Main trade-off
Thule Force 3 L Sport
Five cubic feet less luggage volume
Head-to-head
Thule Force 3 L Sport vs Yakima SkyBox NX 16: Sport leaves more roof width, SkyBox adds volume with the same ski limit
The short answer
Choose Force 3 L Sport when a narrow, light box matters more than luggage volume. Choose SkyBox NX 16 when you need 16 cubic feet instead of 11. Both stop at 175 cm skis. The Sport's slimmer shell may help with a second roof carrier, but mounting and clearance checks still decide whether both fit.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
Sport frees meaningful shell width
Its body is 10.3 inches narrower.
What this is based on
35 − 24.7 = 10.3 inches. That is shell width saved, not a guarantee that a bike mount can use all of it.
Main trade-off
Yakima SkyBox NX LG
A 35-inch-wide shell uses more shared roof space
Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Choose it for
- Keep the box shell to 24.7 inches wide
- Preserve roof-load allowance with a 34 lb box
- Main trade-off
- Five cubic feet less luggage volume
Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Choose it for
- Pack five more cubic feet of bulky luggage
- Use a wider interior when the box is the main roof carrier
- Main trade-off
- A 35-inch-wide shell uses more shared roof space
About this comparison
Compare the narrow Force 3 L Sport with SkyBox NX 16 for shared roof space, ski length, cargo volume and load allowance. Verify rack and hatch fit.
Choose Force 3 L Sport when a narrow, light box matters more than luggage volume. Choose SkyBox NX 16 when you need 16 cubic feet instead of 11. Both stop at 175 cm skis. The Sport's slimmer shell may help with a second roof carrier, but mounting and clearance checks still decide whether both fit.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
The box shell must be under 30 inches wide
The Sport is 24.7 inches wide and SkyBox is 35.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Good
- Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Not suitable
You require at least 14 cubic feet
Sport has 11 cubic feet and SkyBox has 16.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Not suitable
- Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Good
Your skis are 170 cm
Both published ski limits cover them, subject to the full packed load.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Good
- Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Good
Your skis are 185 cm
Both exceed their 175 cm limit.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Not suitable
- Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Not suitable
You want a box and bike carrier on the same bars
Sport is narrower, but usable bar width, both mounts and bike clearance must be checked.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Depends
- Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Depends
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
Sport frees meaningful shell width
Its body is 10.3 inches narrower.
How we reached this conclusion
35 − 24.7 = 10.3 inches. That is shell width saved, not a guarantee that a bike mount can use all of it.
SkyBox adds nearly half as much volume again
16 cubic feet is about 45% above 11.
How we reached this conclusion
(16 − 11) ÷ 11 = 45.5%. The benefit is for bulky items, not permission to exceed roof weight.
Sport leaves fourteen more pounds under the same roof limit
The conservative empty-weight difference is 14 lb.
How we reached this conclusion
48 − 34 = 14 lb. With an illustrative 150 lb total limit and 15 lb rack, the remaining allowances are 101 and 87 lb before any lower box limit.
Choice A
Thule, 645650
Force 3 L Sport
A narrow box with the Force 3 mounting and locking hardware, built for smaller loads beside other roof gear.
- Best matched use
- Keep the box shell to 24.7 inches wide
Checked facts
- Cargo volume: 11 cu ft
- Maximum ski length: 175 cm
- Shell width: 24.7 in
- Empty weight for planning: 34 lb
Choice B
Yakima, SkyBox NX 16 LG
Yakima SkyBox NX LG
The box holds 16 cubic feet. It accepts gear up to 175 centimeters long.
- Best matched use
- Pack five more cubic feet of bulky luggage
Checked facts
- Cargo volume: 16 cu ft
- Maximum ski length: 175 cm
- Shell width: 35 in
- Empty weight for planning: 48 lb using fit guide
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | Thule Force 3 L Sport | Yakima SkyBox NX LG | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo volume | 11 cu ft | 16 cu ft | SkyBox adds volume without increasing vehicle load limits. |
| Maximum ski length | 175 cm | 175 cm | The narrow Sport does not extend the ski-length limit. |
| Shell width | 24.7 in | 35 in | Measure usable rack space and the other carrier's clearance separately. |
| Empty weight for planning | 34 lb | 48 lb using fit guide | The box itself consumes roof-load allowance. |
| Crossbar spread | 21 7/8 to 36 5/8 in | 24 to 36 in | Check vehicle-approved bar position and clamp profile. |
| Hatch threshold and method | Greater than 49 13/16 in to roof/hatch junction | 47 in minimum to edge of open hatch | The reference points differ between brands. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Narrow shell does not automatically prove room for a second carrier
If you choose Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Approximately fourteen pounds heavier for roof-load planning
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
A box shell over 30 inches wide cannot fit your layout
Choose Thule Force 3 L Sport. Only Sport meets that physical width constraint.
The luggage requires more than 11 and up to 16 cubic feet
Choose Yakima SkyBox NX LG. SkyBox has the applicable volume, subject to shape and weight.
Skis exceed 175 cm
Choose neither. Choose a model with a longer stated ski limit.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
Choose between width and volume
Sport is useful when roof width or empty weight constrains the setup. SkyBox is more appropriate when the luggage itself needs extra bulk capacity. Both have the same ski-length ceiling, so narrow does not mean longer.
Sketch the complete roof layout
Measure the usable bar section, the box's mounting footprint and the second carrier. Include space for a bike's pedal or handlebar and for opening the box. Shell width is a starting point, not an installation approval.
Keep fit checks separate
Bar spread, clamp profile, hatch motion and load limits can each rule a box out. The brands use different hatch reference points. Use the prescribed method for each rather than treating the smaller printed clearance number as better.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- No universal box-plus-bike setup is asserted. Luggage fit depends on actual internal shape as well as nominal cubic feet.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current roof cargo boxes comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
See the checked facts and calculation notes
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thule Force 3 L Sport |
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| Yakima SkyBox NX LG |
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Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Thule Force 3 L Sport
Keep the box shell to 24.7 inches wide
See price & reviews on AmazonYakima SkyBox NX LG
Pack five more cubic feet of bulky luggage
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.