We purchased one years ago for our yearly trek from NJ to NC. We only used it once. It did not rain on that trip, but they are water resistant not water proof. Put everything in garbage bags! After that we purchased the hard type. The canvas type is great for people who need the extra space but don't have room to store the hard type. If you need the roof storage for trips often I would suggest getting the hard type. My husband has attached our to the ceiling in our garage. If you don't travel with alot of stuff often, the canvas is a better choice.