Offering a unique kind of touring experience, the teardrop caravan has become increasingly popular amongst those interested in micro camping.
These types of caravan are designed to offer quick set-up and lightweight towing, which is ideal if you have a small tow car.
This year, our judging panel chose the iconic Mink Highlander as the best teardrop caravan. The compact micro-caravan drew a lot of attention at the February NEC Show, thanks to its distinctive colours and unique shape.
If you don’t mind sacrificing space for super-modern design features and a sense of adventure – all for under £25,000 – a teardrop caravan might be perfect for you. If you’re interested in a different type of tourer, our best small caravan guide could also be worth a look.
The best teardrop caravan is:
Mink Highlander
- Price: £23,679*
- Berths: 2/3
- MTPLM: 750kg
- MiRO: 520kg
- Payload: 230kg
- Shipping length: 4.12m
- Width: 2.08m
Reason to buy:
- Decent heating system, cleverly designed
Reason to avoid:
- Limited storage, absence of a water system
* Depending on options chosen
This is the first time we have included teardrop caravans in the Practical Caravan Awards – there are some great models on the market these days, which we know are popular with those who want something light to tow and easy to store.
And of all the teardrop caravans that we’ve seen over the past year, the Mink Highlander is the one that impressed us most. Yes, it’s tiny, but the clever designers have managed to pack a truly amazing number of features inside.
Tucked away under the ‘boot’ lid at the rear is a kitchen, with a single-burner gas hob and a 36-litre illuminated icebox; there’s plenty of storage and work space, and the whole area is lit.
We also love neat touches such as the wheel arch design, which features indents that will hold your mug. Flexibility is key here: a rear canopy and awning are available separately.
The bed is an impressive 6’ 7” long, with a memory foam mattress. There’s underbed heating and a small bunk at the foot – perfect for a small child.
It’s so light, you won’t need a heavy tow car – a Vauxhall Corsa or VW Polo could be suitable – and you should be able to store it in a domestic garage.
Full review: Mink Highlander
On our shortlist for the best teardrop caravans are:
Go Pod
- Price: £19,995
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 750kg
- MIRO: 580kg
- Payload: 170kg
- Shipping length: 4.20m
- Width: 2.00m
Reason to buy:
- A great little micro caravan you can tow with almost anything
Reason to avoid:
- It really is very small
Go Pods are perhaps not the first thing that springs to mind when you think of teardrop caravans. But if you are after something small, they certainly should be. This year these micro tourers have been significantly upgraded, with lockers replacing shelves, interior lighting made warmer and included in the footwell, and a choice of three external and internal colour schemes.
You can choose silk azurite with snow worktops and birchwood flooring, or white antique furniture with natural wood worktops and warmer wood flooring, or light grey furniture, with texture urban stone chalk worktops and grey wood flooring. There are also five new ranges of fabric, including velour.
Vagabond Rogue
- Price: £19,200
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 750kg
- MIRO: 550kg
- Payload: 200kg
- Shipping length: 4.60m
- Width: 2.15m
Reason to buy:
- A clever development of a teardrop, with a canopy to keep the rain off
Reason to avoid:
- An untested name in this market
The Rogue is a South African take on the teardrop caravan, designed to take the veldt in its stride, so you can expect it to be rugged. Its USP is the L-shaped awning that comes out to cover two of its sides, so that you can get from the main cabin to the kitchen at the back without exposing yourself too badly to the elements, one of the features that saw it shortlisted for the most innovative caravan category.
But it has many other plus points, including interior lighting that is designed to be less attractive to creepy crawlies, and an optional shower you can have installed on the roof. The kitchen is surprisingly sophisticated for a teardrop, while the interior is fitted out in a way that should encourage a proper rest when the time comes.
Full review: Vagabond Rogue
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