Yakima SkyRise HD – iReviewGear.com

Don’t you hate when you get to your camping spot and the ground is just horribly uneven? Or when you get into a situation where it’s so wet you don’t want to sleep on the ground. How about cruising to a buddies and finding out there is not enough room in the house for the riffraff? Well, Yakima has you covered with the SkyRise HD!

Just the Facts:

SkyRise HD

Product Details

• Quick to deploy softshell rooftop tent with expansion pop-out for covered ladder access
• 600D Ripstop Polyester main fabric and removable 210D Ripstop Polyester Rainfly
• 4-season waterproof materials with balanced breathability and weather resistance
• Large doors and windows with removable rainfly for skylights, open up to view the vistas
• Interior gear organization pockets
• Collapsible ladder with extra wide “barefoot friendly” ergonomic angled steps
• Premium memory foam mattress with removable cover & anti-condensation mat
• Secure and lockable low-profile tent clamps and lock cores included
• Dual zippered passthrough slots for power or other accessories
• Folded: 58.00″ x 48.00″ x 16.5″
• Open: 126″/96″x56″x48″
• Peak Height: 48″

Product Specs

• Weight: 131.5 lbs.
• Dimensions: L 58 in x W 48 in x H 16.5 in
• Minimum Crossbar Spread 26.00in
• Maximum Crossbar Spread 40.00in
• Limited Two Year Warranty

My Story:

I have long yearned for a rooftop tent (RTT). I’ve been in so many situations where an RTT would be the perfect solution for a great adventure. Well, my day finally came. I was so excited to have the chance to review the Yakima SkyRise HD. I had great plans for this RTT, and when it arrived, I felt like a kid at Christmas.

The tent arrived, and within minutes, I had it in my living room ready for assembly. My wife was equally as excited and she was more than willing to help with assembly.

My first testing area was a real treat. I had always envisioned this tent being a great companion for my ice fishing hobby. It’s the perfect place to showcase the need for an off-the-ground shelter. It allows for camping in any condition, and I was about to test the limits of this to an almost silly extent.

My good friend runs the Boneparte Lake Resort in Tonasket, Washington. It’s a favorite ice fishing spot for me, and I knew it would be a great testing area. Eric allowed me to park my truck near the resort store since it’s closed for the winter. It does, however, have a 110 outlet that I could use for my diesel heater, which proved to be a godsend.

Once I got the tent set up, I was able to get out on the lake for some fishing, and it was quite a day. I caught some great fish and was very eager to get back to the tent for dinner and bed. The temperature was -7 Fahrenheit, and that heater was calling my name. Inside the tent, I was able to lay down with only a t-shirt and some pajama pants, which I will spare you a picture of.

Though the ground was frozen I was also able to get some use out of the optional annex. It served as a nice place to store some of my gear and with a little Mr. Buddy heater even a warm place to get dressed in the morning. I would highly recommend this add on.

After ice season was over I was able to get out on a few more trips. My wife and I even took a road trip and without any real plans we just sort of chose a direction and went for the adventure. I found a nice little piece of state land off the highway and we pulled over for the night to camp. Yet another score for the versatility of this amazing tent.

I then tested the tent at a local favorite spot on the Snake River. I was getting very proficient at setting it up, and could have it all ready for bed in about 5 minutes. The focus of this trip was to showcase the great space the tent provides and the amazing views when everything is opened up. You will notice the skylight view, and let me tell you, it is so cool. I was even able to capture a picture of the stars!

My finial testing area was in Hells Canyon. We had a camp out the night before we went on a multiday backpacking trip. My buddy and I were quite the pair with our RTT setups. I get the bragging rights though as the SkyRise HD has the skylights and that is a feature his tent was lacking.

During this trip, I again utilized the annex, and I have to say, it’s fantastic. Having an extra dry and protected area is incredibly valuable; on this trip, our friend even slept there using just a sleeping mat. It’s a versatile addition to an already great tent.

We should talk about setup now, as it is incredibly straightforward. First, remove the travel cover and the two retention straps. Then, extend the ladder and use it as a lever to pull the tent down. Once unfolded, simply place the rain fly supports in their appropriate places on the frame. You may have noticed in some of my pictures I missed the slit on the side of the skirt that allows for pass though. Even pros sometimes make mistakes LOL. Regardless, you’re ready for a great night’s sleep.

For those that crave more detail, here is a video from Yakima about how to properly assemble the SkyRise HD.

So, here are my parting thoughts after several trips and a few thousand miles of travel. First, I used this tent from -7 to nearly 80 degrees and was able to find comfort every time. I truly see this as a 4-season option if you have a small diesel heater to use in the winter months. I personally love the mattress. It is firm, but I find it incredibly comfortable. My wife would say it’s a bit too hard for her, but I really do like it.

I drove with this tent on my truck through snow, rain, wind, sun, and everything in between. The outer travel cover performed flawlessly and kept everything safe and secure. I find the material and construction of both the cover and the tent to be of a very high quality and have no reason to think it wont stand up to many more years of adventure.

That’s it… If you’re in the market for a rooftop tent, the Yakima SkyRise HD should be on your shortlist. Though there may be some sticker shock, the price point is competitive, and the quality is what you would expect from Yakima products.

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