Asinking Car Rooftop Cargo Carrier - 21 Cubic Feet, 100% Waterproof Heavy Duty 840D Car Roof Bag for All Vehicles with/Without Racks - Anti-Slip Mat, 6 Door Hooks, Storage Bag, 2 Extra Straps

Why I picked this roof bag and how it performed

I strapped the Asinking roof bag onto two different vehicles for testing—first a midsize SUV with crossbars, then a sedan without a rack—to see how it handles real travel scenarios. I used it for weekend runs into the mountains and a longer highway slog in iffy weather. In short: it adds a huge amount of usable space, stays put when mounted correctly, and keeps gear dry in proper rain. The experience isn’t totally friction‑free—there’s a bit of a learning curve on installation, and like all soft rooftop carriers, careful packing and strap management matter—but it hits a smart balance of capacity, weather protection, and price.

Setup and installation

The bag ships with an anti‑slip mat, eight adjustable straps, padded door hooks for rack‑less mounting, two extra tie‑down straps, a small luggage lock, and a storage bag. You can anchor it two ways:

• With a roof rack: run the straps around crossbars or side rails.
• Without a rack: use the included door hooks that tuck into the door frame.

Both methods work. I prefer using crossbars when available because it’s simpler and you can cinch the load down more symmetrically. On the sedan, the door hooks felt secure once I found the right anchor points behind the weather stripping. Two notes if you’re mounting without a rack:

• Check your vehicle manual for side curtain airbag locations and only hook to solid metal frame, not plastic trim.
• Take your time placing the anti‑slip mat so it fully supports the bag and keeps grit off the paint.

The first install took me about 20 minutes solo (faster with two people). After that, I could fit and tension it in under 10 minutes. The included instructions are basic; the key steps that matter are:

1) Lay down the anti‑slip mat square to the roof.
2) Place the bag and loosely attach all straps.
3) Load the bag (more on packing below) and close the waterproof zipper fully.
4) Wrap the wide Velcro storm flap over the zipper—smooth it flat so the opening is completely covered.
5) Tighten opposing straps in small increments to keep the load centered. A small twist in each strap eliminates wind hum.

Once tightened properly, the bag didn’t walk around, even in gusty crosswinds.

Build quality and materials

The PVC‑coated 840D fabric is thick and abrasion resistant, and the welded seams feel robust. It’s not a featherweight; that’s a good thing here. The zipper is beefy and shielded by an extra‑wide Velcro flap. Buckles are solid enough for the job, though not as premium as what you’ll find on high‑end expedition gear. After multiple installs and a few full loads, I didn’t see fraying or seam stress.

A reality check on soft bags: long‑term durability often depends on how you treat them. PVC fabric can crease‑crack if it’s folded hard the same way and stored hot. If you dry it thoroughly, avoid dragging it, and vary the fold lines when you pack it away, it will last longer.

Capacity and packing

At 21 cubic feet, it swallows a family road trip with room to spare. For one mountain run, I packed:

• Four carry‑on sized roller bags
• Two duffels
• A compact tent and two sleeping bags

The bag kept its shape when full, which makes tensioning the straps easier. A few packing tips that made a difference:

• Put soft, compressible items (sleeping bags, jackets) forward toward the wind.
• Keep hard corners and sharp edges centered and padded to avoid point loads.
• Don’t overstuff past the zipper’s natural arc; forcing it stresses the teeth and invites leaks.
• Use lightweight totes or cubes inside if you need structure, but pad the edges.

Check your vehicle’s roof load limit (often 100–165 lb including rack, if any). The bag itself is reasonably light, but it’s easy to exceed limits when you start adding luggage.

Waterproofing in the real world

I ran the bag through a few hours of heavy rain and one wind‑driven storm. Everything inside stayed dry. The wide storm flap is the difference maker—when I took the extra minute to smooth and fully overlap it, I had zero drips. A couple of best practices:

• Always route the overlap so the leading edge faces downwind; don’t leave gaps at the corners.
• Avoid leaving the bag empty on the roof in a prolonged downpour; water can pool and wick in through handling creases. If you must, give it a wipe and check before packing.
• If you’re carrying moisture‑sensitive items, use dry bags or heavy trash liners for belt‑and‑suspenders protection. It’s cheap insurance, especially in freezing rain.

On‑road behavior: stability, noise, and mileage

With the anti‑slip mat and eight straps properly tensioned, stability was excellent. I didn’t notice shifting, and there was no thumping or drumming. Wind noise was remarkably low for a soft carrier; twisting the straps removes the classic strap whistle. As with any rooftop load, expect a small hit to fuel economy and a bit more sensitivity to crosswinds, especially on a sedan. The bag’s rounded front helps compared to boxier shapes.

Using it without a roof rack

The included padded door hooks work and didn’t chew up weather stripping when installed correctly. A few setup notes:

• Clean the roof first; grit under the mat is what scuffs paint.
• Place hooks at sturdy points along the metal frame; test each by pulling firmly before loading.
• Close the doors carefully over the straps so the seals sit flat; a misrouted strap can create a drip path in heavy rain.
• After the first 10 minutes of driving, recheck strap tension. Fabric and load will settle.

If you travel frequently without a rack, investing in a set of low‑profile crossbars still makes life easier, but it’s not required here.

Security and day‑to‑day use

This is a soft carrier, so think “casual deterrence,” not vault security. The included luggage lock keeps the zipper pulls together but won’t stop a knife. I run a lightweight cable lock through the bag handles and around a crossbar when I’m away from the car for longer periods and remove the bag overnight on multi‑day trips. The fabric wipes clean with soap and water; let it dry fully before folding. In cold weather, the PVC stiffens a bit—let it warm up inside before rolling it back into the storage bag.

Downsides and trade‑offs

• Installation clarity: The learning curve is real, especially on a car without a rack. The printed guidance could be more explicit about hook placement and flap orientation.
• Buckle and strap hardware: Adequate but not premium. Double‑back your tail ends and tie off any loose webbing so adjustments don’t creep.
• Soft‑bag realities: Long‑term exposure to UV and repeated folding on the same crease will shorten the life of any PVC carrier. Treat it like gear, not a permanent fixture.
• Theft resistance: As with all fabric bags, security is “keep honest people honest.” If you need robust security, a hard shell with integrated locks is better.

Who it’s best for

• Families and small groups who need occasional extra space for road trips, beach weeks, or seasonal moves.
• Drivers who want a waterproof carrier that works whether or not the car has a rack.
• Anyone prioritizing capacity and packability over hard‑shell security and aerodynamics.

If you’re a high‑mileage traveler who keeps a carrier mounted most of the year, a molded box will offer better long‑term UV resilience and true lockability, at a higher cost.

The bottom line

The Asinking roof bag solves the right problems: it’s big, it’s genuinely weatherproof when set up correctly, and it stays put at highway speeds. The materials feel up to repeated trips, and the included mat and door‑hook kit make it accessible for cars without racks. It rewards careful installation and smart packing, and like all soft carriers, it asks for a little maintenance to maximize longevity.

Recommendation: I recommend this roof bag for occasional to moderate use by travelers who want expandable, rack‑optional storage without spending hard‑box money. It delivers reliable waterproofing, stable on‑road manners, and generous capacity. Just budget an extra few minutes for proper setup, twist and tie off your straps, and store it clean and dry between trips. If you need maximum theft resistance or plan to leave a carrier on the roof year‑round, consider a hard shell; for most road‑trip use cases, this bag is a practical, well‑executed choice.