Road Trip! The Best Rooftop Cargo Carriers of 2024

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

This article was updated with new products and information in March 2024.

The roadtrip is a classic family pastime, often filled with fond memories of being in the car with loved ones. But remove those rose-colored lenses for a moment, and let's be honest: there's never enough room for the people and the stuff. Luggage, gear, toys, gifts for the folks at your destination—all of it needs to make the trip. But does it all need to stay inside the vehicle?

Many modern SUV and CUV cargo holds simply aren't roomy enough to hold all the stuff a family road trip requires. Hence, the proliferation of rooftop cargo carriers. But which one is the right fit for you?

Of course, we could have mounted, tested, and evaluated a bunch of cargo carriers ourselves, but that's a timely and involved process. Our colleagues at Good Housekeeping just did all this heavy lifting only recently—so why not ask them for insight? Here's what the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute found in their latest test of rooftop cargo carriers.

How GHI Tested Rooftop Cargo Carriers

The Good Housekeeping Institute has been evaluating consumer products for over 100 years and while the methods and measurements have surely changed, GHI's dedication to getting it right is as strong as ever. For this test, scientists and testers the Institute evaluated a slew of rooftop pods, carriers, bags, and racks to find the best versions of each type. First, they checked each product's dimensions and versatility to pinpoint luggage carriers for every need—family road-trippers, skiers, car campers, pack rats, etc. Then, they mounted them on their cars and used the heck out of them.

Led by Good Housekeeping's Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman, GHI editors and testers put a host of various cargo carriers, racks, and bags through the paces of everyday life and travel using different types of vehicles. The Institute evaluated four main benchmarks to measure each carrier's performance in real-world applications:

• Usability

• Ease of installation

• Storage capacity

• Convenience

After weeks of researching the field, swapping carriers among testers, and comparing data, the Institute narrowed its list of the best rooftop cargo carriers down to these top six—one for almost every driver and vehicle on the road today.

Someday soon, we intend to perform a test of our own on rooftop cargo carriers. In the meantime, here's what testers, scientists, and editors at Good Housekeeping discovered when they set out to determine the Best Rooftop Cargo Carriers.

The Best Rooftop Cargo Carriers

Yakima SkyBox NX 18

Thanks to its clever design and durable build, the Yakima Skybox NX 18 is the Good Housekeeping Institute's top overall pick for best rooftop cargo carriers. Also available in a 16-foot cubic model, it can hold ski, snowboards, luggage, and more. "You're paying a premium for NX 18, but all its little details make it worth it, like the tapered back of the pod, which allows for hatch clearance while squeezing in an extra couple inches of storage for extra long items," says Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Even better, Yakima's "Same Key System" is designed to unlock all your Yakima products with one key.

The NX 18 is user-friendly, with dual-side opening and inner tie-down points. It's sleek design and high-gloss finish make it good looking, which can't be said for all rooftop carriers on the market. The installation is simple with a simple knob system that secures into the roof rack's tracks. All these details add up to a superior rooftop carrier experience.

Thule Force XT XL

One of the most trusted brands in rooftop storage, Thule's extra-large cargo carrier is also aerodynamic and easy to use. GHI testers were able to load seven pairs of skis into the Force XT XL and, even at high speeds with a full load, wind noise and drag were minimal.

GHI testers were impressed by the usability of Thule's quick-mount system with its intuitive "PowerClick" design that makes an audible clicking sound when the carrier is properly secured. One tester noted that she needed to add wingbars to her Volvo XC90 in order to mount the Thule, but said the process was easy.

JEGS Rooftop Cargo Carrier

If you're looking for an affordable rooftop pod without sacrificing functionality, you could do worse than JEGS. It's one of the largest-capacity cargo carriers on this list—it's also one of the deepest and, therefore, boxiest—and features much of the functionality of pricier options, such as dual-sided access and a watertight design. GHI engineers noted that the lightweight construction may not hold up as well as some other boxes, but it definitely provides more protection than a soft-sided cargo bag. The squat, boxy design isn't ideal for long items such as skis and golf clubs, but it's perfect for suitcases, camping gear, and more.

Notably, the U-bolt mounting system requires your crossbars to be exactly 24 inches apart, which may require an additional aftermarket crossbar (or some clever jury-rigging on your part). Still, if you want rooftop storage and a soft cargo bag won't cut it, this is a solid rooftop box.

Inno Wedge 660

Looking to transport skis, snowboards, or other long and thin items? This is the rooftop cargo carrier for you. It rises just 9.6 inches above the roof rack, limiting cargo space to 11 cubic feet (enough for six to eight skis or four snowboards) but making it ideal for parking in a short garage or carport.

The Wedge has a great design. It's one of the priciest cargo boxes on this list, although not by much.

RoofBag

If you're not sold on a hard-shell cargo box, the RoofBag offers an affordable, versatile—albeit temporary—solution. Available in four sizes from 13 to 34 cubic feet, this U.S.-made cargo bag is waterproof and tear-resistant, with triple heat-sealed seams (no stitching) and a 3-inch flap to protect the zipper.

It's simple to install on any large car or SUV, with or without roof racks. And it costs hundreds less than the other cargo pods on this list. That said, we're not convinced we'd trust anything valuable inside it to not get wet or accidentally damaged.