Are Roben Tents Any Good?

Robens is a leading European manufacturer of specialist adventure gear. They make a wide variety of tents in different sizes and designs, and they are available at every price point. The critical question, however, is if Robens tents are any good?

Roben tents are good products respected for their reliability, durability, and retro design. They are well designed, made from high-quality materials, and are rigorously tested. Finally, Robens’ extensive and diversified catalog makes it easy to pick out a tent tailored to your specific needs.

In this article, I will tell you a little about Robens’ history and the products they sell. I will also give you an overview of how much Robens tents cost. I’ll conclude with some final thoughts on what makes Robens tents worth considering for your individual camping needs.

Who Are Robens?

Robens is owned by Oase Outdoors, a family-run Danish adventure sports outfitter that owns the Outwell and Easy Camp brands. The company has research and design facilities in Germany and Denmark and manufacturing facilities in China.

Started in Germany in 1973 by Klaus Robens and his wife Monika, Robens is rooted in their passion for the outdoors. Apart from tents, the company also makes and sells sleeping bags, self-inflating mats, outdoor furniture, cookware, and a range of other accessories under the camping and outdoor products categories.

Over the years, Robens has developed a reputation for producing award-winning specialist tents for adventure sports, including trekking, camping, family adventures, and cycling and kayaking tours. They make poled and air tents for one to ten people and additions, such as inner and side tents, carpets and groundsheets, and porches and tarps.

What Are Specialist Tents?

Robens differentiates its tents not only based on cost and size but also by materials used, weather resistance, and design. Their diversified portfolio communicates that these significantly different products are unique, and each one is ideal for specific applications.

Specialist tents have specific ratings for unique environmental conditions. Robens has a wide variety of great specialist tents, allowing you to customize your tent purchase to your needs.

For instance, Robens tents come with hydrostatic heads ranging from 2,000 mm to 5,000 mm. These numbers measure the waterproofness of the textile used in their construction. Thus, the range of hydrostatic heads marks out tents that are more suitable for wet conditions from those that aren’t.

Robens also differentiates their tents by the material used. Tents made of polycotton are heavier but ventilate better than those made of polyester. Those made of polycotton mixed with ripstop are the most durable. So, according to your specific location and camping needs, choosing a tent based on the materials used in its construction is crucial.

Similarly, Robens also rates tents for maximum wind speed conditions. For example, the Aero Yurt is rated for gusty 95 km/h (59 mi/h), whereas the Voyager 2EX can withstand up to 168 km/h (104.4 mi/h).

Robens also differentiates between poled and air tents like all other tent manufacturers. Air tents are generally easier to pitch and more expensive than poled tents. Poled tents offer more structural support but, for the same reason, consist of more breakable parts that are heavier to carry.

Thus, the extensive catalog of tents that Robens offers makes choosing a tent for specific applications accessible. The clear distinction in Robens’ product lines makes for some very niche products.

For instance, the Chaser 1 tent from Robens’ ‘Track’ range is a poled tent made of nylon-ripstop with a 2,000 mm hydrostatic head. Weighing in at only 1.26 Kg (2.78 lbs), the Chaser 1 appeals to campers who need a tent that takes up as little space as possible. It is also rated for maximum wind speeds of up to 200 km/h ( 124.27 mi/h) to withstand challenging environmental conditions.

However, Robens also makes a range of more affordable tents for more casual everyday use. They make compact tents ideal for festival-type scenarios and more comfortable and spacious tents for families that offer more standing room at the expense of compactness. Ultimately, the tent you choose needs to fit your specific requirements.

How Rigorously Are Robens Tents Tested?

Robens take over a year to develop their tent models before production. During this time, their designers interact with testers and active users of their products in the field to garner feedback about improving their latest products. Robens’ engineers consider the latest materials, possible feature inclusions, and price-value trade-offs in their design calculations.

Robens’ tents are rigorously tested at Robens’ advanced research facility, which is one of the best in Europe. Robens tents are put through a high-intensity stress test using wind and rain machines.

Robens’ testing criteria pay attention to all the crucial aspects of a tent’s construction, including:

Pole construction, size, and form
Flysheet fit
Guyline positioning
Number of attachment points
Ventilation efficiency

Only models that pass these criteria go through the patenting process and into commercial production.

Robens is also very transparent with listing the tested limits of its products. All their products have various wind speed tolerances and waterproofing efficiency. You can find out more about their testing process on their website.

How Much Are Robens Tents?

Because of the broadness of their range, Robens offers a wide variety of tents at various price points.

Robens tents are usually between $120 and $1,500, depending on the tent’s size, design, and construction. Their catalog provides good value across this broad price range. So, the price of a Robens tent largely depends on your specific camping needs.

So, the Arrow Head, a fast-pitching, one-person polyester tent from Robens’ ‘Route’ range, comes for as little as $119.95.

The much heavier and roomier Eagle Rock TC 6+2XP from Robens’ ‘Adventure’ range is at the other end of the scale. Made of polycotton and ripstop, the Eagle Rock TC 6+2XP sleeps up to eight people and costs $1,599.95.

The Double Dreamer 5, a five-person polyester tent with standing room, is perfect for family-sized groups. Cost-wise the Double Dreamer 5 lies somewhere in between the Arrow Head and the Eagle Rock TC 6+2XP.

If you’re interested in the Robens Double Dreamer 5, you can find one on Amazon.com. Keep in mind that tent manufacturers’ estimates vary for a single person’s space. So, a tent described as sleeping five might only be suitable for four people.

Are Robens Tents Any Good?

Camping enthusiasts and extreme-weather adventure seekers highly regard Robens tents.

Robens tents are good, and they have a reputation for reliability, durability, and nostalgic design sensibility. Their tents are well designed, rigorously tested, clearly differentiated, and available across various price points.

Robens also has a vast catalog of products and is very transparent about the specialized features that demarcate one product from another.

Their brochure includes both expensive top-of-the-line technical tents with specialized features for niche applications and comfortable, affordable tents for easy-going family vacations and everything in between.

To summarize, Robens makes excellent tents for various users and environmental conditions.