Best rooftop Hard Shell Car Top Carrier for SUV

Our pick

Thule Pulse Cargo Box

Durable ABS material for a long lasting service.
Secure Lock keeps your stuff safe.
It fits most factory racks.
Single-side opening for safety and to prevent accidents.
Easy to assemble and attach to the racks.
Available in different sizes.

Some users complain that it is not entirely watertight at the top.

This hard shell car top carrier is easy to assemble and also very durable to make it an excellent choice for regular use.

Thule Sonic Cargo Box

It is a weather-resistant cargo box.
Secure locking system helps to keep your cargo safe.
Easy to attach to the vehicle.
It opens from both sides and remains open for easy loading.
Aerodynamic for quiet cruising and minimal effect on your gas mileage.

It is a little big for some vehicles and storing it can also be a problem.

One of the best aerodynamic cargo boxes and it will not hurt your mileage and is also silent enough.

Lightweight

Yakima SkyBox Carbonite

Large enough for all your gear.
Works well for skis that are up to 180 cm long.
It is also available in various sizes.
The integrated SKS Lock System is very secure.
This cargo box has a sharp and appealing aerodynamic shape and look.
The quick-release hardware will fit most crossbars.

The clearance for loading is still not big enough.

An excellent cargo box for someone that is worried about adding too much weight to the vehicle as it is very lightweight.

Most Convenient

Thule Motion XT Cargo Carrier

Easy to mount.
Optimized space saving and aerodynamic design.
Torque indicators ensure fast and secure fitting.
Forward positioning ensures that you still get full trunk access.
Outer handles make it easy to open and close.
You get to choose from two colors.

It is an expensive car top cargo carrier.

A very secure and convenient cargo box that ensures that you still maintain full access to the back of the vehicle.

Best for Skis

SPORTRACK SR7095 Skyline Cargo Box

High-density material for extra stability.
Passenger side opening provides easy access away from the traffic.
Quick and easy to mount and remove from the vehicle.
U-bolt mounting kit will help you install it in most factory and aftermarket roof racks.
It has locks to keep your gear secure in the box.

Although it is easy to mount on the vehicle, you will first need to do a lot of assembling

One of the most durable cargo boxes in the market thanks to the high-density materials.

If you like going for outdoor excursions or just travel a lot with your family, you will know that storage space in your car is never enough. In many instances, you even have to leave behind some things since you do not want to waste fuel and time pulling a trailer. But, there is another convenient option which is buying a hard shell car top carrier.

Hard car top carriers are a secure, durable and convenient way of hauling luggage on your vehicle. They feature a hard outer shell, and most will comes in an aerodynamic shape to keep the wind noise low and also to make them more practical. But choosing the right one from the many models and brands out there can be hectic.

In this piece, we review some of the best hard shell car top carriers and provide a buyer's guide to make it easy for you to pick one.

Our Pick

Thule Pulse Cargo Box by Thule

Our pick

Pros

Durable ABS material for a long lasting service.
Secure Lock keeps your stuff safe.
It fits most factory racks.
Single-side opening for safety and to prevent accidents.
Easy to assemble and attach to the racks.
Available in different sizes.

Cons

Some users complain that it is not entirely watertight at the top.

It is a little big for some vehicles and storing it can also be a problem.

Thule Pulse Cargo box does not make it to the top of our list by chance as it is none of the best selling cargo boxes. It features a durable ABS material that makes it very long lasting, and it also has a secure lock to keep your things safe. Assembling and mounting it on your car is easy and quick, and it will fit most factory racks.

This hard shell car top carrier is easy to assemble and also very durable to make it an excellent choice for regular use.

You know what’s the most important feature of Thule Pulse Cargo Box? One customer wrote details about this on Amazon. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

Also Great

Thule Sonic Cargo Box by Thule

Pros

It is a weather-resistant cargo box.
Secure locking system helps to keep your cargo safe.
Easy to attach to the vehicle.
It opens from both sides and remains open for easy loading.
Aerodynamic for quiet cruising and minimal effect on your gas mileage.

Cons

The clearance for loading is still not big enough.

Here is another excellent cargo box from Thule that will make traveling easy for you as it provides a lot of storage space. It is one of the best aerodynamic cargo boxes, and so you will not have to worry about your gas mileage and noise. And it also has a secure locking system, is weather-resistant and opens on both sides for convenient loading and unloading.

One of the best aerodynamic cargo boxes and it will not hurt your mileage and is also silent enough.

You know what’s the most important feature of Thule Sonic Cargo Box? One customer wrote details about this on Amazon. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

Yakima SkyBox Carbonite by Yakima

Lightweight

Pros

Large enough for all your gear.
Works well for skis that are up to 180 cm long.
It is also available in various sizes.
The integrated SKS Lock System is very secure.
This cargo box has a sharp and appealing aerodynamic shape and look.
The quick-release hardware will fit most crossbars.

Cons

It is an expensive car top cargo carrier.

Whether you want to carry some skis or the usual travel gear, this cargo box will work for you. It comes in four different sizes, and with a quick release mounting hardware to make it easy to mount, and it will fit most crossbars. Also, it is a weather-resistant cargo box that also comes with an integrated SKS Lock System.

An excellent cargo box for someone that is worried about adding too much weight to the vehicle as it is very lightweight.

You know what’s the most important feature of Yakima SkyBox Carbonite? One customer wrote details about this on Amazon. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

Thule Motion XT Cargo Carrier by Thule

Most Convenient

Pros

Easy to mount.
Optimized space saving and aerodynamic design.
Torque indicators ensure fast and secure fitting.
Forward positioning ensures that you still get full trunk access.
Outer handles make it easy to open and close.
You get to choose from two colors.

Cons

Although it is easy to mount on the vehicle, you will first need to do a lot of assembling

If looks are a key priority for you when buying a hard shell car top carrier, the Thule Motion XT will be an excellent choice as it is available in two fantastic colors which are glossy black and glossy Titan. This cargo box comes in three sizes to ensure it fits a variety of vehicles and it features an optimized and space-saving aerodynamic design, torque indicators and the Secure SideLock System

A very secure and convenient cargo box that ensures that you still maintain full access to the back of the vehicle.

You know what’s the most important feature of Thule Motion XT Cargo Carrier? One customer wrote details about this on Amazon. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

SPORTRACK SR7095 Skyline Cargo Box by SPORTRACK

Best for Skis

Pros

High-density material for extra stability.
Passenger side opening provides easy access away from the traffic.
Quick and easy to mount and remove from the vehicle.
U-bolt mounting kit will help you install it in most factory and aftermarket roof racks.
It has locks to keep your gear secure in the box.

Cons