For this post, I have put together a collection of the best car roof bags. Or enter your number plate/car model here and see what fits your vehicle. See my top picks for all car roof storage.
Our Top Picks
- Best Large: Namotu Cargo Bag (425 Litres)
- Best Value Large: Auperto Car Roof Bag (528 Litres)
- Best Value XL: Amazon Basics Car Roof Cargo Bag (425 Litres)
- Best Thule: Thule Ranger 90 Car Roof Bag (280 Litres)
How We Selected
I’ve scoured the web looking at dozens of roof bags and have included only those with a minimum of four stars.
Roof bags are generally a less costly option than a roof box and you will find ones for all budgets.
I have shortlisted different sized roof bags to cater for anything from single travelers to large families and big vehicles.
You’ll also get a good idea of the weight capacity for each bag.
I’ve also gone into detail about what we like and don’t like about each product.
I’ve picked ones with a range of features such as how good the security is.
After the product round ups I’ve added helpful guidance on what to consider when choosing the right roof bag for you and the key differences between a roof box vs roof bag.
What Size Car Roof Bag Do I Need?
Click here to enter your car registration or the vehicle make and model to get one that will be a perfect fit:
Car roof bags (or roof cargo bag) are a popular choice because in comparison to roof boxes (with roof bars) they can cost far less plus they also can be compacted down to take up less storage space.
Related: See my guide on how to choose the best roof box or roof rack.
So here is my list of the the best car roof bags you can buy in the UK.
Namotu Cargo Bag (425 Litres)
- Bestselling, excellent all rounder with a good capacity and no roof rack requirement.
- Capacity: 425 Litres.
- Pros: Good value, buyers report it doesn’t move one centimetre!, is totally waterproof.
- Cons: Slight issue some report is straps make a small buzzing noise if its windy.
- Consumer Score: From 86 ratings, a massive 73% of buyers give it 5 stars.
- Reviewers love that its totally waterproof and that it folds down small for storage.
- To give you an idea (and this will depend on your max roof weight!) fitted large family air tent and porch, 4 sleeping bags, 2 bed mats, and 3 large rucksacks into it (80kgs, my roof weight max.
Thule Ranger 90 Foldaway Car Roof Bag (280 Litres)
- Thule is the market leader for roof boxes and this is their highly rated roof bag.
- Premium brand so it’s very much on the higher price bracket but exceptional quality.
- Requires roof bars – does not fit directly onto the roof.
- Capacity: 280 Litres.
- Pros: Great for storing, packs away well. It looks better than most roof bags which you’d expect from Thule.
- Cons: Thule products are trusted but pricey! Requires roof bars. You do get more wind noise and drag than a roof box but applies to most roof bags.
- Consumer Score: Very good reviews. From 317 ratings, 73% give it 5 stars.
- Customers love the tough construction and that it folds down to a small size for easy storage.
- Retailers:
Auperto Car Roof Bag (528 Litres)
- Enormous capacity roof bag suitable with/without roof racks.
- Capacity: 538 Litres (19 Cubic Feet)
- Pros: Comes with anti slip mat, most buyers say it’s extremely stable and waterproof.
- Cons: Ensuring all the straps and buckles are in place takes time but it’s worth it!
- Consumer Score: Fantastic reviews. 74% of buyers gave this 5 stars.
- Buyers love the huge capacity – perfect for big families!
Amazon Basics Car Roof Cargo Bag (425 Litres)
- Amazon produce low cost variations of popular products in their Amazon Basics range.
- This is a very popular car roof bag and scores well on reviews.
- Capacity: 425 Litres.
- Requires a roof rack and and comes with 8 cinch straps.
- Pros: Excellent value for money, easy to use, loads of room.
- Cons: Face the zip to the back of the car otherwise you may get water in! It is huge so you need to fill it otherwise it’s harder strap down and more likely to move. Anti slip mat would help.
- Consumer Score: From 3,553 ratings, 67% give it 5 stars and it receives an average of 4.4 out of 5.
- This holds a lot! To give you an idea, one reviewer transported four people’s clothing, four sleeping bags, a huge carpet, two double air mattresses, four folding chairs, a pop up beach shelter, two big rolls of kitchen towel and still had room for more.
Fischer 126000 Roof Bag (270 Litres)
- If you’re not looking for a huge amount of storage space, this is a solid, water resistant durable option.
- Capacity: 270 Litres.
- Max load capacity of 50kg – approximately 2-3 medium bags and a couple of sleeping bags.
- Pros: It’s a solid roof bag for the price.
- Cons: Fasteners take a while to align with each other.
- Consumer Score: Good reviews. From 108 ratings, 74% of buyers give it 4 stars or more.
Roof Bag Sale & Today’s Bestsellers
Differences Between a Roof Bag and Roof Box
Car Roof Box
Car roof boxes are secure and and usually include a locking system so you can ensure your valuables are safe if you have to leave your vehicle.
The strong, hard shell adds an additional layer of protection.
This casing also goes a long way to protect your belongings from harsh weather conditions and moisture.
When you’re on the road you can think of your roof box as an additional car boot, with your contents protected from impact.
Car Roof Bag
The big advantage of a car roof bag is storage.
They take up a lot less than a car roof box as they can be folded and stored away without taking up much room.
You will also find most roof bags are far easier to install than roof boxes. For the majority of roof bags you don’t need to install a roof rack to mount it.
Roof bags are generally much cheaper than a roof box – in addition you don’t need to outlay on a roof rack for the mounting.
Bags are generally more versatile for housing any oddly shaped items.
Although car roof bags are by nature not as weatherproof, many current ones do offer a good degree of protection against the elements.
The same can also be said of security – many of them now have excellent features to ward off any unwanted attention!
Let’s summarise those key differences:
Roof Box Vs Roof Bag
Space Capacity
They offer a very similar volume capacity of space for your belongings with roof boxes shading it.
Security
Roof boxes offer enhanced security due to their hard shell. Although roof bags have improved greatly with security features they can still be accessed with a knife for example.
Storage Size
Roof bags are advantageous here if you are short on space or don’t have a garage. They can be folded up and tucked away in a tiny space.
Some people who have a roof box leave it on the car but two things to mention: they greatly increase fuel consumption and might be a problem with low bridges (depending where you live!)
Price
If you have a budget on the smaller side then roof bags are generally the best option.
Of course you can find some roof bags that are cost more than roof boxes and vice versa but generally the bags can save you money.
I hope this list of the best car roof bags was helpful.
If you think I left any out that should be included or have a suggestion for a future article, let me know in the comments below.
Dominic
Last Updated: January 2022
- Added What We Like and What We Don’t Like to all products
- Updated all rating & review scores.
- Updated shortlisted category top picks.
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