I have been captivated by the Napier truck tent series since my initial encounter with their ‘Backroadz’ tents online.
Their unique and functional design impressed me, prompting a significant camping expedition across the United States.
Fast forward to 2021, during which I have had the privilege of undertaking three extensive road trips with the Napier tents, accumulating over 30,000 miles traversed across the USA.
This article serves as a concise overview and evaluation of some of our journeys with Napier truck tents, along with reasons for considering ownership of one.
What Is It?
For decades, Napier Outdoors has led the innovation of vehicle tents, which seamlessly attach to your vehicle, enhancing comfort and convenience.
Their Backroadz tent, specifically designed to fit the open bed of a pickup truck, enjoys significant popularity and represents the model I have utilized over the years.
This practical design can be tailored to accommodate a variety of vehicles, and with sufficient experience, it can be erected in under 10 minutes.
Our Experience: 2021 Road Trip
Our most recent experience with Napier involved a two-month road trip through Colorado and Utah, utilizing Napier’s updated 19 Series Backroadz tent.
The 19 Series tent offers newly integrated window flaps, enhanced zippers, a revamped color scheme, and an additional mesh vent at the top for increased airflow.
Throughout this journey, we engaged in numerous hikes in the Colorado mountains, visited multiple U.S. National Parks, explored several of the best slot canyons in Utah, and completed the renowned Angels Landing hike in Zion.
For our truck bed mattress, we opted for the Airbedz PPI-PV203C mattress by Pittman Outdoors. Napier also offers a Sportz truck bed mattress that is more economical and appears to have favorable reviews, although we lack personal experience with that option.
The trip was splendid. The tent performed admirably and provided a delightful experience.
Throwback: 2017 Road Trip
My initial review of the Napier Backroadz truck tent was published in 2017, during a remarkable 20,000-mile road trip spanning numerous U.S. states and lasting nearly six months.
Much of this time was dedicated to exploring the National Parks and other picturesque locales in Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.
The Napier Backroadz truck tent exhibited exceptional performance from the outset.
I encountered an intense thunderstorm in Kansas on the very first night of that road trip (unfortunately!). When I woke up, it appeared as though I was camping in a pond.
Any typical tent would likely have been completely soaked; however, the Napier truck tent kept me elevated and dry.
The elevated design also serves to deter pests and other crawling creatures, while the flat bed of a truck invariably provides a smoother, more even sleeping surface compared to uneven terrain or roots.
Among our favorite destinations explored during that road trip were the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho, the Tetons in Wyoming, the Oregon coastline, and Glacier National Park in Montana.
Final Thoughts
I appreciate the enhancements that Napier has implemented in the latest 19 Series Backroadz tent, and our Napier truck tent has endured significant use.
The new grey color scheme is visually appealing; however, I must confess a yearning for the green tones of the previous model. Additional color options would enhance choices for consumers seeking variety.
A notable advantage of vehicle tents is their minimal ground footprint, facilitating the search for that ideal camping location — simply drive up to a flat area and park!
Sometimes, when visiting new countries, I find myself missing my Napier truck tent, wishing to incorporate it into my overseas camping experiences! Its comfort is unparalleled.
Napier has indeed produced a successful product.
About Napier Outdoors
Napier Outdoors is a Canadian-based company that has been offering vehicle tents in the USA for over 30 years.
You can explore their truck tent offerings through their official website at https://www.napieroutdoors.com/.
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