When I originally bought my Jeep, the type of top it came with wasn’t a major factor in the decision. My only concern with a soft top was how much noise it would allow. After a test drive, I found the noise level acceptable—plus, I had previously owned a Jeep TJ with a soft top, so I already knew what to expect.
At the time, I was living in coastal North Carolina and making weekly trips to the beach. With drive-on beach access, the soft top was a definite benefit. Later, when I moved to the Coastal Bend region of Texas, I was still hitting the beach often. The soft top remained a great match for my lifestyle.
As I became more involved in overlanding, my needs started to change. I never hated the soft top, but it came with limitations that became more obvious with time.
Soft Top – Pros:
- Lightweight and easier to remove
- Great for beach use and open-air driving
- More interior headroom due to arched support bows
- Typically less expensive upfront
Soft Top – Cons:
- Noisy, especially at highway speeds
- Lower security—easy to cut through or unzip
- Requires unzipping rear windows to access cargo
- Vulnerable to hail and harsh weather damage
- Can’t be towed backwards safely due to fabric/frame structure
- Trailer rental restrictions (U-Haul prohibits towing with soft-top Jeeps)
- Considered a consumable good—will eventually need replacing
- Requires regular zipper lubrication and fabric maintenance
A hole eventually developed on the passenger side, which I patched with Flex Seal tape. That fix worked surprisingly well. Then, in the Chihuahuan Desert, I was caught in a hailstorm and one of the rear window panels cracked. I replaced it with a MasterTop replacement window.
The biggest recurring issue was access. With the fridge in the back and gear stored on an inside cargo rack, unzipping and flipping up the rear window to get inside became a hassle. The dusty trails made it a dirty task, with grime and grit building up around the zippers and fabric, often requiring cleanup just to access anything inside. Add rain, and strong wind to the mix, and it was a constant struggle. I got hit in the head more than once when the wind caught the soft window. My short wife also had difficulty reaching the zippers in order to access gear from the back.
Earlier this year, I decided to switch to a hard top. I worked with Nathan at Top Swap Texas, who gave me a good deal on trading in my soft top. The upgrade has made a huge difference.
Hard Top – Pros:
- Significantly better security for stored gear
- Easier cargo access via rear hatch
- Compatible with solar panel mounting
- Durable—can last the life of the Jeep
- Freedom Panels offer removable sun and wind exposure
- Acceptable by trailer rental companies like Penske (check locally)
- Storage headliners (like Hazard 4 MOLLE units) can be mounted
- Lower external profile (helpful for garage clearance)
- Adds resale value to the vehicle
- Minimal maintenance required beyond basic cleaning
Hard Top – Cons:
- Heavier and more difficult to remove solo
- Slightly less interior headroom compared to soft top
- Higher up-front cost
Rear access is much easier now, especially for my wife, and I feel far more secure about leaving gear in the vehicle. While I know that a determined thief can take what they want regardless, the hard top gives a stronger sense of protection.
I’ve also appreciated the added utility. I mounted solar panels on the hard top to keep my Jackery power station charged during overland trips. The Freedom Panels on the hard top are a great feature—easily removable when I want that open-air experience with sun and wind.
With a hard top, I was also able to purchase storage headliners from Hazard 4. They include MOLLE webbing on the outside for attaching gear and zip open to reveal a surprising amount of storage space inside. The only drawback is that they are applied with Velcro. However, they come with lanyards at each corner that can connect to the hard top fasteners for additional security and to help prevent them from falling.
There’s also a notable difference in profile. The hard top gives the Jeep a lower exterior silhouette, while the soft top’s metal frame creates a bow that adds height—something to consider in parking garages. That said, the soft top does provide slightly more interior headroom.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you spend most of your time near the beach and love quick open-air access, the soft top might be the better fit. But if your Jeep sees rougher trails, unpredictable weather, or is packed with gear, the hard top pays off in convenience, protection, and long-term value.
In the end, both tops have their place. But for my overlanding lifestyle and gear-heavy travel, the hard top has proven to be a clear and lasting upgrade.