Head-to-head · Best Roof Cargo Boxes

Yakima RocketBox Pro 14 vs Yakima SkyBox NX XL

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Yakima SkyBox NX XL comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.0 vs 3.8). Yakima SkyBox NX XL is best for: Buyers who want maximum usable volume and a stiff, durable shell without paying Thule's premium. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #5 in Best Roof Cargo Boxes

Yakima RocketBox Pro 14

3.8

3 sources$599as of Oct 10

Budget all-rounder duty goes to the RocketBox Pro 14: 14 cubic feet, DualSide opening, tool-free clamps and the lowest weight here, for hundreds less than the big boxes. It is one of the smaller boxes in this lineup and rides on an older shell. Two or three travelers who want a quiet, easy box without overspending will find it the value champion.

Strengths

— 14 cu ft covers the gear needs of two to three people for a trip
— Easy to install and remove with tool-free mounting clamps
— Lightest box in this group at 40 lb, manageable for one person on lower roofs

Watch-outs

— Tall but narrow shape limits how wide individual items can be

$599 · Buy at racknroad.com Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Roof Cargo Boxes

Yakima SkyBox NX XL

4.0

2 sources$849as of Oct 10

At the top of the size chart, the SkyBox NX XL is the value pick. A flat floor, a taller nose that takes small bags and a stiff three-rib lid make its 18 cubic feet genuinely usable, and it costs less than Thule's comparable box. It is heavy, and a touch noisier with a sunroof open, but for the money it is the best all-rounder.

Strengths

— 18 cu ft of usable space, undercutting the comparable Thule boxes on price, per Better Trail
— Better Trail found the flat, flush interior floor lets large items slide in without snagging straps or ski edges
— Taller nose stores duffels and totes up front where space is usually wasted

Watch-outs

— Reviewers noted more wind noise with a sunroof open than some rivals
— At 53 lb it is the heaviest box here to lift onto the roof
— Mount is good but lacks the torque indicator of Thule's PowerClick

$849 · Buy at yakima.com Full review →

How they stack up

Yakima RocketBox Pro 14

The budget pick here at 14 cu ft, holding far less than the 18 cu ft Thule Motion 3 XL, Yakima SkyBox NX XL, and Thule Force 3 XL, though it is taller and roomier than the low-profile INNO Wedge 660. It keeps premium features like DualSide opening while undercutting all of them on price and weight.

Yakima SkyBox NX XL

Matches the Thule Motion 3 XL and Thule Force 3 XL at 18 cu ft while costing less than the Motion, making it the best-value large box. Its flat floor is roomier in practice than the boxes it competes with, and it dwarfs the budget Yakima RocketBox Pro 14 and the low-profile INNO Wedge 660.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Yakima RocketBox Pro 14	Yakima SkyBox NX XL
Capacity	14 cu ft (~396 L)	18 cu ft (~510 L)
External Dimensions	74 x 33 x 16 in	84 x 36 x 16.5 in
Weight	40 lb	53 lb
Mount Type	Universal clamp (StreamLine compatible)	Universal crossbar (StreamLine compatible)
Crossbar Spread	24-40 in	24-40 in
Opening	DualSide	DualSide
Locks	SKS included	SKS included
Capacity (people)	2-3 travelers	—
Material	Plastic	—
Shell	—	Three-rib lid, made in USA

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