The catch
Thule Force 3 L Sport
Bulky bags get less room in 11 cu ft.
Side by side
Thule Force 3 L Sport vs Thule Force 3 M compared: Sport fits longer skis alongside other gear, and M adds bag room in less length
Quick verdict
The Force 3 L Sport is for longer skis, or for when a narrow box helps leave room for another rack-mounted accessory. The Force 3 M is for shorter gear and more bag space, with less length toward the rear. Both need an approved rack layout, and spare bar width alone does not prove that a bike carrier will fit.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Add a bike and the key dimension changes
Take an illustrative 50-inch usable bar. Beyond its body width, the Sport has 25.3 inches left over and the M has 18 inches. The 7.3-inch gap helps when you plan a bike carrier, but feet, clamps and handlebar clearance still determine compatibility.
Where this comes from
50 - 24.7 = 25.3 and 50 - 32 = 18. Treat this as a width budget. It is not an approved side-by-side mounting setup.
The catch
Thule Force 3 M
Adult skis longer than 155 cm are beyond its ski limit.
Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Why pick it
- Your skis measure between 156 and 175 cm.
- Your approved shared-rack layout works with a 24.7-inch-wide shell.
- The catch
- Bulky bags get less room in 11 cu ft.
Thule Force 3 M
- Why pick it
- All your gear fits the 155 cm ski limit.
- The 14 cu ft and the shorter hatch-clearance requirement are what you want.
- The catch
- Adult skis longer than 155 cm are beyond its ski limit.
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What this page compares
A bike beside the box, adult skis, soft bags, hatch access and the roof weight your car allows all shape the choice between Force 3 L Sport and Force 3 M.
The Force 3 L Sport is for longer skis, or for when a narrow box helps leave room for another rack-mounted accessory. The Force 3 M is for shorter gear and more bag space, with less length toward the rear. Both need an approved rack layout, and spare bar width alone does not prove that a bike carrier will fit.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Sharing the bars between a box and a bike carrier
The Sport is narrower by 7.3 inches, as long as carrier spacing is approved and the total load allows.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Better fit
- Thule Force 3 M
- Caution
170 cm skis
A 175 cm ski limit belongs to the Sport only.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Better fit
- Thule Force 3 M
- Not suitable
A 48-inch hatch measurement by Thule
It meets the M requirement but falls short of the Sport requirement.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Not suitable
- Thule Force 3 M
- Better fit
Camping bags, short and bulky
For gear that fits within its shorter interior, the M gives you 14 cu ft instead of 11.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Caution
- Thule Force 3 M
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
Add a bike and the key dimension changes
Take an illustrative 50-inch usable bar. Beyond its body width, the Sport has 25.3 inches left over and the M has 18 inches. The 7.3-inch gap helps when you plan a bike carrier, but feet, clamps and handlebar clearance still determine compatibility.
How we worked this out
50 - 24.7 = 25.3 and 50 - 32 = 18. Treat this as a width budget. It is not an approved side-by-side mounting setup.
A short hatch measurement points to the M
Say Thule’s method gives you a 48-inch front-clearance measurement. The Force M clears its greater-than-45.25-inch requirement, and the Sport misses its greater-than-49.75-inch requirement. A narrow shell isn’t automatically a fit for a short roof.
How we worked this out
48 > 45.25 but 48 < 49.75. Before relying on this example, confirm the crossbar positions are approved ones.
Volume and ski length tug in opposite directions
The 11 cu ft Sport qualifies for 170 cm skis, and the 14 cu ft M does not. With short camping bags, the M supplies three extra cubic feet. Choose according to the shape of your actual load, and don’t assume the larger volume takes every item.
How we worked this out
170 <= 175 and 170 > 155. The volume gap works out to 14 - 11 = 3 cu ft.
Option A
Thule, 645650
Force 3 L Sport
Built for smaller loads that share the roof with other gear, this narrow box uses the Force 3 mounting and locking hardware.
- Best for
- Your skis measure between 156 and 175 cm.
Facts we checked
- Capacity for gear: 11 cu ft, with skis up to 175 cm
- Outside width: 24.7 in
- Outside length: 75.2 in
- Clearance at the front of the hatch: Over 49.75 in
Option B
Thule, Force 3 M
Thule Force 3 M
It holds 14 cubic feet, and the longest gear it accepts is 155 centimeters.
- Best for
- All your gear fits the 155 cm ski limit.
Facts we checked
- Capacity for gear: 14 cu ft, with skis up to 155 cm
- Outside width: 32 in
- Outside length: 69 in
- Clearance at the front of the hatch: Over 45.25 in
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Thule Force 3 L Sport | Thule Force 3 M | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gear capacity | 11 cu ft, skis up to 175 cm | 14 cu ft, skis up to 155 cm | The Sport has less volume but takes longer equipment. |
| Exterior width | 24.7 in | 32 in | With its narrow body, the Sport frees nominal bar width for a separate accessory. |
| Exterior length | 75.2 in | 69 in | The M has the shorter shell, a point to weigh when planning roof and garage storage. |
| Hatch front clearance | Greater than 49.75 in | Greater than 45.25 in | Both rely on the same Thule measuring method, so you can compare them head to head. |
| Empty weight | 34 lb | 37 lb | Before you add any other accessory, the Sport weighs three pounds less. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Compared with the M, it needs more clearance from front to hatch.
With Thule Force 3 M
- With a 32-inch width, there is less room next to the box.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Measured the Thule way, my hatch comes to 48 inches
Go with Thule Force 3 M. That is more than the M needs and less than the Sport needs.
I have to haul 170 cm skis
Go with Thule Force 3 L Sport. The Sport takes skis as long as 175 cm.
Decision guide
How to decide
Map out the whole rack layout
When a bicycle comes along, sketch the box, carrier clamps and rack feet on the usable span of the bars. The Sport’s narrower body helps with that plan, yet the combined load still has to stay within vehicle and rack limits. A separate carrier adds weight too and can get in the way of loading.
Look at the hatch before you commit to skis
The Sport lives up to its name with a longer ski allowance, and that length also raises the hatch-clearance requirement. Take a 48-inch Thule measurement as an example: the M passes the published hatch screen and the Sport does not, even though the Sport is smaller by volume.
The M suits short, bulky bags
When the load is mostly soft travel bags and every long item fits inside 155 cm, the Force M has the better shape. Its extra three cubic feet can cut down cabin clutter without the Sport’s longer shell. If the roof-weight budget is what limits you, keep dense luggage inside the vehicle.
What this page can’t tell you
- Sharing the rack still calls for vehicle, rack and accessory approval, and the width example does not take every clamp or rack foot into account.
- Body shape is not taken to imply any road-noise, aerodynamic or fuel-economy advantage.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the roof cargo boxes we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thule Force 3 L Sport |
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| Thule Force 3 M |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Thule Force 3 L Sport
Your skis measure between 156 and 175 cm.
See price & reviews on AmazonThule Force 3 M
All your gear fits the 155 cm ski limit.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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