There is no clear answer to the question of whether you need an annex, and that is why I hope this article will help you make a decision. At first, when you start researching roof tents, an annex seems like the logical next step. You have an extra room and therefore more comfort and space for organization. At first, we thought we would use it on every camping trip, but we quickly realized that it depends on the type of trip.
WHAT AN ANNEX ACTUALLY ADDS
An annex is an additional enclosed space that connects to a roof tent, usually made of the same material. This space can be used in a variety of ways. It can be a storage area where you can take the equipment you need out of the car and arrange it. It can be a changing room where there are no unwanted views and where an adult can stand up normally. It can also be a sheltered seating area or an additional living room – protection from rain, wind, sun or mosquitoes. When you are camping with children, an additional separate space is especially useful. Not only does it provide more space, but it also creates a feeling of greater privacy and organization.
WHEN WE ACTUALLY USE IT
The annex has proven to be most useful for us when we stay based in the same location for at least two nights, without moving the car. One thing we learned is to pay attention to the type of pitch when booking if we know we'll be using the annex. Since it needs to be pegged down, concrete pitches aren't suitable, and very rocky or coarse gravel surfaces can make it difficult to secure properly. Grass or compact soil is by far the easiest option.
It takes about 15 minutes to set up/take down, but in return you get an extra room that changes the whole camping experience. Suddenly camping takes on an even greater sense of home, especially in campsites where you also get extra privacy on the pitch. The pace slows down; we take out the table and basic things that can stay outside the whole time. No one, not even us when we go out, can see if there is a mess. It is easier to organize, and it looks nicer, when the space has certain boundaries.
When you have more equipment, it can be inconvenient to search the bunker for what you need every time. And that very thing probably ended up at the bottom while you were looking for the previous one. Once the annex is set up, we organize the things we know we will use the most in it, and leave the rest in the bunker. It also makes the situation much easier when changing clothes, there is no bending over in the car or tent or carrying clothes up and down. This is an advantage that is more noticeable in adults, but it also prevents kids from being crowded in those situations, no matter how much space the tent has.
There often comes a time when you just want to stay outside and sit. Maybe you forgot to bring a thicker jacket, and the evening is colder than you thought, or the mosquitoes see you as a buffet and spoil the experience. In such situations, the annex becomes exactly what you need – an additional room where you can stay outside, but protected.
We rarely use it on short trips, but on longer ones it completely changes the camping experience!
WHEN WE DON’T USE THE ANNEX
No matter how many advantages an annex has, there are trips we don't take it with us because we know we won't use it. When we're only going for one night and we know we'll continue sightseeing or hiking the next day, there's simply no need for it. A quick dinner and breakfast don't require any extra comfort.
When we're going on a longer road trip, but we know we'll only be spending one night at one location, we don't take the annex out. Although it's relatively quick to set up and take down, those 15 minutes with three kids mean a lot in practice, so we choose the simplest setup possible.
And that's exactly why every trip, or type of trip, doesn't always need the same setup.
SO… DO YOU NEED AN ANNEX?
An annex isn’t a must-have for everyone, but it can be a great upgrade when you’re staying in one location and looking for more rest and organization. Will you be doing more overnight camping or longer stays? How much gear will you be carrying? Do you prefer simplicity or comfort? These are all questions you need to ask yourself.
Keep in mind that you may not need an annex on every trip, but it can make a big difference on that one multi-day trip a year. The best roof tent setup isn’t necessarily the most expensive or the biggest, but the one that best suits your travel style. Sometimes we use it, sometimes we don’t, and that flexibility is why we’re glad to have one.
