Search

*Disclaimer: Tossions earns a commission from qualifying purchases.

The 8 Best car racks for kayaks of 2024

Are you trying to find car racks for kayaks among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!

We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling car racks for kayaks on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 14 hours of research and did 31 car racks for kayaks tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!

An overview of our top picks

Table of contents

The best car racks for kayaks you can buy today

No. 1
Leader Accessories 2 in 1 Aluminum Folding Kayak Rack J Bar Car Roof Rack for Canoe Surf Board SUP On Roof Top Mount on SUV, Car and Truck Crossbar with 4 pcs Tie Down Straps
  • [ HEAVY DUTY CONSTRUCTION ] – The racks are made of 22mm diameter and 1.5mm thick aluminum pipe, 8.5 "widening design, stronger than else. Made from high quality anodized Aviation Grade Aluminum Alloys, lightweight, durable and rust-resistant, that can be really water-proof and anti-corrosion for longer time.
  • [ FOLDING AND ERGONOMIC DESIGN] – Ergonomic quick release design, more easily to fold and raise the racks than others. Racks can be folded flat when not in use, get better clearance to drive your car into garage and not have to remove.
  • [ REDUCE SCRATCH DESIGN] – Foam Padding and Rubber Pedal design to reduce scratch of your kayak and prevent the canoe or kayak from rubbing.
  • [ UNIVERSAL MOUNTING DESIGN ] – Compatible with most crossbars,such as square, factory and aerodynamic crossbars,Except the round bar.
  • [ MULTI PURPOSE USE ] – Easy to Install, use this car roof rack to carry Kayak, Canoe, Surf board, Ski board, Snow Board and SUP. Extra 4 pcs tie down straps including.
No. 2
Malone Foldaway-5™ Multi-Rack Folding 1 or 2 Kayak, SUP, Canoe Carrier, Black (MPG125)
  • Quick release fold-down frames for low clearance - Universal mounting adapters fit most load bar designs
  • MultiRack extension modules to carry SUPs & canoes
  • SUP insert pads to cushion and provide hull protection during transport
  • Two lengths of mounting bolts for improved bar fit - Includes 11' load straps and tie-downs for two boats
  • Lifetime Limited
  • Sport Type: Camping & Hiking
No. 3
Leader Accessories Folding Kayak Rack 4 PCS/Set J Bar Car Roof Rack for Canoe Surf Board SUP On Roof Top Mount on SUV, Car and Truck Crossbar with 4 pcs Tie Down Straps
  • [ HEAVY DUTY CONSTRUCTION ] – The racks are made of 22mm diameter and 1.5mm thick steel tube, 8.5 "widening design, stronger than else. Black Powder-Coated Steel for Durability & Rust Prevention Plus Long-Lasting, can resist all weather condition and use for a long life.150 Lbs Tested, easy and safe for your transport.
  • [ FOLDING AND ERGONOMIC DESIGN] – Ergonomic quick release design, more easily to fold and raise the racks than others. Racks can be folded flat when not in use, get better clearance to drive your car into garage and not have to remove.
  • [ REDUCE SCRATCH DESIGN] – Foam Padding and Rubber Pedal design to reduce scratch of your kayak and prevent the canoe or kayak from rubbing.
  • [ UNIVERSAL MOUNTING DESIGN ] – Compatible with most crossbars,such as square, factory and aerodynamic crossbars,Except the round bar.
  • [ MULTI PURPOSE USE ] – Easy to Install, use this car roof rack to carry Kayak, Canoe, Surf board, Ski board, Snow Board and SUP. Extra 4 pcs tie down straps including.
No. 4
2 Pairs Kayak Roof Rack for Car Top Roof Mount Carrier J Cross Bar Canoe Boat
  • 【KAYAK CAR TOP CARRIER 】A simple, low-cost solution to carrying your kayak ITEM CONDITION: BRAND NEW.
  • 【SECURITY FEATURES】in order to ensure that customers have a good trip and safe, this product USES the loose to prevent the installation of the screw, each 2 sets.1 inch wide, 10-foot long, blue and high quality belt buckles can be maintained for a long time without breakage and safety and reliability,The strongest factory tested tie down straps: 600 lb break strength.
  • 【FEATURES】 Steel design with adjustable padding for carrying strength and kayak protection Wide mouth J bar offers easier loading and unloading Quick on/off hardware ensures fast installation and removal Optimally sized J style carrier leaves roof space All surface rust-resistant coating and hardware for longer product life Includes all mounting hardware and 2 straps Accommodates kayaks up to 36" wide and 75lbs Will fit most factory or aftermarket square,oval and flat crossbars.except round bar.
  • 【EASY INSTALLATION】Mounting hardware design USES 2 PCS, will not scratch you.Will fit most factory or aftermarket square and flat crossbars.
  • 【Please note】 This product is not suitable for installation on circular cross bar with diameter less than 1.2 inches.If any parts are missing from the package, please contact the seller's customer service immediately.
SaleNo. 5
Malone SeaWing/Stinger Combo Saddle Style Universal Car Rack Kayak Carrier with Load Assist Module
  • Malone Sea Wing + Stinger for easy loading, 1 kayak capacity (max 75 lbs. / 32" wide)
  • Sea Wing: corrosion-resistant polycarbon saddles, 6" W x 27.5" L x 4.5" H
  • Stinger: self-aligning V-Block, polycarbon frame, 10.5" W x 24" L x 4" H
  • Includes 2 kayak cradles, self-aligning v-block, extension frame with hardware
  • 2 Jawz universal fit mounting blocks, 2 11' cam buckle straps, 2 bow /stern tie-downs, & hardware
No. 6
ECOTRIC Kayak Roof Rack J-Bar Rack HD Universal Kayak Carrier Holder Canoe Boat Surf Ski Board Roof Top Mounted on Crossbar for Car SUV Truck Set of 4
  • Multiple Uses: They are designed to be used to transport water sports equipment such as kayaks, canoes, surfboards, ski & snow boards, windsurfing boards and various small sailboats.
  • Exterior Design: Adjustable foam pads and rubber bottom base are made of high-quality materials that are non-slip, water-resistant and sun-resistant. Smaller diameter nozzles and pre-drilled holes in the tube are for better tube alignment and splicing, making the rack more stable and sturdy.
  • Excellent Craftsmanship: The racks are made of 1.5mm thick steel tube, and the 4 straps (8" length) can accommodate a 36" wide and 75lbs kayak. The surfaces of the racks are finished with a high quality smooth black paint that is resistant to all weather conditions and has a longer lifespan.
  • Applicable Size: The J-Bar racks fit most factory or market roof rails such as oval, square, and flat except round crossbars (old crossbars are within 2.5" wide and 1" thick). Crossbars are thicker than 1" or wider than 2.5" will not be mounted properly.
  • Convenient Operation: **Instructions are not included** This J-Bar Rack can hold 2 kayaks and includes 4 racks, 4 straps and universal mounting accessories. Just attach the kayak to the side of the rack, taking up minimal space on the cross bar.
No. 7
Soft Roof Rack Pads, Universal Car Rooftop Luggage Carrier Capacity Load 176lb, for Kayak, Surfboard, SUP, Canoe, with Tie Down Strap, PP Rope, Quick Loop Strap and Storage Bag
  • 【Wide Compatibility】: This soft roof rack fits most cars without side rails or cars with side rails, but you need to make sure there is more than 1 inch of clearance between the roof and the side rails. Suitable for carrying kayaks, surfboards, SUPs, canoes, and skis.
  • 【Easy Installation】: No tools required, our soft rack set comes with all the accessories and straps to secure your load tightly to your car roof. 2 adjustable straps with padded cam locks provide a strong grip and hold. 2 bow and stern rope ensure your long load is safely secured to the front and back of your car. Foldable design, when they are not in use, just untie them and put them in the storage bag.
  • 【Reduce Noise and Vibration】: The bottom with an anti-slip pad design can protect your roof surface from scratching, strong anti-slip force, and reduce wind noise. Top-quality EVA foam padding provides a soft landing for your load and effectively reduces vibration during transport.
  • 【Updated Safety Design】:Compared with the traditional car fixing straps, we upgrade it to fix it on the side of the soft roof pad, which won't disturb the person who is driving or the person behind. FIVKLEMNZ's upgraded roof rack pad has a velcro collection on the side for easy storage of the straps, keeping away from the mess.
  • 【100% Money Back or Replacement】: 7x24 online customer support, feel free to ask us any questions. 30-day money-back guarantee and a 12-month limited warranty are available.
No. 8
2 Pairs Kayak Rack J-Bar Car Roof Rack for Canoe Carrier SUP Paddle Surfboard Mount on Car SUV and Truck Crossbar, Includes 4 Pcs 8Ft Roof Rack Tie Down Cam Straps.
  • 🛶【4 Racks】Wide mouth J-bar makes loading and unloading easier.Fit most factory or aftermarket square,oval and flat crossbars.
  • 🛶【4 Pcs 8Ft Roof Rack Tie Down Cam Straps】The cam buckle is fast and easy to use and includes a quick-release thumb button.
  • 🛶【Rubber Pedal & Foam Protector】The foam padding and the rubber base cover are made of real rubber and foam. They are Anti-Slip, water and sun resistant.
  • 🛶【Indented Tubing Design】Indented tubing design and strong, stable and pre-punched holes.The distance between the cross bar and the roof recommendation be greater than or equal to 3 inch
  • 🛶【Features】A simple, easy install, low-cost solution to carrying your kayak/canoe/SUP paddle.Not applicable to circular Crossbar.Due to manual packaging, please refer to the pictures on Amazon for installation instructions. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you.
SaleNo. 9
A01 Kayak Roof Rack for SUV Car Top Roof Mount Carrier J Cross Bar Canoe Boat (1 Pairs)
  • KAYAK CAR TOP CARRIER A simple, low-cost solution to carrying your kayak ITEM#: KAYAK-RK-J(1SET) CONDITION: BRAND NEW QUANTITY: 1 PAIRS.
  • SECURITY FEATURES:in order to ensure that customers have a good trip and safe, this product USES the loose to prevent the installation of the screw, each 2 sets of Mounting hardware.Before and after the configuration has 12 feet long bind belt and safety clasp.1 inch wide, 10-foot long, blue and high quality belt buckles can be maintained for a long time without breakage and safety and reliability,The strongest factory tested tie down straps: 600 lb break strength.
  • FEATURES: Steel design with adjustable padding for carrying strength and kayak protection Wide mouth J bar offers easier loading and unloading Quick on/off hardware ensures fast installation and removal Optimally sized J style carrier leaves roof space All surface rust-resistant coating and hardware for longer product life Includes all mounting hardware and 2 straps Accommodates kayaks up to 36" wide and 100lbs Will fit most factory or aftermarket round,square,oval and flat crossbars.
  • EASY INSTALLATION:Manufacturers have been assembled, you receive not separate parts, but a perfect finish.When using only need to install the rack in your car can bar.Mounting hardware design USES 2 PCS, equipped with EVA sticker in order to protect your car bar, will not scratch you.Will fit most factory or aftermarket square and flat crossbars (OEM crossbars be within 2.5" wide and 1" thick).
  • The Amazon default warranty is 30 days, but we can offer 60 days.
No. 10
WOOWAVE Kayak Carrier Deluxe Carrier Kit Universal Soft Standard Foam Block for Roof Racks Car-Top Replacement with Tie-Downs, 12 inches
  • ☞【FITS ANY CAR MODELS】The standard kayak carrier kit is a great way to keep the budget down and transport a kayak. It includes 2 foam blocks, 2 tie-downs with adjustable buckles(15ft), 2 load straps(12ft), 2 S-hooks, instructions and storage bag.
  • ☞【LIGHTWEIGHT & PORTABLE】The 12" gunnel style non-skid EVA foam blocks feature a universal cut-out profile that fits round, square and oval load bars, provides UV resistance and anti-tear strength and help prevent scratches on the car top.
  • ☞【QUICK & EASY TO INSTALL】Secure the 2 foam blocks to the gunwale and load the kayak on the vehicle’s roof. The deluxe kayak carrier includes two safety 15ft tie-downs with adjustable cam buckle to secure the kayak and two 12ft load straps with S-hooks to fully ensure a safe installation.
  • ☞【CONVENIENT TO STORAGE】The foam block rooftop carrier includes a storage bag, you could keep the carrier kit when not in use or transports, it is simple yet effective. The dense foam protects your vehicle's paint job while cushioning both your kayak and car from bumps along the way.
  • ☞【12 MONTHS QUALITY WARRANTY】Your purchase includes a hassle-free Money Back Guarantee and a free replacement exchange life time. If the kayak carrier foam blocks get damaged, just feel free to contact our customer service team with a photo, we are willing to replace it FOR FREE.

How to choose a good car racks for kayaks

Does the idea of finding a fantastic car racks for kayaks make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!

Your presence here indicates that you are interested in car racks for kayaks. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top car racks for kayaks products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?

First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top car racks for kayaks on the market right now!

The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:

Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top car racks for kayaks brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.

Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top car racks for kayaks based on those.

Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.

Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.

Customer ratings:  Would it be accurate to suggest that the car racks for kayaks were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.

Customer Reviews: Like ratings,  provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.

Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good car racks for kayaks, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.

Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your car racks for kayaks.

Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting car racks for kayaks for months and years to come.

Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.

Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.

These are the standards by which we selected our car racks for kayaks. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.

Why should you believe us?

There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what car racks for kayaks should you purchase in 2022?

This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on car racks for kayaks.