Top 5 best car roof boxes in 2021 – best roof boxes tested

In this article, Techzle recommends to you and reviews 5 best roof boxes for cars in 2021. These are the best roof boxes we’ve testesd.

Top 5 best car roof boxes in 2021 – best roof boxes tested

Going on holiday with the whole family by car is wonderful. But if it turns out that after packing the car there is no room for the children anymore, you have a problem.

Fortunately, that is quick and easy to remedy by purchasing a roof box. But which? What is the best roof box in 2021? In this informative article, we discuss the top 5 best roof boxes of the moment.

Our top 5 best roof boxes in 2021

#Fashion modelPrice (from)Why so good?
1Hapro Traxer 8.6€ 327Very spacious and practical in all areas
2Thule Ocean 200€ 225Very good ski suitcase for little money
3Hapro Roady 350€ 158Solid and complete model
4Thule Dynamic 900€ 721A highlight on every roof
5Twinny Load RST€ 290Nice and functional

The benefits of a box on car roof

With a roof box to vacation

With a roof box, either a ski box or a suitcase on the roof, you simply have much more room to store things. Roof boxes are nowadays very easy to attach (with a few simple clicks). You do need roof racks for this, just like for bicycle racks .

Especially when you go on holiday with the children and want to take a lot of things with you, such a suitcase on the roof is super handy. First of all, you prevent the wrapping of the car from feeling like a game of tetris.

Secondly, everyone can sit comfortably in the car this way, without the children and mothers having to sit for hours with bags on their lap.

Thirdly, it is also a lot safer to transport extra luggage in a roof box instead of completely loading the luggage compartment until the rear-view mirror only shows suitcases (and they fly into the neck of your children when braking).

The active traveler can also benefit enormously from such a box on the roof. It’s not for nothing that they are also called ski cases: you can easily put your winter sports equipment in it. Or what about a kite surfing equipment, walking sticks or a pair of paddles for your canoe.

What types of roof boxes are there?

In principle there are two types of roof boxes: hard, made of plastic and soft, made of waterproof fabric. Now the latter type is very much in the category ‘cheap dredger’ and we will of course not pay attention to that in our article about the best suitcases for the roof.

The high-quality plastic variant is available in all sizes and colors. In terms of shape, a distinction is still made between the ski box and the luggage box. The ski box is a bit longer and in principle manufactured to go on a skiing holiday. The luggage box is a lot wider and therefore more square in shape. You can also use a ski box perfectly during the summer holidays, but you will then have slightly less space than with a luggage box.

What did we look at in our roof box test?

Which criteria must such a suitcase meet in order to be in our top 5? In our assessment, we mainly looked at the following benefits and strengths:

  • Aerodynamics: Such a suitcase on your car causes extra air resistance, which has a negative influence on the performance of your car. Moreover, this will increase your fuel consumption. A more aerodynamic model has a minimal air resistance and therefore a minimal effect on driving performance.
  • The length: A longer box is handy and can hold more.
  • The width: For some cars, a long box is less suitable. That is why width is very important here.
  • Comfort: All boxes sold in the Netherlands and Belgium have been extensively tested and meet the strictest safety requirements. Yet they can sometimes chatter, which is therefore not unsafe, but especially irritating. In addition, some boxes are a lot easier to attach than others. We also looked at how practical the suitcases are.
  • Price: It is not intended that such a suitcase is more expensive than your car itself. After all, we prefer to buy our stuff as cheaply as possible. That is why we also looked at the asking price of the models.

Information about the top 5 suitcases for the roof

Would you like more information about our top 5 best roof boxes in 2021? You can read all about them below.

1. Hapro Traxer 8.6

best roof box Hapro Traxer 8.6

The Hapro Traxer is a very luxurious and very spacious roof box. The volume is no less than 530 liters, which means that (in terms of volume) almost as much can be put in as in most trunk cases. The Traxer from Hapro is very easy to attach to the roof by means of an ingenious click system. Also very handy: this case has a double-sided opening. This way you can easily access your luggage from any side. The Traxer is not suitable for every car. The maximum capacity is 75 kg and the box itself also weighs 21.5 kg. Not for delicate roofs!

2. Thule Ocean 200 roof box

best roof box in 2019

The Ocean 200 from the Thule brand is a very solid and spacious luggage box for the roof. It is relatively cheap with an asking price of 225 euros. In addition, it still offers 390 liters of space and is nevertheless only 175 cm long. As a result, it fits almost any car roof. A great ski suitcase!

3. Hapro roof box Roady 350

best roof box in 2019

Despite its very competitive price, the Roady 350 is equipped with all the convenience that we also encounter with the more expensive suitcases: a simple assembly and a very large content. However, the case is less aerodynamic and can only be opened on one side. But also TUV certified very safe!

4. Thule Dynamic 900

Top roof box in 2019

The Dynamic 900 is available in two variants: in black and in a titanium version. Whichever version you choose: this model is a piece of jewelery for your roof. And also practical: high aerodynamics, 430 liters of space, a length of 235 cm and lots of useful gadgets, such as a spring system that can be used to open the case from two sides. Magnificent!

5. Twinny Load RST

top roof box 2019

Wonderful to look at and a pleasure to use: the stunningly shiny Twinny Load RST provides you with no less than 430 liters of extra luggage space. Thanks to the unique quick-release fastener, you can attach the case to your roof in no time. The spacious opening on the right is very handy, so that you can reach everything immediately. The aerodynamic design ensures minimal air resistance on the highway.

Choose the best roof box step by step

Now that we have shown you all the good roof boxes of this moment, it is time to make a choice. How do you do that? To choose the roof box that best suits your car and situation, it is best to work step by step.

Step 1: Determine the format that you need

The reason that you want to purchase a roof box is most likely a lack of space in your car or the safe transport of sports equipment. Then it is nice if everything fits in the suitcase on the roof.

Keep in mind the following: try to keep the roof box as light as possible. Too much weight on the roof will raise the center of gravity of your car, which can deteriorate the handling of your car. So preferably choose a model that is as compact as possible.

Step 2: Determine the maximum length

If you want to take skis on holiday, it is important that they fit in the suitcase. However, it is even more important to ensure that the case is not too long for your roof. You must take into account two things.

Firstly, the case must not protrude further than 30 to 40 centimeters from the front of the roof. Secondly, it is important that the tailgate can still be opened. So take your tape measure and measure your roof. In general, suitcases that are no longer than 160 centimeters fit any car.

Step 3: Check the maximum roof load and load capacity of your roof racks

You are not waiting for a too heavy suitcase that causes your roof to sag. You will find the ‘maximum roof load’ in the specifications of your car. This indicates the maximum number of kilograms you can attach to the roof. Please note that for this you must add the weight of the suitcase with the luggage that goes in it.

Step 4: Determine your budget

Roof boxes are available in every size for different prices. For example, there are also high-gloss suitcases that look incredibly nice, but with some extra costs. There are also cases that can be opened on multiple sides or that are very easier to assemble, but which are also more expensive.

Step 5: Choose the perfect roof box

Now that you have completed all the steps, you know the best roof box from our list, then you have no choice but to go to the store and choose the perfect roof box for you and your car. Good luck! If you can’t get out now? Our team at Techzle is always ready to answer all your questions.

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