Surfers from all over the world suffer from the same problem of transporting surfboards from place to place in search of awesome waves. Apart from the troubles associated with carrying surfboards, in some countries, transporting surfboards inside your car is prohibited under the law. Even if you have the liberty to use your car to accomplish this feat, storing and travelling with a surfboard inside your car is not an easy job, as it not only creates an inconvenience and lowers visibility, but it can also create some serious damage to the interior of your car. The best way to carry your surfboard along in search of good surf or from your home to the beach is by opting for surfboard racks for your car. Most all of the products under this category can be divided into hard racks and soft racks. Soft racks offer better protection for your board. Some of the additional best options available on the market for storing surfboards are discussed below to aid you in your ultimate decision.
Thule Hang Two Surf Carrier Roof Rack
This roof rack comes in the form of Sure-Grip cradles, which are quite appropriate even for oversized surfboards. These cradles protect the surfboard, and the straps are used for maximum protection and stability during the drive. These cradles can be fitted on existing roof racks, round bars, and other factory-installed carrier racks on your vehicles. The Thule Hang Two Surf Carrier Roof Rack is currently available at a price of $89.95.
Pros:
- Provides maximum protection to surfboards along with lateral stability due to soft oversized cradles
- Comes with strong straps for board protection and stability during transportation
- Due to their universal mounting hardware, these cradles can be transferred from one vehicle to another very easily
- Compatible with Thule Standard, Rapid Aero, Xsporter, and Yakima roof racks and most other factory-installed racks
Cons:
- These cradles can be only fitted upon existing rooftop carrier bars of the vehicle. This is not a complete roof rack system
Conclusion: This rack is very easy to install, and you can change it from vehicle to vehicle in a few minutes. It is also very easy to mount and remove the boards from the cradles, and the strong straps provide extra safety. This rack at its current price is a good option for transporting two boards at a time, but it is not a great budget option, especially if you do not already have a roof rack running the top length of your car.
Block Surf Single Wrap Surfboard Rack
This surfboard rack comes under the category of soft racks and has to be strapped to the roof of the car. This type of soft rack can be used for storage of any kind of surfboard and is compatible with all models of vehicles. The straps provided with this soft rack run through the open car doors, and after tightening them over the roof, you can still close your doors. The surfboard is stored on the sets of pads and safely secured with straps. The Block Surf Single Wrap Surfboard Rack is currently available at a price of $36.98.
Pros:
- Capacity to hold one to three surfboards
- Compatible with all types of vehicles
- Wraps go through the car for secure hold and stability
- Comes with easy strap-down buckles
Cons:
- Some of the people who reviewed this product have complaints about the unclear installation instructions provided in the package
Conclusion: The Block Surf Single Wrap Surfboard Rack is a good and inexpensive solution for the transportation of surfboards. It is compatible with all vehicles, which makes it very easy to use, and you can change it from one vehicle to another in just a couple of minutes.
Surfboard Soft Rack LOCKDOWN Racks – Premium Car Racks by Curve (set of 2)
This soft rack comes with the patented Curve Lockdown system, which helps the single loop of the strap cocoon around the surfboards and securely store them for transportation. This patented design takes care of problems such as surfboards moving side by side or up and down. The foam padding in this rack protects the surface of your vehicle from getting scratched by your surfboard. The interior of this soft rack is lined with neoprene cushioning to protect the board from unwanted abrasions and dents. This rack is quite compatible with all types of bare-roofed vehicles and can also be fixed upon roofed vehicles with two roof rails. This rack has the capacity to store up to four short surfboards, three longboards, or three paddleboards. It is currently available at a price of $54.95.
Pros:
- Super-secure patented single-loop system
- Comes with 1-inch foam padding to act as a cushion between your surfboard and vehicle’s roof
- Comes with inner neoprene lining for protection
- Can be connected either through the doors or via roof rails
- Compatible with all roofed vehicles
Cons:
- Some of the people who reviewed this product felt that setting up this soft rack is a bit complicated
Conclusion: These racks are designed somewhat differently from other soft racks, which makes them a bit complicated to install. This product is recommended for people who have prior experience using standard soft surfboard storage racks. Even though the first installation may take some time, once you get the hang of it then it is quite easy to install again on another car.
Malone Auto Racks Deluxe SUP Two Board Deluxe Foam Kit
This through-the-roof foam kit rack has a capacity of storing two stand-up boards or surfboards. It is an economical system that is quite compatible with all vehicles, whether they are with or without cross bars. The foam blocks provided in this kit keep the boards safe from dents and abrasions while protecting the surface of the vehicle. These oversized rooftop blocks can be used for storing any size of surfboard or longboard. Each foam block comes with a non-slip TPR bottom, which allows cohesion with the surface of the roof. The kit is currently available at a price of $ 71.95.
Pros:
- Comes with high capacity 24-inch profiled foam blocks for storing any type of board
- Can be installed over vehicles with bare roofs and is also compatible with all types of factory-installed load bars
- Very easy to install
- Comes with two 22-inch foam spacers for safely stacking two surfboards
- All required blocks and load straps are provided in the package
Cons:
- Some customers felt that this rack requires you to ratchet down the straps pretty tightly in order to secure the boards
Conclusion: The Malone Auto Racks Deluxe SUP Two Board Deluxe Foam Kit is quite affordable and an easy way to carry two surfboards. The blocks are very easy to store when not in use, and you can even carry them in your duffel bag if you are planning to visit someplace to go surfing and are getting a rental car while traveling there.
FCS DOUBLE SOFT CAM LOCK Surfboard Car Racks
These double surfboard car racks have a simple and strong Cam Lock range that makes strapping your surfboards very easy and fast. This soft rack is compatible with flat roofs on any vehicle. This type of soft rack can be used for storage of any kind of surfboard as well. The straps provided with this soft rack run through your open doors as a through-the-roof model. Your boards are stored on the set of pads and safely secured with straps. The set is currently available at a price of $ 46.98.
Pros:
- Fits most cars, minivans, and SUVs
- Has a storage capacity of up to six regular boards or four longboards
- Comes with square, non-rolling pads for the safety of the boards
- Comes with 25mm heavy-duty nylon webbing for extra safety and stability during driving
- Comes with Metal CAM Lock system in a neoprene sleeve
Cons:
- Some of the people who reviewed this product feel that it is only a temporary solution for storage and transportation
Conclusion: This surfboard car rack uses a simple strap and is quite cheap compared to the standard soft racks by the same manufacturer. Everything you need to install these comes in one simple package. Although customers don’t complain about the quality, they do mention that this does not seem like a great long-term product. However, at its current price, this rack is definitely a good bargain.
Summary
The items discussed above range from cradles to multiple-surfboard soft storage racks designed for safe transportation. It’s important to find a model that suits your vehicle as well as your boards, so for this reason, the Malone racks rank in first place. You can use them even if you don’t have a roof rack. The Thule set provides another great choice, and although the cradles are only compatible with a roof rack, they do provide excellent protection and security. The Curve Lockdown racks come in last, because although they are a bit harder to install, they hold quite a few boards.