Thule Approach 2 M.

The Gavler Review.

Thule Approach 2 M Review: The Default Soft-Shell at REI

The Thule Approach 2 M ranks number 5 on Gavler's Best Rooftop Tents list with an 8.5, and it's the rare rooftop tent that gets a skeptical reviewer to use the word "luxurious." GearJunkie's Seiji Ishii — who describes himself in his own byline as an "anti-RTT editor" — lived out of an Approach M for four months and came away calling it "downright luxurious." Gavler's own verdict is more measured but points in the same direction: "The mainstream-default RTT. Slightly outclassed on spec by Roofnest at the same price, but Thule's dealer network and install support are the real value-add for first-time RTT buyers." Buy it if you want the safest, most broadly-supported soft-shell purchase in the category. Skip it if you're optimizing purely for spec at this price point, in which case the Roofnest Condor 2 Air offers a thicker mattress for a comparable price.

What it is

The Approach M is Thule's volume soft-shell — the model that gets installed at REI on the most weekends of the year. At $2,300, it positions slightly below the Roofnest Condor 2 with a more conservative spec sheet (60mm foam versus Roofnest's 65mm), but with the full weight of Thule's warranty and dealer network behind it. For buyers who care more about brand pedigree and install support than squeezing out the last percentage point of spec, the Approach M is the rational default — and the one an REI sales associate will point you toward if you walk in cold.

The construction underneath that reputation is genuinely solid: a tubular aluminum base with an aluminum cap sheet, dual-density foam flooring, a 600-denier water-resistant polyester canopy, and a thermoplastic-coated nylon rainfly with mosquito netting on every window. It's backed by a 5-year warranty — the same term as its hard-shell sibling, the Thule Basin.

In use

That reputation holds up under real-world testing. GearJunkie sent Seiji Ishii to live out of an Approach M for four months, through conditions ranging from near-freezing mornings to summer heat over 90 degrees, and his verdict was about as strong as the outlet gives a soft-shell tent: "I don't think I can give a softshell RTT any higher praise." His summary was direct — "Thule Approach M is extremely comfortable and spacious for two-plus — almost luxurious. It protects its inhabitants from pounding rain and strong winds while providing excellent ventilation when needed. The build quality is extremely high, and I foresee it lasting a very long time." His pros list echoed that: a "cavernous interior," a "very comfortable foam floor," and a tent that felt "extremely robust and weatherproof" through Central Texas storms.

The gripes were minor but real. His cons: the separate travel cover is bulky enough that stowing it becomes its own small chore, and the rainfly is "a bit challenging to install" — awkward to reach around without the ability to walk fully around the tent's footprint. He also flagged the telescoping ladder's narrow, square-edged rungs as uncomfortable underfoot barefoot, a detail easy to miss on a spec sheet but real enough that he kept slippers inside the tent. Gavler's own baseline coverage lines up with the broader consensus: GearJunkie's category-level read calls the Approach M "the default soft-shell at REI for a reason — competent execution with broad install support," while Off Road Tents' more skeptical take is fair too: "Slightly outclassed by Roofnest at the same price; outsells everyone on dealer network alone."

Strengths

• Thule Dealer Network — the largest install network in the category, spanning REI, Outdoor Wholesale, and dozens of regional outdoor outfitters certified to install Thule racks and tents.
• 60mm Foam Mattress — adequate cushioning for the volume tier, even if it's outclassed by Roofnest's 65mm foam at a similar price.
• 5-Year Warranty — the same term as the pricier Thule Basin, with full parts and labor coverage.

The trade-offs — who should skip it

• You want the thickest mattress at this price. The Approach M's 60mm foam is adequate, not exceptional — the Roofnest Condor 2 Air ships with 65mm foam for a similar price.
• You hate fumbling with a rainfly. GearJunkie's testing found the rainfly genuinely awkward to install correctly without room to walk fully around the tent — a real inconvenience, not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing before you're doing it in the rain.
• You go barefoot at the campsite. The telescoping ladder's narrow rungs are uncomfortable without shoes or slippers, according to GearJunkie's four-month test.

How it compares

Within Thule's own lineup, the Approach M is the accessible soft-shell counterpart to the Thule Basin, which ranks one spot higher on Gavler's list at 8.7 — the Basin trades the Approach M's interior volume for a lower-drag hard-shell and the same 5-year warranty. Against the outside competition, the Roofnest Condor 2 Air at $2,795 is the closest spec-for-spec rival, and it wins on paper with a thicker mattress and a higher Gavler score (9.0 versus 8.5). What the Approach M offers instead is the security of buying from the brand with the deepest dealer bench in North America — a real factor for first-time buyers who want to walk into a physical store, ask questions, and get the tent professionally installed.

The Gavler verdict

An 8.5, with an 84 expert consensus and an 87 community rating that runs ahead of it — genuine owner satisfaction outpacing the more spec-conscious professional reviews. Gavler's own scoreNote captures why: "Strong volume sales reflect the broad dealer network advantage. Spec-conscious buyers consistently move to Roofnest at this price tier." That's the tension at the center of this tent. It isn't the best soft-shell rooftop tent money can buy at $2,300 — but it might be the easiest one to buy with confidence, and GearJunkie's four-month verdict backs that up: "downright luxurious" isn't a phrase that gets thrown around lightly in this category.

Common Questions

Is the Thule Approach 2 M worth it in 2026?

Yes, for buyers who want the broadest install and warranty support in the soft-shell category. It ranks fifth on Gavler's Best Rooftop Tents list with an 8.5. GearJunkie's four-month hands-on test called it 'downright luxurious' and concluded, 'I don't think I can give a softshell RTT any higher praise.'

Thule Approach 2 M or Roofnest Condor 2 Air?

Buy the Roofnest Condor 2 Air if you want the better spec sheet at a similar price — it has a thicker mattress and scores higher on Gavler's list. Buy the Thule Approach 2 M if broad dealer support and install network matter more than squeezing out the last bit of spec, since Thule installs are available at REI and dozens of regional outfitters.

How comfortable is the Thule Approach 2 M to sleep in?

Very. GearJunkie's Seiji Ishii tested one for four months across near-freezing to 90-degree conditions and described a 'cavernous interior' with a 'very comfortable foam floor,' calling the overall experience 'extremely comfortable and spacious for two-plus — almost luxurious.'

What's the biggest weakness of the Thule Approach 2 M?

The separate travel cover is bulky to stow, and the rainfly takes some practice to set up correctly. GearJunkie's tester also found the telescoping ladder's narrow, square-edged rungs uncomfortable barefoot — a minor but real gripe for anyone climbing in and out at night.