The Highest Ski and Snowboard Racks

How We Examined Ski and Snowboard Racks

The oldsters at the back of GearJunkie spend numerous time within the mountains. From day by day lodge rips to cross-country ski laps, we like taking our skis and snowboards to the corduroy. Like maximum skiers and snowboarders, we regularly use our cars to get to the beginning level. We’ve fastened our roof and hitch racks onto sedans, SUVs, vehicles, and the whole lot in between. 

After years of standard use and checking out, we’ve recognized the most efficient ski and snowboard racks in the marketplace. We completely assess each ski and snowboard rack that we check, all the way down to the ultimate screw. A ski and snowboard rack must be simple to make use of, ergonomic, sturdy for the longer term, safe, and flexible. We deep-dive into the set up, opening and closure techniques, fabrics, locks, and extra in order that you don’t have to debris round. We’ve weighed dozens of racks in opposition to those requirements.

The fashions in this checklist are as just right because it will get. Those ski and snowboard racks be offering quite a lot of kinds from hitch to roof mounts, compact or prolonged in measurement, modularity for 12-month use, and quite a lot of worth issues so you’ll be able to to find the easiest rack to your workforce and wagon.

Why You Must Accept as true with Us

Our lead tester and photographer is Eric Phillips, an avid skier and snowboarder based totally in Crested Butte, Colorado. Phillips — who’s additionally an automobile fanatic and focuses on our motors content material — has used a plethora of cars and racks to get his equipment to the snow in all kinds of climate. That incorporates brief ticks to his native hill and multi-day powder missions. Tinkering on cars is one in all his favourite spare time activities, and ski racks are the easiest accent for existence in a ski the city and for a powder hound.

Most of the ski and snowboard racks featured right here were with us for plenty of seasons. Even after common publicity to the weather and racking up miles on tough roads, they’re nonetheless going robust. Whether or not you’re a downhill skier, snowboarder, Nordic skier or someplace inbetween, we’re assured you’ll discover a rack to assist get your equipment to the mountains. As new racks roll out, we’ll be sure you stay checking out and replace our checklist to mirror the present marketplace.

Purchaser’s Information: How you can Select a Ski and Snowboard Rack

All kinds of ski and snowboard racks supply the advantage of preserving your sharp edges clear of the auto’s inside whilst preserving the seats open for passengers.

Two number one kinds of ski and snowboard racks dominate the sphere. The primary is roof racks, which mount at the roof of your automobile the use of manufacturing facility or aftermarket crossbars. The second one is a hitch rack, which connects in your rig with the hitch receiver.

If you’ll be able to’t or don’t wish to carry equipment overhead, and value isn’t any object, select a hitch ski and snowboard rack. If you wish to get monetary savings and aren’t keen on lifting your equipment or doubtlessly getting sullied by means of the auto’s grimy frame, then a roof rack is for you. 

Learn extra of the professionals and cons underneath, in addition to the way variations inside of each and every class.

Sorts of Ski and Snowboard Racks

Roof Racks: Professionals

Roof racks have the advantage of nestling your equipment lengthwise alongside the top of your automobile, preserving them clear of street dust. The checklist of contaminants is lovely in depth, spanning unburnt gas, tar, salt, grease, and cement mud, to call a couple of.

Every other benefit of roof racks is they don’t contain get entry to to the principle shipment garage.

Roof racks are most often more cost effective and weigh a ways not up to hitch racks since they require fewer fabrics.

Roof Racks: Cons

Relying at the peak of your automobile, one problem is that roof racks generally is a bodily stretch to load and sell off. Loading regularly comes to lifting skis or snowboards above your head after which totally extending your palms to put the equipment at the rack.

Sure typical designs be offering a sliding characteristic to deliver the loading zone additional to the brink of the automobile. However usually, hitch racks are significantly more uncomplicated to load. 

They’re regularly single-purpose, while hitch racks are extra regularly modular, so you’ll be able to convert the bottom to carry motorcycles in the summertime with further equipment.

Some roof racks with skis loaded can impede the hatch from opening, relying at the period of the automobile and the equipment.

Whilst one in all our favourite ski and snowboard roof racks can turn down for aerodynamics — the Küat Transfer 6 — and a quieter trip, maximum roof racks stick up and dock gas potency. Like wind blowing via sails, some can upload noise in your automobile trip, corresponding to a gentle whistle.

Hitch Racks

Hitch racks to your skis and snowboards connect to the automobile underneath the again bumper the use of a manufacturing facility or aftermarket hitch. Our consensus is that hitch racks are a lot more uncomplicated to load and sell off, as they’re much nearer to the bottom and don’t contain lifting your snow apparatus overhead. 

Underneath the umbrella are two kinds of hitch racks: swing-arm or swing-away and tilt. The subcategory refers to how the rack will also be repositioned in an effort to get entry to your shipment area within the automobile.

Tilt Hitch Rack

Tilt racks just like the Gravirax GR-4 Hitch Fixed Ski Rack can permit the rack to lean again at an perspective, enabling you to open a hatchback or drop down a tailgate. This makes it conceivable to lean in and seize a backpack, car parking zone grill, cooler, or let your canine hop out. Tilt racks are regularly extra light-weight and more cost effective than swing-arm racks.

Whilst they’re dipped away, they don’t be offering totally unrestricted get entry to to the rear of the automobile.

Swing-Away Hitch Rack

Swing-arm or swing-away racks make the most of a heavy-duty arm that may be locked into a set place at the back of the automobile when you’re riding. However it provides the power to unencumber and swing the rack clear of the rear of the automobile to get to your whole baggage.

In most cases, a swing-away operation has a tendency to transport the rack additional out of your trip than a tilt hitch rack. This yields larger get entry to to the principle cupboard space of the automobile. It additionally strikes the rack out of the way in which, in an effort to extra simply pull out heavy or bulky pieces.

Our favourite swing-away rack is the Yakima EXO SnowBank Exo Device Snow Mount. The superb construction swings a complete 180 levels away out of your automobile, providing you with unobstructed get entry to to no matter’s again there.

Hitch Rack: Professionals

Hitch racks are heavier-duty and feature extra shifting portions than roof racks. The ease? They are able to hang significantly extra weight than roof racks and be offering extra versatility. Maximum swing-away ski and snowboard hitch racks will also be transformed for summer time use, together with the power to hold motorcycles, shipment packing containers, and extra.

Whilst many hitch racks and roof racks can hang round 4 snowboards or skis, some hitch orientations can deliver extra alongside. The Gravirax GR-4 Adjustable Ski Rack has a 10-ski fashion. However hitch racks normally max out at 2 snowboards while roof racks can have compatibility as much as 4 snowboards.

Most significantly, hitch racks are a lot more uncomplicated to load, sell off, and most often function in comparison to roof racks. You don’t wish to carry your skis or snowboard overhead or, for some, climb onto a tire or seat to succeed in the locking mechanisms. 

Hitch Rack: Cons

Extensively talking, hitch racks for skis and snowboards include larger worth tags than roof racks. Tough and extra fabrics come at a value.

Moreover, hitch racks are regularly heavy and will also be arduous to put in or transfer by myself. 

In a different way, the drawback of hitch racks is that filth, muck, salt, and different street dust can building up excessively alongside the again of a automobile (and your equipment) in comparison to the roof, particularly if a rack is low to the bottom. That is because of the air vortex that happens at the back of a automobile because it strikes throughout the air, sucking dust from the street and swirling it at the back of the automobile. Better clout ends up in the problem being exacerbated for trucks, vehicles, and SUVs.

Hitch-mounted racks hang your shipment without delay on this vortex, which results in grimy skis and snowboards after riding at freeway speeds. For those who are living or force someplace the place they salt the roads, this may result in rust forming at the steel ski edges. 

That’s one reason we recommend configuring the Yakima EXO SnowBank Exo Device Snow Mount with the EXO TopShelf, in order that the skis and snowboards will also be extra increased above the bottom.

Rack Capability

One of the vital first issues to imagine when opting for a iciness equipment rack is what number of skis or snowboards you usually take with you. Racks most often lift any place from 4 to six skis or 2 to 4 snowboards, so you’ve some choices. Some designs lift much more. The max amount we’ve discovered is 10 skis (within the 10-ski fashion of the Gravirax GR-4 Adjustable Ski Rack) plus 2 snowboards with the aftermarket sleeves.

In most cases, a snowboard takes up the similar room as 1.5 pairs of skis, which means a rack that may hang 6 pairs of skis can handiest hang 4 snowboards. You’ll mix ‘n match each skis and snowboards on one rack, however your wearing capability will move down. 

Take into account, you’ll be able to at all times lift fewer skis than a rack’s capability, however by no means greater than a rack’s capability. And also you by no means know whilst you’re going to select up a couple of extra pals to trip with.

Some hitch racks have not obligatory add-ons that may upload extra ski or snowboard capability to the rack. Roof racks should not have aftermarket add-ons for capability.

Automobile and Commute Compatibility 

Each kinds of ski and snowboard racks in our information require sure standards out of your automobile to soundly mount the racks.

Crossbars

Roof racks require manufacturing facility or aftermarket crossbars to be on or put in onto your automobile’s roof previous to rack set up.

Crossbars normally are available sq. or around shapes. They lengthen from the motive force’s aspect around the roof to the passenger aspect and are what a ski rack mounts to. Don’t let that confuse you with roof rails, which might be same old on maximum cars. Roof rails succeed in vertically, towards each and every bumper, and perpendicular to the crossbars. Roof rails are what crossbars mount to.  

Maximum racks be offering common crossbar compatibility, however some, just like the Yakima FatCat EVO 6, are designed to paintings with Yakima-specific crossbars.

In case your automobile doesn’t have crossbars, don’t fear. They’re moderately simple to put in your self like in our DIY information, or have your native auto store set up them for you.

Hitch Receiver

Hitch racks require your automobile to have a hitch receiver to your automobile, which is the place the hitch rack can bolt into position. Cars normally include a hitch receiver, which is a steel tube this is fastened to the body. However don’t fear, aftermarket hitches are quite common, and you’ll be able to to find one for nearly each make and fashion. Maximum are DIY installs, however a credible auto store let you set up one correctly.  

Hitches most often are available 1.25-inch and 2-inch sizing. It’s essential that you simply check the scale of your automobile hitch receiver prior to buying a rack. A bigger, 2-inch hitch can lift heavier rather a lot, which is superb when you plan to hold a swing-away hitch rack. It’s additionally price noting that some racks include an adapter to suit both measurement.

Something to notice is that even with a hitch put in to your automobile, the rack would possibly now not at all times operate completely. As an example, the Yakima EXO SwingBase hitch rack would now not open on our tester’s Subaru Outback with an o.e.m hitch put in as it used to be too as regards to the bumper, however the rack labored simply effective on our testers’ Ford F-150 and Toyota Tacoma. 

Ease of Use

Many of the ski and snowboard racks in our information are moderately simple to make use of, however each and every has tradeoffs.

Hitch racks are regularly more uncomplicated general as they don’t contain lifting skis or snowboards above your head after which totally extending your palms to put them at the rack. You don’t wish to possibility getting grime to your garments, which is able to once in a while occur with a roof rack.

Locking a roof rack comes to achieving even upper or doubtlessly stepping at the tire or a seat with the door open to succeed in the rack, in an effort to pull down with sufficient drive to interact the locking mechanism. 

Some good racks now be offering a sliding characteristic to deliver the loading zone past the brink of the automobile and above the bottom. Alternatively, working a roof rack at all times comes to some stage of achieving up.

Hitch racks deliver the loading zone from the highest of the automobile all the way down to chest peak or decrease, which means you received’t need to get to your tippy feet or climb your automobile to succeed in the rack along with your apparatus. In addition they can swing open to permit entire use of your rear hatch. Some roof racks with skis loaded can impede the hatch from opening. 

Sure roof rack unlock buttons are greater or extra ergonomic than others, which we discover are more uncomplicated to function with gloved arms.

Pads

Pads are the rubber subject material that comes into touch along with your skis or snowboards alongside the bottom and most sensible sheet. Just about all of the racks in our information use a rubber pad to safe your skis in position, whether or not that’s at the hitch or roof.

Many of the pads are both curved or oblong in form, and a unmarried strip stretches from one aspect of the arm to the opposite. The rubber compresses round your skis to grip them and save you motion as soon as the arm is close.

Our testers have been inspired with the GripLock rubber at the Küat Grip 4. The GripLock rubber makes use of a zipper-like structure with alternating rubber tooth that have compatibility in combination flush when the rack is closed. We discovered the grip to be very good, and it gripped skis and snowboards tighter than different designs, regardless of how large or slim.

Locks

There are two major kinds of locks in terms of ski and snowboard racks. Locks that safe all the rack device in your automobile, referred to as crossbar or hitch locks, and locks that safe your apparatus to the rack, referred to as ski locks. 

Total, locks play a very powerful position in deciding which rack is absolute best to your wishes. Do you intend on dwelling at the street or preserving your skis and snowboards to your automobile for prolonged sessions of time? Cross with a roof rack that has an built-in crossbar lock. For those who’re simply doing day journeys to the ski lodge and received’t have equipment tenting in a single day at the rack, you won’t wish to spend money on a rack with built-in locks. 

Rack Ski Lock

Having the ability to lock the rack when your skis or snowboard are within is a very powerful element. No longer handiest does it save you your skis or snowboards from being stolen, however it could actually additionally make sure that the rack doesn’t pop open whilst you’re zooming down the freeway.

Maximum racks in our information combine the lock into the closure operate, necessarily requiring the rack to be locked earlier than you force away. The one rack and not using a ski lock is the Gravirax GR-4 Hitch Fixed Ski Rack.  

Crossbar or Hitch Lock

After spending your hard earned bread on a ski roof rack, the very last thing you need is your rack to get stolen out of your automobile. That’s why built-in crossbar locks are a very powerful side of a ski rack.

The racks we’ve examined with out those locks are the Gravirax GR-4 Hitch Fixed Ski Rack (which attaches by way of hitch receiver), and the Yakima FreshTrack 4 and Rhino-Rack Ski and Snowboard Provider #576, which affix to a crossbar. Even with the ski lock engaged, somebody with a easy set of equipment, a couple of mins, and muscle would be capable of take away all the rack from the automobile. 

Built-in Aftermarket Locks

A number of manufacturers be offering aftermarket upgrades to unify and customise the important thing cores between your apparatus. We suggest the funding for ease of use and now not desiring to control as many keys, particularly in case you have a selection of racks or equipment.

Manufacturers with common key-and-lock-core upgrades come with:

We appreciated that the Yakima FreshTrack 4, Yakima FatCat 6, and Yakima EXO Device all have the SKS improve choice. As does the Rhino-Rack Ski and Snowboard Provider #576.

Keys and Key Rings

Our testers have been maximum inspired with the locks and keys at the Küat Grip 4 and Küat Transfer 6, which got here on a robust key ring and with robust plastic-coated heads for more uncomplicated grip with gloves on and within the chilly. 

Maximum different racks introduced fairly meager steel keys and not using a reinforcement or key ring.

Open and Closure

One of the vital greatest pains with ski and snowboard roof racks is opening and shutting them in chilly and snowy prerequisites.

Free up Button

Opening the rack with gloves comes to first unlocking the ski lock, then urgent the discharge button or pulling the discharge deal with.

Our favourite design used to be at the Küat Grip 4, which makes use of a deal with to open the rack versus a button. We by no means had issues opening this rack, even with heavy-duty mittens in freezing prerequisites. 

Closure Latch

Remaining the rack, however, takes much more effort and normally comes to stepping up — for shorties, possibly onto the tire or operating board of the automobile — so that you could succeed in the open rack’s arm and connect it down.

When totally loaded, sure roof racks can take a little bit extra grit to clamp down. Maximum roof racks have a multi-stage closure mechanism, which means you’ll wish to firmly press till you listen two or 3 clicks.

Capability: Open and Closure

We discovered that with the ski and snowboard hitch racks being nearer to the bottom, they have been a lot more uncomplicated to near and lock into position than any of the roof racks.

The perfect rack to open and shut general used to be the EXO TopShelf, which might be the palms that safe skis and snowboards at the Yakima EXO SnowBank Exo Device Snow Mount. This used to be for the reason that orientation of the rack used to be horizontal, and shall we simply succeed in it whilst status in our iciness boots.

Locking Mechanism

It’s price citing that the Gravirax GR-4 Hitch Fixed Ski Rack has no locking, opening, or ultimate mechanism. Skis relaxation vertically throughout the tubes like bats putting in a cave. Additionally, we have been disillusioned with how arduous it used to be to near and lock the Yakima FatCat EVO 6 and the Küat Transfer 6 when the ones two roof racks have been loaded to their scripted quantity. 

Extender Bars

Extender bars are a extra fashionable characteristic rising within the ski and snowboard roof rack area. Those inserts are like stilts, extending the vertical area between the auto’s roof and the rack.

The upper hole permits room for bulkier ski or snowboard bindings. One rack we examined, the Yakima FreshTrack 4, has an not obligatory extender bar that puts the rack at an perspective, taking a triangular shape, to create extra space for bindings. 

For those who plan on stacking snowboards — one dealing with up and the opposite dealing with down — you’ll want sufficient ceiling for the bindings. When bindings rub the roof, that may motive extra put on, scratches, or dents on each.

You probably have low-hanging crossbars or huge bindings, we advise going with a rack that has extender bars. 

Meeting

Meeting refers back to the time from opening your package deal to having the rack waiting to put in. Some racks in our information just like the Küat Transfer 6 come ready-to-go instantly out of the field and not using a meeting required! You gotta love time-savers. Maximum different racks require some type of meeting, even though, so seize your mocha.

Sure designs, just like the Thule SnowPack Extender, required half-hour of meeting earlier than the rack used to be waiting to put in. That’s at the upper finish of a construct. For those who do plan on storing your rack within the authentic field all through the low season, remember the meeting occasions. You’d wish to disassemble the rack to suit it again into the unique field. 

Set up

Set up comes after the rack meeting. This step refers back to the time had to mount your ski rack to your automobile.

We rated the set up of each and every ski and snowboard rack between simple, average, and tough in line with how lengthy it took to put in the rack. The opposite issue used to be the comprehensiveness of the equipment supplied. If we had to seek out equipment, that used to be a shortfall.

Issue Rankings

Simple installs took quarter-hour or much less, from the unboxing to having the rack totally fastened — together with the meeting. Now, that’s lovely just right. A quite difficult set up lasted any place between 15 and half-hour. Tough installs have been half-hour or extra. Ouch.  

Whilst some installations took extra elbow grease, all of the racks in our information will also be assembled and put in at house with out the assistance of a qualified. Simply be sure you learn the directions completely earlier than you get started and practice each and every step. Additionally, set up your ski rack earlier than it begins snowing, or do it in a storage to steer clear of making your set up more difficult. 

Gear

Of all of the set up equipment integrated with racks, the Küat Transfer 6 and Küat Grip 4 had the most efficient high quality. Then again, the INNO L INA951 equipment felt very economically made. They flexed when tightening, inflicting our tester to have one move flying. This used to be additionally the one rack the place we skilled a bolt stripping all through the set up. 

Our longest set up time used to be 46 mins for the Thule SnowPack Extender, partially because of the absence of the desired equipment. A T20 bit and Phillips-head screwdriver have been wanted consistent with the directions however now not supplied. Stay this in thoughts if ordering this rack. The directions have been additionally now not essentially the most transparent, as a result of they lacked textual content.

Aerodynamics 

For many who need the most efficient fuel mileage, this phase is for you!

In most cases, hitch racks are extra aerodynamic than roof racks, because of this they improve higher fuel mileage. Even essentially the most aerodynamic roof racks worsen fuel mileage than hitch racks. Roof racks result in drag led to by means of wind hitting the rack because it flows over your automobile.

Hitch racks have much less drag as a result of they take a seat at the back of the automobile in a pocket of lowered wind and drag. The extra you’ll be able to get your equipment at the back of your automobile and out of the wind, the easier aerodynamics your rig will recreation. 

To assist building up your fuel mileage whilst hauling equipment, you have to trip slower, however clearly, we advise going the rate prohibit for protection. Highways speeds above 50 miles consistent with hour greatly scale back fuel mileage, stories the U.S. Division of Power.

It’s worthwhile to take away your roof rack when it’s now not in use, however that will even be time-consuming. and get hitch racks as little as conceivable to your automobile.

Some racks just like the Küat Transfer 6 will also be folded down flat to beef up the aerodynamics and fuel mileage when now not in use.

Hitch racks assist, for the reason that extra you’ll be able to get your equipment low and at the back of your automobile, the extra environment friendly trip can be in relation to fuel mileage. This will also be enhanced by means of mounting your hitch rack on a low surroundings and even use a drop hitch when riding taller cars like 4×4 vehicles. 

FAQ

The fast resolution is, normally. Nearly all of hitch-mounted or roof rack designs can hang both skis or snowboards. The Gravirax GR-4 Adjustable Ski Rack is a extra ski-centric design that does want an extra accent to carry a snowboard: the Gravi Metal Snowboard Sleeve ($199).

Snowboards soak up extra space on a rack than skis, which means a rack that may lift 6 pairs of skis can handiest hang 4 snowboards. Be sure to examine the wearing capability of any rack before you buy. 

Sure! Each skis and snowboards will also be stacked to your ski roof rack. Stacked refers to having a couple of skis or snowboards sandwiched with their bases in combination. Technically, that’s one unmarried set of skis and two snowboards, as an example. This protects area to your roof rack versus striking the apparatus aspect by means of aspect.

Simply make sure that there’s sufficient clearance for the binding at the backside between the rack and the roof of your automobile, with a purpose to steer clear of pointless put on on each. In the event that they do hit, you’ll be able to get extender bars to boost the peak of the roof rack and unencumber area for stacking like with the Yakima FreshTrack 4.

Take into account, when speaking about rack capability, producers are relating to a unmarried set of skis being stacked and snowboards being located aspect by means of aspect, nevertheless it’s completely ok to stack snowboards.

We wouldn’t counsel having sticking two skis with a snowboard at the different aspect. It’s absolute best to simply stack skis with skis and snowboards with snowboards, because of the ski brakes and base compatibility.

Crossbars are the bars that run from the motive force’s aspect to the passenger’s aspect, around the automobile’s roof. They’re very important for mounting a roof rack.

All roof racks require crossbars for mounting. Some vehicles include crossbars. In a different way, aftermarket crossbars are really easy to put in your self at the side of your ski rack. They arrive in a collection of 2, and also you’ll want each to mount a ski roof rack.

You’ll additionally wish to examine that the crossbar form is suitable with the roof rack. Every logo producers their very own particular shapes with specific subject material composites and finishes. However usually, there are oval, sq., heavy-duty (HD), and aerodynamic bars. Yakima, as an example, provides 4 crossbar kinds that they’ve categorized JetStream (aerodynamic aluminum), HD Bar (heavy-duty), CoreBar (aerodynamic metal), RoundBar (oval).

Sure, you’ll be able to lift each skis and snowboards concurrently on one ski and snowboard rack.

A rack that holds 6 skis or 4 snowboards can hang a mix of each, like 3 skis and a couple of snowboards. The width of a snowboard is roughly the width of one.5 units of skis side-by-side.

We’ve got all noticed the images and heard horror tales of skis being misplaced at the freeway after any individual forgot to fasten their roof rack earlier than riding off.

Ski and snowboard roof racks, when used accurately, are one of the most most secure techniques to move apparatus to the ski lodge.

The padded palms clamp down securely to your skis or snowboards with out hurting them. Freeway speeds received’t hurt the rack or equipment, both. Simply be sure you practice all of the directions all through the set up procedure and when loading the equipment. Earlier than riding, at all times double-check that your rack is locked, whether or not there’s equipment within or now not.