only leaks when it rains
I bought the Thule Escape II rooftop soft carrier bag for a trip from Atlanta, GA to Denver, Co. I decided to pay the extra money for a deluxe bag that wouldn't leak. I got it thru orsracksdirect for 136.75 including shipping. It has padded sides and a padded bottom to help hold its shape. The straps worked fine and the zipper looks sturdy- the defect is that it leaks water into the bag so everything in the bag was slightly damp and I got about a cup of water in the bottom. Since this was a two day trip each way I discovered it only leaks if it rains. Both days on the way back from Denver it rained 3 to 4 hours of drive time each day on the highway and it leaked both days. It is a simple bag that has a flap to keep water off the zipper and the front of the bag doesn't open so it seems like it shouldn't leak. I talked to Thule and after waiting on hold for 20 minutes they said the lifetime warranty doesn't cover leaking and that all the rooftop bags they sell would leak if it rained. So they were sorry it leaked!
I wasn't shocked it leaked (I put some of my stuff inside a tupperware container) but I am very disappointed with it and that customer service doesn't replace it or mail out a seam sealer. Since the product says on the box "holds up to mother natures toughest conditions" I asked them what that meant - they couldn't say. They did note the fine print in the warranty that says it doesn't cover leaking. So the best thing to do for warranty replacement is to carefully cut some of the threads on a seam so it doesn't look torn then call for warranty replacement, but of course the replacement may also leak.
I should have just bought the cheap bag at Walmart for .00 and used trash bags on my stuff inside it, which is what I guess I'll have to do anyway.
It has label inside that says "made in China" - not Sweden, not USA.
So Far So Good
Bought this cargo bag instead of a hard cased carrier, really for price and for storage options. We also only need something like this once or twice a year on family trips.
We just used it for the first time (3hr trip to the beach). I've got a 2002 Pathfinder with a stock roof rack.
* Simple to install, everything fit fine.
* Comes with a storage bag when not in use thats about 2.5 ft by 3 ft.
* My vehicle drove perfectly, no extra noise and I didn't know that we were toting something on top. I had to remember before heading into the drivethru so I wouldn't bust it off.
* I didn't try to pack it full on this first use, but we were able to get a baby stroller in there (a big travel system thing, not an umbrella stroller). I also put in a regular sized roller-board bag, along with a couple of other smaller bags that I could contort a bit.
* Only took 20 minutes to open box and get up, and now it will probably take 5 going forward.
Great product so far, if something starts to fail I will repost.
Reliable, Good Option for Soft Carrier
I used this to travel 2700 miles from Atlanta to San Francisco and it was worthwhile carrier. It is pretty spacious and fit lots stuff for a soft carrier (15 cubic feet). Most soft carriers are smaller and more flimsy. This is a tough piece but totally light and portable. Its made of thick canvas covered by thick plastic covers/flaps for water protection. It also has a lot of padding. Per a friends suggestion, I put a few rubber kitchen drawer liners between the carrier and my roof to protect my roof in case it moved but it did not. It rained on part of the trip and my stuff was safe.
It can be put on by one person and fits to all racks. I have a vibe hatch back and many of the hard top carriers do not fit on my car because the roof rack is short compared to SUVS. This could easily fit from an SUV or a small car
If you are looking for a soft carrier that is tough this is a good option.
Very pleased
I did about 1200 miles with this bag on top of my Vibe. Plenty of room for the dogs in the car and plenty of room for our stuff in the bag on top. I'm truly amazed by how much this thing holds.
I didn't hit any rain, but it did fine when I took it to a coin operated car wash to blast off a thick layer of West Texas dust.
BTW: the zipper should close at the back not the front.
Here's some pics of my rig:
http://www.docuphoto.com/vibe/
Perfect for the college move.
We purchased this softsided cartop carrier to basically to hold one daughter's college-bound belongings so we could load the trunk with the second daughter's things. The Thule worked perfectly. We were amazed at how much it held, but we did limit its load to soft things such as clothing and bedding. Heavier and more sensitive items (computers, printers) went into the trunk for safety. We made the drive from Western PA to Alabama without a problem. When we spent the night before move-in in a hotel, we simply detached the Thule from the top of the car and carried it into our hotel room like a great big duffel bag. And it was so nice that when the daughters were safely delivered, the carrier simply folded up and stowed in the trunk for future use.
Product Description:The Escape cargo back offers box like protection with the convenience of a compact storage.
Product Description:The Thule 866 Escape II Rooftop Cargo Bag has a great new styling with the same great weather protection. With Thule's Escape II your next adventure is within your reach, no matter the size of your car or your budget.
The Escape II has a rugged, updated styling that is consistent with Thule's cargo bag family, and mounts directly to most after-market and factory-installed roof racks. This cargo bag features an oversize rain flap to protect its zippers from weather, easy-to-grab handles for easy bag handling, and internal foam-insert construction that helps maintain the bag's shape for easier packing. Constructed of heavy-duty tarpaulin with taped seams for solid water resistance, the Escape II provides you with the storage capacity of a cargo box without the storage dilemma. This rooftop cargo bag is equipped with interior cargo-management pockets and netting, and has a load capacity of 15 cubic feet.
What's in the Box?
866 Escape II rooftop cargo bag, 4 x attachment straps, and instruction guide
Manufacturer's Warranty
Limited lifetime warranty