Thule Outset review: skip the roof tent hassle, but prepare for bulk

Swedish rack and carrier expert Thule has been providing kit for off-grid adventures long before the hashtag became cool. For so long, in fact, the company has moved beyond rooftop tents and is now a purveyor of tow bar tent packages.

The Thule Outset is arguably the first of its kind—a rooftop tent system neatly bundled into a tow bar-friendly package, complete with a wiring harness for lights and indicators, a spot for the licence plate, and a lockable hitch.

In short, a tow bar-mounted solution aims to offer the same comfort and convenience as a rooftop pop-up tent without the need to scamper up and down a ladder or face the aerodynamic hardships of driving around with a giant slab of metal, plastic and fabric on your roof.

Oppositely, the Outset gracefully hangs off the back of the vehicle, creating less drag and helping improve fuel efficiency and extend battery range in electric cars. All you need is a tow bar, the required electrics, and a vehicle that can safely (and legally) haul 70kg on its rear, and you're good to go.

Thule Outset review

Price and availability

Are you ready for this? The Thule Outset costs £3,499  in the UK or €3,999.95  in Europe. Thule products are sold in the US, but they are not quite as easy to come by. We found an Outset for $5,499.95 at one US website, but it was out of stock.

That’s a hefty chunk of change, especially considering larger rooftop systems can be had for half the price. But this is Thule we are talking about, and there’s no questioning the quality of the product. It is top-notch.

Specifications

• Sleeping capacity: 3 person
• Dimensions (Open): 264 x 144 x 178 cm
• Dimensions (Closed): 144 x 74 x 90 cm
• Sleeping footprint: 225 x 134 cm
• Peak internal height: 113 cm
• Weight: 70 kg
• Static weight capacity: 300kg
• Canopy fabric: Breathable, water resistant 600D polyester ripstop

Design and build

The Thule Outset is delivered on a large wooden pallet, with everything you need included in a massive cardboard box that is strapped down to its wooden cargo system. Immediately, this is a bit of a pain, as you’ll have to recycle the cardboard and find a sensible way of disposing of the pallet, too.

That said, Thule does have a network of dealers and installers that will be happy to set the thing up for you, negating the need for a tip run and also saving you time, sweat and tears. Although, it will likely cost money.

In the name of journalism, I had to go this alone and, armed with a chunky, Ikea-esque instruction manual, set about mounting Outset to the back of a new Kia Sorento, complete with neat, detachable swan neck tow bar.

Initial set-up took me an hour or so, as Outset requires you follow each step very closely or risk the entire thing not mounting correctly or worse, not opening at all. 

It’s also important it is securely fitted to the back of the vehicle, or it could lead to some very embarrassing (and potentially very dangerous) issues on the road.

Thule advertises one-person instillation, and it is possible, but the entire package weighs 70kg and the hitching lever requires applying some 40kg of force, so be prepared to use some muscle and some swear words.

However, if you follow the instructions properly, it is designed to be wheeled around on its built-in wheels and then it uses a lever system to attach to the tow bar. You shouldn’t have to lift it, and once secured, you can fold and lock the tent in its upright position and away you go… after hooking up the electrics, that is.

As previously mentioned, the indicators and lighting system are included in the design, with a vehicle requiring the fairly standard 13-pin electrical socket, or adaptors are available for those with different pin configurations.

Everything feels robust and built to last. It never felt like I would risk damaging the Outset by doing something silly. It’s a tough old cookie and that is reflected in its weight and price, to a certain extent.

Thule includes a hard-wearing cover for the tent when it is mounted to the car, which prevents it from getting wet and covered in crud when driving, although I found this difficult to install. It’s super snug and takes much wrangling to get it into the correct position to zip up.

Set-up and pack away

Although not as simple as some of the cantilever rooftop tents I have tried, which often require opening like a book to get set-up, the Outset is still relatively simple.

The frame is neatly stored in the folded package when not in use and comprises two telescopic legs that attach to obvious hooks. There even marker triangles so you know you have the correct leg for each side.

These require extending out and shoring up with a couple of metal crossmembers, while adjustable feet help get the level right if your campsite of beauty spot is a bit wonky.

Once the frame is set, it’s just a case of rolling the tent out and securing it down with a satisfying click. The main body of the tent then pops up and is held in place by adjustable buckles at the rear. 

I set up and packed away the Thule Outset numerous times during testing and found the process got faster and faster once I knew the routine. Live with it for a few weeks and you’ll be able to have camp set up in no longer than five minutes.

In clement weather, you won’t even have to erect the additional rain cover, which is held in place by flexible poles and is arguably one of the fiddlier parts of the process. 

Once in place, the tent can be detached from the vehicle tow bar, so you can use the car to pop to the shops for supplies.

Packing away is the same process, but in reverse. Again, the steps have to be followed precisely and the telescopic legs and crossmembers for the frame have to be packed away with puzzle-like precision, but it’s all fairly simple and gets easier with experience. 

When mounted, it is also possible to reach things in the boot thanks to a large foot-operated lever that allows the entire Outset package to pivot backwards. There’s also a cable and carabiner contraption that tilts the Outset rearward enough to reach the boot, without it lowering all the way to the ground.

Performance

The initial mounting and first set-up can be a little daunting but the tent is fantastic once it is in place. Thule includes a premium, 7cm thick mattress that resides inside the set-up, negating the need to blow up mattresses once at camp.

It is ridiculously comfortable and, thanks to the adjustable legs on the Outset’s frame, dead simple to get a perfectly level sleeping area. 

But much like rooftop-mounted options, that’s all it is, a sleeping area. There’s no real space for living, unless travelling solo, and you certainly wouldn’t want to attempt cooking inside, for fear of everything stinking like bacon grease for ever more.

Thankfully, there’s loads of storage space in the tent, including fabric organiser pockets that can house shoes, electrical items and essential toiletries, while there is another large mesh section up top for stashing extra blankets and pillows when not required.

Plus, the Outset opens up both at the front and via a large door on each flank, effectively creating a panoramic view of nature and allowing plenty of air to flow through. There are also mesh curtains for keeping out bugs and various ventilation ports to prevent condensation build-up.

It is officially rated for three people, but I would say it is large enough for couples and perhaps a small child. I had the Outset to myself and enjoyed a wonderful night’s sleep, with plenty of headroom to sit up and ample roominess to roll around. It probably wouldn’t have felt as cavernous with another adult beside me.

In terms of weather-resistance and sturdiness, the Thule Outset held out well in a few heavy showers, with that additional rain cover successfully keeping water away from the already water-resistant flysheet.

Cleverly, the flexible poles that give the rain cover its shape also have adjustable modules that prevent water running along the pole and into the tent itself. It’s like a miniature guttering system and it really works.

That said, I couldn’t see an obvious way to peg the system down when detached from the Kia Sorento. Thule includes rope to Guy the rain cover down, but nothing in the way of pegs to secure the frame to the ground. 

Weighing in at 70kg, it probably doesn’t need pinning down, but strong side gales could lead to some serious wind buffeting during the night.

The Swedish company says Outset can happily handle 300kg inside, so there’s plenty of capacity for heavier users, but space will be an issue for taller folk. 

For me, the only real issues arose when detaching the Outset and attempting to store it. Bottom line, it’s massive and weighs 70kg, so wheeling it around isn’t exactly easy. Forget lugging it up stairs.

What’s more, it’s almost as wide as a car, so doesn’t fit through standard door frames unless tipped on its end. Ideally, this is designed for those who merely have to wheel it into a large double garage when not in use.

But to be fair, removing and packing a rooftop tent away for winter is just as much of a faff, if not more, which is likely why so many leisure campers continue to turn towards the best air beam or pole tents, which pack down into a handy bag and can more easily be stored.

Verdict

The Outset tow bar-mounted tent undeniably cements Thule’s reputation as a purveyor of premium roof rack systems and innovative, vehicle-based camping solutions. The build quality is fantastic and the package contains everything you need to get adventuring.

It is also undeniably more convenient than having to set-up a traditional tent and infinitely more comfortable if you don’t require space for an entire family. Plus, not having it mounted to the roof (or shoved in the boot) means more room for additional camping kit.

This is a good thing, because you’ll probably want to pack a gazebo or additional shelter for cooking and chilling under during the day - plus all of the usual chairs, fire pits and whatnot.

It is a great system for those perhaps in the market for a rooftop tent but don’t want to have to clamber up and down a ladder. This is a particular annoyance if you have young children, need to pee a lot at night or just hate ladders.

But the Outset is limited in the interior roominess it offers, it is a bulky thing to store when not in use and it is frightfully expensive, exceeding Thule’s largest, four-person Tepui Autana rooftop tent by almost a grand. 

You’ve really got to love the outdoors lifestyle to make that sort of commitment, as you could probably buy your own personal campsite for the money.

Also consider

The TentBox Lite XL offers a spacious and comfortable rooftop camping experience with easy setup, making it ideal for families or groups. It's lightweight and fits most vehicles, but as most rooftop tents, it's a bulky and might affect fuel consumption. It's half the price of the Outset, and the overall design balances convenience with durability, appealing to outdoor enthusiasts. Read my full TentBox Lite XL review.