13 Best Roof Racks for Paddleboards

Get ready for some exciting water activities, for it’s paddleboarding time! However, paddleboards are too large to be lodged inside our car, so we tried to figure out a way to carry paddleboards on top of the car. Hence, we searched for the best roof rack for paddle boards, and here is what we found. Below is a list of the 13 best products we found online to suit different car roofs. A reliable roof rack is essential so you can carry your SUP wherever you go and drive on highways safely with the SUP secured on top of the car. Continue reading below to learn more about roof racks and which ones will suit your car. Also, we included a buying guide to help you learn what you need to know about roof racks before buying.

BougeRV Soft Roof Rack

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The BougeRV Soft Roof Rack is the first choice we would recommend for anyone looking for something to use inside the city or while traveling. This rack is very user-friendly, it’s easy to install, and it’s adjustable as well. So, we could mount a large SUP and a smaller board as well. The best part is that the rack is available in three colors, so we don’t have to stick to the black color of most racks.

We used the rack multiple times to see if the straps would loosen over time, and as you have guessed, they didn’t. That’s why we’re recommending them here. The rack is high quality which is much needed to hold thick and heavy objects easily. Even the straps and bulldog clips are strong and reliable. We also wanted something to use while traveling, and this rack was a good option as they don’t produce noise.

AQUARM Kayak Roof Rack

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The AQUARM Kayak Roof Rack is a versatile option we found while searching for the best car racks for stand-up paddleboards. It’s a compact one as well, and it doesn’t take up much space, whether when installed or when not in use. So, when we don’t need it, we just uninstall it and leave it inside the car. It already comes with a storage bag for this reason.

We tested the rack for different things. It was strong, durable, and reliable for carrying a SUP. The material is top-notch, and the craftsmanship is very good as well. It’s made in a way that the weight is distributed equally over the car roof. Thus, there is no extra pressure on one side or any part of the car. We liked this rack because it maintained our car and our SUP as well.

COR Surf Aero Roof Rack Pad

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COR Surf Aero Roof Rack Pad is available in four different sizes, so we had to check the length and width first to determine which one would fit our car. All the options include two pads and two straps to securely hold the paddleboard. Further, we learned that the pads are made of 600D Oxford fabric which is the most durable option for making such equipment.

Moreover, it has a PVC coating to protect the bars from weather conditions. To protect the car, the bars are packed inside silicone sleeves so, they won’t scratch the car. If you’re wondering about the load capacity of these bars, we did the job and searched for this info. They bear up to 700 lbs, but we wanted to make sure of it. So, we used the bars for carrying different things, not just a lightweight paddleboard.

Kitoolbase Roof Rack Pads

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Securing a paddleboard to our car roof is no longer a problem with Kitoolbase Roof Rack Pads. These soft pads are an effective solution for transporting our SUPs easily without paying too much for a metal roof rack. Also, being a universal pad for most car types is the best we could ask for, as we didn’t need to check whether this rack would fit our car or not. There are many inflatable soft pads around, but not all of them are reliable. So, we were looking for something we could use without worrying about security and safety issues. Luckily, we found this one, and the best thing is that it came with the rope, straps, and all other hardware to make sure the board was secured to the car. We highly recommend this soft pad for multiple boards or larger objects.

Dorsal Universal Soft Rack

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Dorsal Universal Soft Rack is essential for paddleboarding inside the city. We say inside the city because this soft rack isn’t the best on highways, yet, it performs very well if you don’t exceed speed limits. Bearing in mind its affordable price, this rack is a very good option for those looking for an easy and practical way to transport their paddleboard around. Available in two sizes, the rack is suitable for mounting different objects. Be it a paddleboard, a kayak, or a canoe, this rack will carry them all easily. Further, it’s a universal option to fit on all cars. You don’t need to ride an SUV or a car with side cross bars to use this rack. Otherwise, if you have an RV, here are the best kayak racks for RVs.

YAKIMA SUPDawg Rooftop Carrier

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With its sleek and modern design, the YAKIMA SUPDawg Rooftop Carrier won’t only help you transport an SUP but also add a nice look to your car. Although this rack was pricey, we were ready to pay those extra bucks for something that gave us more benefits. The rack has a slider that adjusts to the size of the board. We managed to load two boards easily on this rack. Assembled in minutes, this rack didn’t need much effort, although it looked complicated. The installation instructions are very well described to get your car ready to carry the SUP in a few minutes. And if you’re a person who always cares about his things, this rack will be your favorite. It has soft pads along the cradle used for mounting the board, so the board will never get scratched.

INNO INA446 Locking Roof Carrier

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If you aren’t too much into soft and inflatable racks, INNO INA446 Locking Roof Carrier is a good solution. This rack is perfect for those who need an easier process and more safety. We have good reasons to consider this as a safe option. First, it’s made of high-quality stainless steel and rubber materials. The manufacturer of this rack is a well-known Japanese company, so you can trust the brand. Next, there are locks and keys coming in the package to securely attach the kayak or the paddleboard to this rack. We tried it on a highway to make sure of the safety and also see if it’ll produce noise with strong wind or not. Luckily, it came up to our expectations, and there was no noise, even on the windiest days. Best of all, the rack offers a very easy mounting process, so transporting heavier objects is now easier.

Thule SUP Taxi XT Rack

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Thule SUP Taxi XT Rack is a game changer. This rack is simply for those who go paddleboarding every now and then. The best thing about the rack is that after spending some time installing it, we spent zero time mounting the paddleboard over it. So, it’s really practical if you want something fixed on your car. Also, it’s adjustable, so you can carry nearly anything on the rack. Now, we need to point out that this rack is very expensive compared to soft pads and inflatable racks.

However, as we mentioned earlier, this one is made for those who load things on top of their cars every day. Also. It lasts the longest, and it can bear more weight than inflatable racks. Thus, it’s made for special people who want to pay for a rack once in a lifetime. We also want you to check the technical specs and all the features of this rack on their official website here.

Golkcurx Soft Roof Rack Pads

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With Golkcurx Soft Roof Rack Pads, you can take your SUP, kayak, or snowboard as far as you want with a hassle-free transportation process. Let’s list some of its features; it’s a universal rack which means it fits all cars, even those without side rails. Next, it has built-in non-slip mats for reducing noise, especially on highways. On the other side, the rack comes with safety locks, so when we locked the SUP on the rack, we were sure it’d never fall off. You can lock whatever cargo above your car and strap it well, then lock it using these locks to enjoy a stress-free trip to your adventure site.

“In fact, we didn’t have any expectations about these soft pads. However, they proven they’re a good fit for our car and a good fit for our paddleboard as well. We’re so lucky we came across this product, totally satisfied.”

WOW Travel

MeeFar Universal Car Soft Roof Rack

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Best ease of installation. We bought the MeeFar Universal Car Soft Roof Rack for transporting our paddleboard, and it worked like a charm. The rack package includes two soft pads that work on nearly all car types. Our car had two cross bars already installed on the roof, so the soft inflatable bars were easily attached to these bars. However, if your car doesn’t have cross bars, no problem, you can still use this rack easily. After using this rack, we believe it’ll last the longest thanks to its high-quality material. Being so soft is also better for the roof of the car. Overall, this rack checked all the boxes, and this YouTube video from Product Reviews helped us a lot to know more about its features. Meanwhile, if you have other vehicles, you might want to check out these best luggage racks for vehicles.

WOOWAVE Premium Roof Rack Pads

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Best value for money. We have many reasons to choose WOOWAVE Premium Roof Rack Pads as one of the best options and the best one for saving money. By saving money, we don’t mean the cheapest, yet, the best one in its price category. The rack comes with many accessories, though you can buy it without the accessories. It comes with tie-down straps, a tie-down rope, a quick loop strap, and a bag to store all these items. These accessories can be used to mount a kayak, a canoe, and boards. Another feature is the high-quality material it’s made of. It’s UV-resistant to last the longest. Best of all, there is a one-year warranty that we received when we bought the rack. Thus, we now trust the materials more. Check out this YouTube video from What We Recommend reviewing the same rack we just reviewed.

HandiRack Universal Inflatable Soft Roof Rack

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Best universal option. Another universal roof rack for all car types is the HandiRack Universal Inflatable Soft Roof Rack. In fact, we’re a bit biased towards universal roof racks. And when it happens that the universal roof rack we’re trying is also a soft and inflatable one, this must be our favorite! This soft rack is very practical because anyone can use it no matter what car you have. Even cars with panoramic roofs can use this rack.

Aside from that, the rack comes with the pump we used to inflate it. When we wanted to remove it from the car roof, we simply deflated the rack and stored it inside its bag, which took us a few minutes. The rack, with all its hardware, doesn’t take up any space inside the car. Also, it comes with heavy-duty tie-down ropes for firmly securing larger and heavier items. If you want to know how we attached the rack, here is a YouTube video from Base Camp Chris reviewing the product and showing the installation process.

HEYTRIP Roof Rack Pads

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Best overall. HEYTRIP Roof Rack Pads are our top recommendation for safely transporting your paddleboard wherever you go. First of all, you need to know that this roof rack comes in two options, a roof rack and pads or pads with straps but no roof rack. Needless to say, the one with a roof rack is better for your car and also better for transporting heavier items. Moreover, we used the velcro, which was so strong, to secure our paddle board more. We also had to tighten the straps pretty well so the board is secured on top of the car. We also appreciate the non-slip mat inside the foam padding, so we don’t have to worry about security at all. If you’re very concerned about security like us, you need to check those best shoes for paddleboarding.

Our Verdict!

Browsing many options, we could come up with the 13 best ones. However, if you need more precise choices, we suggest you start with those four best options.

• Best value for money: WOOWAVE Premium Roof Rack Pads
• Best ease of installation: MeeFar Universal Car Soft Roof Rack
• Best universal option: HandiRack Universal Inflatable Soft Roof Rack
• Best overall: HEYTRIP Roof Rack Pads

How To Choose The Best Roof Rack for Paddleboards?

To choose a suitable roof rack, you need to know a few important tips so, you can get a suitable one for your vehicle. Here are the criteria we used to make up the top 13 list.

Vehicle

Before choosing a roof rack, you need to know that not all roof racks are universal. There are some universal options that suit all car makes and models, yet, others are made for special models such as SUVs, campers, and so on. So, check with the seller first if the rack will suit your car. Alternatively, buy a universal rack if you would use it with different cars.
You might want to see those best roof racks for camper shells if you’re looking for a camper rack.

Mount

As you have seen in the list above, there are different rack types. Some racks are soft and inflatable. They require inflating before use. Others use bolts and latches to mount on the roof. Generally, SUPs don’t need very strong roof racks, so soft inflatable racks are cheaper, easier to mount, and more practical. On the other side, fixed racks are more durable and can be used for carrying other things on top of your car.

Additional items

Roof racks come with some accessories and hardware for installation. These might include safety latches and straps, bolts, and heavy-duty straps. So, make sure to check out all the needed installation hardware for the rack you intend to buy and whether they come with the package or if you need to buy something extra.

Is there a load capacity for car racks for stand-up paddle boards?

Yes, all roof racks have a load capacity, so you have to know it first before buying. Usually, a car roof rack carries a large SUP or two smaller boards.

What are roof racks used for?

Roof racks are generally used for mounting different equipment on top of the car if they don’t fit inside. You can carry a paddle board, a kayak, a canoe, a ladder, and different things using a proper roof rack.

Can I just use straps to mount a paddleboard on my car?

Technically, yes. However, this will put much load on the roof of your car, and it might get scratched. So, a roof rack is recommended.