Yakima deliver again by providing a product that does exactly what it is intended to do. The Yakima BoatLoader extends 28” from the side of the vehicle and can handle the heaviest of kayaks. The cross bars is telescopic meaning it can slide into the Yakima circular cross bars and always be there when you need it. A frequent complaint about these style of loaders is the kayak slipping off the bar. Yakima answers this concern by using the largest stopper on the market.

Another example of a simple design feature that can make or break the usability of this product. The downside I can find is that it is only compatible with Yakima round crossbars. If you have these you are in luck because this is the best extendable pole on the market.

The Thule 847 Outrigger Kayak Load Assist is very similar in design to the Yakima BoatLoader, however I feel the Boatloader design team executed slightly better on the stopper and sturdiness. The Outrigger II works only with square cross bars from Thule.The main differentiator for most buyers between the BoatLoader and Outrigger will be whether round or square cross bars are already installed on their vehicle.

The Outrigger II extends 38” from the side of the vehicle and offers the same telescoping or sliding motion as the Yakima BoatLoader. 38” certainly adds more clearance from the vehicle, but can come with a dangerous side-effect if the load is not controlled. Dropping a kayak on the end of the Outrigger creates a spring board effect. This causes the boat to bounce and the undersized stopper is not sufficient to catch the load from falling. I feel the Outrigger should be made from stronger material to support it’s long span.

The Rhino Rack Universal Side Loader represents this category’s leader in innovation. It sports a support beam under the stopper, which gives added strength and prevents the spring board effect. With the support beam, Rhino claims the system can handle loads up to 132lbs. and stretches 55” from the side of the vehicle. The bars are padded to prevent scratching and provide traction when the kayak is wet. And finally, there is a simple side loader with universal application. These are great solutions to the problems outlined with the Boatloader and Outrigger II, but there are always trade offs.

Rhino makes up for not being able to slide into the cross bars when not in use by providing a “complimentary” heavy duty bag. Really this just means the side loader needs to be folded into a bag and stored in the car.
The Rhino is more cumbersome to use since it is stored away. Set-up is required for every use, which will not take very long, but it could get annoying if you frequently kayak.

The INNO INA453 Rooftop Kayak Lifter brings a new style of stow and go to the simple load assist genre. This model offers a swinging arm that can quickly be moved to and from the ready position. The arm extends 18” from the side of the vehicle making this the shortest of all the simple loaders. While this does well to negate spring boarding, it means the kayak will be in very close contact to the paint. I recommend using a towel or yoga mat in conjunction with the Inno. Simple assist loaders were created to replace the towel and slide method so I find other products do a better job as far as loading goes.

The Inno has universal cross bar attaching capability. Any cross bar system with a spread of 27-39” will work for this system. The swing arm can handle up to 90lbs. which is more than enough to support even heavier fishing kayaks. Usually more cost is justified through more features, but this does not seem to be the case. The Inno is priced alongside the Rhino Rack Universal Side Loader, which has the capability to handle much heavier loads and extends 55” or triple the Inno’s span.

The perk is in the ease of use associated with the swing arm and the ability to keep the loader attached to the rack throughout transportation.
Inno justifies it’s similar price tag to the Rhino Rack Universal Side Loader with its ease of use features. The swing arm and the ability to lock onto the cross bars during transit make the Inno much quicker to use.

The Malone SeaWing/Stinger Combo offers a simple load assist option for the rear of the car. Rear assist loading is only good for hatchbacks or SUVs and for the Stinger, only good for square trunks/tailgates with no spoiler. The Stinger itself extends onto the top of the tailgate and rests on the frame of the tailgate just above the windshield in most cases. Like most of the other kayak racks, you lean the kayak on the Stinger and move to the bottom of the kayak to hoist it onto the Seawings. The problem arise at this point. The stinger will not extend beyond rounded tailgates and will rub the vehicle.

The second issue I found with the Malone Stinger is related to the stability of the Stinger at the extended position and the kayak groove on the end. The groove is very narrow and will not properly hold flat bottom or rounded kayaks. Drops are frequent for owners with these types of kayaks. The stability comes to play once the kayak has been lifted off the ground because the Stinger suffers from the spring board effect. Mixing insufficient cradling with the play of the Stinger can result in drops and damage.

The Stinger/Seawing combo is a decent solution if both your kayak and vehicle avoid the issues mentioned above. For a system like this it is inexpensive compared to other models and it does allow for a single person to be able to load/unload the kayaks. The product holds up well to the test of time and is very simple to install.

All of the issue with this rack load assist derive from the design of the Stinger. The Seawings are very well made and wide, V-shape accommodates most kayaks. Overall the combo’s cons far outweigh its price tag. The Seawings are well executed but the Stinger brings just too many risks to the table. The purchase price savings between this rack and its competitors will be negated after a single dent in your vehicle.

Rollers can take on a couple different forms, but they all fundamentally act like a rolling pin to ease the transition from top of roof to the ground. There are more complex systems like the Whispbar and SlipStream that integrate rollers and carriers to more basic roller accessories that stick to the glass or body panels. The later will be bought separately from kayak carriers. Most permanent carriers are lined with rubber to grip and hold the kayak during transportation. Of course, this is counterproductive when trying to slid the kayak in and out of the carriers during loading. A good roller shines during this transitional phase by separating the kayak and rubber grip.

Often times you can tell the parents of a child by their features. For the Whispbar WB401 Saddle Roller, its parents were a world class engineer and legendary artist because it is both beautifully designed and as functional as it gets.
This is a premium kayak carrier worth every penny in my opinion. The Whispbar can be attached to the crossbars extremely quickly and easily. It is so quick and easy there is almost no reason to take them off after each use. Now if you do not want to take them off, there is a built-in locking system. I enjoy the peace of mind from knowing my carrier will not be stolen over night.

The wings of each pad have four locking positions to conform to the bottom of the kayak. It is doubtful these setting will conform exactly to your needs, but it will still provide enough support to hold the kayak from moving. There are a total of four rollers on the Whispbar, 3 in the back and one up front. The three rollers in the back help the lifting process while you hold the majority of the weight and the single roller up top serves as a guide for the nose of the boat. Other horizontal holders make loading difficult because the kayak sticks to the rubbery grips.

The Yakima ShowBoat Load Assist is more of an accessory than a complete unit like the Whispbar Roller or Thule SlipStream. The ShowBoat will need to be purchased with a pair of Yakima DeckHands or HullHounds. A common pairing will be with a set of HandRolls but that is more rolling than is necessary.

The ShowBoat is an extendable bar that slides out over the back of the vehicle. It makes it possible to load kayaks with by yourself on an SUV or taller vehicle. It works best with vehicles with a square tailgate because rounded, station-wagon-shaped tailgates need additional clearance.
Weight and clearance are two things you need to be aware of before purchasing this unit. The further the ShowBoat needs to be extended the less weight it can bear. This recipe means kayaks in the 70+ lbs range would be better suited with other load assist options.

Apart from these issues I believe this a great solution for tall vehicle and moderate kayak weight combinations. The bar’s wide, smooth roller makes it compatible with all kayaks. It truly does turn a two man job into a single person endeavor.

Seattle Sports improved upon the lack luster design of the Malone K-Rack, but still left much to be desired. The improvement resides with the roller, which does an adequate job of assisting in the loading process. The Seattle Sports Sherpak Boat Roller fails with the suction cup design. The suction cups are difficult to attach to the vehicle if there is not a flat, clean surface. This piece is fairly priced, but remember you get what you pay for.

Frankly, the Malone K-Rack Load Assist Module needs work. The entire design needs to be revisited because I cannot find a positive things about this contraption. The suction cups are difficult to get to adhere to the vehicle. The area where the kayak is suppose to slide into is too narrow for all but the smallest kayaks. In theory, this product is excellent. In practice, it simply will not work for most users.

Whispbar strikes again with a wonderfully designed and impressively sleek Whispbar WB400 J-Cradle. I love the look of Whispbar products, and this J-cradle is not exception. This unit features a foldable upright arm, which locks at both the upright and down positions. A focal point of foldable arms is always the folding joint because it is a big point of failure on some other systems. The 10 lb solid construction eliminated doubts of the folding joint not being sturdy enough to handle heavy loads.

All Whispbars features QuickDock technology, which allows the user to quickly attach the cradles to the crossbars without any tools. We are talking under one minute installation so easy it is hard to justify leaving them on overnight. However if you do, a built-in locking feature will ensure there is no chance of theft.

My favorite feature is the extendable load assist arms. These stick about two feet out from the side of the rack to assist the loader getting the kayak to appropriate height and angle to fit into the J-cradles.
I am very impressed with the design and utility of this J-cradle. Whispbar created a feature packed J-cradle without detriment to its appearance or functionality. It may be pricey, but its value outweighs the cost in my eyes.

The RRhino Rack Folding J Style Kayak Carrier S512 is tough like it namesake suggests. Rhino manufactures racks with the highest weight capability, which makes them perfect for the J style carrier category. One of the chief dangers of a J style rack is catching cross winds at interstate speeds which can break J carriers leading to all sorts of problems. Since most kayaks only weigh roughly 60-80lbs, this unit has the strength to get the job done.

My favorite aspect of the Rhino is the paddle holder. This is the only carrier that offers this feature, and it is a nice alternative to storing kayak paddles inside the vehicle after a long trip.
The carrier requires no tools to attach the the crossbars and is universal so it should mount to most types of crossbars.

Thule’s premium J style carrier is the 835PRO Hullaport Pro. You get what you pay for this model, which is a well made rig with everything you need together. This J style carrier folds down when not in use providing extra clearance for entry ways like garages. The Hull-a-Port sports all season pads that deter oil canning and greatly reduce noise during transport.

Thule’s famous blue and yellow straps come with this unit like all Thule products. I am bag fan of the straps because they well made and have the Goldilocks length (not too long, not too short). They come with a rubber buckle protector to prevent metal rubbing against the kayak and reduce noise. Additionally the Hull-a-Port has a convenient velcro flap to store excess strap slack.

The Yakima JayLow brings up the rear when considering folding J style racks. This product falls well below the average Yakima quality level in my opinion. Yakima products are built with the user in mind without breaking the bank, but not in this case.

My first issue lies with the overall sturdiness of the Jaylow. It feels much more flimsy than either the Hull-a-Port or Rhino Rack. With a singe light kayak, it should be just fine, but adding two kayaks or a single large one may be a cause for concern.

Secondly, the Yakima Jaylow whistles when it is folded down. Screw holes catch when in the folded position producing a light irritating whistling noise over speeds of 40mph. Electric tape over these screw holes will mostly solve the problem, but why not just buy one of the other racks?

Lastly, the straps and bow/stern ties downs are cheap. The plastic on the end to protect the paint breakdown after a couple of uses. Also the S hooks will bend if the tie downs are every actually needed. You would be better off using a metal carabiner in its place. Since none of these are fatal flaws, I would consider this rack as a budget option if the price were cheaper.

Something a little bit unique with this review; I am grouping all of these stackers together because they are all too similar to warrant their own reviews. They differ in appearance more than anything and to select one is to select the whole group.

The Thule 830 Stacker, Yakima BigStack, and Rhino-Rack S520 Nautic Stack stackers carry a hefty price tag, but with that comes all the perks of a big manufacturer. Clear installation instructions, quality straps, and longevity can all be expected from this group. Each stacker folds down to give additional clearance when not in use. The anchor point of the strap located at the top of the tower appear different but all operate equally.

Stackers are difficult to load with one person and that is the main complaint from this group. None of the premium stackers address this issue, which is a bit disappointing considering there are others who do.

The Malone Stax Pro2 may seem like it should be in the grouping with Yakima, Thule, and Rhino, but there are some glaring issues with this model. The StaxPro2 differs from the other grouping in the design of the folding mechanism. The joint of Malone’s folding mechanism relies on interlocking plastic teeth to hold the stacker in the upright position. This weak design can lead some units to fold in transit resulting in all sorts of dangerous situations. Other foldable stackers rely metal components to do the same job.

Malone does address the pain of loading kayak stackers by providing foam cradles. The foam cradles nestle the kayak into a more secure position which makes unloading and loading much safer. I am glad to see an racking company come up with a solution to this issue, I just wish Malone did a better job of it. The foam cradles are simple blocks of foam with generic cuts to secure them to the crossbars. General fits rarely work and it won’t be long until these blocks fly away, but they are better than nothing.

Inno bounces on the scene with my favorite kayak stacker system on the market, the INNO INA450 Easy Mount Dual Kayak Carrier. Why you may ask? It is simple. This rack comes at a reasonable price, has no fatal flaws, and makes loading a stacker easy! That’s right, this stacker comes with two sets of clamp on cradles to hold the kayak up while you strap it in. The fix we all needed from stackers is upon us.
Now back to the basics, this model is foldable with a high strength metal joint. In fact, the majority of the stacker is metal with a thick pad wrapped around the contact area.

The INA450 is “universal” with all crossbars claims Inno. Lawyers were used in this description because it is universal only if you purchases the round bar adapters, which are sold separately. Square bars and most factory bars are in the clear though.

Other than the round crossbar conundrum, this is the best stacker on the market in my opinion. However, if you do not trust Inno, a smart alternative could be to buy one of the stackers from the Group (Thule/Rhino/Yakima) and purchase the Inno cradles to go along with them. This is out of my price range personally, but it would be a winning combination.

The Malone SeaWing is my top choice for simple horizontal kayak carrying needs. Now usually I am pretty hard on Malone (they deserve it), so this may come as a surprise.
The SeaWing uses a “V” or some call it an “X” design to cradle the racks onto the roof top. This is the secret sauce that makes this the best carrier. Most other brands offer 4 small carriers, which I find to be troublesome installing and adjusting to the specific needs of each kayak. While the SeaWing will likely not fit your kayak perfectly, it will safely hold your kayak to the roof. The flexible design also means this model is compatible with nearly all types of kayaks. It even has a big brother the Malone MegaWing to accommodate kayaks up to 150 lbs.

Dang it Kayamping.net, not another group review. Sorry folks another group review. The purpose of these is to show you that they were included in my analysis of all the kayak racks on the market. If I simply ignored them, like I wanted to, you may think I just left them off the list.

Anyways, I group these together because they are all very similar. Each brand has a ton of names to differentiate the various heads. These Yakima and Thule sets are various styles of four individual head units. The two big brands hold most of the market share in kayak roof racks so there seems to be a bit of copycatting going on.

Need a solution for infrequent kayak haul around town? Look no further than foam blocks, soft-sided racks, or inflatable kayak racks. These entry-level kayak racks are great for those still trying to figure out if kayaking is right for them. Temporary carriers suit infrequent trips best and should be removed from the vehicle after each use.

All temporary carriers run a strap through the door gap to secure the carrier to the roof of the vehicle. This only presents a problem when the weather is bad. The straps create the slightest opening at the top of the door, which opens the way for rain water to work its way into the interior of the car. For slight drizzle it is manageable, but heavier rainfall can force you to pull over. Wrapping a dishcloth around the strap near the doorframe will prevent the water from dripping on you but will not solve the problem. As mentioned before, temporary carriers are best for short trips on clear days.

Foam blocks are about as simple as it gets. They are effective for short distances and very inexpensive. Some people swear by them and don’t see a need for any other means of kayak hauling. These are best used if you drive a vehicle that you don’t mind getting some scratches or deforms. Loading can be tricky with a single person and overtightening can lead to deforms in your roof. Again, I think these are a great,cheap alternative for entry level kayakers with expendable vehicles. Anyone with a valuable kayak or expensive car will be better suited to invest a permanent rack set-up. Keep in mind that foam block rigs are designed for short distances. For long trips, budget stops to check the kayak and retighten the ratchet straps.
All foam blocks are pretty much the same, but some of the better ones are listed below.

Like I said above, most foam block racks have very little difference from each other. The Swiss Cargo Foam Block Carrier is everything you need in one packgage to get started. It has decent quality to it, but an investment in new straps and tie downs wouldn't hurt. It is the best generic foam block setup available online.

The Roof Kayak Carrier Foam Blocks is a good alternative to the Swiss Cargo Foam block set. The straps are not of great quality so use the money you save to invest in some quality ratchet straps that fit your specific needs.

Relatively new on the scene are soft sided roof carriers. A hybrid between inflatable and foam blocks, they provide better fit to your roof than foam blocks and have a longer life span than inflatables. Soft-sided roof racks are the king of flexibility, which is both their greatest strength and greatest weakness. A roof rack designed to accommodate stand-up paddle boards, canoes, small boats, surfboards, or, in other words, everything under the sun, will not be specific enough to properly support kayaks. The racks do not have any fittings or features specifically for kayaks. Again, these racks are extremely flexible so if you are a multi-sport athlete, these racks will be helpful to you.

Yakima is a company known for their quality at a fair price and that is what they have provided with the Yakima Easytop. Of all the soft-sided kayak racks, this is the only one I would trust with my kayak. Yakima has experience with kayak carrying so even though this is not specifically created for kayaks, it has a weight bearing capacity of 80lbs and enough structure to handle the load. The straps are well done and feature double buckles for added security. The best feature about the straps are the rings along the length of the pads. The straps can be looped through the rings to adjust for various sides kayak widths.

For this category of temporary kayak racks, I want you to think about every air mattress you have ever owned. Air mattresses require time to inflate and deflate for each use, and they tend to have you sleeping on the ground by the end of the night. Also, I have never had an air mattress that would last more than a year. 

All the same problems appear in inflatable kayaks racks, making them the worst solution for temporary kayak racks. This was a cool idea that just did not pan out in the real world. Some of the products serve their intended purpose, but I cannot find a convincing reason why you would choose these options over soft-sided or foam block solutions.

If you have to use an inflatable roof rack, then there is really only one I can recommend without totally cringe. The Malone HandiRack is the big brother to the HR20, and can carry up to 180 lbs. I would put get the Handiworld over the HR20 because there is some room for error if an air chamber deflates during transport. That being said, air chamber failure is a major problem with this model. Eventually it is going to happen and good luck guessing when that will be.
I recommend placing towels or pads underneath the Handiworld during use. The lightweight pads cannot be tightened enough to prevent them from vibrating/flapping in the wind at moderate speeds. This vibrating puts a beating on roofs leading to scratches and scuff marks.

Despite these flaws, the perk of the Handiworld is that it takes up virtually no space once deflated. It can be easily stored in the car at all times, which makes it “Handi” in a bind.

If you are an experienced kayaker with a $3000 boat or a college freshman with your first boat, there is a kayak system right for you. There is no best option because each person has their own needs in a unique situation. We have reviewed the most basic kayak racks, foam blocks to highly sophisticated hydraulic lift systems. No two people will have the same needs or wants, but that shouldn’t stop you from checking them all out.

Hopefully, this guide will assist you in making the best buying decision for your kayaking adventures. To date it is the most comprehensive review of all kayak racks, but you must be the ultimate judge. Now hurry up and get to the water, there’s a huge world out there.