Jeep tops come in two basic applications: hard top and soft top. Hard tops are secure and quiet, and they provide something close to a real roof over your head. However, most Jeepers will tell you that a Jeep soft top is the best choice for experiencing that Jeep Life.

Unlike hard tops, Jeep soft tops come in several different styles with various levels of coverage and security.

In this buyer's guide, we'll take a look at different types of Jeep soft tops to give you the tools you need to select the right aftermarket Jeep soft top or replacement Jeep soft top for your needs.

Framed or Frameless

One of the first decisions you'll need to make when looking at Jeep soft tops is whether you want a framed top or a frameless one. If your Jeep Wrangler came with a soft top from the factory, then you currently have a framed top.

Framed soft tops have more structure and stiffness than frameless versions. A metal skeleton attaches to the roll bar and provides the frame for the top.

The benefit of a framed top is that it's easier to roll the top all the way back on the frame. Frameless tops attach directly to the roll bar instead of a frame. As there's no overhead frame, it's more difficult to get a fully open roof.

However, it provides easy removal of window panels so you can have the bikini-top look, which has open sides and a covered top.

To sum up, framed tops offer more headroom for rear passengers and a more durable product overall, but the frame adds cost and is more difficult to install and fully remove.

Frameless tops are less expensive, individual panels are easy to remove, and they give your Jeep a sporty look. The downsides are that these tops provide less headroom and are louder at high speeds.

Jeep Soft Top Substyles

Aside from the basic, full-cover Jeep soft tops, there are a few substyles to choose from. Jeep 4-door soft tops and 2-door soft tops have some of the same options, but one might be better than the other depending on if you often have rear passengers or not. Let's take a look at some substyles.

Jeep Bikini Top

The bikini top is a type of aftermarket Jeep soft top that provides coverage for your roof area, but the windows are all bare. These tops are easy to install, give you plenty of fresh air, and look really great.

However, they aren't a good choice for anything except warm weather. If you live somewhere with seasons, you'll need something else to go with it. Bikini tops also don't provide much coverage for rear passengers since the back is completely open.

Jeep Flip Tops

These are sometimes called Sunrider tops and are a good choice for those who don't necessarily want a totally topless and sideless experience, but still want some sun and fresh air.

These Jeep tops are installed on top and the panel over the driver's head can be folded back, like a sunroof or convertible. If the weather turns bad, you can easily pull the panel back to get full coverage again.

Jeep Half Tops

This type of top is rare, but you'll occasionally see it, especially on four-door Jeeps. What this top does is cover only the cabin, but not the rear cargo space. This gives your Jeep a chopped-off appearance almost like a short-bed truck. Depending on your Jeep's layout, you may also want to add a bed cover in the rear with this top.

Jeep Soft Top Material

Jeep tops come in a few different choices of material. The original material for Jeep soft tops was vinyl. The Jeep CJ came with a vinyl top. It was lightweight and glossy, but not exactly a great fit. It was easy to clean and flexible, but it was also extremely noisy at highway speeds. Vinyl tops are less popular these days.

Denim tops came next and were standard on the Wrangler YJ and Wrangler TJ. This type of top was a polyester/cotton blend with a protective coating. You can get more durable fabric these days, but if you just want to replace your current framed top, denim is an easy choice.

Rough Country replacement denim soft top

Sailcloth first appeared on the later TJ models and quickly became the most popular option. This material has a heavier weight and is less noisy at higher speeds. It also offers better protection against UV rays and abrasions. Sailcloth is so sturdy that many TJ and JK drivers use these tops year-round even in bad weather.

Twill is considered the most luxurious of soft top material as it's used on premium convertibles. This material is softer and more flexible than sailcloth, but just as sturdy. In other words, it's the ultimate soft top material for looks and durability. However, it is the most expensive option.

Jeep Soft Top Colors

Once you've narrowed down a type and a material for your new Jeep soft top, it's time to choose a color. Black is by far the most popular option for Jeep soft tops. It goes with everything and you won't see dirt on it as clearly.

However, tan soft tops are making a comeback, and this is definitely a nice option depending on the body color of your Jeep. Some other colors available include blue, gray, and red. Obviously, these won't match every color of Jeep, so choose carefully.

How To Choose a Soft Top

Frankly, a lot of what goes into choosing a Jeep soft top has to do with the weather.

If you want to keep your top year-round and you live in a place with seasons, then you'll want to choose a top made of durable material that offers plenty of coverage and/or flexibility.

If you live in a place where it's warm and sunny most of the year, then you can go with low coverage and lighter material.

Soft tops can be tricky to install, but you can get them professionally installed at any Action Trucks location. We stock popular brands like Rough Country, Rampage, and Havoc Offroad, as well as various styles and materials for Jeep soft tops.