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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.

The short answer

Yakima SkyBox NX XL comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about Buyers who want maximum usable volume and a stiff, durable shell without paying Thule's premium. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Yakima RocketBox Pro 14
Ranked #5 in Best Roof Cargo Boxes
Yakima RocketBox Pro 14
$599

The RocketBox Pro 14 is the budget all-rounder: 14 cubic feet, DualSide opening, tool-free clamps, and the lowest weight here, for hundreds less than the big boxes. It is the smallest in this lineup and uses an older shell, but for two or three travelers who want a quiet, easy box without overspending, it is the value champion.

Strengths
  • — Lowest price here while keeping premium features like DualSide opening
  • — 14 cu ft covers the gear needs of two to three people for a trip
  • — Quiet at speed with users reporting only about 1 mpg fuel penalty
Watch-outs
  • — 14 cu ft is the smallest capacity here, tight for a family of four
  • — Older shell design lacks the stiff multi-rib lids of the NX boxes
  • — Tall but narrow shape limits how wide individual items can be
$599 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Yakima SkyBox NX XL
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Roof Cargo Boxes
Yakima SkyBox NX XL
$849as of Jun 8

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

Strengths
  • — 18 cu ft of usable space, undercutting the comparable Thule boxes on price
  • — 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.comFull 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

SpecYakima RocketBox Pro 14Yakima SkyBox NX XL
Capacity14 cu ft (~396 L)18 cu ft (~510 L)
External Dimensions74 x 33 x 16 in84 x 36 x 16.5 in
Weight40 lb53 lb
Mount TypeUniversal clamp (StreamLine compatible)Universal crossbar (StreamLine compatible)
Crossbar Spread24-40 in24-40 in
OpeningDualSideDualSide
LocksSKS includedSKS included
Capacity (people)2-3 travelers—
Shell—Three-rib lid, made in USA
← See the full ranking of best roof cargo boxes