Roof Racks vs. Roof Bags: A Comparison Guide
While roof racks and roof bags perform the same function of giving you extra storage space, they do so in different ways. Let's take a moment to compare apples with oranges and learn about the main advantages of each type.
Whether you're trekking across the Gobi Desert in search of black-tailed gazelle or navigating your way over the Golden Gate Bridge with a load of soccer equipment, a roof rack is the perfect storage companion. Here's an overview of its key features:
- Capacity: Roof racks are essentially open storage platforms for your vehicle. You can pile as much or as little onto them as you want. Got odd-sized or extra large items? They pose no problem to a rugged roof rack. Just make sure you strap everything down tightly, or else your favorite set of golf clubs may bounce off and become road kill.
- Versatility: More than just a cargo hold, a roof rack can be modified and personalized to fit your particular needs. For those who enjoy escaping from civilization and heading out into the wild backcountry, there are a number of accessories for your roof rack. Bolt on a couple of light brackets to light up the trail. Or, mount the ax and shovel carrier, so you always have the tools you need to safely build a fire pit or cut kindling. You can even add a heavy duty spare tire carrier, just in case you get a flat from driving over some brier.
- Sport Ready: If your idea of a fun weekend is hurtling down Moab's Porcupine Rim on your Cannondale, a roof rack is right for you. You can get an optional bike rack to bring your rugged two-wheeler along for the trip. Likewise, if you enjoy paddling your arms off down the Colorado River on your "canoe," we have sturdy kayak carriers that will get right into the action. Roof racks are designed with the great outdoors in mind.
Whether you're taking the family on a cross country trip to visit Wally World or heading out on an extended business trip, you don't want your vehicle full of clutter. Roof bags give you plenty of extra space for all your travel gear. Check out these great benefits:
- Weather-Proofing: You can't control the weather, but you can protect your cargo from it. Nearly all of our roof bags are specially treated to keep the harsh elements off of your stuff. Other features, such as taped seams and storm flaps, stop moisture and road grime from leeching in. Just stuff your stuff into the bag, zip up and head out. Even if you're passing through stormy Seattle, your luggage will be safe.
- Aerodynamics: Wind resistance forces your motor to work harder, and the only way it can generate more energy is by guzzling more gas. To reduce power-robbing drag, vehicles usually have rounded surfaces. The same aerodynamic design is applied most roof bags. Their front edge is sloped backwards like a pompadour, letting the airflow breeze right over. Not only will this save you at the pump, but it also adds a sleek, streamlined appearance to your vehicle.
- Ease of Use: The great thing about roof bags is that they are not permanent attachments to your vehicle. When it's trip time, just strap it to your roof and head out on the highway. Once you return home, simply unhook it, fold it up and tuck it away in your garage. The bag attaches to your roof rails with a series of straps, and installation takes mere minutes. Once the bag is on your roof, it's easy to get into your luggage. You don't have to untie any sheepshanks or fumble with cargo nets—just give the zipper a yank, and you're in.
- Security: Theft is a crime of opportunity. When you keep your stuff inside a roof bag and out of sight, then it will be out of the crook's mind. Whether you fill your roof bag with jackets or jewelry, your cargo will be hidden from the jealous gaze of would-be burglars.
We hope you have found our Roof Racks Research Guide Center a good guide in helping you choose the best Roof Racks for your vehicle. It is AutoAnything's goal to provide the most information on the Internet and through our Auto Accessory Specialists on every product we sell. If you have any information that you think could help improve this section, please email us at researchcenter@autoanything.com.
Fun Factoid
Punch Buggy–Road Rage at Its Most Wholesome
Anyone who has driven across America's flat Heartland knows that time can drag on a long trip. One fun way to take the drudgery out of the drive is by playing the classic in-car game Punch Buggy. Sometimes called Slug Bug or just Punch Bug, this highway favorite is easy to learn and highly addictive. The rules are simple: all players keep their eyes peeled for Volkswagen Bugs. The first person to spot a Bug shouts, "Punch Buggy," and then gets to whack any of the other players. The generally accepted punching location is the upper arm, but practices vary from backseat to backseat. A Bug is only worth one punch, so once it's been called, it's dead. Heighten the excitement by modifying the rules. For example, if you see a Bug pulled over by the law or broken down on the side of the road 
(as Beetles are wont to do), it's worth extra punches. The possibilities are endless.
Fun Factoid
Kayaks–the Greatest Inuit Invention since Sliced Blubber
Kayaks (literally "man boat") were first developed by the Inuit of North America and Greenland. The earliest designs were quite simple–a wooden frame wrapped with animal skins (seal was a favorite because it's nature's answer to neoprene). The Inuit used their Kayaks for hunting whales, walruses and seals along the shorelines and open waters of the Arctic. For maximum waterproofing, the hunters would stitch their jackets together with the boat's hides. In other words, they actually wore their kayaks like trousers. While this made bathroom breaks quite difficult, it did lead to the invention of the Eskimo roll.