Pop-Up Penthouse: James Baroud Odyssey RTT Review

The James Baroud Odyssey is one of the best-designed, highest-quality rooftop tents you can buy. If you’re a camper who plans to spend a lot of nights in your RTT in a range of weather, this tent is worth the price. 

Sometimes it isn’t obvious why one Rooftop tent costs twice as much as another. I’ve tested and reviewed RTTs that hit different price points, and after some time with the Odyssey, I can say that you get what you pay for, in a good way.

James Baroud handcrafts its rooftop tents in Porto, Portugal, where the company has been manufacturing since the 1960s. The company got its start making awnings for the Portuguese army. Then it moved on to building refugee camp tent shelters, military tents, and NASA space suits.

James Baroud released its first RTTs in the 1990s. After using the Odyssey for the past 2 months, it’s clear that it is a step above other tents in its attention to detail and all-weather versatility.

From true blackout window shades and an insulated, sound-blocking base to hidden vents that work even when the tent is buttoned up to a solar-powered built-in fan to manage condensation, the Odyssey is a step above other tents. 

James Baroud purposefully designed each rooftop tent to an exacting spec, and every tent comes with a 5-year warranty. 

“We are very proud that James Baroud tents are handmade in Portugal to last for a very long time,” said Reuben de Souza, U.S. Sales Manager. “By making military tents and tents for use in refugee camps, we learned how to craft a tent that will last 20 years.”

In short: James Baroud’s Odyssey is the perfect tent for a discerning solo traveler or a couple seeking a swanky, pop-up rooftop tent to enjoy your surroundings outside while keeping bugs and weather out. It’s packed with details that make being inside the tent pleasant, like interior lighting, 360-degree views, and a flashlight/reading light. At nearly $5,000, it’s expensive, but it will last a long time even with regular use. It also won’t impact your gas mileage as much as some other RTTs, thanks to its aerodynamic shell.

Check out how the Odyssey compares to the competition in GearJunkie’s guide to the best rooftop tents.

James Baroud Odyssey Review

Setup

Setting up the James Baroud Odyssey takes under a minute. Four clips hold the tent shut. Unclip them, nudge up one end, and then the other end, and the tent roof lifts automatically on the four corner legs inside.

Pressing a small lever on each leg locks the roof in the raised position or releases the roof to close the tent. A webbing pull with a rubber handle at the foot of the tent and a handle on the head of the tent give a good grab point for lowering the roof when it’s time to pack up. The ladder zips into a canvas bag that stores inside the tent.

Inside

Climb into any rooftop tent and you’ll instantly love it or hate it. When I go camping, I like to feel like I am outside, and this tent checks that box. I loved this one. The 360-degree windows were an instant win for me. At the foot of the tent, the window covering unzips for an unobstructed view.

Large corner windows unzip at the head of the tent. And both sides and the head have doors that are also windows. The tent was cool on hot nights thanks to ventilation everywhere, and I could see my surroundings, which I loved.

The windows zip shut as easily as they open, so when an unexpected rainstorm blew through one night when I was camping in Connecticut, I was able to button up the tent fast and get back to sleep. 

Gear Storage

The James Baroud Odyssey has loads of headroom. It’s 39 inches from the base to the ceiling, so I could sit up comfortably. I could also load up the spacious gear loft with everything from bedding to extra clothes. The gear loft is about a third of the size of the tent, and it’s on the foot side, so it doesn’t interfere with headroom. 

The gear loft is just one of this tent’s storage options. Side storage pockets at the head of the tent held small items. A track along the top perimeter lets me hang stuff anywhere using T-track hooks. 

More than one person who slept in the Odyssey said that they liked its mattress better than what they sleep on at home. The 2.5-inch high-density foam mattress is supportive and extremely comfortable if you like your mattress on the firm side (I do). Because of how thin it is, I found it more convenient to make the bed with two top sheets — one over the mattress and one over me — instead of a fitted sheet and a top sheet. 

Great Features

Some of the best features of this tent aren’t immediately obvious, including adjustment knobs on the arms that tighten the tent fabric as it stretches over time (DeSouza says that the tent fabric stretches over time. After about five years it can be time to tighten it). Hidden vents at the top of the tent keep air circulating when it’s closed tight for cold-weather camping, or when it’s raining and your tent zippers are closed.

James Baroud keeps the tent comfortable by eliminating exposed aluminum, which can be uncomfortable to the touch, by covering it with plastic or fabric. It also coats the zipper pulls to keep them quiet and rust-free. The tent base has a thick lining to keep out ambient noise and to better insulate the Odyssey for cold-weather camping. 

The tent’s polymer latches are made in-house. They won’t rust, and they weathered several storms during testing. The tent is spec’d with 360-degree LED perimeter lighting, powered by a rechargeable battery that also charges a phone. The battery lives in a pouch that Velcroes to the top of the tent wall.

Forgot your headlamp? Don’t stress. The tent comes with a rechargeable flashlight that clips to the tent above your head. It doubles as a reading light. Hoping to carry your surfboard or bike? Add crossbars to the shell. The struts can be changed out if you want to carry heavier weights on your rooftop bars.

The Shell and Walls

The Odyssey, available in three colors, is a hardshell RTT with a UV protection-coated, 4mm-thick ABS plastic top. It’s not boxy like some tents. The tent’s aerodynamic shell is inspired by a whale shark. In James Baroud’s testing, it has a very low drag coefficient. 

The tent walls are as unique as the shell. Each wall is three layers thick — a waterproof layer on the outside, a super-thin polymer foam insulation layer in the middle. This allows for full blackout and reduces noise inside, and a porous, moisture-absorbing layer on the inside.

That porous layer is just one way that James Baroud combats the bane of any RTT dweller’s existence: condensation. They also have a solar-powered fan built into the ceiling of the tent to suck moisture from inside.

Multiple Sizes Available

I opted for the medium version of this tent for easier installation (the M is 143 pounds versus 178 pounds for the large) and less weight on the truck. After installing the tent on our Ford F150, I slept in this tent with my husband and our 55-pound shepherd-mix dog. The three of us had enough space with just the clothes we were wearing, but there wasn’t enough space for a duffel or other gear inside.  

The tent has three doors, which means I could enter wherever it was convenient.

Minor Gripes

While this tent has many fantastic features, it also has a few drawbacks. The roof struts leave indentations in the corners of the mattress. They also take up a little bit of interior real estate, though I got used to them pretty quickly, and they never actually felt like they were in the way. 

The ladder is more modern-looking and lighter than other RTT ladders. It comes in a zip canvas bag that stores inside the tent. However, it doesn’t lock open. The first time I used this tent, I was parked on a paved driveway, and the ladder slid in against the side of my truck. When I parked on dirt, grass, or sand, the ladder stayed put. 

When it’s time to pack up and go, the ladder stores inside the tent along with the sheets on the mattress. If you’re sleeping with a thicker comforter or pillows, you’ll want to bring those out of the tent to close it. 

The James Baroud Odyssey doesn’t have awnings over the doors. So it takes less time to set up, but when it was raining or snowing, my tent entrance wasn’t protected. James Baroud sells a Frontier awning ($399) as well as a Frontier Tunnel ($595). Both provide weather protection when you’re getting in and out of the tent. I highly recommend them unless you’re only using this tent in fair weather. 

When I was in the tent, I stuffed my shoes between the tent and the roof of my vehicle. I’d love to see a more elegant solution from James Baroud. 

The Odyssey is pricey, but the tent is handmade in Portugal, not China. Despite tariff uncertainty, the price is holding steady at $4,895. If this tent is too rich for your budget, keep an eye on James Baroud’s website. Soon, the company plans to release a more economical tent that will be priced at $2,650.

James Baroud Odyssey Review: Conclusion

The more I used the James Baroud Odyssey, the more I loved it. Sleeping in this tent is breezy and comfortable with the windows open, and it’s pleasant inside with the windows closed. I love how easy it is to set up.

Packing up to leave the campsite and make a grocery run was a non-event. Neither cold nor rainy weather made me wish I had stayed home. And when the winds get gusty, I feel secure inside this tent. If you’ve thought camping wasn’t for you, this tent may make you change your mind.