Main trade-off
SportRack Sidekick
The 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph limits light bulky highway use.
Head-to-head
SportRack Sidekick vs Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny: Sidekick’s shorter shell saves little bar width and has a highway load minimum
The short answer
Choose Sidekick for a compact load only if its 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph and stricter 75 lb cargo cap suit the trip. Choose SkyBox NX Skinny for long skis, lighter bulky highway cargo or access from either side. The shorter Sidekick frees surprisingly little extra bar width beside the box.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
The shorter box saves only 1.5 inches of bar width
On an assumed 50-inch usable bar span, Sidekick leaves 25 inches and Skinny leaves 23.5 inches beside the shell. If a bike carrier is the real reason for choosing the small box, that modest difference deserves a physical check. The much greater length reduction mainly changes the box footprint.
What this is based on
50 - 25 = 25 inches. 50 - 26.5 = 23.5 inches. External shell width excludes rack feet, clamps, lid movement and clearance around the neighboring accessory.
Main trade-off
Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
The 84-inch shell needs a suitable roof and open-hatch clearance.
SportRack Sidekick
- Choose it for
- Your compact highway cargo weighs between 50 and 75 lb within the actual roof limits.
- The shorter shell and passenger-side access suit your verified vehicle setup.
- Main trade-off
- The 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph limits light bulky highway use.
Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- Choose it for
- You carry skis up to 195 cm and the vehicle fits the long box.
- You need a light bulky highway load or dual-side loading access.
- Main trade-off
- The 84-inch shell needs a suitable roof and open-hatch clearance.
About this comparison
Compare a compact passenger-opening carrier with a long narrow ski box, accounting for highway load limits and shared roof space.
Choose Sidekick for a compact load only if its 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph and stricter 75 lb cargo cap suit the trip. Choose SkyBox NX Skinny for long skis, lighter bulky highway cargo or access from either side. The shorter Sidekick frees surprisingly little extra bar width beside the box.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
The highway load is bulky but weighs 30 lb
Sidekick’s 50 lb minimum above 40 mph matters even when the gear fills its shell.
- SportRack Sidekick
- Below manual minimum
- Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- Candidate after fit checks
The trip includes 190 cm skis
Skinny is the documented long-gear candidate, subject to mounting and hatch clearance.
- SportRack Sidekick
- Ski fit unverified
- Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
A bike shares a 50-inch usable bar span
The width difference is modest. Measure the real carrier, clamps and lid travel before choosing.
- SportRack Sidekick
- 25 inches left on paper
- Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- 23.5 inches left on paper
An 80 lb load uses a 165 lb roof and 20 lb rack
The light shell does not cancel Sidekick’s own cap. Use the lowest actual system limit.
- SportRack Sidekick
- Above 75 lb box cap
- Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- Within example 102 lb allowance
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
The shorter box saves only 1.5 inches of bar width
On an assumed 50-inch usable bar span, Sidekick leaves 25 inches and Skinny leaves 23.5 inches beside the shell. If a bike carrier is the real reason for choosing the small box, that modest difference deserves a physical check. The much greater length reduction mainly changes the box footprint.
How we reached this conclusion
50 - 25 = 25 inches. 50 - 26.5 = 23.5 inches. External shell width excludes rack feet, clamps, lid movement and clearance around the neighboring accessory.
Light highway cargo can reverse the small-box choice
A 30 lb load of bedding or camp equipment is below Sidekick’s 50 lb minimum for travel above 40 mph. Skinny remains a candidate after its roof fit and load limits pass. Choosing by eight versus twelve cubic feet would miss the instruction that controls this trip.
How we reached this conclusion
Assume 30 lb secured cargo and travel above 40 mph. The Sidekick SR 7020 manual supplies the minimum. No equivalent minimum was identified in the reviewed Yakima instructions.
A heavier shell can still carry more approved cargo
With an assumed 165 lb roof allowance and 20 lb rack, Skinny leaves 102 lb for cargo. Sidekick’s weight subtraction leaves more, but its stricter 75 lb cargo cap controls. An 80 lb load can therefore favor Skinny even though it weighs substantially more before loading.
How we reached this conclusion
Skinny: 165 - 20 - 43 = 102 lb before any lower applicable limit. Sidekick: min(165 - 20 - 19.85, 75) = 75 lb. Actual vehicle and rack ratings must replace these example assumptions.
Choice A
SportRack, SR7020
SportRack Sidekick
An 8 cu ft passenger-opening box weighing 19.85 lb. Its manual has a 50 lb minimum-load warning for higher-speed travel, so check that restriction before planning a light highway load.
- Best matched use
- Your compact highway cargo weighs between 50 and 75 lb within the actual roof limits.
Checked facts
- Cargo volume: 8 cu ft
- External length and width: 54 x 25 in
- Empty box weight: 19.85 lb
- Documented load boundary: 75 lb cargo cap and 50 lb minimum above 40 mph
Choice B
Yakima, 8007368
Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
A 12 cu ft box for skis up to 195 cm. Its 26.5-inch width leaves more room beside it than the full-width SkyBox NX XL.
- Best matched use
- You carry skis up to 195 cm and the vehicle fits the long box.
Checked facts
- Cargo volume: 12 cu ft
- External length and width: 84 x 26.5 in
- Empty box weight: 43 lb
- Documented load boundary: Total load must obey the lowest vehicle, rack and box limits
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | SportRack Sidekick | Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo volume | 8 cu ft | 12 cu ft | Skinny provides more volume, with a much longer shell. |
| External length and width | 54 x 25 in | 84 x 26.5 in | The 30-inch length difference comes with only a 1.5-inch width difference. |
| Empty box weight | 19.85 lb | 43 lb | Sidekick consumes less roof allowance before its cargo cap is applied. |
| Documented load boundary | 75 lb cargo cap and 50 lb minimum above 40 mph | Total load must obey the lowest vehicle, rack and box limits | A light bulky highway load is directly affected by Sidekick’s minimum. |
| Loading access | Passenger side | Both sides | Skinny can be opened from the accessible side of a parking space. |
| Long-gear documentation | No exact ski-length rating verified | Skis up to 195 cm | Only Skinny has a verified ski-length rating in this pair. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose SportRack Sidekick
- It lacks dual-side access and a verified long-ski rating.
If you choose Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- Its heavier shell uses more of the total roof allowance before cargo.
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
My highway cargo weighs 30 lb
Choose Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny. Skinny avoids Sidekick’s documented 50 lb minimum cargo restriction for travel above 40 mph.
I need documented accommodation for 190 cm skis
Choose Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny. Skinny rates skis up to 195 cm, while no exact ski limit was verified for the current Sidekick.
My compact highway cargo is 60 lb and a much shorter shell is necessary
Choose SportRack Sidekick. Sidekick’s 54-inch shell and 50 to 75 lb highway cargo window may suit that plan after exact vehicle fit checks.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
Choose from the cargo you actually carry
Sidekick’s small volume can look natural for a light trip, yet its exact manual imposes a 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph. That excludes some bedding and camping loads before volume becomes relevant. Skinny is the documented option for skis up to 195 cm, provided the vehicle supports its longer installation.
Measure the neighboring carrier instead of judging the silhouette
Skinny is 30 inches longer but only 1.5 inches wider. A buyer trying to keep a bicycle beside the box should measure usable bar width and all attachment clearances rather than assume the small box saves a large lateral space. Check the hatch separately and use Yakima’s own open-hatch measurement method for Skinny.
Apply cargo caps after subtracting the hardware
Subtract the rack, the box and every other roof accessory from the lowest vehicle or rack allowance. Then apply any lower box-specific cap. Sidekick uses the stricter 75 lb current-page rating here because its manual differs. Skinny’s higher example allowance does not permit exceeding an actual vehicle limit or skipping secure load distribution.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- No exact Sidekick ski rating, hatch threshold or mounting spread is borrowed from an older model.
- No measured noise, fuel-use or water-ingress advantage is established.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SportRack Sidekick |
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| Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny |
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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.
SportRack Sidekick
Your compact highway cargo weighs between 50 and 75 lb within the actual roof limits.
See price & reviews on AmazonYakima SkyBox NX Skinny
You carry skis up to 195 cm and the vehicle fits the long box.
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.