The catch
Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
It takes up 1.8 inches more bar width and is 9 lb heavier.
Side by side
Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny vs Thule Force 3 L Sport compared: Skinny fits longer skis and wider bars, while Sport saves more of the roof allowance
Quick verdict
SkyBox NX Skinny is the pick for skis longer than 175 cm and up to 195 cm, or for approved bar spacing above 36 5/8 and no more than 40 inches. Force 3 L Sport is the pick for shorter gear when shared bar space and roof allowance matter. Both still need a vehicle-specific hatch and mounting check.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
A 190 cm ski may matter more than a narrower shell
The Skinny’s 195 cm limit covers a 190 cm ski, while the same ski runs 15 cm over the Sport limit. On that trip, the extra 1.8 inches of Yakima width is what gets you a workable way to carry skis. Check the second carrier’s clearance instead of squeezing a long ski into the smaller limit.
Where this comes from
190 cm sits inside the 195 cm rating and 15 cm above the 175 cm rating. Widths differ by 26.5 - 24.7 = 1.8 inches. Fit for bags and bindings has to be checked on its own.
The catch
Thule Force 3 L Sport
190 cm skis are beyond its 175 cm ski limit.
Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- Why pick it
- Your skis measure 190 cm.
- Approved crossbar spacing on your vehicle is past the Force Sport range yet within 40 inches.
- The catch
- It takes up 1.8 inches more bar width and is 9 lb heavier.
Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Why pick it
- A second carrier needs room, and your longest skis are 175 cm at most.
- Total roof-load allowance is tight, so a lighter shell matters.
- The catch
- 190 cm skis are beyond its 175 cm ski limit.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money
What this page compares
For a bike-and-ski trip, this sets two narrow roof boxes against real ski limits, bar spacing and the weight left over for luggage.
SkyBox NX Skinny is the pick for skis longer than 175 cm and up to 195 cm, or for approved bar spacing above 36 5/8 and no more than 40 inches. Force 3 L Sport is the pick for shorter gear when shared bar space and roof allowance matter. Both still need a vehicle-specific hatch and mounting check.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Carrying 190 cm skis
Skinny allows 195 cm of ski, but the Sport stops at 175 cm.
- Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- Better fit
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Not suitable
Approved bars locked at 38 inches apart
The Skinny’s limit is 40 inches, the Sport’s is 36 5/8.
- Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- Better fit
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Not suitable
A bicycle carrier with short gear alongside
The Sport comes in 1.8 inches narrower and 9 lb lighter, assuming the real mounting clearance works out.
- Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- Caution
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Better fit
Total roof weight that is near the limit
The same system allowance has to cover the rack, box, bicycle, carrier and cargo.
- Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- Weigh everything
- Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Weigh everything
In practice
Differences you will notice
A 190 cm ski may matter more than a narrower shell
The Skinny’s 195 cm limit covers a 190 cm ski, while the same ski runs 15 cm over the Sport limit. On that trip, the extra 1.8 inches of Yakima width is what gets you a workable way to carry skis. Check the second carrier’s clearance instead of squeezing a long ski into the smaller limit.
How we worked this out
190 cm sits inside the 195 cm rating and 15 cm above the 175 cm rating. Widths differ by 26.5 - 24.7 = 1.8 inches. Fit for bags and bindings has to be checked on its own.
Factor in the bicycle before you pick the box
Assume a hypothetical 165 lb system limit, a 20 lb rack and a 35 lb bicycle plus carrier. Skinny then leaves 67 lb for box cargo, and Sport leaves 76 lb. When the gear is short enough to go in either box, Thule saves nine pounds for luggage and the rack and bicycle stay as they are.
How we worked this out
165 - 20 - 35 - 43 = 67 lb. Swap the 43 lb box for the 34 lb box and you get 76 lb. Use whichever vehicle, rack or accessory rating is lowest in practice.
Bars fixed at 38-inch spacing take away the small box’s edge
If approved bars on a vehicle are fixed 38 inches apart, that falls inside Skinny’s 24 to 40-inch range and past Sport’s 36 5/8-inch maximum. A lighter body does nothing for the Sport here, since the mounting mismatch remains. Don’t move the bars unless the vehicle and rack instructions allow it.
How we worked this out
38 - 36.625 = 1.375 inches past Sport’s maximum. Clamp width, bar profile and hatch clearance are still checks of their own.
Option A
Yakima, 8007368
Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
This 12 cu ft box handles skis up to 195 cm. At 26.5 inches wide, it leaves more room beside it than the full-width SkyBox NX XL does.
- Best for
- Your skis measure 190 cm.
Facts we checked
- Longest ski length: 195 cm
- Volume for cargo: 12 cu ft
- Outside width: 26.5 in
- Empty box's weight: 43 lb
Option B
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
- A second carrier needs room, and your longest skis are 175 cm at most.
Facts we checked
- Longest ski length: 175 cm
- Volume for cargo: 11 cu ft
- Outside width: 24.7 in
- Empty box's weight: 34 lb
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny | Thule Force 3 L Sport | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum ski length | 195 cm | 175 cm | Long skis that fit the other box don’t fit the narrower Thule. |
| Cargo volume | 12 cu ft | 11 cu ft | Gear shape matters as much as total space. |
| External width | 26.5 in | 24.7 in | A neighboring carrier gets more nominal space beside the Thule. |
| Empty box weight | 43 lb | 34 lb | The box itself comes off the allowance first. |
| Crossbar spread | 24 to 40 in | 21 7/8 to 36 5/8 in | Fixed bars may rule one box out before you pack. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- A 24-inch minimum bar spacing rules out some narrower layouts.
With Thule Force 3 L Sport
- Wider fixed layouts are beyond its maximum 36 5/8-inch spread.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
My skis come to 190 cm
Go with Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny. That length is within Skinny’s 195 cm limit.
My skis are within 175 cm, and keeping side space free matters most
Go with Thule Force 3 L Sport. Sport has less width and less weight.
Decision guide
How to decide
Begin with the longest item
Before picking a box by volume, measure your longest ski or board. Labels of 12 and 11 cu ft look close, but the ski limits serve different loads. With a 190 cm ski, Skinny is the relevant model, even if a shorter and narrower box first seems easier to share with a bike.
Treat two carriers as a single roof load
Before packing, add the bicycle and its carrier to the weights of the rack and box. Then measure the usable bar space around the feet, clamps, lid travel and bicycle. Subtracting widths is a planning aid and does not prove that these two accessories can safely share your rack.
Bar spacing comes before hatch clearance
The documented spread for Skinny reaches wider, while Sport starts at a narrower one. On a fixed mounting layout either can be ruled out. Once spacing is approved, use each brand’s own hatch diagram, since the measurement reference differs, and hold on to the final installed height for garage checks.
What this page can’t tell you
- External width alone guarantees neither a side-by-side bike installation nor a vehicle fit.
- Nothing measured establishes an advantage in wind noise, fuel economy or weatherproofing.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny |
|
| |
| Thule Force 3 L Sport |
|
|
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.
Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
Your skis measure 190 cm.
See price & reviews on AmazonThule Force 3 L Sport
A second carrier needs room, and your longest skis are 175 cm at most.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money