Surfboard racks are the safest way of traveling with boards and surfing gear on top of your car.
A surfboard is not a very portable sports item, and transporting boards in or on your automobile can be tricky. Above all, you don't want to put your life and other lives in jeopardy.
For instance, in many countries, surfboards are simply not allowed to travel inside cars. In other cases, sticks are just too big for your vehicle.
Also, driving with surfboards inside the car may cause other secondary issues. Sand, pieces of wax and salted water will damage your car's upholstery and overall interiors.
The safest way of hitting the road in search of perfect surf is to install easy-to-use surfboard car racks available in the market.
These systems are inexpensive and will allow you to carry boards on top of your car while simultaneously deblocking your rear and side view driving angles.
The best surfboard car rack systems are hard racks and soft racks. Surfers who prefer to keep objects off the car roof, and people driving vehicles with rain gutters usually opt for hard racks.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, you'll find soft racks. These systems can be easily and quickly mounted and dismounted with straps so that you're only driving with them when you're surfing.
Smooth pads will ensure that surfboards will not be in direct contact with the car roof.
All these surfboard car rack systems are compatible with board bags and unprotected surfboards, but make sure to travel with the surfboard fins up and in the back of the car, pointing forward.
Finally, make sure you tighten the straps, but not too hard.
Thule Express Surf Strap
A simple and straightforward cinching system with stretchable bungee surf straps that will secure different size surfboards, stand-up paddleboards and sailboards to your car roof.
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Thule Surf Tailgate Pad
Features a sewn-in strap system that slides easily around the bottom of your tailgate so you can secure this pad quickly without messing around for an hour in the garage.
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Thule SUP Taxi XT
The ultimate surfboard and stand-up paddleboard car rack. Features exclusive telescoping design, soft weather resistant padding, and four One-Key locks.
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Thule Board Shuttle
Features an exclusive telescoping-width SUP and surfboard carrier with built-in board protection and universal roof-rack compatibility.
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Thule Surf Pad
A 18/24-inch pad with a foam padded interior, UV coated exterior, hook and loop middle strap, bungee cord end straps. Easy and fast to install.
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Dorsal Single Roof Rack
The perfect solutions for surfers who wish to transport up to two shortboards. Features a carrying case with draw string, and heavy aircraft buckles for safety and strength.
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Block Surf Wrap Rax Double
A very secure system which allows you to travel with up to six surfboards or two longboards. For cars with or without gutters.
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FCS Premium Double Soft Racks
An excellent system that fits all cars, vans, and four wheel drives. Holds 1-6 shortboards or 1-4 longboards.
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Creatures of Leisure Wrap Rax
Comes with unbreakable metal buckles with neoprene padding to protect your car and surfboard in a broad range of board travel conditions.
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Curve Roof Rack Pads
Offers a secure lockdown single loop system. The cocoons around surfboards eliminate lift, slide and flutter. You have two connection options: either through doors or via roof rails.
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Dakine Aero Rack Pads
The ideal two-piece system for large surfboards. Features a sleek aerodynamic design and offers 28-inch wide protection.
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Get more high-quality surfboard car racks for your surf trips.
The surfboard car rack review has been updated on June 11, 2019.
