Any feedback on James Baroud ?

[ADuval]

Hi everyone,

I’m planning an overlanding trip through Colorado later this year and I’m currently looking into roof tents as my main setup. After some research, the James Baroud models keep popping up as some of the best on the market, especially when it comes to durability and ease of setup.

Since Colorado weather can be unpredictable — hot days, sudden storms, and chilly nights in the mountains — I want to make sure I invest in something reliable. The idea of a hard shell tent that sets up in seconds, has good ventilation, and can handle wind and rain sounds perfect for what I need.

That said, these tents are a big investment, and before I commit, I’d really like to hear some first-hand feedback. For those of you who’ve used a James Baroud tent:

• How do they perform in strong wind and rain?
• Are they genuinely comfortable for long trips, or do you feel cramped after a while?
• Do they hold up well over the years with regular use, or is maintenance a big issue?
• Anything you wish you’d known before buying one?

I’ll mostly be solo, but occasionally my partner might join me for shorter trips, so space and comfort are definitely factors. I’d also love to know how they compare to other premium brands if anyone has tried multiple.

Any insights, pros/cons, or even photos of your setups would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help — I want to be sure this tent will be worth it for the Colorado backcountry!

 

[Jwestpro]

What will you be driving and/or have it mounted onto?

 

[VanWaLife]

I will take a stab at your questions:

• How do they perform in strong wind and rain? Great in my opinion. Really a nice place to be in harsh conditions. With that said, you don't want to close them up with the sidewalls wet. I bring a towel to dry as best as I can, but you may have moisture problems if camping during sustained rainy weather.
• Are they genuinely comfortable for long trips, or do you feel cramped after a while? The Evasion is great for me by myself, not cramped for sleeping, and much more comfortable with a DIY condensation mat under the stock mattress. I'm a side sleeper and picky about mattresses, but I look forward to sleeping in my Baroud.
• Do they hold up well over the years with regular use, or is maintenance a big issue? They never close the same way twice...closing in general is more art than science and could be vastly improved with almost no effort by Baroud. Mine has pinholes in the fabric. This is a common problem. https://eatsleepwoof.com/gear/james-baroud-tent-problems
• Anything you wish you’d known before buying one? Condensation with outside temps much below 40F is a major problem. The stock fan is noisy and seems like something that would be more at home in a mock-up or design concept, not a production tent. I run a small dehumidifier from a power tool battery in colder temps instead of the fan. Getting out of the tent is a real drag unless you have a deck. I would say these are definitely not worth the money if you can find any other alternative that works for you. I would look hard at a Skycamp before buying a Baroud again.