The Best Roof Cargo Boxes of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Other Roof Cargo Boxes We Tested

In addition to the eight that made our final cut, we also tested eight other cargo boxes that didn’t pass muster. The Yakima Grand Tour 16 was easy to assemble, but our tester found it challenging to close and open, and the latch required a serious tug.

Thule’s Pulse Medium Rooftop Cargo Box won accolades, but our tester felt that the price was a bit high, while the brand’s Sidekick Cargo Box felt a bit awkward and tedious to attach to the roof rack, and our tester wished it had tie-down points inside.

The Goplus Rooftop Carrier didn’t come with clear instructions—our tester had to search for a video to understand how to assemble the box and attach it to their vehicle.

FIVKLEMNZ’s Car Roof Carrier Bag also suffered from poor instructions; tightening the buckles on each strap was a challenge and lacked locks.

Complicated assembly and attachment also plagued the RoofPax Car Roof Bag and Rooftop Cargo Carrier, and though it felt secure once it was finally attached, our tester questioned the strength and durability of the three-dial lock attached to the zipper.

Attaching the CURT Universal Steel Roof Rack took almost 45 minutes—more than half the time it took to attach other cargo boxes—and our tester reported that the provided instructions didn’t even work with their vehicle.

And while the CURT Cargo Bag was relatively easy to attach to the vehicle, the tester noted that it flaps a lot while driving, even with all the straps tied down, creating a distracting noise.

How We Tested

To validate the product's promises and get real-world experience with each cargo box, we recruited field testers to put each product through its paces. This included detailed notes on the ease of assembly and attachment to the car, whether on a roof rack or directly on the vehicle's roof itself; almost all required two people.

Once in place, we evaluated how securely it felt and whether or not it became unstable, first by manually testing the attachment strength and then by conducting several driving tests. We conducted those drives with the boxes empty and full to see how the box behaved at highway speeds—whether there were distracting noises, if they created drag, or shook in a way that felt unstable.

Loading and unloading the boxes with a variety of travel gear—skis, snowboards, camping gear, fishing equipment, luggage, and golf clubs, just to name a few—helped us understand how easy it was to load and unload the boxes, how well the box performed when the car was at speed when fully loaded, whether or not any integrated internal tie-down systems worked as promised, and whether or not any gear was damaged.

We also closely examined the materials to understand better durability, longevity, and weatherproofing, paying particular attention to how easily the latches or zippers secure the box and whether or not the integrated locks provided the necessary security. Finally, we removed the cargo box from the vehicle to evaluate how long it took and observed whether the car or the box showed any damage.

After the testing was complete, we rated each box on a one-to-five scale on the box's key attributes: ease of use, stability, security, durability, and cost-to-value, evaluating the product on its own merits and in comparison to other cargo boxes on the market.

What to Look for in Car Roof Carriers

Weight

There are two aspects to consider here: a box’s weight capacity, which is how much weight the box itself can support, and the weight of the cargo box itself. In most instances, the former rating is large enough to handle loads of gear, while the cargo box weight can help you understand how easy it is to attach and remove the box. Hard-sided boxes can range from 25 to over 50 pounds—the lighter the product, the easier it is to maneuver, so if you use your box occasionally and store it when not in use, go with a lighter product. Soft-sided carriers will always be lighter than hard-sided boxes and are easier to store when not in use.

Installation

For all the hard-sided cargo boxes we tested, the vehicle needed to already have a roof rack with cross bars installed (running perpendicular to the length of the car), though almost all of them work with any type of rack, including bars that are round, square, or aero-shaped. Some employ attachment systems inside the box, which—when paired with a keyed lock on the box itself—assures that no one can remove the box without accessing the inside. And boxes with removable installation hardware won praise because they freed up the max space inside the box.

Others use a series of brackets that attach to the roof rack, typically require more time to attach, and aren't as secure as internally attached mechanisms. Meanwhile, soft-sided boxes usually employ a series of buckles and adjustable straps to attach to a vehicle's side rails or cross bars or pass through the vehicle's doorframe, with the doors closing over the straps. These solutions are typically less expensive than hard-sided boxes and offer the convenience of packing down when not in use, but they aren't nearly as secure as a locking hard-bodied box.

Security

All the boxes we tested felt secure to the car once attached, and none seemed unstable during our driving tests. But the box's security depends on two key features: How it's mounted to the car and whether or not the box has integrated locks. Boxes that use mounting mechanisms controlled inside the box are more secure than those that use brackets or other systems outside the box because there's nothing to prevent someone from removing the box itself. Then there are the boxes that have keyed or numbered locks—the best ones only let you lock the box and remove the key once you've successfully closed the lid, assuring you don't think it's closed.

Durability

Most hard-bodied cargo boxes feature high-quality ABS plastic that cuts down on weight without sacrificing durability, and most will last for years of rigorous use in foul weather. But also be sure to pay attention to the quality of the other hardware, particularly the mounting system that attaches the box to the roof rack bars and to the handles, hinges, and locks of the box itself. You want high-quality materials that move seamlessly and will not break down when exposed to prolonged use or extreme temperatures. Soft-sided bags typically have thick, durable, and weatherproofed fabrics. For these products, look for boxes that boast burly seams (like triple-seamed boxes), which extend the durability, and assure that zippers flow smoothly and are easy to use even when wearing gloves. Thick, strong straps and buckles are also essential.

Capacity

First, consider the type of gear you’re looking to haul, and then check the box’s internal dimensions to ensure everything will fit. And pay particular attention to the box’s internal length (so that longer items like skis or snowboards will fit) and its internal height—more aerodynamic boxes typically don’t have a lot of internal height to cut down on drag, which may be fine for someone looking to haul ski gear, but less than ideal for bulkier items like a stroller or a cooler. Internal straps and lash points are also a nice-to-have as it helps secure the gear when the box isn’t fully loaded.

Why Trust TripSavvy

Nathan Borchelt has been rating, testing, and reviewing outdoor and travel products for decades. In assembling this round-up, he worked with a team of TripSavvy travel experts who tested each product listed (as well as boxes that didn’t make the final cut based on the results of the tests), providing both detailed input on the various features and overall function of each cargo box, as well as a concrete rating on a one-to-five scale for key characteristics like the box’s security, durability, ease of use, and value. He then layered in additional research and key stats like carrying capacity, security features, and external dimensions to help paint a full picture of each item’s value.