If you’ve ever played trunk-Tetris at a trailhead with soggy boots, camping chairs, a half-squished cooler, and that one rogue tennis ball rolling around since 2019… yeah, you get it. The Subaru Outback might be a champ at hauling gear, dogs, and weekend dreams – but even it hits a limit. That’s where rooftop cargo boxes come in. Not as an accessory, but as salvation for folks who refuse to pack light and aren’t ready to leave behind the camp stove or the inflatable kayak.
Now, picking the right rooftop box? That’s where things get weirdly personal. Some folks swear by low-profile ones that look like stealth jets, others want tall boxes that could smuggle an upright bass. But here’s the kicker- not all cargo boxes play nice with the Outback’s rails and clearance quirks. You pick wrong, and suddenly you’re whacking your garage door every time you reverse in. So let’s unpack five of the best boxes that’ll actually work with your Outback – and not make you wish you’d just shipped your luggage instead.
Best 5 Roof Top Cargo Boxes for Subaru Outback
01. Yakima CBX 16 Aerodynamic Rooftop Cargo Box
The Yakima CBX 16 Aerodynamic Rooftop Cargo Box is a premium cargo solution built for both style and performance. With a 16-cubic-foot capacity, it offers ample space for carrying suitcases, camping gear, skis, snowboards (up to 185 cm), or bulky outdoor equipment. Designed with rugged angular lines and a stealthy matte black finish, the CBX 16 not only looks modern but also complements the aesthetic of high-end SUVs and crossovers.
Constructed from durable, weather-resistant ABS material, it features dual-sided opening for convenient access from either side of the vehicle, and Yakima’s SuperLatch™ system ensures the lid is securely closed every time. It also includes integrated SKS locks for added theft protection and uses a universal mounting system compatible with most crossbars (round, square, aerodynamic, and factory). Though a bit pricier than basic boxes, the CBX 16 is ideal for those who value sleek design, reliable durability, and quiet highway travel.
✅ Pros
- 16 cu. ft. capacity – ideal for extended trips or winter gear
- Dual-side opening with SuperLatch™ for secure, easy access
- Modern, angular design with matte black finish
- Compatible with most crossbars and includes integrated SKS locks
- Quiet ride thanks to aerodynamic shape
❌ Cons
- Higher price point than standard cargo boxes
- Bulky – may require two people to install safely
- May slightly impact fuel efficiency on smaller vehicles
02. Thule 615 Pulse Rack
The Thule 615 Pulse Rack (Large) is a durable and dependable rooftop cargo box designed for families, outdoor enthusiasts, or travelers who need extra storage space without compromising reliability. With a 16 cubic foot capacity, it provides plenty of room for luggage, camping gear, skis (up to 181 cm), or snowboards, making it a great companion for both summer road trips and winter getaways.
Built from impact-resistant ABS thermoplastic, the Pulse is tough enough to handle weather, UV rays, and highway abuse. It features a passenger-side opening for safe curbside access and uses Thule’s Easy-Grip mounting hardware, which allows for fast, tool-free installation on most round, square, aerodynamic, or factory crossbars. It also comes with a central locking system and key, ensuring your gear stays secure.
✅ Pros
- 16 cu. ft. storage capacity – great for families or gear-heavy trips
- Durable, impact-resistant ABS construction
- Easy-Grip tool-free mounting fits most crossbar styles
- Central locking system for security
- Sleek low-profile design reduces wind resistance
❌ Cons
- Single-side (passenger) access only
- Not as aerodynamic or stylish as newer models like Thule Motion XT
- May require two people to mount due to size and bulk
03. SportRack Vista XL Rear Opening Cargo Box
The SportRack Vista XL Rear Opening Cargo Box is a durable, budget-friendly rooftop storage solution perfect for families, road-trippers, or outdoor enthusiasts needing extra cargo space. With a generous 18 cubic feet of capacity, it easily accommodates suitcases, camping gear, strollers, or sporting equipment, making it ideal for both weekend getaways and longer trips.
Constructed from UV-resistant ABS plastic, the Vista XL is designed to withstand the elements while keeping your gear safe and dry. It features a rear-opening design, which provides safe access from the back of the vehicle — away from traffic. The box includes a tool-free mounting system that fits most factory and aftermarket roof racks, and it comes with a built-in lock and key system for added security. While it doesn’t have dual-side access or premium aesthetics, it delivers solid functionality at a value price.
✅ Pros
- 18 cu. ft. capacity – holds large and bulky gear
- Durable UV-resistant ABS construction
- Rear-opening for safe curbside loading/unloading
- Tool-free mounting fits most crossbars
- Includes built-in lock and key
❌ Cons
- Rear-only access – less convenient in tight spaces
- Bulkier design may affect MPG on smaller vehicles
- Not as aerodynamic or stylish as higher-end models
04. DNA MOTORING Rooftop Cargo Box Carrier
The DNA MOTORING Rooftop Cargo Box Carrier (Model: PT-ZTL-8166-GSBK) is a practical and budget-conscious rooftop storage solution designed for sedans, SUVs, and crossovers equipped with factory or aftermarket roof crossbars. With a 16 cubic foot capacity, it offers ample space for storing luggage, sports equipment, camping gear, or extra travel bags, making it ideal for family road trips or long-distance hauling.
Made from high-density ABS plastic with a sleek gloss black finish, this cargo box is weather-resistant and UV-protected, helping keep your gear safe in various climates. It features a passenger-side opening for safe access and includes a secure lock-and-key system. The included mounting hardware fits most crossbars, and installation is fairly straightforward, though due to its size, two people may be needed to lift it into place.
✅ Pros
- 16 cu. ft. storage capacity – great for family trips and gear-heavy travel
- Gloss black ABS plastic shell – lightweight, waterproof, and UV-resistant
- Passenger-side opening for easy, safe curbside access
- Comes with lock-and-key system and universal mounting hardware
❌ Cons
- Only opens on one side — no dual-side access
- May not be as aerodynamic as high-end models
- Lock and latches could feel basic compared to premium brands
- Requires crossbars — not compatible with bare-roof vehicles
05. DuraLiner Rooftop Cargo Carrier
The DuraLiner Rooftop Cargo Carrier is a solid and weather-resistant storage solution for drivers looking to expand their vehicle’s cargo capacity for road trips, camping, or everyday use. With a 16 cubic foot capacity, it offers generous space for luggage, gear, strollers, or outdoor equipment, making it ideal for family vacations or long hauls.
Constructed from high-impact ABS plastic, the DuraLiner is both waterproof and UV-resistant, built to protect your belongings from rain, dust, and harsh sunlight. It features a sleek aerodynamic design to help reduce wind resistance and fuel consumption, and a passenger-side opening for safe, curbside access. The box installs easily onto most factory or aftermarket roof crossbars using the included tool-free mounting hardware, and it comes with an integrated locking system for added security.
✅ Pros
- 16 cu. ft. of storage – roomy enough for multi-day trips
- Made from durable, waterproof, UV-resistant ABS plastic
- Aerodynamic shape helps reduce drag and noise
- Includes tool-free mounting hardware and integrated lock
- Fits most vehicles with crossbars
❌ Cons
- Single-side access only (passenger side)
- May require two people to lift and install
- Not compatible with vehicles without crossbars
- Lock system is functional but may feel basic compared to high-end models
How to Choose the Roof Top Cargo Boxes for Subaru Outback
First off, if you’re thinking: “Eh, a box is a box,” then stop right here and go back to overpacking your trunk like you’re playing some cracked-out version of Tetris where the winner gets chronic back pain. Because no, roof boxes are not just, like, containers. They’re oddly personal. And weirdly stressful. Especially when it’s going on top of a Subaru Outback — that slightly rugged, kinda outdoorsy, but also suburban dad-ish chariot that drinks coffee black and listens to indie folk.
The Subaru Outback’s got that low-key SUV thing going, but also just enough roofline to make you question whether that extra-large Yakima SkyBox will scrape garage ceilings or turn your vehicle into a wheeled UFO. And don’t even get me started on gas mileage paranoia.
Length, Width, Girth… and, uh, Vibes?
Alright. So here’s the part where your brain tries to do math it hasn’t done since middle school. You’ll start measuring the roof. Then the box. Then your camping gear. Then your patience. Most cargo boxes are rated by volume, which sounds useful, but isn’t, because “18 cubic feet” doesn’t tell you if it’ll fit your godforsaken snowboard or your kid’s unnecessarily long pool noodle collection.
Also, they look bigger online. Don’t trust the photos. I ordered one that looked sleek and compact, like a little roof suitcase. It showed up looking like a baby coffin. I’m not joking.
So when choosing, think about what you haul the most. Is it soft stuff like duffels and tents? Or rigid stuff like skis, tripods, and broken dreams? Soft stuff squishes. Hard stuff doesn’t. That’s important.
Open from which side? Oh, both? Then why is it $300 more?
So some of these boxes open from the passenger side. Others from the driver side. And then there’s the fancy dual-side openers, which sound cool but cost an absurd amount more. Like, for a lid. That opens. On both sides. It’s still just hinges, isn’t it?
But, if you’re vertically challenged (like me), or if you live somewhere where people parallel park like psychopaths and space is tight, that dual-side access thing can save you from becoming a yoga contortionist every time you need to grab your raincoat or lantern or whatever it is that people pretend to need when they go camping.
I’m not saying you need dual-side opening, but I am saying I’ve cursed loudly in public because I didn’t have it.
Aerodynamics… aka: Will This Make My Subaru Sound Like a Jet Engine?
Here’s the deal. Any cargo box is going to mess with your fuel economy. Some will mess more than others. You’ll hear people say things like “it’s streamlined,” or “low-profile,” which basically just means it looks fast, but may or may not whistle like a tea kettle once you hit 65 mph.
Thule boxes — and yeah, I still don’t know how to pronounce that — are supposed to be quiet. Like, luxuriously quiet. But then again, I saw someone on Reddit say his Thule box screamed like a banshee in a wind tunnel. So who knows. It’s a coin toss.
And I swear, no matter how tight you latch it, the moment you drive down the highway, you’ll start thinking “Did I forget to tighten the clamp? Is it gonna blow off and kill someone behind me?” It’s a new kind of anxiety.
Mounting Systems: The Secret Pain No One Talks About
Let me be brutally honest. Putting one of these suckers on your roof for the first time feels like solving a riddle written by an angry Swedish engineer. There are U-bolts, quick-mount knobs, clamps, sliders — it’s like a weird IKEA kit for people with strong arms and low patience.
Make sure it fits your cross bars. Yeah, Outback usually has factory-installed rails, but even then… some boxes need extra adapters. Because of course they do. Why wouldn’t a plastic box need another $80 worth of parts?
And pro tip: do NOT install it during the summer at 2 PM in Phoenix unless you want to hallucinate and start talking to your car.
Security… or, “How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Trust a Plastic Lock”
You’d think locking mechanisms would be straightforward. I mean, you turn a key, it clicks, it stays shut. Right? Nope. Some of these things only let you pull the key out after it’s fully locked, which is great. Others let you remove the key even when it’s not fully latched. Guess how I learned that? Yep. Middle of a rainstorm in Oregon. Box popped open like a microwave, spat my shoes across the freeway.
So yeah. Find one with a real locking mechanism. And preferably metal hinges. Not that brittle plastic nonsense that cracks when it’s below 40 degrees and you’re trying to force it shut.
Brands: The Cult of Roof Box Snobs
There’s a whole weird little hierarchy. People swear by Thule like it’s some sort of Swedish deity. Yakima has its own cult, more Pacific Northwest-y, grunge-ier. Then you’ve got SportRack, which is like… the rebellious cousin that works fine but doesn’t get invited to dinner. And then the Amazon specials — no name, slightly suspect, but tempting when you’re broke and desperate.
I’ve seen people write 2,000-word reviews on cargo boxes. With diagrams. Like it’s a dissertation. You’ll find YouTube videos of grown men standing in their driveway testing wind drag using leaf blowers. This is what happens when people have too much time and too many roof boxes.
Random Bits Nobody Mentions But You’ll End Up Caring About Anyway
- Will it fit in the garage? Not unless you drive a clown car or your garage is absurdly tall.
- Can you open your trunk without hitting the box? Depends. Some boxes are mounted farther forward. Some trunks are just angry at life.
- Is it waterproof? Most say yes. Reality? Sort of. Think of it like a rain-resistant hoodie, not a scuba suit.
- Weight limit? Yes, the box has one. But your Outback’s roof rack system has another. Go over, and your roof may sag. Or creak like it’s groaning under the weight of your over-packing sins.
Final (Sorta) Thoughts: It’s Never Just the Box
You buy a roof box thinking it’s a one-and-done. Then you realize it changes how you pack. How you drive. How you park. Hell, even how people look at you in Whole Foods parking lots. It becomes part of your car’s silhouette. And part of your road trip routine. Like, “Hey, did you remember the snacks?” “Yeah, they’re in the roof coffin.”
So don’t rush it. Go stare at them in real life. Poke at the latches. Slam the lid. Ask dumb questions. Watch five different YouTube videos that all say slightly different things and confuse you even more.
Then, when you finally choose one… you’ll still second-guess yourself. That’s normal. You’ll wonder if you picked the wrong color, or if you should’ve gone with the fancier one, or if this one is gonna fly off halfway through Utah.
But at some point, you’ll strap it down, toss your stuff in, and hit the road. And if you’re lucky… you won’t hear a thing except the hum of the tires and your own deeply satisfied silence. Or, you know, the whistle of the lid you forgot to fully close. Either way, it’s an experience.
