Kayak Racks and Kayak Carriers
Let's face it: there are a ton of kayak racks out there. Which one is the best for you? It can be a difficult choice so we've brought all the Thule kayak racks and Yakima Kayak Racks together into one section for side-by-side viewing.
The most popular types of Kayak Racks are J-Cradle Kayak Racks, Saddle Style Kayak Racks, and Stacker Kayak Racks. To read more about each of these kayak rack styles, to read kayak carrier FAQs and to view a comparison chart of every kayak rack listed on this page, simply scroll down the page.
Major Styles of Kayak Racks
1. J-Cradle Kayak Racks:
Like their name implies, J-Cradle Kayak Racks are shaped like the letter J, supporting the thull of the boat inside the J. This causes the kayak to ride at an angle, not quite vertical. The big advantage of J-Cradle Kayak Racks? Versatility: they don't take up your entire crossbars, so you still have room for bicycles, an enclosed roof carrier, or a roof luggage rack on your crossbars.
2. Saddle Kayak Racks:
These racks generally are the easiest to load, as the kayak will lay flat on your roof top rack. They are known for their stability and protection of kayaks, as the fact that the kayak rides flat eliminates a lot of wind drag and other stability issues.
3. Stacker Kayak Racks:
Stacker Racks align your kayaks completely vertically on your roof rack. This allows you to carry up to four whitewater kayaks side by side on your car roof rack. For those travelling in big groups or with lots of boats and gear, Stacker Racks are a great bet.
What are the most popular kayak racks on the market?
From Thule, the Hull-a-Port Kayak Carrier has long been the most popular kayak carrier. The Hull-a-Port is a J-style kayak carrier with easy on and off hardware and total compatibility with just about any car roof rack.
From Yakima, the Hullraiser Aero is a great bet. It is also a J-style kayak rack that can transport a touring, whitewater or recreational kayak with no problem. Like the Hull-a-Port, it is compatible with all Yakima crossbars, Thule Load Bars, and most factory crossbars.
Is there a premium Kayak Rack?
Yes, Thule's new Hullavator Kayak Rack far surpasses every other kayak on the market in terms of ease-of-use and functionality. The Hullavator actually pulls down from your roof rack to the side of your vehicle, allowing you to load the kayak into its saddles at waist level. Best of all, the Hullavator only takes up 25" of crossbar space so it can be mounted side by side on your Thule Car Roof Rack system with other Thule Racks, like a thule roof top bike rack. Compatibility wise, the Thule Hullavator fits all Thule loadbars and Yakima crossbars.
Kayak Rack Comparison Table
This table includes every kayak rack listed on this page and shows its maximum boat capacity (how many kayaks fit on the rack), whether the kayak rack is compatible with factory rack systems, and whether the rack is compatible with both Thule load bars and Yakima cross bars.
