Packing for a road trip often turns into a contest for space inside the car. A conventional rooftop cargo box can solve that problem, but it creates another one when the trip ends: where do you keep a large, rigid box? FLATED’s AirCarrier takes a different approach. It travels in a bag, inflates into a rooftop cargo carrier when needed, and deflates so it can be rolled away afterward.
The setup is the most striking part. Pull the rolled-up carrier from the trunk, unroll and inflate it, secure it to the vehicle, and load it with luggage or outdoor gear. The footage provided by FLATED shows it attached to roof racks before the vehicle heads out. When the extra cargo space is no longer needed, the carrier can be removed and stored in its included bag.
How can an inflatable roof box hold its shape?
The AirCarrier uses FLATED’s drop-stitch construction. Thousands of internal threads connect the material’s opposing surfaces, helping the inflated structure stay relatively flat and rigid rather than bulging like an ordinary air mattress. Its sidewalls are made from PVC, while zippers on both sides let travelers reach the contents from either side of the vehicle.
FLATED includes a high-pressure hand pump and a carry bag with shoulder straps. An electric pump is available separately. The company describes the carrier’s shape as aerodynamic, but it does not provide a measured fuel-efficiency figure for the AirCarrier. As with other rooftop loads, adding a box may increase wind resistance while driving.
Roof racks are optional, but fit still matters
For vehicles with crossbars, built-in straps secure the AirCarrier to the bars. FLATED also supplies a pass-through strap setup for suitable vehicles without racks: the straps run through the open doors and buckle inside. That gives it more mounting flexibility than a box that requires crossbars, although buyers still need to check their roof dimensions, vehicle load limit, and the mounting instructions for their particular vehicle.
The carrier can also be used with FLATED’s inflatable AirTopper truck-bed cover, which has roof attachment points. The allowable load in any setup depends on the vehicle and mounting arrangement, so the AirTopper or vehicle’s published limits should take priority over how much gear physically fits in the box.
Four versions in the current collection
FLATED’s AirCarrier collection lists four models: the Medium Carrier10 ($519), Large Carrier15 ($549), Sport Carrier15 ($599) and XLarge Carrier23 ($599). The Sport has a longer, narrower shape suited to gear such as skis and snowboards. The FLATED AirCarrier is available on Amazon, where readers can check the current price, model dimensions, included accessories and availability before choosing the version that fits their vehicle and travel plans.
The AirCarrier’s practical advantage is less about replacing a hard box on a permanently equipped vehicle and more about occasional extra space. It can free up room for passengers during a family trip, then go back into a closet or trunk instead of occupying garage space year-round. Dual-sided access makes packing and unloading easier, while the inflatable design keeps storage compact between trips.
There are trade-offs to keep in mind. FLATED advises securing and checking all straps and zippers before each trip and at stops, keeping the product properly inflated, and removing it before an automatic car wash. It also warns that exterior cargo can affect vehicle height and wind resistance. For someone who only needs a rooftop box on certain weekends, though, the ability to bring a cargo carrier out of a bag may be the feature that matters most.
Source: Amazon Product Page, FLATED AirCarrier
