Roofboxes Test

February 2009

Downsizing your car makes sense financially and environmentally. But when you’re going on holiday, you’ll be cursing the day you switched to a smaller model – because you still have the same amount of luggage to carry.

A roofbox is the answer, and there’s now a product to suit every taste and budget. Thule’s Excellence sets new standards at the premium end of the market, while Kamei – the firm behind our reigning roofbox champ, the Corvara (Issue 998) – has now entered the budget sector. Makers have even branched out into the easy-to-store ‘softboxes’, with Thule’s Ranger included here.

So which is the box to turn your car from a cheap-to-run daily commuter into your holiday home from home? We load up 10 top products to find out.

The Test

it’s not what you’ve got but how you use it – the roofboxes in our test offered a variety of capacities, yet the shape of the luggage area is just as important as its volume. So we tried to pack each one with large and small suitcases, as well as a rolled up sleeping bag, a rucksack and a big camera case.

Extra points were awarded for easy fixing to roof bars, via fast-fit fasteners, while lids that opened on both sides were preferred, as loading is simpler.

We also liked locks that latched individually to make it easy to shut a lid when a box was full of soft gear.

Verdict

Kamei takes the honours again with a one-two. The Best Buy Corvara 390K has plenty of features, maximises capacity and is a joy to use thanks to dual-sided opening. Plus, it has the best locking system we’ve seen. The second-placed Delphin is bigger, cheaper and as well made, but let down by its single-sided lid.

Thule’s Range 90 is the only softbox here, and takes the final podium place. It’s a realistic, user-friendly and easy-to-store alternative to a conventional box.

Top 3

1. Kamei Corvara 390K Duolift
2. Kamei Delphin 470
3. Thule Ranger 90

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