17 Cu Ft RoofBag Rooftop Cargo Carrier, Waterproof Roof Cargo Carrier for Car with/Without Rack Cross Bar Including Strong Nylon Straps + Storage Bag

I've had this rooftop carrier for a few weeks now. Overall satisfied, though there's plenty of room for improvement. I've taken it on about 3 trips now, totaling nearly 4,000 miles. Background information: I have the 11 cubic foot (small) versus the 15 cubic foot (large) version. I was thinking of getting the large one until another reviewer posted how much it fit and I realized the 15 would be too big. This really has a rather huge capacity and I find that I have to add a decent number of towels to "fill out" the included bags. I mainly use it for medium sized trips with gear for sporting events. It does very well with some room to spare. If you have a bigger family, or take longer trips, the 15 would be better.I STRONGLY recommend getting the package with the included bags. They are amazing, easy to fill, easy to load, and help maximize the interior space. You can use other luggage, but it just wasn't convenient. The bags do not feel very sturdy, but so far I've had not problems with them. They are easy to load and unload, and the carry straps makes it easy to carry around once you've reached your destination.Another important detail is that I use this on a minivan with cross rails.PROS:*Plenty of room for luggage.*Sets up fairly easily, even high up on the minivan.*No issues with keeping it secure. Mounts easily to the cross rails and holds tight for long trips.*Haven't had the issues with noise some people complain about, even going 75 on the highway. I do secure the loose ends of the straps.*Weatherproof: Three legs of my trips have encountered hours of heavy rain and strong wind on the highway. My bags have strayed dry all times.*The bag has caused no damage to my roof or paint. I use the included anti-slip mat.*Roof bag rolls up and fits easily in to the storage bag. I've had other items (tents, sleeping bags, etc) where getting the item back in the storage bag is a hassle. This one is pretty easy to use.CONS:*One of the zipper grips broke the first time I used the bag. Concerned about the longevity of it.*Not easy to load, and will be a problem for many people. I'm 6' and fairly strong. Getting the luggage bags in the roof bag requires muscle and height. Same for unloading them and strapping the bag down.*The instructions recommend unzipping the bag all the way around to load luggage. I wouldn't be able to do this without a ladder, and can only reach the bag my opening the side doors and standing in the car. Without a ladder you can only unzip one side and force the bags in from there.NEITHER PRO NOR CON:The straps are a bit off to the side. I haven't had issues with it coming loose, but you have to have the storage bags FULLY loaded for the straps to hold it right. On one hand, it makes it easier to reach the straps. On the other, if they were a little more towards the middle I feel it would hold the bag down a little better without worrying about stuffing the inner bags to full capacity. The straps themselves are a bit long, so you have to really work with the loose ends a bit to keep them from flapping around. I guess this makes it more versatile in terms of different vehicles, so I can't really hold it against them.Overall, for the price, it's a very good deal. I haven't used any other roof bags to compare this too, but I'd recommend it for anyone looking for extra storage without the cost of a hard top. I will probably come back with an update if it doesn't hold up to time.

Bottom line: I highly recommend this roof bag. It gave us a simple solution for our major move this summer and worked well in all sorts of conditions.Our situation: We relocated this summer and had to find a way to transport 7 large suitcases/duffel bags, 3 carry-on suitcases, 3 backpacks, and other odds and ends in our 2015 Honda CR-V, along with 3 people. Our CR-V doesn't have a roof rack or a hitch. I searched online, found this roof bag with good reviews, and decided to try the large version (size 17). I actually bought two, but didn't end up needing the second one for our other vehicle.Unboxing: All the materials and zippers appeared to be strong and gave the impression they should last a while (and they have). The box included clear instructions on how to and how not to install the bag, along with a note from customer service to contact them for help if needed. It also included all of the straps we needed, a protective mat for the roof, and 3 large, lightweight duffle bags. Those bags aren't essential, but they have been helpful for organizing various items. Note that they don't come with every order.Our experience: At first I thought I should have ordered a smaller bag, but as soon as I started putting suitcases inside, I was really glad I got the large. It was the perfect size for our CR-V. We drove over 2,700 miles this summer and the bag experienced all sorts of weather, including blistering sun with 100+ degree temps, multiple storms (some with rain so hard we could barely see), and a steady state of battering wind from driving thousands of miles at highway speed. Not once did we find any leaks, tears, or other damage to the bag.Things to keep in mind:1) Obviously with any removable roof bag, you have to find ways to secure it when you are at hotels, rest stops, etc. This isn't a major negative, it's just something to be aware of when you don't have a permanently attached, hard plastic, lockable roof case. Some people left their soft roof bags on top of their cars at hotels at night, and we did too sometimes. Most of the time we took our suitcases down and put the bag in the car. My teenage son and I found it to be a fairly quick and simple process to uninstall and reinstall the roof bag. We also put a small padlock on the zippers whenever the bag was installed. I know, anyone could come by with a knife and slice open the bag, but at least we made it a little harder to steal things.2) Our gas mileage went down a little, but the instructions tell you how to minimize that.3) Sometimes the roof mat or straps can flap in the wind and make noise, but those are easy things to fix by following the instructions or just pulling over and securing anything that was loose.We saw other roof bags on cars this summer, and some definitely did not look as strong as others. I was always grateful for the one we had.