10 Best Kayak Roof Racks In 2023

Simple, sturdy, and reliable, Yakima JayHook Kayak Rack gets featured on our list for its tough design that provides enough security on winding river roads and enough padding to coddle any kayak.

Design 

JayHook is a Yakima’s classic. This kayak roof rack for cars comes with padded metal arms that allow universal mounting to fit any crossbar with a spread of 24 inches. The carrier for kayak features a J-Style shape that can carry one kayak upright and creates enough space for another kayak rack. Adding to that, it includes heavy-duty straps with bow and stern tie-downs to secure your kayak.

Performance

Designed to carry all types of kayaks, the kayak rack for a car features a tool-free and user-friendly installation. Each mounting has hand knobs that let you clamp and unclamp cradles to and from crossbars. Further, each one has a releasing handle, that allows the top rack to fold down when not needed. Once a kayak is positioned on the rack, it's extra padding, and a plastic sheet wrapping ensures that there is no scratch on the car or kayak while the car is moving.

Featuring an angled shape to create a stable and space-saving kayak mounting system, Thule Hull-a-Port Rooftop Kayak Carrier grabs its spot on the list for its wide mouth arms that allow easy loading and unloading. 

Design

Thule Hull-a-Port Rooftop Kayak Carrier comes with steel construction and features a durable, rust-resistant coating for longer life. With a J shape, this kayak holder for car is angled in such a manner that it takes minimum space on the car roof. The rack also includes a set of durable straps that has Thule Buckle Bumpers to keep the kayak firmly secured and protected in transit. 

Performance

When it comes to performance, this rack system offers user-friendly installation, simple loading and unloading, and above all, maximum protection to both kayak and the car surface. Thanks to its durable construction and versatile fitting, Thule fits any Thule rack system round bars or most of the factory-built racks. No wonder, this rack system has one of the best kayak roof rack reviews for its top-notch performance.

Allowing a super-fast and super easy kayak loading, Yakima SweetRoll Kayak Carrier is listed for its built-in roller configuration, which lets you roll the kayak into the right position in no time.

Design

Coming with heavy-duty straps and bow/stern tie-down straps, this car roof rack is designed with unique features to offer easy loading, the right fit, and best in class protection. It comes with built-in rollers and a spring-loaded base that automatically adjusts to the shape of your kayak when loading. Further, this rack has tilting paddle technology that accommodates an array of kayaks and fit several roof rack systems

Performance

Coming as a fully assembled kayak holder for car, you can directly install this roof rack without much effort as it mounts to round, square, factory-made, or aerodynamic bars without any tool. Its unique rollers on the rear cradles allow simple, one-person loading from the back of your car. Moreover, you can be sure that its smooth molded pads will offer the utmost protection to your kayak.

Durable and versatile, JDM Auto Lights Rack for Kayaks gets a spot on our list for their flexible towers that offer massive load-bearing capacity. 

Design

Capable of holding some of the heaviest kayaks on the market, this kayak holder for car is made from solid heavy-duty carbon steel that is tested to bear 165 lbs of weight. While you may think that it is a heavy setup it weighs just under 17 lbs each. Further, these carriers also have a rust-resistant coating on their surface which ensures they stand up to mother nature and whatever else you throw at them.

Performance

With wide mouth J bar style, this rack offers easier loading and unloading and features a quick on/off hardware to ensure fast installation and removal. While most of the carriers allow you to carry one kayak comfortably, JDM allows you to load up to 2 kayaks or any other water sports gear your family has.

Offering a unique way and a simple method for transporting any kayak, Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier is the lightest kayak carrier on our list that is ideal for small cars. 

Design

The rack comes as a set of two 18-inch waterproof and sunproof closed-cell foam blocks that are made from CFC- and HCFC-free foam. Further, the rack set has a lot of straps to secure the positioning of the kayak on the foam blocks. For the purpose, it includes two 18 feet bow/stern tie-down straps, one 15 feet center lash strap, two 9 feet block straps, and 4 S-hooks for easy attachment under bumpers. 

Performance

Thanks to its included mesh storage bag, you can store or carry all its foam blocks and all its straps with ease. Once out, installing it is as easy as placing the kayak, foam blocks, and straps at the right spots. Further, the rack provides a non-skid surface between the kayak and the vehicle and provides excellent protection to both the vehicle and the kayak.

Coming as a premium lift-assist carrier that reduces half of the kayak’s weight while loading, Thule Hullavator Pro Rooftop Kayak Carrier is a perfect choice for those kayakers who like loading, unloading, and hitting the water on their own. 

Design

Designed with high-grade aluminum and double coated steel that is resistant to corrosion, this top-rated kayak roof rack comes with wide cradles that can accommodate hulls up to 36 inches in width. Thanks to Its unique design that fits Thule rack systems or any of those round bars, you can install it in both T-track and around the bar mounting ways. 

Performance

What makes this car carrier for kayak special is its excellent assistance for kayak loading especially when you have no helping hand. For the purpose, it features a lift-assisting kayak rack design that allows easy loading and unloading as it features gas-assist struts that absorb 40 lbs of the kayak's weight. Further, its 8 touch points of padded support offer maximum protection. 

With a time-tested design and folding cradle arm for toting kayaks to your favorite drop-in point, Thule HullaPort Pro Rooftop Kayak Carrier gets the last spot on our list for improved overhead clearance and impressive stability. 

Design

The rooftop rack is made from steel rust resistant tubing that has been designed to be extra strong. Two perfectly placed thick pads ensure your kayak is not only away from anything that can scratch it but also held in the position you place it in. Thule has even included pockets that you can put the extra straps so they don’t blow in the wind. Further, the rack system includes QuickDraw ratcheting bow and stern tie-down straps and two 15 feet straps for securing the kayak.

Performance

With quick on and off hardware, this kayak roof rack for cars comes with an angled design that allows more room for other boats or carriers. The rooftop kayak rack also features a Pull Fold Done lever to collapse the carrier quickly and efficiently when not in use. While the rack offers hassle-free loading of the kayak, its hardware fits square, round, and most factory-installed racks, and carries one kayak just like a breeze.