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The Best Truck Soft Toppers to Keep Your Stuff Secure

When it comes to protecting your cargo, gear or furry friends, there’s nothing like these versatile bed cover options.

man accessing truck bed through an open soft truck topper panel Softopper

By Mary Singler

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“Just throw it in the truck” is probably a phrase you say with a little pride when toting oversized gear. And while we all love the options that our beloved truck beds provide, sometimes you feel like your stuff could use a little protection from the weather, debris or even the wondering eye of a thief (out of sight, out of mind — right?). That’s where a truck soft topper comes in.

Products in the Guide

  • Best Overall: Softopper Truck Bed Cap

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  • Best Upgrade: Fas-Top Traveler Topper & Tonneau

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  • Most Versatile Soft Truck Topper: Flated Air-Topper

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  • Easiest to Fold Down Soft Topper: Bestop Supertop Truck 2 Bed Tops

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Pros

  • Multiple color options
  • No panels to remove in the fold-down process

Cons

  • Back flap could be hard to attach to the tailgate
  • Weight: 14-30 lbs (depending on model)
  • Canopy Material: Waterproof, all-season 3-ply PVC laminated sailcloth
  • Frame Construction: Rust-free anodized aluminum with zinc-coated steel fasteners
  • Window Material: Replaceable acrylic

They have the name, the performance, and the look. A brand born in motocross, the founders built a product allowing them to haul their bikes to the track and then store their gear safely while racing. The Softopper has an unmatched number of fitment options, so you can be sure they have a product available for your truck’s trim.

They go lean on the hardware, allowing the initial installation process to take under an hour, but after that, you can fold down the top in a matter of minutes. The canopy is held in place by a series of heavy-duty snap buttons, velcro and a couple of safety straps that keep the material nice and taut at freeway speeds.

Because of Softopper’s specialty in the category, they produce several add-ons and accessories to modify your setup further. If you are interested in camping right in the bed of your truck, they offer a tent extension so you can maximize your covered space with the tailgate down. They also offer a compatible bed rack which is an excellent option if you want to install a rooftop tent or haul a kayak.

Pros

  • Only option with dual coverage
  • Velcro can be replaced if it wears out

Cons

  • Gap behind truck window could be a bit funny looking
  • Snow and ice could build between the truck window and soft topper
  • Weight: 70 lbs
  • Tonneau Material: UV-protected embossed commercial grade fabric
  • Frame construction: Black anodized aircraft aluminum
  • Window Material: Vinyl

The Fas-Top Traveler is the dynamic duo of bed covers. If you are still torn between getting a more low-profile tonneau cover and a soft top, this will give you the best of both worlds. The tonneau cover and topper can be mounted simultaneously and can be switched very quickly. Rolling it up and popping up the topper takes just a few minutes. And down the road, if you want more ventilation or privacy when your topper is up, they offer a few window alternates that can be replaced easily.

Fas-Top manufactures and tests their products in North Dakota, so you know wind and snow will be no match for this one.

Pros

  • One person installation
  • Easy to transport

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Not a sleek look
  • Weight: 35 lbs
  • Canopy Material: PVC coated drop-stitch
  • Frame construction: Well…air
  • Window Material: Vinyl

An inflatable top for your bed is easily the most innovative design on the list. You simply blow it up with the included pump and strap it to your truck.

While this design will not be as tight in the corners as the other bow-framed options, it is highly versatile from truck to truck as there are just two size options (short bed and long bed), and then you cinch it down to fit correctly. It only weighs 35 lbs, and when deflated, it fits into a bag similar to what you may see an inflatable kayak or stand-up paddle board stored in. This makes it extremely easy to stow away, whether you want to throw it in the cab to use later or tuck it in the coat closet.

I know the thoughts, Will it deflate in the cold? Is the sun going to beat it up? What about the debris that gets kicked up on the road? Well, with its PVC coating, polyester stitching and reinforced sidewalls, you most likely won’t have anything to worry about. Worst case scenario, you get to use the patch kit that comes with it.

Pros

  • Tailgate bar seal
  • Includes an optional brake light for DOT compliance

Cons

  • More hardware and moving parts for fold-down process
  • Weight: Between 50-70 lbs (depending on model)
  • Canopy Material: Laminated PVC coated sailcloth
  • Frame construction: Not listed
  • Window Material: Vinyl

Known for pioneering Jeep soft tops, Bestop has been a big name in the industry for a while. The Supertop Truck 2 is the second and much-improved iteration of their soft tops. The installation process may take a bit longer than other options on the market, but you will get a couple of extra notable features. The topper has a unique tailgate bar system that allows for the easiest access to the stuff in your truck while keeping a tight seal from the elements. It is important to note that once installed, the fold-down process is a much faster one-person job. When folding down, the side windows roll up, but the back window must be removed. Once taken down, it has a great storage system that allows you to keep all the pieces conveniently tucked behind the truck window when not in use.

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