Ski and snowboard roof racks allow you to transport winter sports equipment on your car roof. They are mounted on cross bars. Compared to magnetic ski racks, these ski racks can generally hold more equipment and provide more secure attachment. Mounting them, however, can be a bit difficult and you need to purchase cross bars separately (unless you already have them).
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What to focus on when choosing ski and snowboard roof racks
Capacity
Before purchase, consider how many pairs of skis or snowboards you will usually carry.
- Cross-country and classic downhill skis – depending on the width, a roof rack can accommodate two to six pairs of skis.
- Carving skis - their uneven curved shape means they generally take up more space than classic downhill skis.
- Snowboards - large and space-consuming, not compatible with some roof rack types.
Attachment systems
Ski roof racks are fastened to cross bars using mounts or through T-slot carrier bars (in this case, you have to buy an adapter). Neither solution is objectively better than the other; it all depends on user preferences.
Roof racks mounted on cross bars |
Ski roof racks mounted via T-slot carrier bars |
Practical features and functions
- Lock - protects your equipment from theft.
- Raised profile or adjustable height - enables seamless mounting of skis and snowboards with higher bindings without the risk of scratching the roof.
Inserting skis or snowboards into roof racks
After opening the ski rack, place the equipment in the rack and close it again. Due to aerodynamic resistance, place downhill or cross-country skis so that their tips are facing backwards. Otherwise, the equipment may cause the car roof to vibrate when you are driving. Before leaving, make sure your skis or snowboards are firmly attached to the racks.
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