October 20, 2019
Rack Attack Team
If you like to ski or snowboard, you may think one of the biggest hassles is getting your gear to the mountain. Luckily, we can help you find the best ski or snowboard rack for your car!
Ski racks are mostly straightforward once you have a roof rack in place. Of course we can help you get a roof rack for your vehicle, too!
Once you have Thule, Yakima, factory or third party cross bars, you're ready to add a ski rack. Either you get a flat clamp style rack (good for skis and snowboards) or a cargo box - good for skis, snowboards, and your jackets, boots, etc. Added bonus of the box is that you keep all that wet gear out of your car at the end of the day!
For holding 6 pairs of skis (or 4 boards)
As for the flat clamp style ski racks, your main choice is how wide you want them. The wider ones will hold 4 boards, and 4-6 pairs of skis (depending on how fat your skis are). The smaller ones will hold around half this amount. The wider carriers come in either a "fixed" style or one that extends out (the Extender or the Grip!) for easier loading. For more on these options make sure to check out The Best Ski and Board Racks of 2019.
For holding 4 pairs of skis (or 2 boards)
For holding everything
A better option is to get a cargo box. Cargo boxes not only carry your skis or snowboards while protecting them from the elements, they can also be used to carry anything else you want to stuff in them. Plus you can use these year round for camping, road trips, golf trips and all your other luggage-carrying needs.
Just like the ski racks, cargo boxes are designed to fit onto Thule, Yakima, factory or third party cross bars. Thule and Yakima both make a range of sizes to fit your vehicle and your specific needs. Each brand makes a premium box (e.g. the Thule Vector or Motion XT or the Yakima Showcase) and an entry level box (e.g. the Thule Force XT or the Yakima Skybox). Included below are the bestselling sizes, but most of these boxes range from 12 - 21 cubic feet.
Finally - there is one more option for the rear of the vehicle.
If you have a hitch, and almost any Thule or Yakima bike rack, you can get a carrier to carry skis or boards vertically behind your car. This is a little less common option, but great if you have or need a hitch or bike rack as well (of course we sell those too!)
