How to Choose Tents for Camping
Thule Approach Tent - Medium
$2,699.95
Members get an est. $269.99 in rewards
Making adventure travel easier, the medium Thule Approach tent converts your vehicle into a home away from home for up to 2 adults and 1 child, no matter what you drive—SUV, sedan, truck or hatchback.
Key Details
Sleeping Capacity
3-person
Packaged Weight
147 lbs. 9.6 oz.
Number of Doors
1 door
Best Use
Camping
- Modern tent shape delivers an extra spacious interior and more living space for you and your gear
- Panoramic skylights and windows allow you to stargaze, get closer to nature and keep the tent cool and well ventilated
- Lockable mounting brackets secure the tent to your roof rack in half the time of traditional roof-top tents; a torque-limiting tool helps with proper installation
- Removable raincover with 3 different modes is suitable for any weather
- Quick to set up—simply unzip the travel cover, unfold the base and you are ready to camp in under 3 minutes
- Thick, dual-layer foam mattress has a supportive bottom layer and a soft upper layer for a luxurious camping experience
- Compatible with an annex or awning (not included) that provides even more sheltered space
- Rigorously tested together with Thule roof racks (not included) to ensure a secure fit
- Canopy fabric is made with breathable and water-resistant 600-denier ripstop polyester
- Medium tent sleeps 2 adults and 1 child or 2 adults comfortably
Imported.
View all Thule Camping Tents| Best Use | Camping |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 3-season |
| Sleeping Capacity | 3-person |
| Packaged Weight | 147 lbs. 9.6 oz. |
| Packed Size | 56.3 x 48.8 x 11 inches |
| Floor Dimensions | 94.5 x 51.2 inches |
| Floor Area | 33.6 square feet |
| Peak Height | 40.2 inches |
| Number of Doors | 1 door |
| Canopy Fabric | 600-denier ripstop polyester |
| Floor Fabric | Welded aluminum tube with insulation and aluminum cap sheet |
| Design Type | Vehicle |
| Footprint Included | No |
Buying Advice
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Melissa
Bozeman, Montana
The best RTT for all your car camping adventures
2 years ago
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Having a roof top tent has amplified my camping adventures. It's my favorite piece of equipment for so many reasons, but the fact that it is always with me is a huge benefit for someone who loves to just pick up and go. Pros: Easy set up/take down, exceptionally durable/high quality material, and installation is super simple. Cons: Condensation build up, Visually - the product is pretty bulky, not hard cased. Ratings: -Quality: (4) - Features: (4) - Fit: (5) - Durability: (5) - Eco-Friendly (5) I was lucky to be able to put the Thule Approach tent to the test this spring and my oh my was I stoked! This tent is absolutely amazing for any type of car camping adventure. I am big on last minute adventures and I always dread pulling all my gear and getting it ready to go. Having a tent already attached to the roof of my car is what I call a dream, mostly because I hate setup/takedowns, ha. But doesn’t everyone? The Thule Approach tent made all of that so simple and easy for me to do on my own (Bad weather, great weather, night time, etc it only took me a few minutes to set up!). Living in Montana you really have to be prepared for all types of weather conditions, which makes this tent so complimentary to the conditions I have endured. I wanted to put this tent to the test, so I mostly adventured into the backcountry (as far as the road would take me)t. I showed up in the dark a few times, I woke up in the middle of a windstorm one night/morning (thought I was going to blow away), and once I camped in the rain. I was lucky enough to avoid the snow, but I don’t have a doubt in my mind that this tent could uphold conditions especially with the rain fly feature. Fit/Comfort : I am about 5’8” and had more than enough room. I also had another friend who was 6’1” in the tent along with two full size dogs (Belgian Malinois and a Lab/Shepherd mix). We all fit with plenty of room. I definitely recommend adding a cover to the mattress if you are going to throw pups up in the tent with you (muddy paws, long nails, hair, etc. Just helps keep it cleaner). Look/Style: The Thule Approach tent comes built out of an aluminum body and then you have a cover to zip everything up and keep the tent together during travel. I personally think the tent is a little bulky and would prefer something slimmer, however I was really surprised how it did not affect my mileage at all. I drive a 4runner SR5 and it was a big concern of mine that my mileage would suffer, but when applying the correct Thule crossbars with the tent I didn’t see a change. Features: The Approach came with a rain fly, surprisingly comfy mattress, ladder to get in and out, and window vents that open up so you can see the stars at night. It was absolutely magical to watch the star constellations in the mountains. There were also built in pockets on each side to store items you wanted to keep handy. The only recommendation I would add is that you would want to get a mat that helps with condensation depending on how much or little you keep air flow going. - Also two mouth breathing dogs can add to that :) Function/Performance: The set up is super simple. Once you park level, you just unzip the cover, unlatch the ladder and pull it towards you. The tent will pop open and then you can pull the ladder down to the ground. Make sure to lock the ladder into place before stepping on it or it will continue to move on you. It never took more than 5 minutes to have everything set up and ready. Durability/Construction: I put the Thule Approach tent to the test in as many conditions as I could. Rain and wind were the big ones. I was really impressed with how the tent handled the conditions especially while being on top of a car. One take away from camping in the rain, you want to make sure that you air your tent out when you get home so that it can dry up and breathe. You can tell how much thought went into the design of the tent, with the built in support underneath, mattress comfort, zippers to keep everything sealed while traveling, breathability options, etc. It really is the most ideal tent with high quality materials that can withstand just about anything. The Thule Approach tent has replaced all of my camping tent needs (except for backpacking for obvious reasons). It's the perfect tent for a night getaway or a week-long camping trip. My favorite feature about the tent is that it’s ready to go and doesn’t take up any room inside my car. Especially traveling with doggos, gear, etc. room is so valuable. One upgrade I will be adding to my tent is another layer for the mattress and some sort of condensation pad to help with moisture. Other than that, I'm stoked!!
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on thule-us-ca
SchmidttyCity
Utah
Easy to set up and Cozy
2 years ago
Loved the easy install on my roof rack. The quality is pretty high for all the materials and is very well ventilated with its windows which are amazing for seeing the sights from the tent which was a huge seller for me and my girlfriend. The only drag no pun intended is the wind resistance and noise while driving can be a bit loud, but for comfortable sleep while camping and an easy setup process the Approach was the right move for us!!!
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on thule-us-ca
Gabby
Ontario
Thule Rooftop Tent
1 year ago
I bought this with very high expectations of Thule and I can confidently say I am not disappointed. The product is very spacious, great rugged durable material and exterior as well as lots of add on options. Does well in the rain, no condensation or moisture noted inside. The installation and attachment of the tent onto the car does take 2-3 people and be careful with all the zippers. Overall, definitely would recommend.
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on thule-us-ca
Kenny17
California
Amazing Tent!!!!
2 years ago
I’ve been on three trips so far and love how easy it this to setup and take down. Quality of the zippers and construction definitely feel worthy of the price. I’m using the mounting brackets it came with and curious to see how they hold up on trail. Sleeping for two has plenty of space and super comfortable on the mattress. I’d say 3 people would be a little tight. Have no complaints at all. Just got my Thule hanging shoe attachment and it works great with the tent.
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on thule-us-ca
cnstaco
Colorado
Approach M on Tacoma
2 years ago
This is the first RTT I’ve owned but I have ran quite a few ground tents. The quality and construction are top notch. The set up and break down are about 5 minutes. The only thing I would change are the mounting hardware M8 8.8 is not strong enough for wheeling. I switched to 12.9 bolts. Other than that I’m stoked.
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on thule-us-ca
Kevin C
Redding, CA
We Love Our Tent!
1 week ago
We took the tent out on our first over-nighter and it was great. Didn’t need to put the rain-fly up and it was nice to see the stars at night. Very roomy for my wife and I. Extremely easy set-up and tear-down. Really looking forward to more adventures!
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on thule-us-ca
timm
CA
Great Tent!
2 years ago
The Approach is a great roof top tent! Sets up in seconds, spacious, airy windows and comfortable sleeping pad. Our first outing required us to use the rain cover which was easy to set up. Easily fits two people, three may be a little tight.
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on thule-us-ca
TimInNH
New hampshire
Solid construction, easy to set up overall
2 years ago
The tent is spacious, well built, easy to use, sturdy and comfortable. Haven’t slept in it yet but have lounged around in it. Excited to camp with it.
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on thule-us-ca
NTAT
San Francisco
Thule Approach M
1 week ago
Have been contemplating buying a roof top tent and finally made the decision. I love it!
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on thule-us-ca
ClydeStache
Madison, WI
More than enough room for 2 adults
2 months ago
Preliminary impressions while still traveling with it for the first time: perfect balance of internal volume, ease of use, comfort, and protection. I had been eyeing hardshells but didn't want to sacrifice the space (or the extra $$$). I'm very pleased with the Approach M, which is more than comfortable for 2 adults. The length allows us to use the foot of the tent as something of an indoor vestibule (climbing the ladder in bare feet isn't comfortable at all). The base tent is reasonably water resistant but I've already learned the hard way that the fly is essential if there's a chance of real rain. With the fly up, we stayed dry in a nightlong torrential downpour. Not so lucky when we but our faith in a dryer forecast for the next night. The mattress is very comfortable. Recommendations for improvement are limited to accessories. The annex looks great and we would have purchased if it was in stock--but its adjustable heights don't ideally accommodate our configuration: on crossbars across pickup bed rails. Even at its shortest "setting," the annex will have nearly a foot of fabric pooled on the ground. We made a makeship mini-annex by attaching vendor tent walls to the extended floor, which doesn't encompass the ladder but still provided a useful private chamber under it. Thule might consider developing an accessory that mimics this set-up at a lower price point than the annex.
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on thule-us-ca