Thule 866 Escape II Rooftop Cargo Bag Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I used this bag on a trip from NH to NJ and back.

Feedback on said bag, after roughly 600 miles = A-

It held a baby stroller, Four decent sized gym bags, and my sneakers. I had a LOT of room to spare. I really could have gotten away with a smaller bag for this particular trip, but once I fill it up with camping junk, the larger size will definately come in handy.

I attached it via the factory rack on a 2005 Subaru Outback. I attached two front strap to the front, and the to rear straps were in the "holes" at the way back of the OB side rails.

I had to pull over a couple of times as the excess on the straps worked they way loose and would slap around in the wind. I am going to work out a better system for securing the excess on future trips.

Wind noise was minimal. MPG only suffered about 1 mpg (on board computer based calculations).

I can't speak for it's ability to repel water as it never rained on the trip. I had brought trash bags to put stuff in just in case.

Pros:
- Cost- a HUGE bonus for me over the black boxes
- Easy to use
- VERY easy to store vs the black boxes
- Fairly quiet
- No significant (IMO) gas mileage loss.

Cons:
- Not that secure from theft as you can just cut the bag to steal stuff. Not an issue for us, because since we had the dog with us, we never left the car alone anyway.
- Had to remove the bag once I got to the destination as it was empty and had no weight in it to hold it down. The install/ removal, once I got used to the bag, was about 5 minutes each. Really not that big of a deal.
- Straps and the factory rails were not a good match imo, as I couldn't get everything REALLY tight, but the bag never moved at all during the trip, so it did work. I need to work on a better way of securing the excess. The straps that were tucked under the heavier gym bags stayed, but the lighter gym bags and the wind resistance made the straps come loose. I had to tie them around themselves to get them to stay.

All in all, I'd buy the bag again.

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Product Description:
The Thule 866 Escape II Rooftop Cargo Bag has a great new styling with the same great weather protection. With Thule's Escape II your next adventure is within your reach, no matter the size of your car or your budget.
The Escape II has a rugged, updated styling that is consistent with Thule's cargo bag family, and mounts directly to most after-market and factory-installed roof racks. This cargo bag features an oversize rain flap to protect its zippers from weather, easy-to-grab handles for easy bag handling, and internal foam-insert construction that helps maintain the bag's shape for easier packing. Constructed of heavy-duty tarpaulin with taped seams for solid water resistance, the Escape II provides you with the storage capacity of a cargo box without the storage dilemma. This rooftop cargo bag is equipped with interior cargo-management pockets and netting, and has a load capacity of 15 cubic feet.
What's in the Box?
866 Escape II rooftop cargo bag, 4 x attachment straps, and instruction guide
Manufacturer's Warranty
Limited lifetime warranty

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