The catch
Thule Force 3 L Sport
Luggage volume is down by five cubic feet
Side by side
Thule Force 3 L Sport vs Yakima SkyBox NX 16 compared: Sport leaves more roof width, and SkyBox adds volume at the same ski limit
Quick verdict
Force 3 L Sport is right when a narrow, light box matters more to you than luggage volume. SkyBox NX 16 is right when you need 16 cubic feet instead of 11. Both stop at 175 cm skis. A second roof carrier may fit more easily beside the Sport's slimmer shell, but mounting and clearance checks still decide whether both fit.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Sport gives back meaningful shell width
The body comes in 10.3 inches narrower.
Where this comes from
35 − 24.7 = 10.3 inches. This is shell width saved and no guarantee that a bike mount can use all of it.
The catch
Yakima SkyBox NX LG
More of the shared roof space is taken by a 35-inch-wide shell
Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Why pick it
- The shell needs to stay 24.7 inches wide
- A 34 lb box protects your roof-load allowance
- The catch
- Luggage volume is down by five cubic feet
Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Why pick it
- Bulky luggage can use five more cubic feet
- The box is your main roof carrier, so a wider interior helps
- The catch
- More of the shared roof space is taken by a 35-inch-wide shell
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What this page compares
How does the narrow Force 3 L Sport stack up against SkyBox NX 16 on shared roof space, ski length, cargo volume and load allowance? Verify rack and hatch fit.
Force 3 L Sport is right when a narrow, light box matters more to you than luggage volume. SkyBox NX 16 is right when you need 16 cubic feet instead of 11. Both stop at 175 cm skis. A second roof carrier may fit more easily beside the Sport's slimmer shell, but mounting and clearance checks still decide whether both fit.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
The box shell has to measure under 30 inches wide
The Sport measures 24.7 inches wide, and SkyBox 35.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Good
- Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Not suitable
You need 14 cubic feet or more
SkyBox has 16 cubic feet, Sport 11.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Not suitable
- Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Good
Your skis measure 170 cm
The published ski limits of both cover them, subject to the full packed load.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Good
- Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Good
Your skis run 185 cm
Each is over its 175 cm limit.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Not suitable
- Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Not suitable
You want to put a box and a bike carrier on the same bars
Although Sport is narrower, usable bar width, both mounts and bike clearance have to be checked.
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Depends
- Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- Depends
In practice
Differences you will notice
Sport gives back meaningful shell width
The body comes in 10.3 inches narrower.
How we worked this out
35 − 24.7 = 10.3 inches. This is shell width saved and no guarantee that a bike mount can use all of it.
Nearly half as much volume again comes with SkyBox
16 cubic feet beats 11 by about 45%.
How we worked this out
(16 − 11) ÷ 11 = 45.5%. The benefit applies to bulky items and is no permission to exceed roof weight.
Under the same roof limit, Sport leaves fourteen more pounds
On a conservative basis, the empty-weight difference is 14 lb.
How we worked this out
48 − 34 = 14 lb. Take an illustrative 150 lb total limit and a 15 lb rack, and the remaining allowances are 101 and 87 lb, before any lower box limit.
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
- The shell needs to stay 24.7 inches wide
Facts we checked
- Volume for cargo: 11 cu ft
- Longest ski length: 175 cm
- Shell width: 24.7 in
- Empty weight for planning: 34 lb
Option B
Yakima, SkyBox NX 16 LG
Yakima SkyBox NX LG
Volume is 16 cubic feet, and it takes gear up to 175 centimeters long.
- Best for
- Bulky luggage can use five more cubic feet
Facts we checked
- Volume for cargo: 16 cu ft
- Longest ski length: 175 cm
- Shell width: 35 in
- Empty weight for planning: 48 lb using fit guide
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Thule Force 3 L Sport | Yakima SkyBox NX LG | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo volume | 11 cu ft | 16 cu ft | The extra volume on SkyBox does not raise vehicle load limits. |
| Maximum ski length | 175 cm | 175 cm | Sport is narrow, but that does not extend the ski-length limit. |
| Shell width | 24.7 in | 35 in | Take separate measurements of usable rack space and of the other carrier's clearance. |
| Empty weight for planning | 34 lb | 48 lb using fit guide | The box uses part of the roof-load allowance. |
| Crossbar spread | 21 7/8 to 36 5/8 in | 24 to 36 in | Look at the vehicle-approved bar position and the clamp profile. |
| Hatch threshold and method | Greater than 49 13/16 in to roof/hatch junction | 47 in minimum to edge of open hatch | Each brand uses different reference points. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Thule Force 3 L Sport
- A narrow shell is no automatic proof of room for a second carrier
With Yakima SkyBox NX LG
- About fourteen pounds heavier when planning roof load
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Your layout has no room for a box shell over 30 inches wide
Go with Thule Force 3 L Sport. That physical width constraint is met by Sport alone.
Your luggage needs more than 11 cubic feet and up to 16
Go with Yakima SkyBox NX LG. The applicable volume is on SkyBox, subject to shape and weight.
Skis longer than 175 cm
Neither model fits. Pick a model whose stated ski limit is longer.
Decision guide
How to decide
Width on one side, volume on the other
Sport helps when roof width or empty weight limits the setup, while SkyBox is the better match when the luggage itself needs extra bulk capacity. Their ski-length ceiling is the same, so narrow does not mean longer.
Draw out the whole roof layout
Measure the usable section of the bars, the footprint where the box mounts and the second carrier. Leave space for a bike's pedal or handlebar and for opening the box. Shell width gives you a starting point and is not an installation approval.
Check each fit factor alone
Any one of bar spread, clamp profile, hatch motion and load limits can rule a box out. The two brands use different hatch reference points, so apply the prescribed method for each and do not assume the smaller printed clearance number is better.
What this page can’t tell you
- We do not assert any universal box-plus-bike setup. Whether luggage fits depends on the actual internal shape and not only the nominal cubic feet.
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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| Yakima SkyBox NX LG |
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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
The shell needs to stay 24.7 inches wide
See price & reviews on AmazonYakima SkyBox NX LG
Bulky luggage can use five more cubic feet
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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