After Soon Park’s Kickstarter campaign to produce the iKamper Skycamp exceeded its $100,000 goal with a whopping $2.3 million, it was clear that he had a natural instinct for what customers look for in a rooftop tent. However, iKamper was no one-hit-wonder, and the Skycamp was quickly followed up by the Skycamp Mini. This slightly smaller and more economical 2-person option also fits a broader range of vehicles. With a price tag of $3,499, the Skycamp Mini is $400 cheaper than the Skycamp 2.0 but still much more expensive than some of the other RTTs on our 2021 list.

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After Soon Park’s Kickstarter campaign to produce the iKamper Skycamp exceeded its $100,000 goal with a whopping $2.3 million, it was clear that he had a natural instinct for what customers look for in a rooftop tent. However, iKamper was no one-hit-wonder, and the Skycamp was quickly followed up by the Skycamp Mini. This slightly smaller and more economical 2-person option also fits a broader range of vehicles. With a price tag of $3,499, the Skycamp Mini is $400 cheaper than the Skycamp 2.0 but still much more expensive than some of the other RTTs on our 2021 list.

Comfort

Interior dimensions for the Skycamp Mini are 80.7″ x 50.4″, giving you 28.2 sq ft of space. This provides the Mini with roughly two-thirds of the interior space offered by its big brother yet identical interior space as the Roofnest Sparrow, which costs $400 less. The max headroom for the Mini is 45”, the same as the Skycamp 2.0 and 5” more than the Sparrow. However, the Sparrow has a flat roof that provides slightly more optimal interior volume.

Like the Skycamp 2.0, the iKamper Skycamp Mini features two side windows and a skylight window above, with no windows on the hardshell wall. These 3-layer canopy windows utilize vinyl, mesh, and polyester for maximized versatility. We weren’t pleased to find only two interior storage pockets with the 3- to 4-person Skycamp 2.0. However, this number is much more appropriate with the smaller advertised capacity of the Mini. The built-in mattress for the Skycamp Mini is made of 1.6” high-density polyfoam. While this mattress does sport an impressive R-value (warmth rating) of 6.4, it was not the most comfortable mattress we’ve ever tested.

Ease of Conversion

One of our favorite things about the iKamper RTTs is the lightning-fast setup time. The Skycamp Mini can be converted in only 60 seconds using the exact same process as the Skycamp 2.0. You’ll first unlock and release the two steel clips on the passenger side, then give the roof a slight nudge upwards; the gas struts will then take over and extend the hardshell to its maximum height. You’ll then extend the ladder and pull it to the ground to unfold the tent’s extension panel; the ladder will automatically lock in place, allowing you to climb up top. Ideally, the ladder should be angled around 70°. The final steps are to insert the tension poles for the awning over the entryway, slide the mattress over, then clip the corners of the awning/rainfly into place. We loved that because the ladder on all iKamper models is attached to the extension panel, you should still be able to access the vehicle door underneath, unlike what you’ll find with most pop-up hardshell tents like the Rooftop Sparrow or even the ultra-premium James Baroud Evasion.

Tear-down for the Skycamp Mini will take just a few seconds more than setup. Begin by stacking the half-mattresses on the far side of the tent, then remove the tension poles from the entryway and stash them inside the tent body. Next, you’ll collapse the ladder, fold up the extension panel, and then pull down the hardshell roof using the three attached straps (this may take just a bit of muscle, as the gas struts will provide resistance). Once the hardshell is almost entirely closed, the straps can be tucked away inside, and the clips can be locked down.

Ease of Installation

Although it’s highly versatile, the Skycamp Mini can’t just be strapped to any vehicle (sorry, convertible drivers). Your car will need to be outfitted with crossbars or a roof rack, and the crossbars must be spaced at least 22” (55cm) apart. The Mini comes with Mounting Brackets 2.0 that are compatible with a maximum crossbar height of 1.2″ (3cm) and a width of 3.5″ (9cm). For higher crossbars, you’ll need to purchase the Mounting Brackets 1.0 for $69.

After you’ve lifted up the Mini and centered it on the crossbars, you’ll then need to install the four mounting brackets. First, insert the bracket into the rail located at the bottom of the floor panel, then insert the bolt between the brackets, begin tightening it by hand and then use an Allen wrench to securely fasten the bolt, and finally insert the railcap. If you’ve just purchased the Skycamp Mini, we recommend you find an area where the tent can be opened and sufficiently ventilated to release any trapped gasses before your first outing.

Durability & Weatherproofing

As with the Skycamp 2.0, we were impressed by the high-quality materials used for the Skycamp Mini. Its floors are made of honeycomb aluminum panels, while the canopy is 300gsm poly-cotton canvas that’s both breathable and rugged. The rainfly is waterproof 150D polyester (PU 3000mm), while the hardshell is double-layered fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) with 1″ air insulation. All the poles are either 16mm aluminum or 4mm nickel-plated steel. The telescoping ladder has a 330 lb weight limit while the tent itself has a weight limit of 900 lb.

iKamper goes above and beyond in the area of waterproofing with all of their models, even using waterproof zippers on the door. The integrated awning is sure to keep out all of the wet stuff, and on sunny days the rainfly can be rolled up. The window covers can be converted into canopies using the included tension poles.

Optional Extras

Like the Skycamp 2.0, the Skycamp Mini can be outfitted with many additional accessories to improve your next outing. There are 15 in all, but we’ve listed some of our favorites below. 

• Shoe Rack ($69)
• Annex ($689)
• Annex Vista Window ($75)
• Awning ($349)
• Awning Canopy ($67)
• Storage Rack ($69)
• Insulation Tent ($299)
• Wind Deflector ($149)

The Bottom Line

The iKamper Skycamp Mini is an attractive option for camping couples or even solo campers that don’t own a large SUV. Its aerodynamic hardshell design provides extra protection from the elements and improves gas mileage while closed, while the fold-out design is an innovative feature that both saves space and deals more out. However, iKamper is not the only player in the RTT game, and there are several competitive alternatives worth considering. The Roofnest Sparrow has similar dimensions to the SkyCamp Mini and will save you $400. At the same time, the Roofnest Condor XL, which is only $100 less than the Mini, provides nearly 20 more square feet of interior space. You could also snap up the Thule Tepui Explorer Kukenam 3 for just over half the price of the Mini and get another 10 square feet, but you’ll lose the benefit of the hardshell top. Although we didn’t love the price point of the Skycamp Mini, we were enamored with its design and build quality. It would be a welcome addition to our next camping retreat.

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