SportRack Horizon Alpine Review

The main benefit of the Horizon Alpine is its lower price compared to the premium models, so if you don't want to spend the equivalent of a new pair of skis on a top-of-the-line Thule or Yakima box, the Horizon Alpine is where it's at. Its 11 cubic feet of storage can hold up to six pairs of skis or three snowboards, up to 210cm in length. This sets the Alpine apart from many budget cargo boxes that are typically too short to hold any skis, boards, or other lengthy pieces of gear. Additionally, SportRack produces a 16 cubic foot version of this box called the Horizon L.

Ease of Use

The Horizon Alpine comes fully assembled right out of the box, but the installation process can be a bit of a pain. It uses a sort of hybrid system between a one-piece clamping system and U-bolts. You mount the metal mounting plates and one bolt while on the ground, then lift it onto your car to install the remaining bolts.

There are a series of holes drilled in the bottom of the Alpine to accommodate different crossbar spreads as well. Unfortunately, this adjustability provides plenty of places for water intrusion. SportRack provides a set of vinyl stickers to cover the unused holes, but we wouldn't necessarily feel comfortable putting anything particularly moisture-sensitive up there unless it had some additional water protection.

We appreciate that no additional tools are needed for the installation, but it was somewhat challenging to install solo, as holding a bolt in place on the bottom while tightening the nut can be quite a reach. It isn't too bad once you get the hang of it, and we removed the Horizon Alpine from the rack on a fairly tall vehicle and reinstalled it in 20-25 minutes without assistance. However, it took closer to an hour to install the box the first time since the directions weren't the clearest.

Some boxes have the ability to open from either side, but the Horizon Alpine's lid only opens towards the passenger side. It also lacks an internal light or any way to secure your cargo, so you will want to make sure you have some extra straps on hand and a headlamp when loading up. It does have a locking latch and a strap handle to help make it easier to close if you have it mounted on a taller vehicle.

Security

The lock core on the Horizon Alpine is fairly run-of-the-mill, lacking any additional handles or indicators. It feels decently solid and easy to turn, relying on a much more typical key than many other boxes, which have a large plastic handle molded right onto the key. It is a bit less comfortable to turn, but the design is more compact on your key ring.

It is impossible to remove the key while the box is unlocked, which helps ensure that it's locked and also makes it impossible to lock your keys inside of it. However, we wouldn't want to leave valuables in the Horizon Alpine for long periods, as it wouldn't take that much work to break in — but this is true for many roof boxes.

Quality

The actual box of the Horizon Alpine seems comparable to the vast majority of other rooftop cargo boxes we have tested. It has approximately the same wall thickness and level of rigidity. The matte finish conceals scratches and scuffs more easily than the glossier boxes.

The mounting hardware also seems solid, though it is a little disconcerting when tightening the nuts down, as there is no indication of how tight to go. The bottom of the box starts to deform if you go overly tight, but you obviously want them to be tight enough to ensure the box and your gear stay attached to the car.

The lid on the Horizon Alpine is a little floppy compared to some of the other models we tested. It has the benefit of being one of the narrowest cargo boxes, but there is still enough play in the lid that you need to be careful when closing the box to ensure the internal locking mechanism is lined up.

Appearance

The Horizon Alpine is one of the more plain-looking boxes of the bunch, but it was generally well-received by our judges. Its minimalistic design, paired with its long and narrow aspect ratio, matches the lines of most cars fairly well, aided by the matte finish. You might not be making heads turn with the Alpine on your car, but it's far from being an eyesore.

Should You Buy the SportRack Horizon Alpine?

If you are shopping for a cargo carrier on a tight budget, then the Horizon Alpine should definitely be on your shortlist of products to consider. It has all the basic features you could ask for and can transport skis and snowboards, all while costing considerably less than the premium products. It might not be the best bet if you constantly take your cargo box on and off your car or want the most features, but it's hard to find a better option than the Alpine for a budget-conscious shopper.

What Other Cargo Boxes Should You Consider?

For a sleeker, more refined design with easier mounting hardware and dual-sided access, models like the Thule Motion 3 XL or Yakima SkyBox NX XL are worth a look, though they come at a higher price. If you are willing to spend a bit more but are not ready for full-blown premium prices, you may consider the budget-friendly Goplus Rooftop Carrier, which won't fit your long skis but offers a greater overall storage capacity and easier mounting process.