Choosing a Jeep Top

Hard Tops, Soft Tops, Half Tops, Bikini Tops, Windjammers

Jeep Tops at a Glance
by Jeepers

When it comes to selecting the right top or your Jeep, you have a lot of options.  This article should give you a quick overview and help you determine which type of top is right for you.  Whether you drive your Jeep through snowy New England winters, or just cruise to the SoCal beach, there is a top that is the right fit for your lifestyle.

• Hard Tops
• Soft Tops
• Super Tops
• Bikini or Brief Tops
• Windjammers

Hard Tops

Discovery Jeep Hard Top for TJ Wrangler (97-06) in Black

Hard tops are the ultimate in protection both against the weather and against thieves.  They will keep the cold wind out on the highway in February, and make your Jeep a much more enjoyable vehicle during the winter months.  They also make your vehicle much more secure, for those times when you have to park in a sketchy area. Hard tops can't be easily cut through like other tops can. These tops are rugged in appearance and function, and often include awesome features such as power windows and defrosters. But keep in mind that most have to be painted to match your Jeep, unless you just stick with black (which can also give your Jeep a rugged look).

Hard tops are the most durable and heavy-duty of all the Jeep tops, but can also be the most expensive.  Most are also hard to remove, so you might find yourself relying on air conditioning in the summer instead of putting the top down.

Soft Tops

Soft Tops are the Jeep standard. It's what most Jeeps came with from the factory, and what most Jeeps on the road have.  They offer the most versatility by providing the ability to be down in the sun, and up in the rain.  They don't offer as much protection from the cold or wind noise on the highway, but what 

The Smittybilt Black Diamond OE Style Replacement Soft Top 

with Tinted Windows is the Top-selling Jeep Top on Amazon.com

they lack in weather protection they make up for in the ability to easily fold down on those nice summer afternoons when you blow off your classes or call in sick to work. Go ahead... blow off your responsibilities today... isn't that why you bought a Jeep in the first place? And if its raining but still warm, you can even unzip the windows and throw them in the back.  Soft Tops give you many more possibilities for your Jeep, and you can change the configuration daily, giving Soft Tops a real advantage over Hard Tops.  They are also typically more affordable than Hard Tops.

Super Tops

Super Tops are a classic Jeep design that hasn't change in over 20 years. These Super Tops are systems that give you  the very most in versatility, allowing you to trade out interchangeable skins once the hardware has been installed.  This is the ultimate in changing your Jeep to suit your mood!  You can change out these skins to different colors and materials, whatever suits the weather that day. 

The Bestop Black Diamond Supertop has a convenient fold-back sunroof feature that lets more light in for an open-air driving experience.

Bikini Tops

 The Bestop Header-style Safari Bikini comes in 

Black Denim, Spice, and Mesh (Black Denim Shown)

Bikini or Brief (or Safari Tops, if you are taking tour groups through the savannah) conjure up images in my head of bumpy Jeep rides through the Caribbean wild.  They offer great protection from the sun, and are an easy choice for warm environments where you don't get a lot of rain or any cold weather.  

Since Bikini Tops don't come with 

windows, don't plan on leaving any valuable items in your Jeep while you are out at the beach.

These Safari Tops definitely give your Jeep a distintive style, but I wouldn't want to drive with one in the winter, unless I switched out to a different top in the summer.

Windjammer Tops

Windjammers reduce the effect wind has on your Jeep's cabin, and make it easier to hear conversation while driving without a softop or hardtop. The Windjammer piece fits behind the front seats starting at your top rollbar and extending behind the two front seats. It allows air flow while diverting wind, rain and dust from entering the cockpit. 

The Bestop Black Diamond Windjammer Wind break helps

divert most wind, rain and dust from entering the vehicle

from the rear.

The Windjammer will help keep you warm in cold weather, and keep you from getting "windblown" all year long. A convenient roll up "doggie door" allows access to items in the rear of vehicle. It easily attaches with straps, buckles and belt rails.

As you can see there are many options available for your Jeep. I recommend that you go to Amazon and check some out!

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