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When planning a trip, extra storage space can make all the difference
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But with so many rooftop cargo boxes out there, choosing the right one isn't simple
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Some are built for hauling tons of gear, some are made to stay sleek and aerodynamic
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and others try to do a little bit of both. That's why I went through reviews, compared features, and checked user experiences to put
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together a list of the 6 best rooftop cargo boxes available right now
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and if you find something you like, I'll leave links to all the rooftop cargo boxes
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in the description below. First up is the Sport Rack Horizon which I ranked as the most budget friendly
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And what you'll notice right away is how much space you get for the price
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It gives you about 11 cubic feet which is plenty for ski or snowboarding trip
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It can fit up to 4 pairs of skis in it comfortably, though technically it's rated for 3 to 6 pairs
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or 2 to 3 boards. It has a long narrow design that not only fits skis up to 210cm but it also leaves extra
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space on your roof rack if you want to throw in a bike mount or something else alongside it
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Now the build is ABS plastic and I know it's not the best material out there but that's
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how it stays affordable. But surprisingly it's not going to feel flimsy and sure you wouldn't want to smash it against
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rocks but for regular road trips you can expect something solid and dependable
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And a tiny detail I really liked about this is the passenger side opening
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If you ever had the load gear while standing next to traffic, you know how annoying that can be
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And this way, you're always loading from the safe side. As Kay puts it, it was quite a bit cheaper than non-name brand ones
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and all other non-name brands did not seem like good options. We moved from the Midwest to California and packed this bad boy full
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We were so happy to have this and be able to fit so much stuff in it
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It was a great size. We have a 2015 forerunner limited and it drove great with the box. It did however slash gas mileage, but that is to be expected
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So for the price, it's reliable and does exactly what you need. That's why I think it's the best budget pick
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Next up is the flatted air carrier which I ranked as the best for storage Now this one a bit different cause it inflatable Instead of a giant hard shell that eats up space in your garage when you not using
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it, this thing folds down into a backpack, so you can throw it in a closet when the trip's
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over instead of figuring out where to stash a bulky box. And when it's pumped up, you get about 23 cubic feet of storage which is massive
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You can load in coolers, bags, camping gear, whatever you don't want cramped inside the car
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Plus it's 100% waterproof so your stuff stays dry even if you're driving through the rain
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the whole way. And the setup is also pretty straight forward. You can inflate it with the manual pump it comes with in around 10 minutes, or just use
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an electric pump to save the effort and time. And once it's filled to about 6-8 psi, it straps down with d-rings and works on vehicles
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with or without roof racks, which makes it way more flexible than most cargo boxes
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Price wise, it is going to be on the higher end compared to budget hard shells, but you're
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paying for that storage convenience. So if keeping space free at home matters to you, then this one's tough to beat
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Up next is the Inno Wedge, which I ranked as the most sleek profile
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And if you care about how your car looks, then this rooftop cargo box is for you
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the cleanest design on the list with a low, thin, and aerodynamic shape. And inside, you get about
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11 cubic feet of space. And this thing can handle 6 to 8 pairs of skis, or up to 4 snowboards. But
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you can also toss in chairs, backpacks, or random gear. And it also has a dual-sided opening, just
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like the flatted air carrier we discussed earlier. Now when the key's in, it stays locked, so you
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have to worry about it popping open by accident. And mounting is pretty simple, it clamps down onto
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your crossbars with a rubber line system that keeps water out and it protects your rack. And as Raul
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said, when I started looking for a roof box for my Tesla Model 3, it quickly became very clear that
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the Innowedge 660 was my go-to option. Not only was it available in white to match my car, but it
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also is one of the slimmest roof boxes I could find so it doesn't affect my range efficiency as
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much as others would Also don let the short height fool you I able to fit a couple of full size beach chairs in there with some room to spare This really is a great one and would highly recommend for EV owners However it not great for big luggage cause
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it's just too slim for that. Price wise it's definitely not the cheapest on this list but
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you're paying for design here so if you want a box that's functional but also turns heads
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Then the inner wedge nails it. Next up is the Thule Vector Alpine, which I ranked as the best splurge pick
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And this is an option you go for when you want top quality, a little extra style, and an unlimited budget
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And it's low, aerodynamic, and wide, so instead of looking like a clunky box on the roof
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it blends in and almost adds to the car's design. That's why most people go for it
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But it also has a lot of features to back it up too. The installation of this cargo box is pretty clever
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It clamps onto your crossbars from the inside and you can slide it forward or back before locking it down
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And once it's tight, it gives a click so you know it's secured
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That means no second guessing and no worrying if it's going to rattle loose when you actually ride the car
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Now when you pop it open, the inside feels way more premium than most boxes
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The base is felt lined so your skis or snowboards don't bang against hard plastic
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And this even has motion activated lights, so loading up in the dark isn't going to be a big headache
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Now capacity wise, it holds about 3 to 5 pairs of skis up to 200cm
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or about 3 to 4 snowboards with a load limit of 165 pounds
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And when you're not using it, Thule includes a rugged cover to keep it scratch free in storage
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And the price is where the splurge part comes in. These usually run over $1,000
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dollars, but for the design, the lighting, and the premium build, the Vector Alpine really does
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feel like the high-end pick. Up next is the Yakima Rocketbox Pro 14, which I ranked as the best value
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and it's like adding a second trunk to your roof, but without making your cars look weirdly tall
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And this one's a clean, low profile, and it has a solid 14 cubic feet of space, and that's gonna be
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enough to fit some camping gear duffel bags or a gear for a small crew without feeling so bulky And installing it is shockingly smooth You don need any tools you just click it onto your crossboards and you done in about 10 minutes And with the
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dual sided opening, there's no more awkward reaching over. You can load it from whichever
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side feels safer. Now the security is pretty smart too. It uses a push button lock plus SKS
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locks to keep everything snug and safe. And the finish is a rugged matte black that handles whatever
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whether you throw at it. And the textured look is low-key but still sharp. And one owner writes
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this beauty helped quite a bit of our camping gear. It was not as expensive as others
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but you cannot beat the quality of it. The feature of being able to open this cargo box from either
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side was a big selling point. Also, it comes ready to use right out of the box. There's nothing to put
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together like other brands. Very easy. Since this is a large box, one person could possibly lift it
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into place. I used it on a minivan with no problems. I never had any problems driving
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with it on the van. We took 2 trips with it with no problems. We even drove it through
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a couple of torrential rainstorms and there was no water inside the box. Price wise, it
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feels like a fair deal for what you get. And you can always check the description for the
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latest prices and discounted links. Finally is the Yakima Grand Tour 16 which I ranked as the best overall rooftop cargo
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box. And this one's sleek, glossy, and doesn't even look like a cargo box even though it can hold up
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to 16 cubic feet of your stuff. And getting it on the roof is almost fun. There's a torque knob that
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just clicks right in so you know it's snug, but you can pull it off too, which leaves you with a
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flat interior floor that makes organizing stuff so much easier. And yes, it opens from both sides
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so you don't have to awkwardly reach your stuff if you're parked in a weird spot. Now inside
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the floor is clear and flat and none of that odd slope that eats up space. You also get tie down
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points inside, kind of like a subtle but useful detail if you're packing for a bumpy ride
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Now capacity wise, you can fit six pairs of skis or four snowboards up to about 185 centimeters long
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or whatever else just fits. And that's all for today. I hope this list helped you choose the
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perfect rooftop cargo box. And if you find something you like, don't forget to check the
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description to find the links to all the rooftop cargo biases mentioned in this video