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.

This bag doesn't look like much, although it is pretty sturdy and worth the price. We drove from Virginia Beach to Temecula, California with this bag on the top of our 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee and it far exceeded our expectations. I had intended to buy a hard luggage roof container, but this was far cheaper. It held its shape perfectly and protected its cargo. I later realized I had overloaded the bag by about 50-75 pounds, but you wouldn't know - the bag held together fine. We took about two weeks to drive from coast to coast, logging numerous miles on side trips and stops - we usually left the bag on the roof but in a few locations took it off for security - it was minimal effort to remove (about 5 mins) then replace the next morning. It is also important to note that we did find inclement weather (hard rain) going through South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana. I was worried because I had left some important documents in the suit case on the roof, but no worries - there was not even condensation in the roof bag! Bottom line - well worth the cost, very durable, easy to install and remove, protects against the elements. Only suggestion - include more straps 4 was not enough - we bought 2 32" bungie cables to ensure the load didn't shift.

After deciding to take the dog on our family vaycay, we realized we needed help with space! The Thule 866 Escape was easy to install and held a LOT of our stuff. We spotted many of them on the road and will never go on a trip without it again!

I bought this product for a 6-7 hour trip to VT. And although it claims there is max water resistance, read here that they mean that it is not remotely waterproof. We hit a long-lasting rainstorm, and of course found water in the bag. Puddles of water and everything else was damp. What really surprised me was the same thing happened after a rainstorm when the car was NOT moving. Puddles of water and everything was damp again (of course the night and day that we left VT!)
If you live somewhere that is really dry, this is the bag for you - otherwise I'd avoid this product.
I'm really disappointed with it and will be saying the same to the manufacturer.

Excellent quality construction and design. Easy to attach to vehicle. Good closure - zipper covered by velcro-fastened flap, and extra straps for tightening. Light weight but sturdy. Good capacity - I had 2 medium and 2 small bags, plus 3 beach chairs and towels, and probably could have squeezed in some more.