I bought this product myself and this review is based on my own experience.
I’m sure a lot of parents will relate to the fact that children seem to come with an incredible amount of luggage.
When we go away, there are the extra changes of clothes because something always gets spilled, the toys to keep them occupied, the soft toys and blankets they can’t sleep without, and then all the beach equipment on top of that.
We have a fairly large SUV, but even then, the car never seems big enough.
We had previously used a hard roof box, but after changing our car, it no longer fitted properly.
So I started looking for an alternative.
That was when I found a waterproof soft roof bag.
I wasn’t completely convinced it would work as well as a traditional roof box, but I decided to give it a try.
I paid around £65, and we’ve now used it on two holidays over the last five months.
It has far exceeded my expectations.
Why I chose a soft roof bag instead of another roof box
The main reason was flexibility.
A hard roof box had worked for us before, but once we changed cars, it became much less practical.
I didn’t really want to buy another bulky box that might only work with one particular setup.
The soft roof bag looked much easier to fit and much easier to store when we weren’t using it.
That alone made it worth considering.
It is much easier to fit
One of the biggest differences compared with our old roof box is the weight.
The bag is light enough that one person can lift it onto the roof.
That makes packing much easier.
With a hard roof box, getting it on and off the car can become a job in itself.
With this, I can fold it out, position it on the roof and secure it without needing another person to help.
The soft roof bag is much lighter than our old hard roof box and can be fitted by one person.
It stores away really easily
This is another big advantage.
A hard roof box takes up a huge amount of storage space when you’re not using it.
The soft bag folds down, so once the holiday is over, it can be stored away without taking over the garage or shed.
For something we only use occasionally, that makes much more sense for us.
The flexible shape means more seems to fit inside
Because the bag isn’t rigid, I’ve found it easier to make use of the available space.
Bedding, soft bags, coats and other awkward-shaped items seem to fit into it really well.
That flexibility has been one of the things I’ve liked most.
Because the bag is flexible, I find it easier to fit awkward-shaped luggage and softer items inside.
How waterproof is it?
This was probably the thing I was most worried about before buying it.
We’ve now used it in both hot, dry weather and heavy rain.
So far, it has performed really well in both.
The contents have stayed protected and I haven’t had any problems with rain getting through during the journey.
That was probably the point where I stopped worrying that I had made the wrong choice by moving away from a hard roof box.
What I’ve learnt from using it
There are a few things I would definitely recommend after using it on a couple of trips.
Firstly, I wouldn’t put sharp or pointed objects in the roof bag.
Because the bag is soft-sided, I think it makes much more sense to use it for things like bedding, clothing and softer luggage rather than anything that could potentially damage the material.
I also put the heavier items inside the car and use the roof bag for lighter things.
That keeps the weight more sensible and makes the bag easier to manage.
Another important one is the straps.
Once you have tightened them, make sure all the loose ends are securely tucked away.
We learnt this one quite quickly.
If a loose strap starts flapping around while you’re driving, the noise inside the car can make it sound like all of your luggage is about to come flying off the roof.
It is quite alarming until you realise what it is.
I also always use the anti-slip mat underneath the bag.
It helps protect the roof and stops the bag moving around.
Is there anything I don’t like?
There really isn’t much I dislike about it.
The main thing I would mention is what happens when you arrive somewhere after driving through heavy rain.
The bag itself can obviously have quite a lot of water sitting on the outside.
If you immediately start opening and unloading it, some of that water can end up dripping onto your luggage.
The simple solution is to shake or wipe off as much excess water as possible before you start emptying it.
Once I learnt that, it wasn’t really a problem.
Who I think it would suit
I think a soft roof bag would be particularly useful for:
- families who regularly run out of boot space
- people who don’t want to store a bulky roof box
- anyone who changes cars fairly regularly
- families taking lots of bedding, clothing or beach equipment
- people who want extra luggage space without a heavy roof box
- anyone wanting something that one person can lift and fit
- occasional holiday travellers who don’t need a permanent roof-box setup
Busy Life Edit Quick Verdict
Paid: Around £65
Used for: Two holidays over five months
Best for: Extra family luggage on holidays
Biggest plus: Lightweight, flexible and easy to store
Favourite feature: One person can lift and fit it much more easily than a hard roof box
Weather: Used successfully in both sunshine and heavy rain
Biggest learning: Secure the loose strap ends properly
Biggest drawback: You need to remove excess rainwater before unloading
Would I buy it again? Yes
My verdict
I bought the roof bag because our hard roof box stopped being practical after we changed cars.
I wasn’t convinced a soft bag would feel as secure or useful.
After two holidays, I’ve completely changed my mind.
It is lighter, easier to fit, easier to store, and because it is flexible, I actually find it easier to pack.
It has handled heavy rain without a problem and has given us the extra space we needed without taking up half the garage when we get home.
There are a few sensible things to remember — avoid sharp items, use the anti-slip mat, keep heavier luggage in the car, and make sure the straps are properly secured.
But overall, it has been a much better solution for us than I expected.
Would I buy it again? Yes.
Busy Life Edit 