Naturnest Review 2026: Are Its Rooftop Tents and Awnings Good?

Naturnest makes hard-shell rooftop tents and vehicle awnings for overlanders, weekend campers and road-trippers who would rather sleep on the roof than pitch a ground tent. This Naturnest review pulls together owner write-ups covering dozens of nights, a forum review from a Tacoma owner, a detailed awning analysis and the brand's current prices, so you can see where the tents shine and where they cut corners. The short version: Naturnest offers a lot of tent for the money, with thin mattresses, heavy weight and unpublished warranty terms as the main trade-offs.

In this review:

• Quick verdict and how we researched it
• The Polaris and Sirius tents
• The wraparound awning
• Prices, with a model comparison table
• Pros and cons, who should buy, and alternatives
• Our ratings and FAQ

Naturnest review: our verdict in brief

Naturnest is a strong value pick if you want a hard-shell rooftop tent that opens in about a minute without paying premium-brand prices. Owners report it holding up through rain, wind and cold across long road trips. Look elsewhere if you need a plush mattress out of the box, cannot lift a heavy tent onto your roof with help, or want clearly published warranty terms before spending this much.

How we researched this review

We read an owner's account of a Polaris tent used on long trips, a month-long review of an aluminum clamshell model focused on fuel economy, a Tacoma forum owner's Sirius review, a detailed analysis of Naturnest's wraparound awning, a short brand overview from an outdoor retailer's blog, and Naturnest's own store for current prices. We did not camp in a Naturnest tent ourselves, so every finding on comfort, weather and setup is credited to the reviewer who reported it.

The rooftop tents

Naturnest sells two families of tents. The Polaris series are clamshell tents that lift at one end on gas struts and sleep two, while the Sirius series are fold-out tents that sleep two to four, in ABS plastic or aluminum shells.

Naturnest Polaris Clamshell Rooftop Tent

The Polaris is the best-documented Naturnest tent. Tony Maples spent more than 30 nights in one on a Jeep Wrangler across the American Southwest and Colorado, through downpours, strong wind and sub-freezing nights, and reports it never let him down. He found it opened in under a minute, arrived in a sturdy wooden crate, mounted easily with the supplied hardware once three people lifted it onto the roof, and came with built-in USB ports, 12V sockets and an LED strip run through an Anderson plug. He also praised the storage, with two waterproof shoe bags outside and ten pockets inside.

A second, longer review looks at a slim aluminum clamshell model. Camped Too Hard measured a closed height of just 7 inches and saw a fuel-economy loss of roughly 1.5 mpg at a steady 70 mph, much less than with bulkier tents it had used. It describes an 83 by 51 inch floor, a 59-inch peak height and 280G poly-cotton canvas that handled heavy rain, and rated the tent 4.5 out of 5 overall.

That review is also the most candid about weaknesses. The stock 2-inch foam pad is too firm for anyone who sleeps on their side, the mounting brackets are basic and fiddly to tighten, the mesh zippers can snag, headroom is limited for tall campers, and the tent weighs 145 pounds.

To fix the bed, Camped Too Hard recommends adding a 1-inch topper right away. It also says the shell can carry about 50 to 75 pounds of gear on its T-slots, which counts toward your vehicle's roof load limit.

Naturnest Sirius 2 Rooftop Tent

The Sirius 2 is a larger fold-out tent. An owner on the Tacoma4G forum found it sturdy and spacious enough for two adults, with smooth double-sided zippers and a blackout lining that let the couple sleep until 9 a.m. They stayed warm on a rainy night around 40°F with a queen sleeping bag and comforter, and called it well worth the $1,800 sale price, against a full price of around $2,000.

The downsides were weight and security. The forum owner says the tent weighs about 135 lbs net and 234 lbs in its crate, making solo installation hard, and the latches that hold it closed cannot be locked.

The awning

Naturnest 270 Plus Awning

Naturnest also makes vehicle awnings, and the 270 Plus is its flagship. Car Review Geeks describes a wraparound awning covering about 129 square feet, with a skylight panel, three-color LED lighting and 280GSM ripstop fabric rated at 5000mm waterproofing. Over four weekends and about 1,200 miles it found deployment took under 5 minutes, the awning stayed steady in 15-20 mph gusts when staked, and a sustained hose test produced no leaks.

The main drawback is weight: Car Review Geeks puts it at 57 lbs, so mounting it needs two people. The reviewer also advises using the guy ropes whenever stronger winds are forecast, and buying from authorized sellers to keep the warranty valid.

Naturnest prices and value

Naturnest's own store currently shows most tents on sale. Naturnest lists the Polaris Plus at $1,399 (from $1,749), the Polaris 2 at $1,549, the Polaris Aero at $1,699 and the Sirius 2 ABS at $1,999 (from $2,499), with larger XL and aluminum Sirius versions up to $2,899. That puts the tents well below the $4,000 boutique-brand price that Camped Too Hard uses as its comparison point.

None of our sources states Naturnest's warranty length, return window or trial period. Ask for the terms in writing before you buy, and keep the crate until you have checked the tent over.

Naturnest pros and cons

Pros:

• Strong value against premium rooftop tent brands
• Opens in about a minute on gas struts
• Owners report it staying dry through heavy rain and wind
• Slim clamshell models keep fuel economy losses small
• Useful extras such as power outlets, LED lights and plenty of pockets

Cons:

• Thin stock mattress on the clamshell model
• Heavy tents that need several people to install
• Basic mounting brackets and non-locking latches
• Limited headroom in the slim clamshell design
• No published warranty or return terms in our sources

Who should buy Naturnest, and who should skip it

Buy a Naturnest if you road-trip or overland often, want a hard-shell tent that sets up in a minute, and care about value more than a premium badge. The slim Polaris suits couples and fuel-conscious drivers, the Sirius suits people who want more room, and the wraparound awning suits anyone who cooks and lounges at camp.

Skip it, or plan around it, if you sleep on your side and do not want to buy a topper, if you cannot get help lifting a heavy tent, or if your roof rack and vehicle roof load cannot handle the weight.

Building out your camp kit? Our Flextail review covers compact pumps and camping gadgets, our Lepro review looks at lanterns, and our Modiwell review covers dry flush toilets for vans and RVs.

Alternatives

The reviewers compare Naturnest with several other rooftop tent brands. Camped Too Hard sees the Heyfun tent as its closest rival, rates the Topoak tent higher for extreme-weather protection, and contrasts the aluminum shell with ABS models such as Wildfinder. If budget is less of a concern, premium brands cost far more but may add refinement and more established support.

Our ratings

Overall: 4/5, because Tony Maples and Camped Too Hard found Naturnest tents fast, weatherproof and excellent value, while thin mattresses, heavy weight and unpublished warranty terms hold the brand back.

Naturnest Polaris Clamshell Rooftop Tent: 4/5, since Tony Maples reports it holding up in every kind of weather, with the thin mattress and basic brackets as the main caveats.

Naturnest Sirius 2 Rooftop Tent: 4/5, as the Tacoma4G forum owner praised its space, blackout lining and warmth, while flagging its weight and non-locking latches.

Naturnest 270 Plus Awning: 4/5, because Car Review Geeks found it quick to deploy, stable when staked and leak-free, though heavy to mount.

FAQ

Does a Naturnest tent stay dry in rain?

Owners say yes. The Polaris owner camped through heavy rain without problems, and Camped Too Hard found the poly-cotton canvas handled a real rainstorm. Use the condensation pad and ventilate in cold weather to avoid damp inside.

Is the Naturnest mattress comfortable?

It depends on the model and how you sleep. The Polaris owner found the mattress thicker than expected, while Camped Too Hard says the 2-inch foam in its slim clamshell is too firm for side sleepers and suggests adding a 1-inch topper.

Does the Naturnest come with mounting hardware?

Yes. Owners describe mounting brackets and hardware included in the crate, though Camped Too Hard found the brackets basic and awkward to tighten, so allow time for installation.

Can a Naturnest tent fit any vehicle?

It needs a roof rack or bed rack rated for the tent's weight plus the people inside. Check your vehicle's roof load limit before buying, and remember any gear you mount on the shell counts toward that limit too.

How much does a Naturnest rooftop tent weigh?

Camped Too Hard puts its aluminum clamshell at 145 pounds. Plan on two or three people to lift any Naturnest tent onto your roof.

What warranty does Naturnest offer?

None of our sources states the warranty length or return policy. Ask Naturnest or the retailer for the terms before ordering, and buy from authorized sellers so the warranty applies.

How does Naturnest compare to premium brands?

It costs much less and owners find it does the core job just as well: fast setup, dry nights and sturdy shells. Premium brands may offer thicker mattresses, more refined hardware and clearer support terms.