THULE RANGER 500 £255

USED BY kitchen sink-packing news and features writer Ben Weeks USED FOR 6 months

I drive an estate car. It’s not the world’s most exciting vehicle, but it is practical, thanks to its capacious boot. But when a family of four go camping for a week, even that roomy space isn’t enough. That’s when a roof box comes in handy. The Ranger 500 provides 260 litres of extra packing space when fully unfurled, and because it’s a soft rather than rigid box, when not in use in can be folded to take up less space in the house (which is also stuffed to the gills thanks to the same family of four). It’s long enough to swallow skis or a snowboard, too. Not that I own either, but I’m told it’s a useful ability to note in a roof box. It has waterproof zippers and an expandable lid which, so far, doesn’t appear to leak at all. It also doesn’t create much noise when in motion, although it does slightly reduce fuel efficiency. I’ve also found the Ranger great for stashing a wet tent at the end of a camping trip, rather than having it in the car with the dry luggage. I may not have dreamed of estate cars, roof bars and roof racks when I was a kid with thoughts of Ferraris, but as an adult with a family, it sure makes life easier.

VERDICT

Useful extra packing space when you can’t leave a child behind.