Those of us who share a passion for surfing know what an exhilarating feeling it is to catch that ideal wave. We spend a lot of time picking out the perfect board and a lot of time waiting for perfect wave. Since a lot of us do not live right on the water, finding a way to transport our surfboards can be a daunting task. We put a lot of time and maintenance into our boards and the last thing we need is to get to the water and find our surfboard is gone or that it takes so long to get it off the rack that we missed the opportunity to surf.

There are several different styles and kinds of surfboard racks, some being better than others. The two most prominent types are hard and soft racks. Hard racks have a more sturdy construction and the price tag to go with it. If you are willing to spend the cash it is possibly a better option for those who surf often, as it provides a greater ease of use. Some hard racks also require your vehicle to come preinstalled with a luggage rack or something of that sort.

However, if you are looking for versatility, ease of use as well as stability, a soft rack is the best option. It is also the only option if your vehicle does not have a preinstalled luggage rack as you would otherwise risk damage to both the vehicle and the board. Soft racks usually consist of a high quality strap that runs through the vehicle and allows the board to slip into place. It also provides the ability for uses on multiple vehicles which is a huge bonus. Soft surfboard roof racks are an excellent vaule for the price. It is also important to note that with the use of a soft rack, snug is the key. Too tight and you risk damage to your board

One surfboard roof rack that I trust and I think every serious surfer should own is The Block Surf Single. It provides a light weight design, with ease of use, and reliable stability. This roof rack works with virtually all automobile makes and models. It is affordable and will provide you the comfort or knowing  that your surfboard is secure while in transport and is easily accessible when ready to catch some waves. It also allows up to 3 boards to be carried at once while its big brother, the The Block Surf Double allows up to 6.

I think this is an absolute must have for anyone on the market for a quality surfboard roof rack and who is serious about catching the perfect wave rather than spending time figuring out how to get to one.

Also, for those of you completely new to surfboard racks, here is a good video tutorial I found on YouTube.

Check back soon for reviews on other surfboard racks, as well as trends and forecasts in the industry in search of the best hard and soft surfboard racks out there!

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You also want a multiple board holder to not only be strong but be aesthetically pleasing to the eye.  For something like this, you might have it mounted in a prominent area of you house, so you surely don’t want something that is ugly.  Simple installation is necessary also, nothing too difficult.

One such rack that fits all of the above is the Mac Racks Triple Surfboard Wall Rack, and will hold all 3 boards horizontally.  At around $90, it gets great reviews, with 5 star ratings.  It’s easy to install and takes approximately ten to twenty minutes, so you’ll have your boards up and out of the way in no time.

It’s constructed of wood so it has a nicer appearance that others that may be made of metal.   If you’re hanging three surfboards on a rack, you’ll definitely be looking for strength. No problems this is good and strong, with one review stating they store 3 boards between 9’6” and 7’4” in length.   By installing the support bases a bit closer instead of the recommended 4 foot, you can add extra strength, however it will all depend on what you are hanging.

Perhaps you would prefer to have your boards displayed on more of an angle, no problem. The Cor Surf Multi Board Rack will be perfect.

It’s also constructed of wood, stained in a dark finish, the arms are 14” in length and the racks height is around 18” tall.  This one comes with a guarantee that it won’t splinter, rot of corrode, and is reasonably priced at around $76.

With multiple boards, space can be hard to find. Either rack will definitely solve that problem for you. Both surfboard racks can be found on Amazon.

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T-Rax Ceiling Surfboard Racks are made of aluminum with a black satin brushed finish.  All hardware for mounting your racks is included.   No worries about scratching your boards, the racks are covered with quality foam padding.  They come in one board racks for $100 through to three boards for $120.  Here is what they look like.

Another novel idea is the Surfboard Wall or ceiling sling. It’s a practical method of storing or displaying your board.  Where other wall racks will jut out, if you are pressed for space, the sling will fits nice and snug against a wall and anyone can install it. It consists of two straps and two good sized screws to affix it to the ceiling.  Priced at around $10, if you tight on space and tight on cash – this could be what you are looking for. Here is what a sling looks like, this particular one can be purchased on Amazon.

The ceiling rack for surfboards, by Gatekeeper, is a nice neat modular design and will hold two surfboards or more.  The ceiling rack will store your boards in a horizontal position, and you can access your boards from each side, rather than having to slide them out.  The unit simply bolts together and you can add more racks as required, depending on space. If you have a high ceiling such as an exposed beam ceiling as in a shed, you could possibly had up to 4 racks, or a total of 120lbs.  There’s plenty of space in between each rack.  A neat part of the design is the turned up ends of the rack, so you can be sure your board is not going to slip off. This is one is one of my favorites. It can be found at http://www.dabco-products.com.

Storing your surfboards out of the way need not be a complex issue, there’s heaps of different ways to store or display your boards that are tidy and look great. Happy Surfing.

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Thule Surfboard Rack (554xt): A simple, 4 piece rack system that attaches to your factory rack and has straps to hold either 2 surfboards or 2 wind surfboards. Comes with mounting hardware to connect to all pre-installed racks. Once installed, you can set your boards down on your original rack and then throw over the two straps. Tighten the straps and then your are set to go.

Yakima Surfboard Racks (4014 Strapthang): Is basically the same type of rack and works in the same way. However, the Yakima will only work with the Yakima multipurpose roof rack systems. If you have one of these installed then you can install the Strapthang just like the Thule Rack system. Once your boards are laid on the Yakima multipurpose rack system, straps from the Strapthang are strung across and tighten down.

If you have a Yakima Roof Rack system, then obviously the Yakima racks are the way to go. There are lighter, require less hardware, and work a little easier and faster than the Thule racks. However, they are also more expensive that Thule. If you want the Yakima system you have not only have to by strapthang, but another Yakima Rack system and remove your existing rack, if you have one. This will cost you much more, but with the Yakima Multipurpose system you can buy accessories for just about anything you may need to carry.

If you don’t want to shell out that kind of cash and you already have a roof rack, go with the Thule. Not only are they cheaper, but you can use them on just about pre-installed and aftermarket rack system. Perfect if you don’t use the same car every single time you go surfing. Remember the only real difference between the two rack systems is that Yakima makes you buy another rack system if you want their system, Clearly not worth the extra money unless you are just set on having Yakima racks.

As far as pricing goes, both of these surfboard racks run a little over 60 and can be found on any Surfboard rack website.

Also, if you are using any of these surfboard racks or plan to, I suggest getting a set of crossbar pads. These pads are made of foam and fit around your cross bars and keep your board, whichever it is, from getting scraped up. They also allow you to keep your boards from sliding on the racks allowing a snugger fit.

Once again Thule crossbar pads are cheaper than Yakima and work the exact same way. Neither one is better than the other and is strictly a matter of preference.

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The most popular scooter rack by far is the Carver Moped Surfboard rack. This rack bolts down into the back frame just behind the seat. It is a also a little more expensive that the regular bike racks. I haven’t be able to find many other scooter racks that compete with this rack. Most of the ones I have seen on scooters are usually custom made by their owners. If you are in the market for a scooter rack I would suggest trying Craigslist. I have seen some surfboard racks on there for much cheaper than listing price.

Here is a photo of the Carver:

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For those of you who like to do things yourself, I found this article on this site for constructing your own cheap bicycle surfboard rack. Enjoy!

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  •  
    Parts List*:

1″ Schedule 40 PVC Pipe (1): $1:18
1″ Schedule 40 PVC Elbow (6): $0.53 each
1″ Schedule 40 PVC Tee (2): $0.58 each
Hose Clamps (4): $0.94 each
PVC Glue (Low VOC): $2.12
Pipe Insulation 3/8″ for 1″ copper pipe (1): $1.85

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  •  
    Required Tools:

   

Hacksaw for cutting PVC
Screwdriver to tighten hose clamps
Drill

Estimated install time 30 min. For some reason I could not get the rest of the article to post so for the complete instuctions here is the link! Happy Surfing.

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I have had quite a few over the years and I would have to say The Carver Bike Rack is one of my favorites.  Here is the one I currently own which can be found on Amazon for a pretty reasonable price.

Notice on this specific type of rack the board will be laying parallel to your bike. I find this to be the best position for keeping the board free from grinding on miscellaneous objects and obtaining marks. Racks that position your board directly behind the bike have one small problem. When you go over bumps they tend to jar the board and it can often come loose and you have no way assisting the board. When the surfboard is parallel, like the rack shown, you can easily reach down to brace it with your hand when you take your bike off road or hit the occasion bump.

I also like this surfboard rack for it’s simple installation process. All tools you need are included and it takes no time at all to slap this guy on. I took this off the carver website to for those curious on installation.

Installation Instructions

CSR Mini Installation The Carver Surf Rack Mini is small but strong enough for boards up to 8′0″. Unlike other brands, this surf rack mounts via the seat post as not to crush, scratch or mar your nice bike frame. Also this feature allows you to mount this surf rack onto mountain bikes, full suspension bikes, and bicycles with unusual frame tube shapes. Loosen 5mm bolts with 5mm allen wrench Open Clamp Snug bolts back on clamps around seat post Put surf rack on slight angle towards the rear wheel Insert carrier arms into clamps Adjust carrier arms to desired width and tighten all bolts snugly Check push pins Go Surf!   If your board is bigger than 8′0″ The Carver Max is basically the same but for bigger boards up to 10′0″. If you have a long board, they got you covered as well with The Carver Long Board Bicycle Rack. As soon as I find a video I will post that as well.

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There is more than one way to get your surfboard vertical!

This may be another way for some, vertical surfboard racks for you home. No other surfboard rack can match them when it comes to visual appeal. However, being low to the ground, like this surfboard rack can put them at risk for getting pretty banged up.  I have my very first surfboard in retirement sitting on a stand just like this one.

This one can be found at www.hawaiiangunrack.com/surfboards.htm as well as a ton of other nice racks.

Here is another one I really like that is designed specifically for the corner. The rack is also clear, which is nice for keeping the clean look. This rack can be found on amazon, just search for vertical surfboard rack.

Well there you have it. These are all the vertical surfboard racks that I have seen in person and/or know someone who owns one. If you know of any others that you like or currently use, let me know and I will put them up.

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Well I never thought I would be this foolish looking guy, but I suppose there is a first time for everything. How does one look this ridiculous you may ask? Well it’s surprisingly easier than it looks. I recently purchased an 08′ Exterra, thinking my car no longer serves my surfer image. Planning to go surfing, I threw my board overhead only soon realizing that all my car surfboard racks aren’t going to work, due to the luggage rack. No problem I thought. I’m not going to waste money on another rack, bugee cords and the luggage rack should be just fine. I proceeded to wrap 6 bungee cords in a web of nonsenses all connecting to the rack and drove away thinking there is no way my surfboard is going anywhere. 5 min down the road I saw my board flying threw the air and an unlucky guy behind me, desperately trying to avoid having it smash his windshield. The man somehow avoided my board, but once it hit the ground, it didnt stand a chance. I soon looked liked the man in the photo crossing the road and returned home thinking how could I be such and idiot.

Well after a little research later, I was happy to realize trusty and cheap block surf makes SUV surfboard racks on Amazon that could have saved me my $500 dollar board.

I know own a pair of these guys. If you have an SUV and looking for a cheap and easy surfboard rack, these are my first choice. You cant beat the price. Yes bungee cords are cheaper, but USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Surfboards are more expense. So don’t be this dude with the bugees. Happy Surfing!

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Single rack shown. They also have an array of double racks as well and my personal favorite the vertical rack. Discover more at www.hawaiiangunrack.com and be sure to take a peek at the exotic woods they offer as well. They even have bamboo racks for those with a green counscious. Greener racks still yet to come, be sure and check back for the update and the best surfboard racks on the market.

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