If you require a quick answer, the best roof bag is the Sailnovo 20, which provides ample room for all your belongings with 566 litres of space and it also offers great value for the money too. However, if you have roof racks installed, the Thule Ranger Foldaway is a great option that’s built to the highest of standards and is backed by a reputable brand.
To rate the roof bags within this article, we based our recommendations on testing, plenty of research and a number of factors. Some of the factors that we took into consideration included the storage space, size, ease of installation, compatibility, construction, supplied accessories, warranty and value for money.
Best Roof Bag Overview
- Best Overall: Sailnovo 20
- Best All Rounder: BougeRV Rooftop
- Best Quality: Fischer 126000
- Best For Storing: Thule Ranger Foldaway
- Best Value: HandiHoldall Large
- Best Small: MHO+ALL
Although a car roof box can securely store all your belongings, they can be difficult to store and are also much more expensive. However, a roof bag is the best alternative because it holds just as much but is able to fold down for storage.
Below is a list of the best car roof bags that are completely weatherproof and available in a variety of sizes.
The Best Roof Bags
1. Best Overall: Sailnovo 20 Car Roof Bag
By far the most popular car roof bag on the market is the Sailnovo 20 and it’s able to carry a huge 20 cubic feet of luggage. According to the brand, its construction is able to protect against grit, sun, wind, snow, rain and other debris. This protection is made possible by the 600D waterproof construction that also features oversized zippers.
- Compatible with all vehicles
- Can be used with or without roof racks
- 566 litres / 20 cubic feet of storage
- 51 x 39 x 17 inches in size
- Supplied with straps and a storage bag
- May seem difficult at first to install due to all the straps
To conclude, the Sailnovo 20 is the best car roof bag that ticks all the boxes and is available in several configurations to best suit your requirements. Whether you have roof racks installed or not, it’s easy to use and it won’t disappoint.
2. Best All Rounder: BougeRV Rooftop Cargo Carrier
The BougeRV Rooftop Carrier is a smaller alternative to the Sailnovo above that’s designed to be used with roof racks. It comes as a complete kit that includes the bag itself, 8 reinforced straps, a roof mat and a storage bag.
This particular roof bag is the brand new and improved version, which now features thickened buckles as well as improved built-in hook and loop tape.
- 425 litres / 15 cubic feet of storage
- 38 x 38 x 18 inch in size
- Constructed of a 1000D polyester
- Heavy duty waterproof zippers
- Designed for use with racks
- Backed by a 1 year warranty
Overall, the BougeRV Rooftop Carrier is an excellent all-round option that combines affordability with superior build quality. As an added bonus, it’s also backed by a 12 month warranty for complete peace of mind too.
3. Best Quality: Fischer 126000 Foldable Roof Bag
Another popular and highly rated roof bag is the Fischer 126000, which offers 270 litres of storage space. It’s been built with durability in mind and features a sturdy metal structure for more ground stability. The bag itself is also made from a water repellent polyamide with fully taped seams for added protection.
- 270 litres / 9.5 cubic feet of storage space
- Easy tool-free installation
- 100 x 40 x 80 cm in size
- Max load capacity of 50 KG
- Zipped and fully taped seams
- Heavy duty adjustable straps
- Supplied with a storage bag
- Relatively expensive considering its size
Overall, the Fischer 126000 is a high quality roof bag that’s been built to last and will also work with the majority of roof bars. The only drawback is the premium price tag but the high quality construction is worth paying the extra for.
4. Best For Storing: Thule Ranger Foldaway Bag
Thule are a highly reputable brand in the UK and they produce some of the highest quality car accessories on the market. The Ranger Foldaway is a great example of this reputation and it has been built to the highest of standards. However, this particular bag does come at a cost, which means it’s only suitable for those with a large budget.
- 280 litres / 9.8 cubic feet of space
- 110 x 80 x 40 cm in size
- Easily folds away for storage
- Easy snap-on mounting system
- Waterproof construction with taped seams
- Sealed zipper with integrated lock
- Most expensive roof bag within our roundup
Although expensive, the Thule Ranger Foldaway is the ultimate car roof bag that’s been designed without compromise. It’s easy to install, folds down to a small size and is a great alternative to the brand’s roof boxes.
5. Best Value: HandiHoldall Large Car Roof Bag
If you are looking for an affordable car roof bag with plenty of space, the HandiHoldall is a great option that offers 11.65 cubic feet of storage. However, it’s important to note that this particular model is designed to be used with a set of roof bars because it comes with four integrated straps that wrap around the racks for stability.
- 330 litres/11.65 cubic feet of space
- 110 x 75 x 40 cm in size
- Folds down for easy storage
- Strong fibreglass poles integrated into the base
- Durable and 100% waterproof
- Max load capacity of 50 KG
- Unless its full, it doesn't hold its shape, which means it may flap around at motorway speeds
Overall, the HandiHoldAll Bag is a high quality yet affordable option that won’t disappoint. As long as you have roof bars installed upon your car, this bag takes just minutes to install ready for loading.
6. Best Small: MHO+ALL Rooftop Carrier Bag
One of the smallest car roof bags that offers just 8 cubic feet of storage and is compatible with all vehicles is the MHO+ALL bag. According to the brand, it has been built with durability in mind and this can be seen by the waterproof 600D construction. The roof bag also has all of the seams sewn to ensure maximum water resistance.
- Carries 8 cubic feet/220 litres
- 44 x 34 x 10 inch in size
- Heavy duty straps and buckles
- Sturdy side handles for easy carrying
- Use with or without rails
- Backed by a 24 month warranty
- Smaller size may be an issue for bulky items
Overall, the MHO+ALL is the perfect roof bag for your car if you only need to carry a small amount of luggage. It also has the benefit of being backed by a 24 month warranty for peace of mind too.
How We Rated
Depending upon the contents and destination, we often switch between using a car roof bag or box for long road trips.
As you can see in the image from a journey from Cardiff to Devon, we securely placed a bag onto the Mercedes’s roof and then passed the straps through the rear doors. However, there are plenty of alternative bags available that can be mounted in a number of different ways to best suit your requirements.
To keep up our commitment to reviewing and testing the latest car roof bags (for this article), we continually upgrade the bags each year. The most recent upgrade was the Thule bag and as you can see in the image, it securely ties down to the roof bars, which makes it much easier to install than our previous bag.
As well as our testing and experience of using multiple car roof bags, we also based our recommendations upon hours of research and a number of factors. Some of the factors that we considered included the storage space, size, ease of installation, compatibility, construction, supplied accessories, warranty and value for money.
Conclusion
Car roof bags are becoming increasingly more popular in the UK and for good reason too. Unlike the rigid box alternative, it’s much easier to store, which is important because it’s where it’ll stay for the majority of the year.
If you require further information with regards to the car roof bags within our roundup, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
