Thule  Atlantis 1600 XT Roof Box

I've been using my Atlantis 1600 for about 1 1/2 years now. The good: Quite large, however, the 100 pound load limit must be respected for common sense reasons (heavy stuff down low, light stuff on the car roof). Seems rain tight (no leaks yet). Easy to use roof rack grabbers. No worries about the box coming loose. No wind noise. The less than good: My 2007 came with fragile parts holding the "rack grabbers" in place. (Only needed when the box is off the car.) The restraining devices eventually broke off but the local Atlantis store provided an upgraded set for free. The other shortcoming is the key provides all the force to keep the top of the box closed. I'm worried that someday the lock mechanism will fail while trying to force the latches into the locked position.

We've had cartop cargo boxes previously, but they leaked and were noisy. I bought the Thule Atlantis based on capacity and fit to car, but was quickly rewarded by performance. Our first trip was about 550 miles with conditions changing from perfect (Southern CA) to high winds, driving rain, then into higher elevation with subzero temps and snow. We arrived at our destination with all gear in the same condition as it was when we packed. We were careful to not overload, and to make sure all of the cap locks engaged fully (may not if you put too much in). This box was awesome!!

We use this on our Subaru Impreza - it fits very well, though the hatch does bump against it. We a re still able to open the back fine. We primarily use this to store camping gear, and it is very spacious. Very little wind noise, even on the freeways; kinda forget it is on the roof sometimes. The grabbers are only good for grabbing; if you put any weight on them directly, they will bend (found out the hard way). Also, one of the two keys broke, thankfully not in the lock, but it seems the metal used is very fragile and not particularly strong. Haven't looked into getting another key made, but will definitely need to do so. Easy to open, make sure your cargo isn't in the way of the latches on the inside to close it, otherwise, it won't shut properly.

We use it to go from Az to San Diego and carry everything from luggage to water sport equip. It is spacious, easy to attach and remove and Quiet on the long ride. Warning: Buy it new or you have NO Warranty. We bought ours used from another REI member and a month later had a problem where the latch would unexpectedly fly open. Not fun.Thule has no ability to repair even if you pay. Warranty or nothing.

We have a small car, a dog, a baby on the way and a desire to have a lot of outdoor activities. This roof box is an answer to all our space problems! A baby goes to the rear seat of a car, a dog goes to the trunk, baby's bike trailer along with two front bike wheels and some luggage go to roof box, that leaves enough space on the roof for two bikes! Voila! We are ready to go! It is easy to install, easy to open (from either side of a car), it doesn't make much noise, it's just great!

This Thule roof box far exceeded my wildest expectations. I used roof box for a 6,000 mile road trip that started in New Hampshire and eventually ended in San Diego, CA. I drove through violent winds of the plains, treacherous thunderstorms, and have had more than two feet of snow accumulate on it while parked without any water entering the interior. Capacity is incredible...I'm always amazed at how much I can store in this box. Having the box on my vehicles roof diminished my MPG from by 2 MPG while driving at 80 mph on the highway. You can definitely feel gusts of wind more with this box on top but keeping two hands on the wheel resolves this annoyance. Being able to lock my belongings up gave me peace of mind whenever I left my vehicle. Tip: If you're going to fill it to capacity make sure you have at least one extra set of hands available to help close the lid and seat all three latches. All three latches must be seated in order to lock the box and pull your key out.

Rather than tieing individual items down I recommend that you fill the box with enough gear to lock everything into place, like a puzzle. We drove 7 hours and back with no issues with stability or vibrations at speeds up to 80 mph.

I have a 2007 Lexus RX350. After utlizing the 'fit guide' I originally chose the Yakima Sky Box 16S. It was comparable to the Thule Atlantis 1600 but $150 cheaper. Unfortunately, when I got it on my car, the hatchback door only opened 2/3 of the way before it hit the box. REI was really good and took it back right away. After more investigation I got the Thule Atlantis 1600. After taking out the rubber dampers in front of the front cross bar I was able to install it and it clears the back hatchback door by about two inches when fully opened. Although it was more expensive, I found the Thule easier to install. As opposed to a two part latching of the Yakima, the Thule was an almost one handed screwing down of the clamps. The Thule doesn't include a mat or cargo net, I used an old yoga mat and it fit perfectly in the bottom. We carried two golf club bags and a full case of water and still had room for miscellaneous items. No noticeable changes when driving the 200 miles to Lake Tahoe even at 75 plus mph through windy mountain terrain. I am looking forward to many more trips with it.

The pod is great! Put the solid items next to the locks for the most stress free closing of the lid. My family tends to put the tents and bedding in the pod when camping. I don’t usually load it down with a lot of heavy items so I can’t speak to that kind of use. Avoid stuffing it with fluffy things that can hinder the locking mechanism. If you plan to fill it with sleeping bags and pillows and other squishy items you might have to sit on the lid to get it to lock. I feel that the lid arms are a bit janky. Even empty they don’t work together well. The lid doesn’t open or close smoothly. The newer models have the same problem. I’m not sure if it’s a brand issue or this type of product issue. My best solution has been to only open it on one side that has been least problematic and keep the other side locked. The right side always had the hardest time closing and locking regardless of whether it was empty or not.

this is perfect fit for 2011 subaru impressa. easily accessible from either side. and it is centered. doesn't hang over front window at all. loaded it with ski equip, snow board equip, for winter ski instruction job. recommend this one for this car! price was reasonable for the extra storage it gives.