Rooftop Rebirth: Tepui Upcycles Used Tent Covers

The popular rooftop tent maker just introduced an initiative to reduce waste while making adventure gear from your RTT travel cover scraps.

The Tepui Upcycle will reduce the amount of the brand’s gear that goes to the landfill each year. And because Tepui’s business is booming, there’s a lot of gear being used.

Santa Cruz, California-based Tepui Tents makes rooftop camping tents and car accessories. Its durable folding RTTs have been a big hit with campers since the brand started in 2010.

To protect RTTs from the elements, Tepui uses heavy-duty, PVC zip-around covers. But the covers wear out over time. That leaves a lot of material for Tepui owners to throw out.

Problem solved: Enter the Tepui Upcycle.

Tepui Upcycle: Rooftop Tent Cover Recycling

What It Is

Tepui wants you to send in your well-loved, weather-beaten tent travel covers. The plea is part of its new corporate upcycling endeavor. Under the Tepui Upcycle program, customers can now exchange an old tent travel cover for a brand new one — plus swag.

“As we’ve continued to grow and innovate, our interest in protecting the lands we recreate on has also developed roots,” said Tepui founder Evan Currid.

“The Tepui Upcycle program diverts waste, extends the lifespan of quality materials, while also giving value back to our customers.”

How It Works

Upcycling is a no-brainer for Tepui. The brand makes canopies and components from rugged, weatherproof PVC material, which means they’re perfect for second-life products. Tepui’s American production facility will clean and repurpose covers into more adventure gear.

Tepui currently sells duffels and backpacks made from upcycled Travel Covers. You can buy a duffel or backpack individually, or purchase a “combo” that gets you a new travel cover, duffel, or backpack, plus a special bag for sending your worn Travel Cover to Tepui.

For reference, a brand-new Tepui Travel Cover costs the same as the Upcycled Travel Cover combo. But with the Upcycle combo, you also get a duffel or backpack.

How to Participate

1. Go to the Tepui Upcycle bundle webpage.
2. Select your favorite upcycled adventure gear style: backpack or duffel bag.
3. Anxiously await your brand-new replacement cover and bag swag.
4. Use the return-shipping label (included in the package) to send Tepui your well-loved tent travel cover.
5. Feel good: Your cover is reincarnated. Tepui’s American production facility will clean and repurpose it into more adventure gear.

Additionally, if you like the recrafted packs, the entire Tepui Ucycle series will be for sale as individual accessories.

The Upcycle Travel Cover Return Combo (new cover plus gear bag of your choice) starts at $105 depending on the replacement size you need. The Upcycle Duffle Bag is $60, and the Upcycle Backpack is $50. Both come in black or gray.

Learn more about the Tepui Upcycle program here.