Best Truck Topper for Hunting: How to Choose the Right Setup

Softopper makes the original retractable soft truck top for hunters who want covered storage and an open bed for game. It comes in 50-plus vehicle-specific fitments and weighs 18 to 48 lbs depending on fitment. If you need lockable, fully sealed storage above all else, a hard shell is the better fit.

For many hunters, yes. A Softopper keeps gear covered on the drive, then retracts toward the cab in seconds when you need the bed for game. It isn’t a locking hard cap, so pair it with an aftermarket lock box to keep firearms and valuables secured.

Hard shells are heavy and stay on the truck, which limits open-bed hauling. Soft truck tops trade some security and sealing for flexibility, since they aren’t locking hard caps and sewn seams can leak in trouble spots. With a Softopper, add a lock box for valuables and use seam sealer where needed.

They are if you regularly haul gear that needs cover. A truck topper helps keep dust, moisture, and road debris off your cargo. A retractable Softopper adds flexibility by opening the full bed in seconds, so you get covered storage without giving up your truck’s hauling ability.

Softopper’s double-pull zippers open the rear panel from inside or outside, which makes sleeping in the bed practical. Safari Mode rolls up the sides and rear window for airflow, and the Camper Top Tent clips around the Softopper for more room. Bring an insulated pad, since a topper doesn’t insulate the bed floor.

Neither material wins across the board, since hard caps vary by material and build, and each has its own tradeoffs. Softopper takes a different approach: a corrosion-proof anodized aluminum frame with a fabric canopy. It weighs 18 to 48 lbs depending on fitment and retracts toward the cab when you need the full bed.

A truck topper covers your truck bed so cargo stays protected from weather, dust, and road debris. It turns an open bed into covered storage for gear, tools, or a dog kennel. A retractable Softopper adds flexibility: covered when you need it, and a full open bed when you don’t.

Yes, you can sleep under a Softopper. Its double-pull zippers open and close the rear panel from inside or outside the bed. Bring an insulated pad, prioritize airflow to limit condensation, and in bear country store food and coolers securely away from where you sleep.

Yes. Retract your Softopper so it folds forward toward the cab, keeping the frame mounted and your rear window visible. For a completely open bed, lift the frame off the pivot pins, so you can load game without a permanent setup change.

Yes, Softopper Camo Tops come in two exclusive TrueTimber patterns. Vintage Brown suits fields, timber, and ranchland, while Midnight is a grayscale pattern for low light and blacked-out builds. Both offer the same Softopper performance on select models, including Tacoma, Ram 1500/2500/3500, Silverado/Sierra, and Gladiator.