For many mountain bikers, the car is the ticket to the best trails in the Alps. But after a long day in the saddle, handling conventional tents is often the last thing you want to do. This is where roof tents come into their own: open the buckles, give them a little push and the gas struts do the rest. With the new Widesky, Thule goes one step further and solves the problem of a lack of headroom that plagues many roof tents with wedge constructions.
From the sleeping bag straight to the sofa
The highlight of the Widesky is hidden inside. While in many tents you can only lie flat or crouch down, the Widesky offers a considerable height in the front area. The highlight: the mattress can be converted into a backrest in just a few simple steps. This turns the lying surface into a cosy sofa.
Coupled with the huge panoramic openings and the integrated, dimmable LED lighting, the tent is the perfect retreat to reflect on a day on the trail with a cold drink - even when it's pouring down outside.
Slim on the road, robust in the camp
Despite the solid aluminium shell and the stable honeycomb floor panel, the Widesky weighs less than 68 kilograms. Compared to the competition, this is a real statement and also makes the tent interesting for normal cars and smaller SUVs, where the roof load is often the limiting factor. With a closed height of just 20 cm, the car also remains reasonably streamlined, which has a positive effect on fuel consumption (or the range of an electric car).
The Thule Widesky in review:
- Set-up in seconds: Gas-assisted opening - loosen and release buckles
- Living room feeling: Convertible mattress with integrated sofa function
- Space miracle: Plenty of headroom at the front (124 cm high) for sitting upright
- Lightweight: Less than 68 kg total weight with a packing height of only 20 cm
- Details: Dimmable LED lights, insulated felt cover and pocket organiser
- Material: Robust aluminium shell and textiles made from recycled materials
- Price: 3,599.95 Euro
What is the competition doing? Similar systems on the market
The market for hard shell roof tents is booming. If you want to compare the Widesky, you should take a look at these alternatives:
- Aluminium Cab Generation 3-R: The "gold standard" from South Africa. Extremely robust and built for expeditions, but significantly heavier (approx. 80 kg) and more rustic inside than the Thule model.
- Autohome Maggiolina: The classic among the hard shells. Here, the shell usually moves upwards in parallel (scissor system). It offers plenty of space, but often lacks the "panoramic feeling" and sofa mode of the Widesky.
- Roof Lodge Evolution (Nakatanenga): A very high-quality wedge hard shell that also uses aluminium. It is functionally top, but is often priced in a similar segment and offers less focus on the "living space aspect".
- Vickywood Cumaru: A flat aluminium hard shell with integrated roof racks on the lid (for even more gear). It is very popular with bikers, but doesn't quite match Thule's clever interior ergonomics.
What the editorial team says
Many trail centres and bike parks now offer the option of staying overnight directly on site in the car park or in designated camping areas. However, not everyone can or wants to afford the luxury of a camper van. A roof tent is an ideal alternative with several advantages: Compared to a classic tent, it can be set up as quickly as possible, saves storage space in the car for the extensive bike equipment and takes up less space on the pitch. The integrated mattresses generally offer more comfort than a classic sleeping mat for a tent, and anyone who has ever spent the night in a roof tent knows that it feels like sleeping in a tree house.
With the new sofa function of the Widesky, Thule has created a real feel-good place to relax after a strenuous day on the trails. Robust materials and quick assembly are also a plus. As is typical for Thule, the price is at the upper end of the scale.
Stefan Frey
Editor
