The catch
SportRack Sidekick
Light, bulky highway loads are restricted by the 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph.
Side by side
SportRack Sidekick vs Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny compared: The shorter shell of Sidekick saves little bar width and comes with a highway load minimum
Quick verdict
Sidekick fits a compact load only if its 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph and its stricter 75 lb cargo cap suit the trip. For long skis, lighter bulky highway cargo or access from either side, SkyBox NX Skinny is the better choice. The shorter Sidekick frees up surprisingly little extra bar width beside the box.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Bar width is reduced by just 1.5 inches with the shorter box
Assume a 50-inch usable bar span. Beside the shell, Sidekick leaves 25 inches and Skinny leaves 23.5 inches. When a bike carrier is the real reason to choose the small box, check that modest difference in person. The far larger saving in length mostly changes the footprint of the box.
Where this comes from
50 - 25 = 25 inches. 50 - 26.5 = 23.5 inches. The outside width of the shell leaves out rack feet, clamps, lid movement and the clearance around a neighboring accessory.
The catch
Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
An 84-inch shell calls for a suitable roof and enough open-hatch clearance.
SportRack Sidekick
- Why pick it
- The roof limits allow it, and your compact highway cargo weighs between 50 and 75 lb.
- Your verified vehicle setup works with the shorter shell and passenger-side access.
- The catch
- Light, bulky highway loads are restricted by the 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph.
Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- Why pick it
- Your skis run up to 195 cm, and the vehicle takes the long box.
- Loading from both sides, or a light, bulky highway load, is what you need.
- The catch
- An 84-inch shell calls for a suitable roof and enough open-hatch clearance.
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What this page compares
A compact passenger-opening carrier set against a long, narrow ski box, with highway load limits and shared roof space taken into account.
Sidekick fits a compact load only if its 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph and its stricter 75 lb cargo cap suit the trip. For long skis, lighter bulky highway cargo or access from either side, SkyBox NX Skinny is the better choice. The shorter Sidekick frees up surprisingly little extra bar width beside the box.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
My highway load is bulky yet 30 lb
Even if the gear fills the shell, Sidekick’s 50 lb minimum above 40 mph still counts.
- SportRack Sidekick
- Below manual minimum
- Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- Candidate after fit checks
190 cm skis are coming on the trip
For long gear, Skinny is the documented candidate, provided mounting and hatch clearance work out.
- SportRack Sidekick
- Ski fit unverified
- Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
A bike that shares a 50-inch usable bar span
There is only a modest difference in width. Before choosing, measure the actual carrier, the clamps and the lid travel.
- SportRack Sidekick
- 25 inches left on paper
- Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- 23.5 inches left on paper
80 lb of cargo, a 165 lb roof and a 20 lb rack
Sidekick’s own cap still applies, light shell or not. Go with the lowest real system limit.
- SportRack Sidekick
- Above 75 lb box cap
- Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- Within example 102 lb allowance
In practice
Differences you will notice
Bar width is reduced by just 1.5 inches with the shorter box
Assume a 50-inch usable bar span. Beside the shell, Sidekick leaves 25 inches and Skinny leaves 23.5 inches. When a bike carrier is the real reason to choose the small box, check that modest difference in person. The far larger saving in length mostly changes the footprint of the box.
How we worked this out
50 - 25 = 25 inches. 50 - 26.5 = 23.5 inches. The outside width of the shell leaves out rack feet, clamps, lid movement and the clearance around a neighboring accessory.
A light load on the highway can flip the case for the small box
Sidekick sets a 50 lb minimum for travel above 40 mph, and a 30 lb load of bedding or camp equipment falls short of it. Skinny stays a candidate once its roof fit and load limits pass. Deciding on eight versus twelve cubic feet would overlook the instruction that governs this trip.
How we worked this out
Say the secured cargo is 30 lb and you travel above 40 mph. The minimum comes from the Sidekick SR 7020 manual. No equivalent minimum showed up in the Yakima instructions that were reviewed.
More approved cargo can ride in a heavier shell
Assume a 165 lb roof allowance and a 20 lb rack. Skinny leaves 102 lb for cargo. Subtracting weight would leave more for Sidekick, but its stricter 75 lb cargo cap is what governs. So an 80 lb load can point to Skinny, even though Skinny weighs substantially more before loading.
How we worked this out
Skinny: 165 - 20 - 43 = 102 lb, unless a lower limit applies. Sidekick: min(165 - 20 - 19.85, 75) = 75 lb. Swap in your actual vehicle and rack ratings for these example assumptions.
Option A
SportRack, SR7020
SportRack Sidekick
This 8 cu ft box opens on the passenger side and weighs 19.85 lb. Its manual warns of a 50 lb minimum load for higher-speed travel, so look at that restriction before you plan a light highway load.
- Best for
- The roof limits allow it, and your compact highway cargo weighs between 50 and 75 lb.
Facts we checked
- Volume for cargo: 8 cu ft
- Outside length and width: 54 x 25 in
- Weight of the empty box: 19.85 lb
- Load boundary in the documentation: 75 lb cargo cap, and a 50 lb minimum above 40 mph
Option B
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 run up to 195 cm, and the vehicle takes the long box.
Facts we checked
- Volume for cargo: 12 cu ft
- Outside length and width: 84 x 26.5 in
- Empty box's weight: 43 lb
- Load boundary in the documentation: Total load stays within the lowest vehicle, rack and box limits
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | SportRack Sidekick | Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo volume | 8 cu ft | 12 cu ft | Skinny gives you more volume, but the shell is much longer. |
| External length and width | 54 x 25 in | 84 x 26.5 in | Only a 1.5-inch width gap accompanies the 30-inch gap in length. |
| Empty box weight | 19.85 lb | 43 lb | Before the cargo cap kicks in, Sidekick uses up less of the roof allowance. |
| 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 | Sidekick’s minimum bears directly on a light, bulky highway load. |
| Loading access | Passenger side | Both sides | You can open Skinny from whichever side of the parking space you can reach. |
| Long-gear documentation | No exact ski-length rating verified | Skis up to 195 cm | Skinny alone has a verified ski-length rating in this pair. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With SportRack Sidekick
- Dual-side access and a verified long-ski rating are both missing.
With Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny
- A heavier shell eats into the total roof allowance ahead of cargo.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
On the highway I carry 30 lb
Go with Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny. Skinny doesn’t have the documented 50 lb minimum cargo restriction that Sidekick applies to travel above 40 mph.
I need documentation that accommodates 190 cm skis
Go with Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny. Up to 195 cm of ski is rated for Skinny, whereas the current Sidekick has no verified exact ski limit.
I carry compact cargo of 60 lb on the highway and need a much shorter shell
Go with SportRack Sidekick. That plan may work with Sidekick’s 54-inch shell and its 50 to 75 lb highway cargo window, once exact vehicle fit has been checked.
Decision guide
How to decide
Let your real cargo drive the choice
The small volume of Sidekick can seem a natural fit for a light trip, but its exact manual sets a 50 lb minimum for driving above 40 mph. That rules out some bedding and camping loads before volume even comes into it. For skis up to 195 cm, Skinny is the documented option, as long as the vehicle supports its longer installation.
Measure the neighboring carrier and do not judge by silhouette
Skinny runs 30 inches longer yet only 1.5 inches wider. If you want a bicycle beside the box, measure the usable bar width and every attachment clearance instead of assuming the small box saves a lot of lateral space. Check the hatch on its own, using Yakima’s open-hatch measurement method for Skinny.
Take off the hardware before applying cargo caps
From the lowest vehicle or rack allowance, subtract the rack, the box and every other roof accessory. Then apply any lower cap specific to the box. For Sidekick, this page uses the stricter 75 lb current-page rating because its manual differs. Skinny’s higher example allowance gives no license to exceed an actual vehicle limit or to skip secure load distribution.
What this page can’t tell you
- We do not borrow an exact Sidekick ski rating, hatch threshold or mounting spread from an older model.
- Nothing measured establishes an advantage in noise, fuel use or water ingress.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SportRack Sidekick |
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| Yakima SkyBox NX Skinny |
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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.
SportRack Sidekick
The roof limits allow it, and your compact highway cargo weighs between 50 and 75 lb.
See price & reviews on AmazonYakima SkyBox NX Skinny
Your skis run up to 195 cm, and the vehicle takes the long box.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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