The Best Rooftop Cargo Holders
If your car of choice is a pickup truck or an SUV, you likely don’t have to worry about cargo space. However, some drivers feel more comfortable driving smaller cars or choose to invest in cars with more speed or aesthetic appeal than interior storage. Some of the most luxurious vehicles on the market, such as the Porsche 911, are notorious for small cargo holds.
If you don’t have a vehicle with a lot of space in the trunk, or simply need more space for road trips, the roof of your car is a great place to store extra items. Cargo bags can easily be attached to any roof rack and come in a variety of sizes. Autoblog recently compiled a list of some great cargo bags on the market, and we picked out a few of our favorites.
Interstate Roof Pouch Bag (Thule)
Thule’s roof pouch bag is one of the most convenient options for rooftop storage. It only weighs 5.5 pounds and can easily be folded down and stored inside your car. It’s made of double-coated elastomer that is designed to hold up under tough weather conditions, including heavy rain and snow.
It can be easily installed on most factory racks and roof bars. It doesn’t have as much storage capacity as some of its competitors, but its durability makes it well worth the price.
682 Sidekick Rooftop Cargo Carrier Box (Thule)
In addition to carrier bags, Thule also makes sturdy cargo boxes. The Sidekick weighs in at 16 pounds and can carry up to 110 pounds within its 8 feet of cubic storage space. Users love that it has a passenger-side opening for easy access. Thankfully, it can be mounted to most roof racks.
It also comes with reinforcement plates to ensure that the box is fully secured to the top of your vehicle. Its material is designed to protect your cargo against heavy impact or harmful UV rays. It’s a little more expensive than some cargo box brands and requires extensive assembly that may be difficult for first-time buyers.
Waterproof Roof Top Cargo Luggage Travel Bag (Shield Jacket)
Shield Jacket’s travel bag is one of the most affordable options for those who need more cargo space, with a price tag of $52 or below. It’s made of double-wall vinyl, comes with two compression straps, and eight tie straps that will securely attach to any roof rack.
Some customers reported that the number of tie straps could be a bit of a hassle. But once attached, the bag stayed on top of their cars and protected their luggage even in severe weather. With hard boxes, it can be hard to squeeze in items with unconventional lengths. However, with this bag there’s plenty of wiggle room, with 43-by-34 inch interior.
SkyBox 16 Carbonite Cargo (Yakima)
The sleek, stylish design of this cargo box makes it the perfect match for any sports car. It’s nearly seven feet long, 36 inches wide, and can hold a lot of heavy cargo.
Interestingly enough, it’s made of 80% recycled plastic and has openings on either side. Absolutely no assembly is required, making it easier to install and remove than many of its competitors. It has a few drawbacks, such as its high price tag and the fact that it can only fit on Yakima roof bars.
15 Roof Bag (Sherpak Go!)
This cargo bag is the best of both worlds. It has the weather-resistant material and storage capacity of Shield Jacket’s bag, along with plastic hardware and welded seams for an added layer of protection.
Plus, it features a universal mounting system that will allow you to attach it to any car, even one that doesn’t have roof racks. Unfortunately, it’s a little more expensive than some vinyl storage bags. However, the added features justify the price hike.