Ski Rack Basics

To help you find a ski rack that fits your needs, we've developed a ski rack basics guide that covers the items listed below. Note that most racks and boxes accommodate both skis and snowboards.

Types of Ski and Snowboard Racks/Boxes
Top Five Considerations for Selecting a Ski Rack

Types of Ski and Snowboard Racks/Boxes

Below is a brief review of the main types of ski racks and boxes to give you a better understanding of what choices are available. You'll want to decide first whether you want to carry your skis and snowboards on the roof or hitch of your vehicle.

Ski and snowboard roof racks carry skis and snowboards on the roof of your vehicle. Ski and snowboard roof racks attach to the roof in one of three ways. They attach to: 1) factory or aftermarket crossbars, 2) raised side rails, or 3) a smooth roof through a magnetic or vehicle-specific fit hooks. Roof ski rack typically carry up to 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards. This is the most affordable ski rack option if you already have crossbars.

Ski and snowboard boxes carry skis and snowboards on the roof of your vehicle inside an enclosed, lockable box. All ski and snowboard boxes attach to factory or aftermarket crossbars. Ski boxes vary in capacity. Some can hold as many as 12 pairs of skis and 10 snowboards, but some shorter boxes are designed only for snowboards.

Hitch ski and snowboard racks carry up to 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards on the hitch of your vehicle. Hitch ski and snowboard racks attach to a mast-style hitch bike rack.

Top Five Considerations for Selecting a Ski Rack

Capacity: Your first consideration is how many snowboards or pairs of skis do I need to carry? Ski and snowboard boxes carry the most skis/snowboards with a maximum of 12 pairs of skis or 10 snowboards or a combination of the two, depending on the model. Ski and snowboards are usually placed back-to-back to maximize space.

Mounting: Next, decide which type of ski rack is best suited to fit my vehicle and my needs? The answer to this question depends on what type of vehicle you have, what it is currently equipped with, and/or the cost of equipping it with the correct mounting pieces. If you are considering a hitch ski rack but you do not have a hitch or a hitch bike rack, you will be looking at an additional $140 to $200 for an aftermarket hitch plus $130 to $300 for a hitch bike rack. If you are considering a roof ski rack but you do not already have crossbars, a roof base rack is required, which will cost between $250 to $400. Fortunately, there are several roof ski racks that do not require a roof base rack, such as the magnetic ski rack or a dedicated ski rack that requires the use of vehicle-specific fit hooks (around $50.00).

Ease-of-loading: Another factor to consider is how easy will it be to load and unload my ski/snowboards? Hitch ski racks offer easy waist-level loading and unloading. Roof ski racks and boxes are more difficult, especially on taller vehicles, because the skis/snowboards must be lifted onto the roof. There are certain ski racks, like the Inno Rail Slider, that feature a built-in tray that slides toward the edge of the vehicle to make loading and unloading easier.

Rear vehicle access: Also consider, do I need to access the rear of my vehicle? Easy access to the rear of your vehicle (e.g., for luggage or other gear) is provided with a roof ski rack, ski box, and hitch ski rack (swings out). If you're buying a ski box, pay attention to the length. If the ski box is too long for your vehicle, it may interfere with opening the rear hatch. If you're concerned about this, check the manufacturer's fit guide or contact us.

Price: As with any purchase, price is an important consideration. Roof ski racks for crossbars and hitch ski racks are the most economical if you already have roof crossbars or a base rack (for the former) or a hitch bike rack (for the latter). Roof racks for side rails or smooth roofs tend to cost slightly more, and roof ski boxes are the most expensive, but they also can be used for a variety of gear in addition to skis/snowboards.