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Trailing your gear at the back of your vehicle makes driving more difficult. But if all the seats in your vehicle are taken and your trunk is full, then you need to store your gear somewhere else, where it won’t obstruct the view behind you.
A rooftop cargo carrier is hands down the simplest and easiest solution.
There are some great rooftop cargo carriers out on the market and at the moment. And after much deliberation, we were able to handpick our top five favorites. Our reviews on those are coming up very shortly.
After that, we have a handy buying guide for you which walks you through everything you might want to think about before you buy. Then we’re going to top that off with another section where we answer some of your most frequently asked questions.
- 20/15 cubic feet capacity
- Color won’t fade
- No rack needed
- Best seller
- Very affordable
- Anti-slip mat
- 18 cubic feet of space
- UV resistant
- Aerodynamic
1. Car Top Carrier Roof Bag + Protective Mat
Now, this is a cargo carrier that ticks all the boxes.
First off there’s the space – you can buy the 20 cubic feet version, which is huge, or there’s a 15 cubic feet version which costs considerably less.
It’s a soft shell one, but it’s made with durable, military standard, heavy duty tarpaulin, keeping your gear completely dry whatever the weather, being 100% waterproof. It’s also UV resistant too, so the color won’t fade.
It’s super easy to install, whether you’re attaching it to a roof rack with side rails, cross rails, or with a roof basket. Or, if you don’t have any of those, you can attach it via the doors, using the 6 door hook straps provided. If you have a roof rack, you can still make use of the door hook straps for additional security.
We love that the cargo carrier is shaped the way it is, it makes it more aerodynamic, which means less wind resistance, and less fuel usage too.
There’s even a special mat included that goes between the car rooftop and the cargo carrier so you don’t get any scratches on your car.
We love that there’s a combination lock included in the price. You know your gear is going to be safe when you need to stop for a bathroom break.
And the 2 year money back guarantee is also a nice touch, very reassuring.
- 20/15 cubic feet capacity
- Color won’t fade
- No rack needed
- Combination lock
- 2 year guarantee
- Could be more aerodynamic
2. FIVKLEMNZ Car Roof Bag Cargo Carrier
Now, this is a great little rooftop cargo carrier.
It comes as a complete kit and doesn’t even need a rack to sit on. Sure attach it to your rack if you have one, but if not, you can simply use the hooks provided to attach it to your car doors.
But what we really love about it is it’s capacity – it has a whopping 15 cubic feet of space, which is about the same as 5 medium sized suitcases, which should save you some cash.
When you’re on the road you can be confident that your gear is kept secure. There are not 2, not 4, but 8 strong reinforced straps available with the rooftop cargo carrier to hold it in place. These straps can then be tightened as much you like before securing them in place on your car roof.
But that’s not all, there’s also an anti-slip mat provided to prevent the carrier from sliding around on the car roof.
It’s a clear bestseller with online retailers, and customer feedback has been fantastic. This is down to the quality of the bag.
No bout of rain will pass through this beauty, it’s 100% waterproof. This is not just down to the material itself, which is very durable, but also down to the double flap, the high strength zipper, and waterproof sealing.
It’s also far more affordable than it’s hard shell counterparts. A bargain if you ask us.
We were also impressed by the after sales service and the 12 months limited warranty.
- Best seller
- Very affordable
- Anti-slip mat
- No rack needed
- 1 year warrant
- No lock included
3. SportRack Vista XL Rear Opening Cargo Box
If you’ve already decided that you want to go for a hard shell cargo carrier than a soft shell one, then cast your eye on this. It may be expensive but it has proved pretty popular.
Hard shell cargo carriers don’t tend to sell as well as their soft shell counterparts, but hundreds of people have bought this one just through Amazon alone. And better yet, the customer feedback has been really positive.
It has a whopping 18 cubic feet of space altogether. Impressive hey? And in terms of weight, it can take up to 100 pounds. You could fit several hold-alls in there.
It will fit most factory racks, whether they’re square or round or whatever. You don’t need any special tools to install it, or to remove it either. All the hardware you need to mount it comes in the box when it arrives.
It will fit 4 different types of roof rack crossbar, including square, aero-style, round, or generic factory ones.
When you want to take it off, there’s a quick-release system to get it down.
As a hard shell cargo carrier, it’s very durable, and it will keep all your gear dry. But another great touch is that it’s also UV resistant, so the color won’t fade from exposure to the sun.
And unlike soft shell cargo carriers, it has a lock rather than straps to keep all your gear secure.
The angled contours of the box give it a smart, sleek and aerodynamic look.
And we love the warranty too. It’s not a regular one year warranty, but a lifetime warranty.
- 18 cubic feet of space
- UV resistant
- Aerodynamic
- Includes a key lock
- Lifetime warranty
- Premium product at a premium price
4. JEGS Rooftop Cargo Carrier
If you’re looking for a hard shell cargo carrier, this is also a very good one.
It’s very spacious offering 18 cubic feet of cargo space, and it can take up to 110 pounds of weight. It’s more like having an extra trunk than having an extra suitcase.
It has a very hard, durable shell, which is 100% waterproof, thanks in part to the weather tight seals. It’s also protected from fading and scratches too.
Your gear will be completely safe inside, and that’s because of the four corner integrated locking system, plus a latch at the front. No relying on padlocks on your zips for security.
We love that it has such an aerodynamic construction that means you don’t have any wind resistance to worry about, and hence it won’t eat away at your fuel usage.
It’s easy to assemble and install. All the mounting hardware comes included in the box. You will need a roof rack to fit it, but it will fit on a variety of designs, whether round, square or aero bar.
It’s also easy to load, thanks to the dual side opening and integrated hinges.
It sells very well for a hard shell cargo carrier, with hundreds of people buying through Amazon alone. Probably because as hard shells go it’s a little more affordable.
It’s made right here in the US of A, and comes complete with a limited lifetime warranty.
- 18 cubic feet of space
- Scratch resistant
- Easy to load/unload
- Integrated locking system
- Aerodynamic
- Lifetime warranty
- Must be mounted on a roof rack
- Premium product at a premium price
5. KEEPER 07202 Black Waterproof Rooftop Cargo Bag
This is the most affordable of our top 5 picks, but unfortunately it’s also the one with the smallest capacity. However, we would argue that 11 cubic feet is still quite spacious. It’s at least the size of 3 medium suitcases, if not 4.
Or, if you prefer you could go for the 15 cubic feet version which is on the same Amazon page. Make sure you select exactly what you want though because one of the options on there is for a hitch rack, not rooftop, so be careful.
It’s made of rubber laminated nylon, so you get the best of both worlds, a waterproof and UV resistant coating to keep off the road grit, and yet the material is flexible enough to accommodate gear of all shapes and sizes.
There are 2 adjustable straps on each of the sides, making 8 straps altogether.
Fitting it to your roof rack is a breeze. It will fit to any roof rack, via an intuitive buckle and strap system.
When you’re not using it, it folds up super compact for convenient storage.
Amazon has been known to occasionally have deals on this item, so it’s worth checking their site.
- Bargain price
- Plenty of straps
- 11/15 cubic feet capacity
- Convenient to store
- No locks
Best Rooftop Cargo Carrier – Buying Guide
As promised, we’re now going to walk you through everything you might want to think about before you buy your rooftop cargo carrier.
Compatibility
The first thing you need to ensure is that your rooftop cargo carrier is compatible with your vehicle’s roof rack. All of the cargo carriers in our top 5 picks will fit most standard roof racks.
And two of them are even possible to secure to your car roof without a roof rack, specifically our number 1 pick, the ToolGuards Car Top Carrier Roof Bag and our number 2 pick, the FIVKLEMNZ Car Roof Bag Cargo Carrier.
Soft Shell vs Hard Shell
Soft shell cargo carriers sell in far greater numbers than their hard shell counterparts, and we think this is largely down to the more affordable price point.
Also, the hard shell options often hold very few advantages over the soft shell variety.
Waterproof
Unless it’s particularly sunny where you might be traveling, you’re going to need a cargo that is not just water resistant, but completely waterproof. It’s an important distinction.
If you were to simply strap a fabric suitcase on top of your car, the rain will likely seep right the way through and give you damp and mold in your belongings.
All of the rooftop cargo carriers in our top 5 picks are all 100% waterproof.
Easy to Install
Seeing as you’ll have to install or attach the cargo carrier yourself, you may be interested in one that’s easy to install.
All of the cargo carriers in our top 5 picks are all fairly easy to install, need no tools, and all the hardware that you need comes in the box.
Security
The last thing you want when you’re driving around is for the cargo carrier to come open and for gear to be falling out onto the road. Or worse still, have the entire cargo carrier fall off.
So, if you go for a soft shell, you need good, sturdy, heavy duty straps to keep everything tight to the car rooftop. And the more straps you have the better.
And whether you go for a soft shell or a hard shell cargo carrier, you could always use a lock for added security. If you want a cargo carrier with one or more keys, we can recommend our 1 pick, the ToolGuards Car Top Carrier Roof Bag, our number 3 pick, the SportRack Vista XL Rear Opening Cargo Box, and our number 4 pick, the JEGS Rooftop Cargo Carrier.
Alternatively you could buy yourself a small padlock that will fit through the zipper pulls.
Aerodynamic
Ideally, your rooftop cargo carrier should be as aerodynamic as possible. That way you get less wind resistance, which in turn means that you use less fuel to maneuver the cargo.
So you won’t need quite as much gas money. The aerodynamic design is not just there to look pretty.
Warranty
When you’re buying products online rather than up close and personal, it can be hard to gauge the quality of a product. That’s why it’s good to look for products that come with a warranty.
If a manufacturer is truly happy that they’ve produced a high quality product, they would be foolish not to offer a warranty. We recommend that you only look at rooftop cargo carriers with a warranty of at least 12 months if not longer.
Customer Reviews
For anything that you want to buy online, it’s always a good idea to get a feel for the customer feedback.
You don’t need to read every review on the net, but if you’re shopping on websites that allow customer ratings, you can quickly and easily gauge how popular a product is before you part with your hard earned cash.
Amazon is really good for seeing customer reviews. It’s not edited and biased the way the manufacturer’s websites tend to be.
Price Point
To the uninitiated, a rooftop cargo carrier looks like a pretty simple piece of kit. But for something that’s sufficiently good quality, secure and durable, unfortunately costs good money.
You can expect to pay anything between $70 and $220 for a good quality soft shell rooftop cargo carrier, whereas a hard shell one could set you back anywhere between $200 and $400. So there’s quite a considerable range in price.
Our advice is to determine what size cargo carrier you need, decide whether you prefer to go for a hard or soft shell, determine what other features you like, and do your budgeting from there.
Brand
The world of rooftop cargo carrier bags is quite competitive, and to be honest with you, there is no one brand dominating the best seller lists with retailers.
Other Considerations
Some rooftop cargo carriers come with an anti-slip mat, like our number 2 pick, the FIVKLEMNZ Car Roof Bag Cargo Carrier. This can give you that extra peace of mind when it comes to keeping the cargo carrier in place.
And these anti-slip mats have the added bonus of preventing the cargo carrier from scratching the car rooftop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest rooftop cargo carrier?
You’ll be surprised just how much you can fit into a rooftop cargo carrier! Even the smaller 11 cubic feet cargo carriers can accommodate 3-4 medium suitcases’ worth of gear.
The ToolGuards Car Top Carrier Roof Bag we showed you earlier, our number 1 pick, is available in a 20 cubic feet version, which is more than 6 medium sized suitcases’ worth.
Can you use a cargo carrier without a roof rack?
There are some rooftop cargo carriers that you can use without a roof rack. These can be fixed in place using door hooks in the car doors.
Two of our top 5 picks can be used in this way, specifically our number 1 pick, the ToolGuards Car Top Carrier Roof Bag, and our number 2 pick, the FIVKLEMNZ Car Roof Bag Cargo Carrier.
How do you pack a rooftop cargo carrier?
Ideally your rooftop cargo carrier should be packed with the heavier and flatter items at the bottom, so as there’s not too much strain put on the zips when you go around tight corners.
