Table of contents
Roof cargo boxes are the ultimate gear haulers, freeing up space inside a vehicle and maximizing carrying capacity. These hard-shelled plastic carriers are practical for anything from road trips and moving to transporting your gear for camping and ski outings. Our team of experts has thoroughly tested, compared, and rated every roof box in this guide to bring you the best models on the market in 2026. In addition to the reviews, you can browse our in-house photo galleries and sort the roof boxes by gear capacity, ease of access, quality and durability, price, and more.
Roof Cargo Box Superlatives
Yakima Skybox NX XL ($849)
Thule Force 3 XL ($930)
Thule Motion 3 XL ($1,150)
Inno Wedge 660 ($850)
Yakima RocketBox Pro 14 ($599)
SportRack Vista XL ($400)
Our Roof Cargo Box Picks
A true all-rounder, the SkyBox NX XL hits the mark with its quality, durable construction, versatile capacity, and ease of use. It can be hard to call such an expensive product a good value, but the SkyBox is just that, undercutting the price of its main competition.
A true all-rounder, the SkyBox NX XL hits the mark with its quality, durable construction, versatile capacity, and ease of use. It can be hard to call such an expensive product a good value, but the SkyBox is just that, undercutting the price of its main competition.
Gear Capacity
Ease of Access
Durability & Quality
Installation
Features
Sustainability
Capacity
18 cu. ft.
Dimensions
84 x 36 x 16.5 in.
Access
Dual side
Opening height
12 in.
Max ski length
195 cm
Weight
50 lb. 8 oz.
Other Capacities
12, 16, 22 cu. ft.
Pros
Cons
A true do-it-all roof box, Yakima’s SkyBox NX XL effectively balances price, gear-hauling capacity, and user-friendliness. With 18 cubic feet of interior space, the XL size lands squarely in the sweet spot for families or small groups headed out on camping getaways, ski weekends, or long road trips. Its design focuses heavily on maximizing usable interior space: A blunt nose, slightly dipped floor at the ends, and a notably flat center section make it easy to slide in awkward items like duffels, sleeping bags, and rolling luggage. For skiers, including our tester, the XL size is especially appealing—it accommodates skis up to 195 centimeters long and can carry multiple pairs (it fits 5 adult pairs with ease for him) alongside poles and other gear.
Much of the SkyBox’s practicality stems from its thoughtful construction. Yakima uses low-profile mounting hardware that sits close to the floor, avoiding the bulky interior knobs found on some competing boxes and helping preserve valuable packing space. The thick plastic shell and overlapping lid create a tight seal against the elements, and the structure is reinforced with a front stiffener bar and internal metal supports that help keep the box stable at highway speeds. Dual-sided access further simplifies loading, which allowed us to reach gear from either side of the vehicle through a long opening that runs nearly the full length of the box.
The SkyBox isn’t perfect, however. Our tester noted that the opening height (the distance from the fully opened lid to the base) is a couple of inches shorter than that of some competitors, including Thule’s Force 3, which can make loading very bulky items like an extra-large camping mat slightly more challenging. Additionally, the metal handle that opens the lid requires a firm push to release. Yakima also uses a separate torque tool to tighten the mounting clamps—an approach that helps maintain the flat interior floor but introduces another small piece to keep track of. Still, when you factor in the high-quality build, practical layout, and a price that undercuts rivals like the Force 3, the SkyBox NX XL is, in our opinion, the most versatile all-around cargo box available. To learn more, read our full review of the Yakima SkyBox NX XL.
An impressive roof box that barely missed out on our top overall spot, the Force 3 features an easy-to-use sliding latch system and a wide opening for easy access to your gear. Its drawbacks include a high price and a bulky mounting system, which slightly pinches interior space.
An impressive roof box that barely missed out on our top overall spot, the Force 3 features an easy-to-use sliding latch system and a wide opening for easy access to your gear. Its drawbacks include a high price and a bulky mounting system, which slightly pinches interior space.
Gear Capacity
Ease of Access
Durability & Quality
Installation
Features
Sustainability
Capacity
18 cu. ft.
Dimensions
84.8 x 34.1 x 16.9 in
Access
Dual side
Opening height
14.5 in.
Max ski length
200 cm
Weight
49 lb.
Other Capacities
11, 14, 16, 21 cu. ft.
Pros
Cons
Updated last year, the third generation of Thule’s popular Force sits at the center of the brand’s roof box lineup. We tested the XL size, which features an 18-cubic-foot interior that’s large enough for family trips yet still manageable on most vehicles, easily swallowing bulky camping gear like a six-person tent, sleeping mats, camp chairs, and sleeping bags during our testing. Ski storage is another strong point: The box accommodates skis up to 200 centimeters long, giving it a slight edge over Yakima’s SkyBox NX XL (by 5 cm) and making it suitable for alpine setups and even most Nordic skis.
What sets the Force 3 apart is how easy it is to use. The updated sliding latch—borrowed from Thule’s pricier Motion 3—is one of the simplest locking systems we’ve used: turn the key, pinch the latch with one hand, and the lid pops open with minimal effort. Combined with dual-sided access and a wide 14.5-inch opening, loading bulky items like fully stuffed duffels or rigid suitcases is notably easier than with many competing designs. Installation is similarly user-friendly, thanks to adjustable clamps with integrated torque-limited dials that click once properly tightened.
The Force 3 went head-to-head with our top-rated Yakima SkyBox NX in testing but came up slightly short. Its mounting hardware protrudes into the interior by a couple of inches, which means the floor isn’t perfectly flat and can occasionally interfere when you’re sliding in rolling luggage or large duffels—a design element where the SkyBox NX’s nearly flat floor has the advantage. And at $930, the Force 3 costs about $80 more than the SkyBox while offering similar overall capacity and durability. Still, for buyers who prioritize intuitive operation and serious cargo-hauling capability, the Force 3 deserves a spot on your short list. For more, read our in-depth Thule Force 3 review.
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With an aerodynamic shape and a glossy paint job, the sleek Thule Motion 3 is a premium roof box through and through. Its cost is hard to swallow, but the polished design is quite functional, with user-friendly features and generous interior space for ski, camp, and travel gear.
With an aerodynamic shape and a glossy paint job, the sleek Thule Motion 3 is a premium roof box through and through. Its cost is hard to swallow, but the polished design is quite functional, with user-friendly features and generous interior space for ski, camp, and travel gear.
Gear Capacity
Ease of Access
Durability & Quality
Installation
Features
Sustainability
Capacity
18 cu. ft.
Dimensions
84.7 x 35 x 17 in.
Access
Dual side
Opening height
14 in.
Max ski length
200 cm
Weight
55 lb. 14 oz.
Other Capacities
14, 16, 21 cu. ft.
Pros
Cons
For road warriors who want a roof box that looks as premium as it performs, Thule’s Motion 3 XL sits at the top of the category. The glossy finish and sculpted, aerodynamic shape give it a noticeably upscale look—a true upgrade over the textured plastic shells common in the space. The Motion’s SlideLock system reinforces that refined feel: turn the key, slide the lever, and the lid pops open smoothly—often with just one hand. Combined with dual-side access, a wide opening, and a pull-down strap to use in case the shell is wet or dirty, this is one of the easiest boxes to open and close that we’ve tested.
Capacity is equally impressive once you start loading the Motion 3. The XL version we tested offers 18 cubic feet of interior space, which proved more than adequate for family road trips, ski weekends, or bulky camping gear. The box easily swallowed items like 100-liter duffels, sleeping bags, and tents, and the floor shape—mostly flat, with subtle dips at the front and rear—helps maximize usable space while maintaining the Motion’s aerodynamic profile. Nordic and alpine skiers will also appreciate the generous length: The Motion 3 XL accommodates skis up to 200 centimeters and comfortably handled four sets of adult and kids’ downhill setups during testing.
This roof box’s major tradeoff is price, and it’s no joke. At $1,150, a good portion of the premium goes toward the Motion’s glossy paint and refined styling rather than a dramatic increase in functionality. In fact, Thule’s own Force 3 offers very similar capacity, hardware, and usability for more than $200 less. The shiny finish is also more prone to showing scratches than textured designs if the box is handled roughly or stored without protection. Still, for buyers who want a high-capacity cargo box that combines excellent user-friendliness with arguably the most upscale looks in the category, the Motion 3 XL is a compelling option. To learn more, read our Thule Motion 3 XL review.
Sleek, quiet, and undeniably sharp-looking, the Wedge 660 is built for hauling skis and other low-profile gear without adding much bulk to your roof. Just know that its slim design comes with tradeoffs—this isn’t the box for hefty cargo.
Sleek, quiet, and undeniably sharp-looking, the Wedge 660 is built for hauling skis and other low-profile gear without adding much bulk to your roof. Just know that its slim design comes with tradeoffs—this isn’t the box for hefty cargo.
Gear Capacity
Ease of Access
Durability & Quality
Installation
Features
Sustainability
Capacity
11 cu. ft.
Dimensions
80 x 33 x 11 in.
Access
Dual side
Opening height
14.5 in.
Max ski length
182 cm
Weight
42 lb.
Other Capacities
13 cu. ft.
Pros
Cons
The Inno Wedge 660 carves out a distinct niche with its sleek, low-profile design that prioritizes aerodynamics and a premium look over outright cargo capacity. Our tester was immediately struck by how well it integrated with his vehicles—mounted on both a compact wagon and a full-size SUV, it never felt oversized or out of place. That streamlined shape also translates directly to performance on the road: Wind noise is minimal, and the box is very solid even at highway speeds. Day-to-day usability is another strong point. The dual-sided access and smooth push-button opening made it one of the easiest boxes we tested to get gear in and out of, and the mounting system is intuitive and user-friendly.
The tradeoff for that sleek profile is limited interior space. With just over 9 inches of usable height, our tester found the Wedge struggled with bulkier items—his camping mattress and some bulky, synthetic sleeping bags wouldn’t fit —and even fully loaded duffels required some reshuffling to make them work. Where the Wedge excels is with flatter gear: Our tester had no trouble loading multiple pairs of skis (including his family of four’s full setups, with poles), and the flat floor, paired with the included straps, did a great job of keeping everything from sliding around. (A maximum ski length of 182 cm isn’t very long, however.)
We found this box’s overall build quality impressive, with a glossy shell, solid hinges, and a mounting system that feels secure once tightened. That said, one surprise letdown was the locking system, which isn’t as foolproof as those in other premium boxes we’ve tested—you can remove the key from the lock even when only one of the three latches is secured. Most competitors require all three latches to be set for the key to release, ensuring the box is fully closed before driving off. In the end, the Wedge 660 isn’t a do-it-all hauler, but if you prioritize a quiet ride, clean aesthetics, and usually haul skis or other low-profile gear, it fills a functional role. To learn more, read our Inno Wedge 660 review.
An old-school box with a proven track record, the RocketBox Pro focuses on the basics: easy interior access via two side openings and a camping- and road-trip-ready capacity. It’s finicky to install and adjust, but this stubby model packs serious value.
An old-school box with a proven track record, the RocketBox Pro focuses on the basics: easy interior access via two side openings and a camping- and road-trip-ready capacity. It’s finicky to install and adjust, but this stubby model packs serious value.
Gear Capacity
Ease of Access
Durability & Quality
Installation
Features
Sustainability
Capacity
14 cu. ft.
Dimensions
74 x 33 x 16 in.
Access
Dual side
Opening height
14 in.
Max ski length
170 cm
Weight
40 lb.
Other Capacities
None
Pros
Cons
A solid middle-ground option, Yakima’s RocketBox Pro 14 offers useful cargo space without the bulk—or price—of many newer designs. With a 14-cubic-foot interior and relatively compact footprint, it’s well-suited for vehicles like compact SUVs, wagons, and crossovers that might look overwhelmed by larger boxes. In testing, the RocketBox proved capable of swallowing a surprising amount of camping gear for a family of four, including a six-person tent, large sleeping mats, and several sleeping bags. The stubby shape does mean a shorter maximum ski length of 170 centimeters, but the consistent interior height and wide opening make it easy to load bulky items like duffels, tents, and wheeled luggage.
The RocketBox’s lower price does come with a few signs of its age. The mounting hardware requires more effort to adjust than modern systems and involves loosening and tightening separate knobs to secure the clamps around your crossbars. The shell also feels a bit less rigid than newer designs like Yakima’s SkyBox NX, and the tapered nose limits space for taller items toward the front of the box. None of these drawbacks is a dealbreaker, but they reinforce the RocketBox’s position as a more limited design compared with today’s premium models.
Even so, the RocketBox gets the fundamentals right. Dual-side access—still uncommon at this price point—makes loading and unloading much easier, especially in tight parking situations or when you can only reach one side of the vehicle. The push-button opening mechanism is simple and easy to operate one-handed, and the box opens wide enough to slide in bulky gear like hard-sided luggage, oversized duffels, or camping mats. Although it may not be the most modern roof box on the block, there’s plenty of functionality here. For more, read our full review of the RocketBox Pro 14.
Budget-priced and full of compromises, the SportRack Vista XL still delivers serious cargo space for the money. Provided it fits your vehicle, and you don’t plan to use it extensively, its wide, tall interior is well-suited for occasional camping trips and road travel.
Budget-priced and full of compromises, the SportRack Vista XL still delivers serious cargo space for the money. Provided it fits your vehicle, and you don’t plan to use it extensively, its wide, tall interior is well-suited for occasional camping trips and road travel.
Gear Capacity
Ease of Access
Durability & Quality
Installation
Features
Sustainability
Capacity
18 cu. ft.
Dimensions
63 x 38 x 19 in.
Access
Rear
Opening height
18.5 in.
Max ski length
N/A
Weight
40 lb.
Other Capacities
None
Pros
Cons
The SportRack Vista XL sits firmly in the budget roof box tier, undercutting the core of the market by $200 or more, and its design reflects that positioning. Installation relies on a basic U-bolt mounting system with a narrow crossbar spread range, which means some vehicles simply won’t be compatible, and setup requires more effort than modern clamp-style systems. The box opens only from the rear, which can make accessing gear difficult on taller vehicles. Related, the box lid is also quite floppy, raising red flags about long-term durability. Finally, the locking system is extremely simple—you can remove the keys even if the lid isn’t fully latched (a concern, as it increases the chances of driving away with the box still open).
That’s a laundry list of compromises, but if you simply want a large box for occasionally hauling gear, the Vista XL will get the job done. Its wide, tall shape and flat interior floor make it surprisingly capable of hauling bulky camping gear, easily fitting our tester’s large camping tent, sleeping mats, duffels, and sleeping bags (it’s too short for skis, though). The massive 18.5-inch rear opening is the widest we’ve tested, which makes loading oversized gear particularly easy if you can comfortably reach the box. For campers and road-trippers who plan to install the box only when needed and don’t want to spend an arm and a leg (roof boxes have gotten expensive in the past few years), the Vista XL remains a practical—and very affordable—way to add serious cargo capacity. For more, read our SportRack Vista XL review.
Compare Roof Cargo Boxes
A true all-rounder, the SkyBox NX XL hits the mark with its quality, durable construction, versatile capacity, and ease of use. It can be hard to call such an expensive product a good value, but the SkyBox is just that, undercutting the price of its main competition.
Gear Capacity
Ease of Access
Durability & Quality
Installation
Features
Sustainability
An impressive roof box that barely missed out on our top overall spot, the Force 3 features an easy-to-use sliding latch system and a wide opening for easy access to your gear. Its drawbacks include a high price and a bulky mounting system, which slightly pinches interior space.
Gear Capacity
Ease of Access
Durability & Quality
Installation
Features
Sustainability
With an aerodynamic shape and a glossy paint job, the sleek Thule Motion 3 is a premium roof box through and through. Its cost is hard to swallow, but the polished design is quite functional, with user-friendly features and generous interior space for ski, camp, and travel gear.
Gear Capacity
Ease of Access
Durability & Quality
Installation
Features
Sustainability
Our Testing and Team
For our roof box testing, which is ongoing as we continue to cycle through new and notable products, we’ve incorporated the products into the Better Trail team’s daily lives. Thus far, we've hauled camping and beach gear, loaded the boxes up with skis for family trips, and packed them full of duffels and luggage for travel. Some testers even took multi-thousand-mile road trips to really get a feel for performance and user-friendliness. We took direct comparisons seriously: Every box was loaded with the same sets of camping gear, including bulky items like a two-person mattress (the Exped MegaMat Duo) and synthetic camping sleeping bags, to see what it could handle. Additionally, we tested ski capacity with models up to 182 centimeters in length.
Better Trail co-founder John Ellings, who has over a decade of gear-testing experience and has used nearly every major roof box on the market, headed up this test. He ensured that we gave each box a thorough look by mounting them on multiple vehicle types: a compact wagon (Volkswagen Golf Alltrack), a small/midsize SUV (Subaru Forester), and a large SUV (Jeep Grand Cherokee L).
Highlights from roof cargo box testing included:
- Better Trail co-founder John Ellings pitted what he considers the two top all-around boxes against each other: the Yakima SkyBox NX XL and Thule Force 3 XL. The latest Force is a real step up from the prior generation XT model, featuring premium locking and mounting systems, and it gave the SkyBox a real run for its money. Truthfully, both are top-performing options, but the SkyBox got the slight nod in the end.
- With experience with basic boxes from brands like Jegs and Yakima, we saw how the $450 SportRack Vista XL stacked up. What immediately stood out to the team as they loaded it with camping gear was just how much the Vista XL could swallow.
- Two glossy boxes, the Thule Motion 3 and Inno Wedge 660, were tested and all-around abused through a rough and wet winter in the Pacific Northwest. Both boxes made multiple trips over Snoqualmie and Stevens Passes in heavy downpours and snowstorms, and were analyzed for any signs of leakage (both remained impressively dry). And then they were removed, stored, and reinstalled, picking up scuffs and scratches along the way, revealing a compromise in choosing a box with a painted finish.
Our Ratings Explained
Our overall rating reflects a roof cargo box’s full range of qualities, including price, ease of use in day-to-day living, build quality, features, and more. Top-rated boxes—whether premium models or budget options that impressed us—deliver reliable performance and strong gear-hauling capability. If you’re looking for a dependable, workhorse cargo box, we recommend choosing a model with a rating of at least 4 out of 5. That said, lower-rated options can still make sense for more limited or specific use cases, such as occasional travel or an annual camping trip.
For this rating, the Better Trail team tests and compares to see what fits inside each roof box. Considerations include overall capacity, which we list in cubic feet, but it goes well beyond that. The shape of the interior plays an important role, including whether the box is tall enough to accommodate bulky items. This can be a consideration when hauling camping gear, luggage, or perhaps a stroller or kids’ bike. Additionally, we analyze the box’s floor as we fill it with gear: Is it flat? Does the mounting system decrease usable space? Are there any creative solutions to maximize volume? Finally, for skiers or folks carrying longer items, length can be a big factor. We load each box up with multiple pairs of 180-centimeter-plus skis to see what fits.
Roof boxes that score highly have a large capacity that should serve the needs of a family of four and make the most of their footprint. Your needs may vary, and if you’re simply looking to haul skis or shift a few key items out of the back of your vehicle and onto the roof, a lower-scoring box can be the ideal pairing. But for gear-intensive trips, and especially if you have bulky items in mind, make sure to prioritize this rating.
Large interiors with capacities of 18 cubic feet or greater. Importantly, these designs also make full use of their volumes, with flat floors and minimal intrusion from the box’s mounting system.
Medium-sized boxes with capacities that typically vary from 11 to 16 cubic feet. These boxes likely won’t fit tall items or may be too short to fit skis.
Small roof boxes that are 10 cubic feet or less and offer minimal usable space.
Roof boxes perch on top of a vehicle, so it’s nice to have a design that makes it as easy as possible to access your gear. For this rating, we consider a number of factors: the amount and location of a box’s access points, which can be at the sides and rear; the quality and user-friendliness of the locking system; and the size of the opening when the lid is fully raised.
Top-rated designs feature dual-sided openings with a generous height for the best gear-loading and unloading experience. If you’re frequently loading in tall items, such as camping gear like sleeping bags or a loaded duffel, opening height is worth paying attention to. Rear-access boxes can be functional, but are harder to reach on a tall SUV. A secure locking system that requires minimal effort to open is also an important consideration, and we favor boxes that allow one-handed operation.
Boxes with large, dual-sided openings and smooth locking systems that only require one hand to operate.
Models that are moderately difficult to access, especially when mounted on a tall vehicle. Rear-access boxes or ones with only a single-sided opening land here.
These boxes have restricted access due to a finicky locking mechanism or other significant design limitations.
This rating considers two elements: the box's overall build quality (which includes its style and appearance) and its durability. In our tests, we analyze everything from the shell thickness to how sturdy a box feels on your vehicle’s roof. Premium boxes often include stiffeners to reinforce the nose for stability at speed, while cheap boxes are more likely to be thinner and floppier—a downside for extensive use. Style is admittedly subjective, but roof boxes generally fall into two categories: budget and mid-range boxes with matte-black finishes, or painted boxes with glossy exteriors. If you plan to keep your box on your roof for extended periods and like an integrated look, a stylish box could be worth the added investment.
The highest-end boxes on the market, with premium materials that are built to last, a rock-solid mounting system, and sleek looks.
A fine option for occasional trips, but these designs have build quality limitations that make them less appealing for extensive and heavy use.
Very cheap materials and a floppy design make these boxes best for short trips and limited use.
Frequent roof box users will want to pay close attention to this rating, which considers how easy it is to mount, adjust, secure, and remove the box from your vehicle’s roof. The main element is the mounting system, which includes four clamps that connect the box to a vehicle’s crossbars. An easy-to-use design can have you set up in a few minutes, while a dated or very basic system can make for a tedious, challenging process. The mounting system’s adjustable range is also important to consider, especially if you’ll be mounting the box on multiple roofs and vehicle sizes (you can learn more about that in our “Your Questions, Answered” section below).
Boxes with a highly adjustable, user-friendly mounting system that secures and releases the box quickly and easily.
These designs are generally intuitive, but the mounting system may require extra effort and time to adjust the box.
Models with challenging designs that require assembly each time to mount; these boxes are best for only very occasional use.
Roof boxes are fairly simple products, but do include a few notable features. The first thing that we consider for this rating is the locking mechanism. For security, nearly all roof boxes come with a key, and we analyze each for ease of use and security. (For example: Can you remove the key without closing the box?) A high-quality locking system with extra safeguards is important to us, as you’re hauling potentially valuable gear and want to ensure it stays safe and in place. We also analyze any add-ons that might come with the box, including adjustable straps and tiedown points for securing loose gear or large items like skis, straps that hang from the lid to make it easy to pull it down, and more.
Premium designs with quality locking systems and extras that make the boxes secure and user-friendly.
Simpler roof boxes that may lack a security feature or helpful add-on like tie-down points.
Very basic boxes that don’t lock or are too stripped-down to trust for extended travel.
Our sustainability rating for roof cargo boxes considers six criteria. At the product level, we’re checking whether recycled materials are used and if replacement parts are available, as that’s a great way to keep a box in use and out of a landfill. On the brand level, our criteria include whether the company uses responsible manufacturing (one example is an ISO 14001 facility, which is an international standard for environmental management systems), uses recycled or reduced packaging, monitors greenhouse gas emissions (commonly measured by the Higg Index), and publishes an annual impact report. We also consider the degree to which our criteria are met; for example, 10% recycled materials is not the same as 100% recycled materials. Note that not every sustainability effort by a brand or product fits neatly into our categories. In these circumstances, we may increase or decrease a rating based on these factors. You can find details on these factors in the sustainability drop-down under each product above.
These roof cargo boxes are among the most sustainable on the market and earn our Better Trail Certified distinction. They often meet most of our sustainability criteria for this category.
These roof cargo boxes are a good, middle-of-the-pack option for sustainability. They often meet about half or more of our criteria for this category.
These roof cargo boxes are the least sustainable and have significant room for improvement. They usually only meet about a quarter or less of our criteria.
Anatomy of a Roof Cargo Box
In this guide, we’ve focused on hard-sided roof boxes, which are workhorse gear haulers, offering superior durability, protection, and less wind noise than alternatives like soft-sided cargo bags. As such, all the products we’ve tested share a similar design: a two-piece ABS plastic construction with a tub-like base and a lid that can be raised and lowered via hinges. Shell material thickness tends to vary across price ranges—boxes under about $600 typically have thinner, floppier constructions than those priced higher.
The finish of the box also corresponds with price, and the options can be separated into three general categories. Budget boxes under $600 have a basic and fairly smooth plastic finish, mid-range boxes (approximately $600 to $950) often have a dimpled or textured finish that conceals scratches and makes for a higher-end look, and premium boxes that are roughly $1,000 and up have a painted, glossy finish. (One exception is the $850 Inno Wedge 660, which represents a “value” with its painted shell.)
Roof boxes are sitting ducks on top of your vehicle, so they deal with a lot, especially at highway speeds. To minimize movement and potential damage as the box gets blasted with wind and weather, the front end of mid-range and premium designs is often reinforced at the nose. Both Thule and Yakima use metal bars on their top-end models, like the Yakima SkyBox NX and CBX, as well as Thule’s Force 3 and Motion 3, while the mid-range Yakima RocketBox utilizes plastic stiffeners that are less rigid. At the budget end, which includes boxes like the SportRack Vista XL, designers often forgo stiffeners entirely. This decreases the stability of a box when it’s on your roof, and it’s worth calling out that SportRack recommends not driving at highway speeds without weight in the Vista XL—its less solid construction makes it and similar designs less trustworthy.
How a roof box opens is directly tied to how easy it is to access the contents you’re hauling. The most convenient design grants dual-sided access, by which you can unlock and open the box from both the passenger and driver’s side of the vehicle. These boxes open along their full length and make it easy to access even small items tucked in a corner. The dual-sided layout also simplifies parking: You don’t need to worry about obstacles on one side that could make loading or unloading challenging. Dual-sided access is common on boxes above about $500, and it’s what we recommend for most folks who plan to use their boxes a lot.
At the budget end, you’ll find two options: single-side opening or rear access. The former was common in mid-range boxes but has largely disappeared (the Thule Pulse 2, for example, switched from single to dual sides with its latest update). Rear access provides a gaping opening for loading gear, but it can make accessing the interior difficult when the box is mounted on a tall vehicle. On a lower car, however, this setup can do the trick, especially for travelers who only use the box for occasional camping or road trips.
For both side- and rear-access roof boxes, two hinges connect the base and lid. Dual-sided boxes have more advanced hinge designs to allow them to open in either direction, but the basic concept is shared across price points. Quality, however, is not. Cheap boxes often have flimsier hinges that, when combined with thinner materials, can make the lids rather floppy. These boxes’ lids are generally more difficult to raise and lower, can be a liability in wind, and are less reliable overall. This is one of many reasons why we recommend spending up for at least a mid-range box if you plan to use it often.
Opening height isn’t a manufacturer-provided measurement, so the Better Trail team calculates it for each roof box model we test. The listed number represents the distance from the fully opened lid to the top of the base, giving an idea of what you can squeeze through the opening when loading the box. This number varies from 12 inches for the Yakima SkyBox NX to 18.5 inches for the SportRack Vista XL. A tighter opening makes it more challenging to load bulky items like camping gear, strollers, suitcases, and kids’ bikes.
All the roof boxes we’ve tested connect to a vehicle the same way, with four clamps (two at the front and two at the back) that secure to a set of crossbars. Clamp styles vary and have greatly improved over the past few years. Previously, clamp systems were tedious to use and difficult to adjust to fit different vehicles. But modern designs are impressively user-friendly: Thule’s well-respected PowerClick system pops into place, can be slid forward and backward to line up over the middle of the vehicle and crossbars, and its dial is torque-rated so you know when the clamps are secure.
Price correlates with mounting convenience, and we found that roof boxes over $800 from Inno, Yakima, and Thule are all user-friendly and easy to recommend. Under $800 is a mixed bag. The Yakima RocketBox uses an older system that’s sticky and harder to slide in place, and it doesn’t have a torque tool to let you know when it’s fully set. At the entry level, you may need to assemble the mounting clamps each time you load your vehicle. SportRack’s Vista XL, for example, uses a thin U-bolt, a clamp, and two threaded knobs. When you add that design to the pre-drilled holes in the box—meaning you can’t slide it forward or backward to fit—the Vista XL is unsurprisingly the least adjustable and secure of the models we’ve tested.
Every box we’ve tested comes with a lock, latch(es), and two keys to secure the lid. As with all other core features in a roof box, price mostly corresponds with the quality and level of security provided by each locking system. With budget models, like the SportRack Vista XL, unlocking the box usually requires simply turning the key and raising the lid. Notably, the key in those designs can be removed even if the box’s lid is not latched, which can lead to unsecured gear if you’re not careful. Stepping up in price gets you greater security and ease of use. A separate handle or sliding mechanism will “pop” the box open for access, and you’ll need to fully secure the box with the latches to release the key. This is a helpful safety feature, as it reduces the chance that you’ll drive away or leave your car in the parking lot with the box unlocked.
For securing large items like skis or compressing gear into place, many roof boxes include tie-down points on the floor of the interior. These tie-downs vary in design, from metal loops in the base (found on Thule’s Force 3 and Motion 3) to pass-through holes built into the mounting hardware (Inno and Yakima models have this). Thule and Inno include adjustable webbing straps with their boxes, while Yakima requires you to purchase them separately. Many budget models lack this feature entirely, including the SportRack Vista XL.
This is a premium feature found on Thule and Yakima models around the $800 threshold and up. The concept is pretty simple: A webbing strap that hangs from the inside of the lid makes it easier to close the box. It’s certainly not a “must-have” item in our eyes, but it can be nice if the box is mounted high on a roof and hard to reach, or if the lid is wet and dirty.
Your Questions Answered
If you’re purchasing your first roof cargo box, this is probably the most daunting question you’ll need to answer. But fear not, the process for finding the correct model for your vehicle has gotten significantly easier over the past few years, thanks to highly adjustable designs and more data available from manufacturers.
The first thing to do if you have a vehicle with a rear hatch is to measure what’s known as your vehicle clearance to make sure the box won’t interfere. Here’s the process: Open the rear hatch, and measure the distance from your front crossbar to the closest contact point on the opened hatch. Then compare it to the manufacturer-listed specs for a given model (Yakima and Thule have helpful charts for all their boxes). As long as your hatch clearance measurement is less than the box’s “minimum” length, you’re good to go.
If you’re interested in the aesthetics and how the box will look on your roof, you’ll want to roughly match the box's length to the size of your vehicle. For example, the compact wagon we used for testing, a Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, can technically accommodate XL boxes like the Yakima Skybox NX XL and the Thule Force 3 XL, but they look oversized on its roof. Instead, those models work better with larger vehicles, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, which we also used for testing. The lower-profile, slightly shorter Inno Wedge 660 and the “L” sizes of the SkyBox and Force pair better with the small Volkswagen.
To best answer this question, consider a few points. First is the amount and type of gear you’re hoping to haul. For example, if you’re simply thinking about transporting skis, poles, and associated gear, a low-profile design with a long enough length is what we’ll point you to (we include the max ski length in our specs for each roof box we review). If you want to fit bulkier items like luggage or camping gear, especially for multiple people or a family, you’ll want to size up. Plus, as we touched on in the question above, you’ll have to consider the size of your vehicle. In most cases, you won’t want to cram a huge box on a compact crossover for both practical (it might not fit) and aesthetic reasons.
Here’s a breakdown of our recommended sizes and designs for various hauling needs:
- Skis and flat gear: 10-14 cubic feet and a low-profile shape.
- Camping gear and travel bags: 12-16 cubic feet
- Families and groups of three to four for camping, skiing, or travel: 16-18 cubic feet
- Max cargo capacity on a large vehicle: 20+ cubic feet
Before we jump in, it’s important to understand that simply mounting crossbars on your vehicle can create extra wind noise, occasional whistling, and ding gas mileage, as they sit prominently on your roof. Adding a large box on top increases the chances the noise will get louder, especially at highway speeds or if it’s windy. Generally, you can gauge the noise impact of a box by analyzing the shape of a given model: Low-profile designs like the Inno Wedge 660 or Thule Motion 3 Low are the quietest, while tall, prominent boxes like the SportRack Vista XL are the loudest. None is as bad as the square, soft-sided cargo bags that you see mounted on some vehicles, and we’ve found that even the Vista is tolerable for a multi-hour trip.
If you’re especially worried about wind noise and want to minimize impact, it’s worth considering a hitch-mounted setup that moves your storage to the back of the vehicle. One example is Yakima’s EXO system, which features a base mount that installs into your vehicle’s hitch receiver and optional box add-ons.
This is a painful question to answer, as roof box prices have skyrocketed over the past few years. Many popular models these days, such as Yakima’s SkyBox NX and Thule’s Force 3 and Motion 3, are in the $750 to $1,200 range, which is why it’s always nice to find a lightly used setup or purchase during a sale if you can. Roof box quality truly does vary by price, and it’s a category where it’s worth avoiding the true budget end if you plan to mount it on your vehicle often.
For heavy use, a good starting point is the Yakima RocketBox Pro 14, which is $599 and possesses the crucial traits of durability and security. If you value ease of use, especially if you’ll be installing and removing the box quite often, you’ll have to bump up to the next price tier, which includes the Yakima SkyBox NX ($849 for the XL size) and Thule Force 3 ($930, also in XL). On the other hand, if you’re buying a box to serve a specific, short-term function, such as an annual camping trip, you can save with a simple model like the $450 SportRack Vista XL. Take note, though, that basic designs like the Vista are not intended to be left on your vehicle for extended periods. SportRack recommends keeping speeds below 40 mph when the box is empty and loading it with at least 50 pounds for highway driving.
If you’re eyeing a roof box for carrying your ski gear, we recommend a low-profile model that's long enough to accommodate your setup(s). There’s no reason to go with a taller, more prominent box, which will only increase wind noise with no storage benefit. If your skis are 182 centimeters or under, the Inno Wedge 660 ($850) is a sleek option that easily swallowed four pairs of adult skis for us (Inno claims a six- to eight- ski max, with some stacking). Stretching the maximum length to 200 centimeters is Thule’s Motion 3 XL Low, although the price jumps to $1,150. Finally, if you need even more length for extra-long Nordic skis, consider the Motion XXL Low, which has a 215-centimeter max.
This is the realm “skinny” boxes, which have narrower widths than normal models, allowing for more crossbar real estate to mount a bike or other gear. One product that we recommend in this range is Yakima’s SkyBox NX Skinny, which shares the same design as our top-rated XL model but trims 9.5 inches off the width (capacity also drops to 12 cu. ft.). That said, it’s worth noting that roof bar systems have a maximum weight they can safely carry—usually 165 pounds. When a roof box weighs 40-plus pounds by itself (the SkyBox NX Skinny is 43 lb.), you have to be careful not to overdo it with other equipment.
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