Best Roof Boxes for Vacations and Sports in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update December 5, 2021
If you are going on a trip by car, you are likely to face an insufficient trunk capacity for all your luggage. In this review, we have rounded up the best cargo boxes. Thanks to them, you will be able to take all necessary things for your journey. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2021
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Type
Suitable for
Mounting
Material
Maximum load
Volume
Size
Extras
 
PROS

Owing to the aerodynamic shape, this roof box neither produces significant road noise nor affects gas mileage.

CONS

The box is a bit stiff to open at first. 

OUR VERDICT

Thanks to the quite large capacity of 320 litres, this rooftop cargo box is ideal for transportation of various things. Durable and easy to install, the box will protect your belongings in any weather.

detailed parameters
Type

Roof box

Suitable for

Hatchback and Saloon vehicles

Mounting

Roof bar brackets

Material

Plastic

Maximum load

50 kg

Volume

320 Litres

Size

133 x 86 x 37 cm

Extras

Weight - 10 kg;
Straps x 2;
Dual force lifters;
Self-supporting struts; Holds roof box lid open whilst loading

PROS

Made of PVC coated Oxford fabric, the bag guarantees 100% water resistance and total safety of your belongings.

CONS

It should be used with a special mat underneath.

OUR VERDICT

The bag from Aoafun will come in handy for people who need a reliable cargo box for long trips. It can double the capacity of your car and can be carried as a handbag in places impassable for vehicles.

detailed parameters
Type

Roof bag

Suitable for

Hatchback and Saloon vehicles

Mounting

Adjustable straps for fixing to roof rails

Material

PVC coated 1680D Oxford cloth

Maximum load

<100 kg

Volume

283 Litres

Size

120 x 95 x 22 cm

Extras

Weight - 2.5 kg;
Foldable;
Water and moisture-proof

PROS

This roof bag is designed with special metal reinforcements at the bottom to hold even extremely heavy luggage.

CONS

The fixing bolts are rather weak.

OUR VERDICT

Designed to be compact yet capacious, this roof bag comes at an affordable price and can suit even the smallest car models. What's more, it won't take much space when folded.

detailed parameters
Type

Roof bag

Suitable for

Hatchback and Saloon vehicles

Mounting

U-bolt

Material

Double layered fabric

Maximum load

50 kg

Volume

270 Litres

Size

100 x 80 x 40 cm

Extras

Weight -3.8 kg;
Carrying case;
Tools-free assembly;
Metal reinforcements to hold the load during transportation;
Foldable

PROS

The patented Easy-Snap system makes this box very user-friendly - it doesn't require any additional tools for mounting.

CONS

Poorly-thought inner compartment.

OUR VERDICT

Thule roof box is a good substitution to plastic boxes if you need something secure and waterproof for transportation of your equipment. It's supplied with a carrying bag.

detailed parameters
Type

Roof bag

Suitable for

Hatchback and Saloon vehicles

Mounting

Easy-Snap quick-mount system

Material

Waterproof fabric

Maximum load

50 kg

Volume

280 Litres

Size

110 x 80 x 40 cm

Extras

Foldable;
Taped seams and a sealed zipper with integrated lock;
Special bag for storing the rolled-up box

PROS

The roof bag comes with a special mat that will protect a vehicle's finish from scratches and scuff marks during your vacation.

CONS

Plastic clips are not intended for heavy loads.

OUR VERDICT

This family-sized roof box is suitable for any vehicle with or without roof bars. It offers enough room for transportation tons of gear or bulky equipment. It can even accommodate several suitcases at a time.

detailed parameters
Type

Roof bag

Suitable for

Hatchback and Saloon vehicles

Mounting

Triple sewn straps

Material

Waterproof tarpaulin

Maximum load

Not specified

Volume

400 Litres

Size

130 x 81 x 41 cm

Extras

Weight ~ 4.7kg;
Vicelok® clasps;
Suitable for any vehicle with or without roof rails

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Thule Ocean 80

Solid Roof Box for Long Trips

The Thule Ocean 80 is a hard box designed for mounting on a car's roof only. If you have got a hatchback or sedan that offers enough room for your luggage but still need more storage options, this box will provide you with 320 litres of additional capacity. The Ocean 80 looks fantastic owing to its glossy black body made of plastic. At the pretty large size of 133cm x 86cm x 37cm, it weighs only 10 kg considering.

What's important, plastic withstands extreme temperatures and boasts impact resistant features, so you can be sure that nothing bad might happen to your belongings inside. This sturdy but light box comes with a clamp fixing kit that fits most roof bars up to 8 cm wide. Here you will find a pair of internal straps, locking system with 2 keys, and luggage retaining straps. Being hinged at the front, the roof storage box opens from the rear and has patented spring system. This makes the box extremely easy-to-use, since you can load and unload the box from both sides of a car without a need of holding the top lid with your hands.

The Ocean 80 can be mounted by one person, however, we recommend you to ask for help if you don't want to scratch your car or the box accidentally. The last but not the least feature to mention is the aerodynamic shape of the box. It produces very little noise during the ride, meaning that it won't cause any discomfort or a headache while you are on the road.

Review of Thule Ocean 80 Car Roof Box
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01BKENVWS

 

Aoafun AFAT002

Keep Everything under Control

Whether you are planning a short vacation or the whole cross-country trip, the car roof bag from Aoafun is ready for it. Designed for cars, SUVs, trucks and vans with roof racks, this item provides 283 litres of additional storage.

Made of 1680D Oxford cloth and completed with waterproof zippers, the bag is rated as 100% wind- and waterproof. It means that you can use the bag in rain, wind, snow, and it will always keep your things dry. What's more, the bag is designed with 8 adjustable straps that secure luggage reliably and make the whole mounting process very easy. Just fasten the straps to the roof bars and off you go. Being pretty spacious when expanded (120x95x22cm), the bag is rather compact when folded. Also, it comes with a nice storage bag as a bonus. With the size of 36 x 23 cm, the bag can be stored virtually anywhere in your house or even in a trunk of your car when not in use.

Another important feature to note is that the roof bag can be used as a handbag for carrying sports equipment or beach accessories just anywhere you need. Truly, this thing is the ideal option for those in need to double the carrying capacity of a car at minimum expense and those who don't have a free space for storing hard shell roof boxes. Get this roof bag and see for yourself how convenient and useful it is.

Review of Aoafun AFAT002 Waterproof Cargo Bag
Last updated price $0.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B072NBZL3J

 

Green Valley Sherpack 158002

Great Roof Bag at an Affordable Price

This fabric roof bag from Green Valley has a foldable design that provides users with both the convenience of use and pretty large capacity of 270-litres. You might think that textile bags cannot be compared to rigid models in terms of security, though we assure you that the things are not quite as they seem. To make this roof box for car secure and reliable, the manufacturer has added special metal reinforcement to the bottom of the bag and extra layers of textile for optimal thickness and leak protection.

Once installed, the box opens with a zipper that goes all the way around the bag, providing you with plenty of storage space and making the loading/unloading process a breeze. Owing to the internal and external straps, you can tie down your things inside the bag and secure them from outside when the bag is loaded. With such a bag you can worry not about the safety of your belongings. However, the most significant and impressive thing about this roof bag is its tool-free assembly any person can handle. In addition, the roof bag can be stored away easily, as it should be rolled up in a carrying bag included. To sum up, we would like to say that the Green Valley roof storage box is an excellent way to add extra storage space to a car without stuffing a house with bulky boxes, especially if you need one once in a while.

Review of Green Valley Sherpack 158002 Folding Roof Box
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B004G0APO6

 

Thule Ranger Foldaway

Perfect Solution for Those Who Lack Free Space

A roof box might be used from time to time; however, it still needs a place to be stored throughout a year. Especially for those who lack free space but want to get all the advantages of a roof bag, the Thule company has come up with a perfect solution - a foldable roof cargo bag. The Thule box is designed with a semi-rigid base that doesn't sink in between the roof bars. It means that the bag doesn't sit on the roof of a car and can't damage your vehicle’s finish. Another thing that differs this cargo box from other soft bags is the way you can fold it. Its base consists of interconnected panels that can be rolled out and fixed to any type of the roof bars in mere seconds, giving you more time for packing or unpacking your stuff.

When folded, the roof box has the size of 120 x 27 cm and can be rolled in a specially designed bag. Made of waterproof material, the bag is meant to withstand rain and snow. For further protection from water ingestion, the bag features sealed zippers covered with heavy duty baffle. This 280-litre roof bag is designed with a double zip that let you access the bag from any point you want, so you don't need to unzip it fully when you want to get something out. If you wish, you can use the eyelets on a zipper to padlock them together with the lock included. The Thule roof cargo bag can become a reliable keeper of your belongings wherever you go.

Review of Thule Ranger Foldaway Roof Box
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B000MR9I90

 

BigDaddy V2

Family-sized Roof Cargo Bag

The cargo bag from BigDaddy is the best accessory for large families, avid travellers, and adventurous couples looking for additional storage space in their car while travelling. So, if you don't want to be limited to the number of things you can take with you, this 400-litre roof cargo bag is the best choice. This bag is not only incredibly capacious but also very reliable. It is made of a durable waterproof material that will keep your belongings safe and dry in rain, snow and wind. The manufacturer claims that the idea to make the most durable roof bag came to him after wasting money on models that got ripped and leaked right during his journeys. He decided to create the most reliable bag for his own trips and succeeded in it. The products from BigDaddy are best-selling on Amazon today!

With the overall size of 130 x 81 x 41 cm, this bag weighs only 4.7 kg and suits all cars with or without roof bars thanks to the Exclusive Strap System implemented. So, having purchased this roof bag, you won't be limited to the type of car you want to travel in. To transport your luggage safely, the roof bag was designed with thick, wide straps, and exclusive Vicelok® clasps which are meant to keep your bag on the roof reliably.

Review of BigDaddy V2 Roof Box

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01N5IA3JQ

 

What Is a Roof Box?

People spend more and more time in their cars travelling and making long journeys. Going on a trip, you need to take a lot of things, of course. You may put your stuff in the trunk and inside the vehicle, but what should you do with all those things left? A roof box is a solution. With it, you can travel fully equipped without a need of living a thing behind anymore. All the packed things will be reliably fixed with the straps and locked with a key for a safe transportation. No matter what the weather is, you'll run no risk of damaging things packed in the roof bags. Using roof rack cargo boxes, you'll get all the needed things at hand during any trip. Besides, they look pretty nice on a car.

To protect your vehicle from scratches, sun, and rain, make sure to purchase one of the car covers. It will secure your car from the elements, maintaining the optimal ventilation.

Sources:

1. Lauren DeLaunay The Best Cargo Box Review, OutdoorGearLab.

2. James Foxall How to choose the right roof box, The Telegraph. July 15, 2013.

3. Graham Byrne Car roof box buying guide, Choice. November 15, 2016.

4. Sophie McGraw Roof box tips: which to buy, how to fit it, reducing noise and storage solutions, Arnold Clark. July 31, 2014.

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Publish Date: 2017-09-20 15:34:41