Which kayak roof rack is best for your car, truck or van? This handy guide will help you find a carrier that fits your paddling needs!
Bringing your kayak, Sup or surfboard is easy if you have the right roof rack. To find the best option that suits you and your vehicle, have a think about the following questions:
What do you want to transport?
Do you want a kayak carrier that can also a carry a surfboard or paddle board?
Do you need space on your car roof for other equipment like a bike rack?
Are you looking for a kayak roof rack that is easy to load?
Once you have answered these questions, it’ll be easier to figure out which kayak carrier is right for your next trip to the water.
Are you transporting more than one kayak?
Kayak roof racks are generally divided into horizontal and vertical roof racks. If you’re planning to transport more than one kayak, you might want to look at the vertical (sometimes called J-style) kayak roof racks. These allow you to stack more kayaks on your vehicle.
Examples
Thule Kayak Stacker
Rhino-Rack Nautic Stack
Transporting a kayak or maybe a paddle board?
If you want a kayak roof rack that can carry your kayak one day and your surfboard or paddle board the next, there are kayak racks that can do both.
Examples
Thule Dockgrip
Rhino-Rack Nautic 570
Transporting a kayak and bike?
If you want space left over on your car roof to transport other equipment like a bicycle, a vertical kayak roof rack is probably the better option since it leaves some space on the rack to transport other things.
Examples
Thule Hull-a-Port XT
Rhino-Rack Folding J S512
Need a bit of help loading your kayak on the rack?
If the thought of loading a kayak onto the roof of your car sounds challenging for you, there are some kayak car carriers that make the loading process easier. Some kayak roof racks can be lowered so that you can load the kayak at your own height. Others are made of a smooth material that lets you slide the kayak onto the car roof. This means you can load the kayak easily, even if you’re off paddling on your own.
Examples
Thule DockGlide
Rhino-Rack Nautic 571
Don't forget the Racks!
Please note that you will need a roof rack in order to mount a kayak rack on your car. Browse our vehicle fitment database to find the right rack to suit your car here.
