Best Value Rooftop Tent We’ve Tested: Topoak Galaxy 1.0 Review

I was skeptical about the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 given that similar aluminum hardshell wedge-style models, like the popular Roofnest Falcon 2, cost over $3,000. I’ve seen and used “budget” rooftop tents (RTTs) that were janky and felt super flimsy. They reminded me of cheap lawn furniture.

However, when I received the Topoak Galaxy 1.0, it was immediately obvious that it wasn’t a cheap copy of an existing RTT. Yes, it looked eerily similar to the Roofnest Falcon series, but the aluminum hardshell felt burly, and the tent itself seemed legitimately weatherproof. So, I decided to mount it on my Subaru Outback Wilderness and give it a solid run. Especially considering the fractional price.

I kept the Galaxy 1.0 on my car for 4 months and deployed it a handful of times for overnight trips with my 11-year-old daughter and canine sidekick. We were all pleasantly surprised by this RTT’s value proposition.

In short: The Topoak Galaxy 1.0’s price cannot be ignored when compared to the competition. And despite being so much less expensive than others, the RTT punched way above its weight class. It proved easy to use, comfortable, resistant to moderate precipitation, and durable throughout the testing period. I don’t think there is a better money-to-performance ratio in hardshell RTTs currently on the market.

Topoak Galaxy 1.0 Rooftop Tent Review

For an RTT that costs much less than others, the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 had surprisingly stout construction and plentiful features.

The Galaxy 1.0 arrived via freight truck ($299 fee to ship anywhere in the contiguous U.S.), properly encased in cardboard, wood, and foam. Topoak ensures all deliveries, but judging by how it was packed, I doubt the RTT could be damaged outside of very violent handling.

Mounting, Main Specifications, and Features

After unraveling all the packaging and coercing a strong climbing friend to come over, we hoisted the 176-pound RTT onto the Thule crossbars on my Outback. Once positioned, installation only took a few more minutes. Four brackets were secured via two handwheels each to conclude the entire process.

It was notable that there was no included way to lock the RTT to the crossbars. Topoak includes crossbars for those who don’t have any.

Hardshell and Tent Main Specifications

The burly-feeling 83″ x 56″ x 8″ hardshell is made of aluminum alloy. It’s held shut by two metal buckles that employ a low-security lock with keys. At best, they would discourage the casual opening of the RTT, but I wasn’t concerned, as deploying the tent is a far cry from stealing it.

Four large hinges articulate the hardshell, and two gas-charged struts assist opening. The tent is 53 inches tall at the peak, and the floor is 79″ x 52″. It is lined with a 2-inch-thick high-density foam mattress with a quilted cover and moisture barrier. It also has a mesh underlayer to aid in drying moisture from condensation. Topoak states that it’s sized for “two adults and a child.”

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

The Topoak Galaxy 1.0 has a unique internal U-shaped bar the user swings up and rearward, expanding the tent’s internal volume by a claimed 35%. For a wedge-style RTT, the Galaxy 1.0 had a much more open feel than “standard” wedge RTTs.

All three available side walls have a large perimeter-zipped door with a mesh panel. The included telescopic ladder can be placed under any of these doors. The roof has a zipped panel, and there are two vents near the peak of the tent.

Main Topoak Galaxy 1.0 RTT Features

The interior of the tent is well-appointed for living in limited space. A suspended panel has six pockets, which can separate from the roof to hold bulkier items like camp blankets. At least one flat pocket is on every available wall.

A USB-powered LED light strip is mounted in the top corner of the ceiling and is controlled by a wired remote that reaches the floor.

Topoak includes a removable shoe bag that hangs outside the tent. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this myself. Whenever I use an RTT, I never like storing my wet, dirty shoes inside the tent. But leaving them at the bottom of the ladder means my feet hurt using the ladder, and the shoes sit out in the elements.

There is an elastic loop around the exterior of the tent. When the tent is open, it shows in a slot on the hardshell. When the tent is closing, the elastic pulls the walls in. Finally, the fly has a large clear window for stargazing.

The Topoak Galaxy 1.0 Rooftop Tent in the Field

Although I was impressed with the Galaxy 1.0’s build and features, I was still skeptical about its performance in real life. A few summer overnighters with my 11-year-old daughter and dog would flesh it out.

First, the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 was quiet on my roof. With no fabric cover to flap in the wind and a short 8-inch profile, it was almost silent compared to other RTTs I used over the last few years. Not surprisingly, I gained about 1.5 mpg over the last tent I had on the roof, the Thule Approach M.

One important note: the handwheels used to secure the tent to the crossbars rattled loose multiple times in quick succession. So, swapping these out with Nylock nuts is a must.

Setup

As with other wedge-style tents, erecting the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 was the fastest among RTT styles. I simply unlatched the two closure buckles and gave the lid an upward push. The gas struts did the rest. Then I pulled down the elastic loop that pulls the sidewalls of the tent, extended and attached the ladder, and crawled inside.

The next step was to swing the U-shaped extender bar rearward. Two arms are then extended, snapped to the extender, and then locked to keep the roof and rear panel of the tent open. This upper section of the tent actually extended past the back of the tent floor by a significant amount. This “bump out” immediately made the tent feel more cavernous than other wedge-style RTTs with a vertical back panel.

That was it! This process took less than 2 minutes once I had it down.

Living in the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 RTT

Easy setup is great, but that doesn’t matter when the RTT is too cramped, uncomfortable, or collects condensation like a cold beer can on a hot day.

Thanks to the extender bar, the voluminous interior felt much less cramped than any other similar-sized wedge RTT I’ve ever used. When lying down, it felt like a luxurious amount of space. When sitting up, I could change clothes, etc., without my arms hitting my tent mates or the tent’s walls or ceiling.

The foam flooring was just adequate for me to sleep on my side at 164 pounds. I didn’t bottom the foam out, but I’ve definitely slept on much better. This wasn’t a deal breaker at all; it’s easy enough to throw a sleeping pad down.

The floor was spacious enough for my daughter, dog, and me. I’m 5’11”, and my sleeping bag never touched a wall, and I never bumped into my kid. I would call this a “two-adult, one-dog” RTT. The adults could sleep without rousing each other, but the dog would be against someone somewhere.

The various storage areas kept the floor free of almost everything, which effectively made the tent feel bigger than it was. Clothes, headlamps, my daughter’s art supplies, food bags, and water bottles all stayed off the floor.

As simple as the LED light bar is, I was so glad it was there. It lit the interior enough that I would never need a headlamp inside.

Weather Resistance

It’s humid where I live, and condensation is a constant concern. I’ve had to rely on venting through the usually plentiful doors on the mostly single-wall RTTs I’ve tested. The Galaxy 1.0 was no different. If it had been colder, I would have had to use the appropriate sleeping bag and keep at least two of the doors partially open to combat condensation.

Although the brand claims the fabric is breathable, in my opinion, it’s not functionally breathable. However, this is what I think of: plenty of waterproof-breathable membranes in assault tents, shells, footwear, and other apparel items for real-world use.

Unfortunately, the weather during the testing period was mild. I only slept through a light rain, and the tent never experienced anything but slight breezes. The tent remained waterproof for the entire night of light precipitation.

Takedown

The process for stowing the Galaxy 1.0 for travel was exactly the reverse of setting it up. If I got one thing out of order, the hardshell wouldn’t close, and I had to get the ladder back out and restart. But once I learned an admittedly simple procedure, I could close the hardshell via a long webbing handle, stuff the remaining tent fabric inside, and close the buckles in less than 5 minutes.

In light of the price and my experiences with much more expensive RTTs, the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 struck me as an amazing value.

Some Caveats

The functionality, especially for the price, was impressive. But I look for dings because that is my job. And there were a few on the Galaxy 1.0, but they were minor and seemed fixable.

Aside from the handwheels needing to be replaced, the hardshell closure buckles were a bit concerning. I easily closed them crooked a few times, only engaging one of the two hooks that mated to a bar on the other part of the buckle.

This didn’t require any appreciable force. Closing it in this manner twisted the buckle, and then it became hard to open. I could see repeating this enough times to break them or the hook potentially breaking, but they did seem replaceable.

Also, an optional mounting system that includes a lock would have been appreciated, although making off with the RTT would require at least two people. It has happened, though, and any owner of this tent should keep that in mind if you’re parking in a busy or not-so-trustworthy area.

Finally, as I stated, I didn’t experience even mildly severe weather while testing the Galaxy 1.0, so I cannot comment on weather resistance beyond light 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 at the time of writing), the Galaxy 1.0 is an amazing value. For an RTT with an aluminum alloy hardshell and cavernous volume, it’s difficult for me to call out a better deal.

Yes, I would have preferred a thicker and denser foam for the floor, and I had a minor hardshell closure buckle issue. But both of these seemed fixable if required.

Only time will tell if the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 holds up to more severe weather and if its longevity is up to par with other RTTs. I will update this review if I discover an issue with either. But, for now, I proclaim it the best value in an RTT.