REASONS TO BUY
Textured matte finish hides blemishes
Easy to install
REASONS TO AVOID
No handle
Only opens on one side
Pricey
Thule Pulse Review
If you are searching for a bare-bones cargo carrier without bells and whistles, then this is a good choice
Credit: Thule
RELATED: Best Cargo Boxes
Our Verdict
If you are looking for a plain and simple cargo box that can carry your stuff and doesn't have all the extra bells and whistles of the premium products, then the Thule Pulse might be a perfect choice. This box is quick to install or remove and can fit a considerable amount of gear. It also has a textured matte finish that does a better job hiding scuffs, scrapes, and dirt than some competitors' high-gloss finishes. Overall, this box is a little underwhelming for the name brand's price, but we also don't think you'll be disappointed if it ends up on top of your car.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Thule Pulse | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Bang for the Buck | Another Solid Budget Option | Best Bargain for a Basic, Long Option | ||
| Price | $599.95 at Backcountry Compare at 4 sellers | $690 List $690.00 at REI | $599.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $460 List $459.99 at Amazon | $450 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | If you are looking for a basic roof box that holds your gear without a ton of extra features, then this might be the cargo carrier for you | If you don't have really bulky items to transport and you expect to have to take your roof box on and off many times, this will be the quickest one | If you are looking to save some cash and still want a solid cargo carrier, we strongly recommend this one | If you are trying to maximize bang for the buck and aren’t typically transporting longer skis and gear, we highly recommend this rooftop cargo carrier | A great option if you're shopping on a tight budget and need to haul long items like skis or snowboards |
| Rating Categories | Thule Pulse | INNO Wedge 660 | Yakima RocketBox Pr... | Goplus Rooftop Carrier | SportRack Horizon A... |
| Ease of Use (40%) | |||||
| Security (30%) | |||||
| Quality (20%) | |||||
| Appearance (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Thule Pulse | INNO Wedge 660 | Yakima RocketBox Pr... | Goplus Rooftop Carrier | SportRack Horizon A... |
| Measured Weight | 36.0 lbs | 45.3 lbs | 40.0 lbs | 25.0 lbs | 25.0 lbs |
| Volume | 16 cu ft | 11 cu ft | 14 cu ft | 14 cu ft | 11 cu ft |
| Dimensions | 76" x 33" x 16.5" | 80" x 33" x 11" | 74" x 33" x 16" | 63" x 31" x 15" | 88.75" x 21" x 15.75" |
| Additional Available Sizes | Alpine, M | n/a | Pro 11 (11 cu ft), Pro 12 (12 cu ft) | n/a | L (16 cu ft), XL (17 cu ft) |
| Maximum Ski Length | 181 cm | 190 cm | 170 cm | 140 cm | 210 cm |
| Access | Passenger side | Dual-side | Dual-side | Dual-side | Passenger side |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Pulse is pretty basic, but one nice feature, if you have other Thule products, is its one-key system compatible, allowing you to order a set of lock cores and have one key that unlocks all of your Thule vehicle accessories.
Performance Comparison
The Pulse is about as basic as you can get when it comes to cargo boxes.
Credit: David Wise
Ease of Use
Our first testing metric for the Thule Pulse focused on convenience and user-friendliness. The bulk of the score for this metric is based on the effort it takes to remove or install this cargo carrier on most cars, but we also looked at how easy the lid is to open and close and how much work it is to load or unload gear. The Pulse did decently well; we are definitely fans of how easy it is to install and remove this cargo box. It uses Thule quick-clamps for a tool-free install. This process usually only took us 5-10 minutes, with the hardest part being simply lifting the cargo box into position, particularly on taller vehicles. That said, this box is one of the lighest 16 cubic feet capacity boxes we have tested at 36 pounds.
That said, the clamps are slightly different than those found on the top-tier Thule models, as there is no indicator on the clamps that you have tightened them sufficiently. The top-tier models will audibly click when they are tightened with sufficient torque. It also isn't quite as easy to open or close the Pulse as it just has the smallest molded protrusion to act as a handle. However, the lid does open and close smoothly, and there are included straps for securing your gear in place, using the integrated brackets on the four quick clamps.
We very much appreciate that they went with a one-piece clamp compared to a U-bolt system.
Credit: David Wise
Our biggest complaint with the Pulse is that it can only be accessed from the vehicle's passenger side. While this isn't a huge problem, especially when you have the established habit of always going to that side of the car to get your gear, we did find ourselves missing the added flexibility of a dual-opening cargo box.
Security
We feel the Pulse did about average when it comes to security. Generally, we wouldn't trust any of these cargo carriers to withstand a determined thief for all that long. However, the Pulse does have what feels like a solid locking system. The clamps can only be loosened from the inside of the box, and it would take considerable force to bend or break them enough to remove the entire cargo carrier from your crossbars without access to the inside. The lock seems fairly common and run-of-the-mill, inspiring average confidence that our belongings would still be where we left them. However, there aren't any indicators on the Pulse to see if the box is unlocked or locked. Fortunately, the keys can't be removed when the lock is unlocked, minimizing the chance that you will accidentally forget to lock it.
Quality
We rated and scored the durability of each cargo box by looking at how floppy the lid is when opening and closing, as well as how well they stood up to the rigors of our comprehensive testing process. The Thule Pulse again scored quite well, meriting one of the better scores of the group.
This cargo box is one of the larger options available (we tested the 16 cubic foot size Large), so there is some inherent lid floppiness, but overall we were impressed with the general sturdiness and rigidity of the Pulse. It almost always lined up perfectly when we went to shut it, without any extra coaxing to get the latches to engage.
We also like that the textured matte finish does a better job concealing scuffs and scrapes than the high-gloss finishes on some of the premium models. However, we could see the quick-clamps wearing out a bit faster, as these are easier to overtighten with the lack of an audible click.
The keys can't be removed when the cargo box is unlocked -- a very handy feature.
Credit: David Wise
Appearance
Our fourth and final metric focused on the overall aesthetics of each cargo carrier, as just about everyone cares about style at least a little. Overall, we found the Pulse to be pretty plain in the looks department. It does have some sleek lines but is essentially a large matte black box on the roof of your car. It's not available in any other colors or styles but it at least doesn't clash with the appearance of most automobiles in our opinion. The textured finish can make it seem a bit cheap though.
Value
The Pulse is a decent value. It has all the key features that we want without any extras. While the price is a bit high, it's lower than many premium models.
Conclusion
If you are shopping for a cargo carrier that is easy to install or remove from your car and won't totally break the bank, then the Thule Pulse is a solid option. The quick-clamp system makes the installation process a breeze, and we found this cargo carrier to be spacious enough for most of our adventures. It looks fine and is decently secure and durable in our experience.
—
David Wise
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