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Canoe & Kayak Racks

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Take your favorite hobbies and sports with you, wherever you go. When it comes to transporting your kayaks and canoes, you'll want to consider the various types of racks on the market. Our selection includes foam carriers, folding carriers, horizontal carriers, J-carriers, loaders, saddles, trolleys, and more. Whichever type you require, you can rest assured that you'll only find the best kayak racks and canoe carriers at Omni Garage! Enjoy stability and secureness during travel on your watersport adventures.


Frequently Asked Questions

Most J-cradles, saddles, and stackers need crossbars. If your vehicle doesn't already have suitable crossbars, start with Roof Racks & Components before choosing the carrier. Some foam-block systems can be used without a traditional roof rack, but only use them that way when the specific product instructions allow it. Malone, for example, offers foam blocks designed to support a kayak with or without crossbars.

Choose based on your kayak and how much roof space you need. A J-style carrier holds the kayak on its side and leaves more crossbar space for another boat or gear. A saddle or V-style carrier supports the kayak hull-down and can be a good choice for larger touring, sit-on-top, or fishing kayaks. A stacker is mainly useful when carrying multiple kayaks and saving crossbar width is important. For canoes, compare gunwale/gunnel carriers or canoe-specific foam blocks. OmniGarage's rack-type filter lets you separate these styles directly.

Check the shape of your crossbars and the carrier's mounting hardware. Many carriers fit several bar styles, but an adapter or different mounting bolts may still be required. For example, Malone's standard hardware works with many round, square, and oval bars, while some aero or T-slot racks need additional hardware. OmniGarage includes Adapter as a rack-type filter, so check the carrier first before assuming you need one.

Start with how much usable crossbar width and load capacity you have. J-style carriers and stackers can save space by carrying kayaks on their sides, while wider racks may allow boats to sit hull-down beside each other. Rhino-Rack's S512, for example, can accept an extension for a second boat, and multiple S512 setups can carry more when the crossbars are long enough. Whatever setup you choose, the combined boats and carriers still have to stay within your vehicle and rack limits.

First check the carrier's weight rating against your kayak. A lightweight recreational kayak and a heavy fishing kayak may need different carriers—for example, Malone rates its J-Pro2 at 75 lb, while the SaddleUp Pro is rated at 90 lb and is designed for larger touring, sit-on-top, and fishing kayaks. If getting the boat onto a tall SUV or truck is the bigger problem, look at a Loader rather than choosing the rack solely by style. OmniGarage carries the Rhino-Rack Universal Side Loader, which is designed to assist one-person loading.

Follow the carrier manufacturer's instructions, and don't assume the straps around the crossbars are the only restraints required. Malone requires bow and stern safety lines for its rooftop kayak and canoe carriers and includes them with products such as the J-Pro2 and SaddleUp Pro. OmniGarage also sells bow-and-stern tie-downs separately if your setup needs them.