The Best Kayak Racks to Buy Before for Your Next Outdoor Adventure

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When it comes to kayaking and other water sports, the act of paddling across a lake or down a river is only half the battle. Your first challenge is safely transport equipment and gear to a water source or campsite miles away — without dinging or scratching your ride or watercraft.

Your best bet is to invest in a high-quality kayak rack, and once it's properly installed, you'll be able to travel long distances with peace of mind. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable roof-mounting solutions available and some are even made to carry multiple boats.

Before your next kayaking trip, read on for our top kayak rack recommendations, plus advice on how to choose the right option for your car or SUV.

The Best Kayak Roof Racks

What to Consider

The first thing to think about when looking for a kayak rack is your roof's size, shape, and design. Many hard-mounted solutions require installation of a standard “crossbar” roof rack, along with ratchet-style tow straps. Softer fabric or foam pads often attach directly to the roof, but don’t offer as tight of a grip on cargo.

Racks, carriers, and roof rails are also rated for varying levels of cargo capacity. Some racks are designed to accommodate a single boat, while others can carry up to four. You’ll want to be sure that a preferred carrier can handle the weight of your kayak — and that your car can haul the weight of the equipment without compromising performance.

How We Selected

The kayak racks featured in this story were evaluated using firsthand experience with these products, and during our research we consulted expert reviews from publications, such as AutoWeek and Outside Magazine. We chose a range of styles and included options that span multiple price points, from budget to high-end.

Soft Pad Rack

Key Specs

• Dimensions (L x H x W): 36.2 x 9.1 x 4.7 inches

• Product Weight: 4 pounds

• Load Capacity: 165 pounds

This Orion product makes for a cheap alternative to a crossbar rack and provides cushioning. Straps are fully integrated, with a lower band on each pad looping under the vehicle’s roof, and a top one hugging the midsection of the kayak. You may want to purchase additional straps for the front and rear tips of the boat, depending on size.

Both pads are 33.5 inches wide, and rated for 165 pounds of distributed weight. The carrier features nylon outer layers that protect vehicle paint from scratches, while polyethylene foam cores softly cradle the cargo. The manufacturer also includes a one-year warranty with purchase.

Aero Pads

Key Specs

• Dimensions (L x H x W): 25 x 7 x 3 inches

• Product Weight: 12 ounces

• Load Capacity: 70 pounds

For those that already own crossbar racks, these Yakima pads can be Velcroed over the top to provide a little extra grip and cushioning. There are only two pads included, so ratchet straps will have to be purchased separately. They do however come with a two-year limited warranty.

Sets come in either a 20- or 30-inch width. Since they’re mostly fabric, weight capacity should match whatever the installed crossbar can hold. An advantage to this setup is that it can easily carry cargo like surf or paddle boards without modification. If you plan on hauling a kayak over long distances, though, you’ll probably want the extra security of a hard-mounted option.

J-Bar

Key Specs

• Dimensions (L x H x W): 17.5 x 12.5 x 6.5 inches

• Product Weight: 8 pounds

• Load Capacity: 75 pounds

The J-bar is one of the most popular kayak carrier options out there, because the shape offers inexpensive strength and security. Two of these mounts are included in the TMS set, which bolt on top of roof crossbars. The kayak then lashes into the carriers tilted at a 45-degree angle using two included straps.

This method of storage allows room for two additional J-bars and a second kayak, provided the roof is large and strong enough. Each set supports a boat up to 75 pounds and 36 inches wide. The bars themselves are hollow steel with some foam padding added for hull protection. With kayaks removed, this design sticks out quite a bit from the roof’s surface, possibly affecting aerodynamics and fuel economy.

Folding J-Bar

Key Specs

• Dimensions (L x H x W): 14.4 x 4.7 x 15.5 inches

• Product Weight: 10.5 pounds

• Load Capacity: 150 pounds

These are J-bars very similar to the TMS set, and feature all the same advantages, but with a few extras. The most obvious is the folding mechanism, which allows the bar to accommodate wider kayaks, and can collapse completely flat when not in use.

In the folded position, drivers can easily store the carriers, or just leave them on the roof without worrying about height clearance issues. Each set of two J-bars can also hold a hefty 150 pounds, with up to 40 inches of width. The assembly is mostly steel with grips made from rubber and foam. Two ratchet straps are also included.

Bilateral J-Cradle

Key Specs

• Dimensions (L x H x W): 31.4 x 19.7 x 4 inches

• Product Weight: 16 pounds

• Load Capacity: 150 pounds

This bilateral carrier is basically two J-bars combined into one, providing the most convenient way to haul a couple of kayaks at the same time.

The product is fully adjustable, and each carrier features three hinge points. The side grips can be positioned closer to center for a more secure hold, while the upright bar can be set at an angle for kayaks of two different sizes. It also folds completely flat for a low profile.

The assembly’s stainless steel frame and rubber grips hold a combined 150 pounds, supporting kayaks up to 40 inches. Four straps are included with the set, but you may want more for multiple boats. The manufacturer also offers a two-year warranty with purchase.

Inflatable Carrier

Key Specs

• Dimensions (L x H x W): 14.6 x 7.4 x 5.7 inches

• Weight: 6.4 pounds

• Load Capacity: 175 pounds

The HandiRack acts as a temporary crossbar and cushioned pad in one. The set’s nylon outer layers hold inflatable rubber chambers, which are easily blown up with the included hand pump.

When not in use, they can be deflated to lie flat, or balled up and tossed into the trunk. The cushions are fixed to the roof by lashing through the interior, while the kayak is secured front, rear, and center with the set’s four ratchet straps.

The HandiRack supports cargo up to 38 inches wide, with an exceptional load capacity of 175 pounds. One caveat with this system is that the cushion may become over-inflated in the hot sun, so you’ll want to let out some air as the temperature rises.

Steel Jetty

Key Specs

• Dimensions (L x H x W): 8 x 4.8 x 4.75 inches

• Product Weight: 10.3 pounds

• Load Capacity: 100 pounds

The Jetty set is made up of four individual grips, which give a crossbar great stability while hauling one kayak, and can easily be adjusted for a particular width. The bottom of each saddle features a clamp which bolts to the roof rack, and the top is a rubber pad with a hinge for angle adjustment. Two ratchet straps are included in the pack.

Weight capacity is at 100 pounds, with about as many width adjustments as the installed roof rack can physically allow.

SeaWing

Key Specs

• Dimensions (L x H x W): 27 x 5 x 6 inches

• Product Weight: 10 pounds

• Load Capacity: 70 pounds

The SeaWing’s bow-shaped design cradles a kayak gently, with a body made from flexible polycarbonate and rubber. Two straps are built right into the assembly, saving the headache of them getting tangled up or lost. An additional two bungee cords also come with the set to better secure the bow and stern. The bottom of each wing mounts to a crossbar using four small screws.

Max weight load, however, is a low 70 pounds, with about 35 inches of cargo width. The carrier itself is also quite wide, so smaller vehicles may only be able to mount one set without clearance issues. The tradeoff for this width is that the unloaded carrier is practically flat, so there's no need to mess with folding mechanisms.

BigStack

Key Specs

• Dimensions (L x H x W): 6 x 5 x 22 inches

• Product Weight: 7.8 pounds

• Load Capacity: 80 pounds each

Roof straps easily lash to this set of steel posts from Yakima. Two heavy-duty straps are included, but reviews recommend getting more of them if you want to haul multiple boats.

The BigStack is extremely versatile, able to accommodate square and round crossbars without an adapter. The posts can also fold down when not in use, and are compatible with Yakima’s keyed locking system, sold separately.

The system boasts a very high carrying capacity, capable of loading up to four kayaks, with a total weight over 300 pounds. However, real-world results will vary based on the size of the kayaks, vehicle width, and crossbar weight limits. Most cars will fit at least two full-size kayaks with ease.

Hullavator Pro

Key Specs

• Dimensions (L x H x W): 36 x 16 x 6 inches

• Weight: 39.7 pounds

• Load Capacity: 75 pounds

The Hullavator is a rack and a loading mechanism in one. It uses swing arms with gas struts that allow the whole assembly to be lowered to the side of the vehicle, so kayaks can be easily mounted without having to lift them overhead.

The struts effectively reduce the boat’s weight by 40 pounds, which can be crucial for consumers who need mobility assistance. Each rack uses four J-bar attach points to carry one kayak up to 75 pounds. Multiple racks may be able to fit on wider roofs.

This unique mechanism does have a few downsides, as the swing arms may not work as intended on vehicles with lower roofs and ride heights. The assembly is also heavy for its size, so keep that in mind when checking your crossbars’ weight rating.

However, for the steep price, you get unmatched convenience and security. Thule racks are also manufactured in the United States, and come with a lifetime limited warranty.

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