For reference, I was able to fit four pairs of skis with room to spare, the longest of which was 185 centimeters (Thule claims you can fit five to seven pairs up to 200cm, or three to five snowboards). I’m used to dealing with these items bouncing around and creating a lot of noise while driving on bumpy forest service roads, but the Motion XT’s straps keep everything tight and quiet.įor winter use, the Motion XT XL has ample space for stowing snowboards and skis. I especially loved the built-in tie-down straps inside the box, which made it easy to secure my vehicle recovery tools like Maxtrax, a shovel, rope, and shackles.

On a recent drive through Utah and up to Oregon, the Motion XT comfortably swallowed our massive NEMO Jazz 30 Double sleeping bag and accompanying (and equally big) Roamer Double pad, as well as backpacks, off-road equipment, and a large YETI cooler. With 18 cubic feet of capacity and a functional shape that can accommodate bulky equipment, the Thule Motion XT XL is a great match for gear-intensive outings and long road trips. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best rooftop cargo boxes. Below we break down our experiences with the Motion XT XL. In short, it’s a real standout for gear-intensive adventures with quick and secure access to the interior, generous capacity that can accommodate large and bulky equipment (including multiple pairs of long skis), and best-in class installation that makes it easy to swap between vehicles. The Motion slots in as their premium all-rounder, and we recently took the mid-sized XL version on an extended road trip from Colorado back home to Vancouver Island. Thule’s rooftop cargo box collection is undeniably extensive, from luxurious designs with felt-lined interiors and built-in lighting to soft-sided models for cheap and compact storage.

Thule motion xt xl tesla model 3