had it down.

Dwelling within the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 RTT

Simple setup is nice, however that doesn’t matter when the RTT is simply too cramped, uncomfortable, or collects condensation like a chilly beer can on a scorching day.

Due to the extender bar, the voluminous inside felt a lot much less cramped than every other similar-sized wedge RTT I’ve ever used. When mendacity down, it felt like an opulent quantity of area. When sitting up, I may change garments, and so on., with out my arms hitting my tent mates or the tent’s partitions or ceiling.

The froth flooring was simply enough for me to sleep on my aspect at 164 kilos. I didn’t backside the froth out, however I’ve undoubtedly slept on significantly better. This wasn’t a deal breaker in any respect; it’s straightforward sufficient to throw a sleeping pad down.

The ground was spacious sufficient for my daughter, canine, and me. I’m 5’11”, and my sleeping bag by no means touched a wall, and I by no means ran into my child. I might name this a “two-adult, one-dog” RTT. The adults may sleep with out rousing one another, however the canine can be towards somebody someplace.

The assorted storage areas stored the ground free of just about every little thing, which successfully made the tent really feel larger than it was. Garments, headlamps, my daughter’s artwork provides, meals luggage, and water bottles all stayed off the ground.

So simple as the LED mild bar is, I used to be so glad it was there. It lit the inside sufficient that I might by no means want a headlamp inside.

Climate Resistance

It’s humid the place I stay, and condensation is a continuing concern. I’ve needed to depend on venting by means of the often plentiful doorways on the principally single-wall RTTs I’ve examined. The Galaxy 1.0 was no totally different. If it had been colder, I might have had to make use of the suitable sleeping bag and preserve a minimum of two of the doorways partially open to fight condensation.

Though the model claims the material is breathable, for my part, it’s not functionally breathable. Nevertheless, that is what I consider: loads of waterproof-breathable membranes in assault tents, shells, footwear, and different attire objects for real-world use.

Sadly, the climate through the testing interval was gentle. I solely slept by means of a light-weight rain, and the tent by no means skilled something however slight breezes. The tent remained waterproof for the complete night time of sunshine precipitation.

Takedown

The method for stowing the Galaxy 1.0 for journey was precisely the reverse of setting it up. If I bought one factor out of order, the hardshell wouldn’t shut, and I needed to get the ladder again out and restart. However as soon as I realized an admittedly easy process, I may shut the hardshell by way of an extended webbing deal with, stuff the remaining tent cloth inside, and shut the buckles in lower than 5 minutes.

In mild of the worth and my experiences with rather more costly RTTs, the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 struck me as a tremendous worth.

Some Caveats

The performance, particularly for the worth, was spectacular. However I search for dings as a result of that’s my job. And there have been just a few on the Galaxy 1.0, however they have been minor and appeared fixable.

Other than the handwheels needing to get replaced, the hardshell closure buckles have been a bit regarding. I simply closed them crooked just a few occasions, solely participating one of many two hooks that mated to a bar on the opposite a part of the buckle.

This didn’t require any considerable power. Closing it on this method twisted the buckle, after which it turned exhausting to open. I may see repeating this sufficient occasions to interrupt them or the hook doubtlessly breaking, however they did appear replaceable.

Additionally, an non-obligatory mounting system that features a lock would have been appreciated, though making off with the RTT would require a minimum of two folks. It has occurred, although, and any proprietor of this tent ought to preserve that in thoughts in the event you’re parking in a busy or not-so-trustworthy space.

Lastly, as I said, I didn’t expertise even mildly extreme climate whereas testing the Galaxy 1.0, so I can not touch upon climate resistance past mild rain and slight breezes.

Conclusions on the Topoak Galaxy 1.0

First off, at an MSRP $1,299 (it was on sale for $1,199 on the time of writing), the Galaxy 1.0 is a tremendous worth. For an RTT with an aluminum alloy hardshell and cavernous quantity, it’s troublesome for me to name out a greater deal.

Sure, I might have most popular a thicker and denser foam for the ground, and I had a minor hardshell closure buckle difficulty. However each of those appeared fixable if required.

Solely time will inform if the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 holds as much as extra extreme climate and if its longevity is as much as par with different RTTs. I’ll replace this assessment if I uncover a problem with both. However, for now, I proclaim it the perfect worth in an RTT.