The day has finally arrived! You pull out the laptop and start planning your first epic adventure.

While you’ve undoubtedly got a bucket list full of awesome destinations, now it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty details of making your trip a reality.

And the first order of business: buying a caravan! This faithful travel companion is going to take you places you’ve never been before, but it’s a considerable investment to make. So how do you decide which van to tow home?

Your grandparents may have owned a sturdy hard-top caravan – but are they still the best choice? Here’s what you need to know about hard top and pop top caravans before you choose the right van for you!

Pop tops: trending now

If you ask anyone in the know, pop tops have been top of the pops (or rather, the caravan sales rankings) for some time now. Some might even wonder whether hard tops are going to become a thing of the past.

So what’s the big deal with pop top caravans that have intrepid explorers flocking to own one?

Sleek and compact design

The lower height makes a pop top caravan more compact while travelling. This can improve fuel efficiency (a win for sustainability) and allow you to go places no hard top caravan dares venture.

It also catches less wind while driving and is a breeze to store when you’re back home.

A comfy place to bed down

Once you reach your destination, pop the top on your pop top before you pop the top off a cold one, and you’ll be bedding down in airy, well-ventilated comfort when you call it a night. The canvas is breathable - in contrast to a traditional hard top caravan – and once it’s up, it has a distinct height advantage, too.

A better investment

With data showing that resale values on pop tops are exceeding that of traditional caravans, this would seem the smart move for your hard-earned cash.

Is the hard top caravan bound for extinction?

With all the impressive benefits of a pop top caravan, you may be wondering if the old hard tops are going to go the way of the dinosaurs. We don’t think so.

Van life is such a personal experience. What might be non-negotiable for one traveller may be completely irrelevant for another. For this reason, there will always be a place for the hard top caravan.

The benefits of hard top caravans include:

• - spacious interior design for comfortable living on the road

• - impressive storage capabilities (great for extended trips)

• - privacy and a quieter sleeping experience thanks to the hard-shell exterior.

Your ideal caravan is going to depend on the type of adventures you’re dreaming of, so head to your local caravan dealer to see what’s on offer.