If you drive to the mountain to ski or snowboard, you need a good rack to help keep your gear safe and secure on the way. A ski and snowboard roof rack is a much-needed accessory for any serious winter sports enthusiast.
I’m an avid snowboarder who has been spending my winters on the slopes for most of my life. I’ve used many ski and snowboard racks over the years, and I know what to look for in a top-quality model.
The Thule SnowPack Extender is my pick for the best ski and snowboard roof rack. This is a well-made option that will hold six pairs of skis or four snowboards.
I’ll show you a few of my other favorite options in this post so you can find a rack that works for your vehicle or the amount of equipment you need to carry.
Let’s load up and get out there.
Contents
Who Should Get This
Roof racks are ideal for transporting your snowboard anytime you want to head up to the mountains.
The racks listed here are all easy to install and fit on almost all vehicles. A rack will save you space in the interior of your car so you can fit more people and equipment wherever you go.
You don’t need to own a roof rack, but I would definitely recommend it if you snowboard or ski a lot. Also, if you just ride by yourself and don’t need extra room in the car for people or gear, you might not need a rack.
However, it’s a cheap and easy way to transport your board, and it also looks pretty dang cool.
Top Ski/Snowboard Roof Racks
Here are my top picks for the best ski and snowboard roof racks.
1. Thule SnowPack Extender
- Best for: Overall
- Key features: Excellent construction, aerodynamic design, slide-out, oversized push button, universal mounting
- Capacity: 6 pairs of skis/4 snowboards (multiple sizes available)
- Security: Anti-theft lock
- Cost: $$$$
The Thule SnowPack Extender is my pick for the best overall ski and snowboard roof rack. This is a very well-built model that will safely transport your skis and snowboards wherever you want to go.
The Extender comes in multiple sizes, with the largest being able to hold six pairs of skis or four boards. You can combine the two for versatile use.
It also has a slide-out design that makes it very easy to get your gear into or out of the rack. This is great if you have a larger car.
The SnowPack also features an anti-theft locking system, universal mounting, and oversized push buttons for easy use.
The only real downside of this option is that it is very expensive.
==> You can also get it on Sun & Ski Sports or Evo or Outdoorplay.
2. Rhino Rack Ski/Snowboard Carrier
- Best for: Construction
- Key features: Very durable, multiple sizes available, easy installation, universal mounting
- Capacity: Up to 6 pairs of ski/ 4 boards
- Security: Lockable arms
- Cost: $$$
The Rhino Rack Ski/Snowboard Carrier is one of the best racks because of its strong and durable construction. This one is built to handle anything that can happen during winter driving.
It has a large capacity that can hold plenty of skis or snowboards, and you can also get a smaller size to meet your needs.
It’s made of heavy-duty aluminum that is rust and corrosion-resistant. It’s also very easy to install and features universal mounting.
Lockable arms make sure that all of your gear stays in place when you are parked or driving.
You’ll need crossbars on your car to install this one.
==> You can also get it on Rhino-Rack USA or NAPA or 4 Wheel Parts.
3. Bonnlo Universal Ski Snowboard Car Rack
- Best for: Budget Pick
- Key features: Affordable, universal mounting, anti-theft lock
- Capacity: 2 pairs of skis/2 snowboards
- Security: Locking
- Cost: $$
The best budget pick is the Bonnlo Universal Ski Snowboard Car Rack. This is a decent rack that will get the job done when you are headed up to the mountains.
In addition to being very affordable, it’s also made of aviation aluminum and high elastic rubber strips that make it solid and durable.
It also features an anti-theft lock built right into the attaching mechanism and gives you security and peace of mind.
A universal mounting system makes it easy to install on many different types of cars.
It does have a very small capacity, which is part of the reason it is so cheap.
4. Yakima PowderHound
- Best for: Design
- Key features: Sleek design, easy access, tool-free install, overhang clamp
- Capacity: 6 pairs of skis/4 snowboards
- Security: Anti-theft lock
- Cost: $$$
The Yakima PowderHound features an excellent design that is easy to use and makes for hassle-free loading and unloading.
It has an easy access one-button system, so all you need to do to open up the rack is press the button. This can be done with gloves on so your hands stay warm and cozy.
Anti-theft locks are built into the buttons to keep your skis and snowboards safe and secure at all times.
Tool-free installation makes it easy to get the rack attached to your car so you can head up to the mountains.
This is another pretty expensive rack.
==> You can also get it on Walmart.
5. Kuat Switch 6
- Best for: All-Season Use
- Key features: Foldable design, quality construction, aerodynamic, universal fit
- Capacity: 6 pairs of skis/4 snowboards
- Security: Integrated locks
- Cost: $$$
The Kuat Switch 6 is the best option for all-season use because it features an innovative design that lets you fold down the rack when you don’t have skis or snowboards in it.
This increases aerodynamics and means you won’t have to take off the rack when the snow stops falling if you don’t want to.
It comes with integrated locks to keep your equipment safe and secure alongside a low-profile design that is strong and durable.
The Switch 6 has a universal security mount for versatile application on various cars, which is also an added safety measure.
The design might be overkill unless you want to leave your rack on all year long.
==> You can also get it on Walmart or Instacart.
6. Richeer 21-inch Ski and Snowboard Roof Rack
- Best for: Low Profile
- Key features: Affordable, quality construction, lockable, aerodynamic, universal fit
- Capacity: 2 pairs of skis/2 snowboards
- Security: Built-in locks
- Cost: $$
If you only need to bring two pairs of skis or two snowboards up to the hill, check out the Richeer 21-inch Ski and Snowboard Roof Rack.
This is a low-profile option that won’t take up all of the room on your roof. It’s also very affordable because it’s made with less material.
It has a strong construction made of aviation aluminum. It will resist rust and work well in colder temperatures.
The rack also has lockable arms that will keep your gear safe and prevent theft. It also has a universal fit.
This isn’t the most durable option around, and it has a small capacity by design.
How to Choose The Best Ski and Snowboard Roof Rack
Keep the following factors in mind when shopping for a good ski and snowboard rack.
Size
One of the first things to consider when looking at a roof rack is how many snowboards or skis you want or need to carry at a time. A full-sized rack will typically give you the ability to safely stow and transport four boards or six pairs of skis at once.
Since that’s roughly the capacity of most vehicles, it’s enough for most riders.
However, that can change depending on your car size. If you have a large vehicle, such as a van or truck, you might be able to get an even larger rack that can hold six or more boards or eight pairs of skis at a time.
Smaller racks will only allow you to store two pairs of skis and two boards at a time, but that can free up extra room on your roof for another rack to store bikes or anything else.
Locking Design
An absolute must for any quality roof rack is the ability to lock.
Since there’s a good chance you’re going to leave your board or skis in the rack when you go get gas, grab a bite to eat, or during any other stops on your way to the mountain, you want something that can keep your gear locked up and secure.
Most racks come with a small key that you can use whenever you need. Don’t get a rack without the ability to lock. It’s not worth getting your board stolen.
Mounting System
Another aspect to consider with a roof rack is the way it will attach to your vehicle. All of the racks listed here come with a universal mount that will easily attach to the existing roof rack on your car.
Nearly all vehicles come with some sort of built-in rack on top of the roof. It’s usually in the form of two long bases that run front-to-back with two cross members going from side-to-side. You need that to attach the roof racks in this guide to your car.
FAQs
Here are some quick answers to a few common questions relating to ski and snowboard roof racks.
Are ski racks bad for skis?
No, not really. Ski racks are designed to transport your skis on the roof of your car safely, and you shouldn’t have to worry much about any damage occurring. Of course, accidents can always happen, but a rack isn’t inherently bad for skis or snowboards.
Do you need a roof rack for ski rack?
In most cases, yes. Most ski and snowboard racks have a universal fit designed to attach to the existing cross beam on your car’s roof. If you don’t have these cross beams, you might need a different style of rack.
How many snowboards can fit on a ski rack?
The average rack can carry four snowboards. However, smaller options can only carry two, and larger options can carry six or more boards.
Can you put a ski rack on any car?
It’s much easier to put a universal rack on a car that already has a cross beam installed on its roof. You won’t need to do anything special for this install. Even if you don’t have a crossbeam, there is a ski rack option for nearly every car.
Is Thule better than Yakima?
This just depends on who you ask. I personally like Thule a little bit better, but that’s just because I have used more options from the brand in the past. Yakima makes great racks as well.
Useful Tips & Resources
A good thing to know about a roof rack, if you haven’t used one before, is how snowboards fit inside of it. When you’re transporting multiple boards, they will stack on top of one another base-to-base, just like skis.
The models listed above that allow up to four boards to be carried will have two rows of two boards sandwiched together. That might seem weird at first, but it’s a safe way to transport your boards.
If your car doesn’t have cross members to hold a roof rack, don’t worry. You can get these installed pretty easily so you can carry your boards or skis.
You first need to find the correct size specific to your vehicle, but once that’s done, installation is a breeze.
Check out this step-by-step guide explaining how to install the crossbars and the roof rack.
My Verdict
The Thule SnowPack Extender is my pick for the best ski and snowboard roof rack. This model features solid construction that will last for seasons and is large enough to carry a carload of equipment up to the mountain.
All of the racks you see on this list are solid. As long as it attaches to your car and has a security system to keep your gear safe, you can’t go wrong with any of them. If you live close to a resort, getting a rack is a must.
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