The Surfboard Racks Blog

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Dakine rack pads

Surfboard rack pads are ideal for those with a SUV, existing roof rack, or after market rack, looking to lug their surfboard around. Surfboard rack pads are fairly cheap and come in a variety of styles and colors.

Installation of rack pads are simple and straight forward. Simple open, and velcro the pad over your existing racks. After you have installed your rack pads, you will need some type of strap to keep your boards in place. These racks are well worth the price, as they provide cushioning for your surfboard or other boards you may be transporting. Not only do rack pads keep your gear protected from scrapes and scratches from raw racks, but they keep it from moving side to side once strapped down.

If your new you surfboard rack pads, by far the most popular surfboard rack pads are Dakine rack pads. Dakine has a variety of colors you can use as well as a few patterned designs such as camo and checkered. You can check out the different colors at Dakine.

Not only to surfboard rack pads come in different colors, but different styles as well. You have the option to get either Aero racks pads or regular racks pads. Aero pads are designed to only pad the top of your crossbars and have a more sleeker look when installed. Regular pads pad the whole rack where installed and are rounded in shape. (Notice Below compared to above).

Dakine Aero Pads

You can also choose rack pads that are different widths (long), allowing you to carry more surfboards or other larger items, such as kayaks. Be sure to take a minute to think about what you will be hauling before purchasing your racks pads. Regardless and without a doubt, surfboard rack pads and straps offer the most versatile type of rack system compared to other other surf racks. The options are almost endless. Now go surf!

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Ocean and Earth is probably one of the most recognized companies in the world of surfing. They have just about everything an enthusiastic surfer could ask for. From surfboard pads to wax, from surfboard bags to clothing, they pretty much have it all. That being said they also have, one of our favorite racks, the ocean and earth rap rax surfboard system. The Rap Rax system is very similar to the block surf single surfboard rack mentioned above. Both systems utilized a two strap system that goes through your car doors, front and back, which is then tightened. Once this is in place, you then place your surfboard onto the pad and then use the other straps to secure in place. Both systems also incorporate the quick cam buckle system. This mean as you pull the strap through the buckle, it will not go back the other way unless you press in on the buckle to release the locking mechanism. These is much faster and easier than some of the old school ratcheting systems and makes both, loading and unloading, a heck of a lot faster. Speed here is strictly up to the user.

Both Block Surf and Ocean and Earth rack systems are very effective for keeping your surfboard, or whatever board you have, in place on your vehicle. However, the Ocean and Earth has a convenient velcro strap you can use to bundle up the excess strap and keep from blowing in the wind. Block Surf recommends this can be achieved by just placing the excess strap in the car and shutting the door. While I usually like to excess strap inside the car, do to annoying wind noise the velcro straps works pretty effective as well. Most wind noise comes from taunt  straps that vibrate in the wind. The velcro strap helps to keep this down to a minimum. You will obviously have more excess strap with the less you carry on your racks. A maximum of three for each.

Judging the two side by side I think the Ocean and Earth strap seems also made a little better. I also like the carrying case for the ocean and earth, compared to the block surf, as it incorporates side air holes to help dry the rack faster after you use it with wet gear. I suppose if you don’t use the carrying bags for either, then this shouldn’t be a problem either way. Most of the time I just leave them in the back seat any way.

ocean and earth rap rax

In conclusion, if you are willing to spend the extra 6 – 7 bucks, go with the Ocean and Earth Rap Rax system over the Block Surf. Especially if you will be using these racks on a regular basis. But as for time and speed it takes to set up both racks work just fine. However, if your strapped for cash you seriously can’t go wrong with the block surf. I have had mine for years and have never had an issue.

If you also looking to carry more than three boards, both Block Surf and Ocean and Earth have double systems, to pads per main strap, which allow you to carry a total of six boards. I suggest buying these for your friends so they can carry your surfboards around too.

To learn more about this rack system and to see more images just click on the image above.

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Stykor Tadpole Surfboard Rack

I keep hearing and hearing about the Tad Pole System so I finally decided to check it out for myself. I haven’t purchased one yet, but decided to steal my friends the other day and see what all the hype is about. I gotta say the thing is indeed sturdy and holds your surfboard racks firmly in place. Most every surfer can tell you that one of the downsides of the soft surfboard racks is that some  just do not keep your board still when you start hitting higher speeds.

This can cause a scary noise.  Using the Stykor Tadpole system, surfboard noise, and surfboard movement  is no longer a problem. The system really holds your board down in place. One of the real cons I like about is that is pulls the front end of your board back allowing you too see much better out the front end of your car. Most current long board racks keep the surfboard centered on the roof of the vehicle which causing the front end to come over the edge of the windshield. It doesn’t blind you, but it can get annoying, especially on long trips.

The stykor tadpole system allows the long-board to be pulled back almost completely eliminating the front from the windshield. I could only see the tip of my board when I leaned forward towards the steering wheel. It was kinda of nice to be able to see completely unobstructed. However, like most racks with this added feature comes the sacrifice of something else. In other words freeing up the front obstructs the back.  How much will depend on the size of your car and board. I personally would rather be able to see more out of the front than the back, but for some it may be too much in the back.

So overall I would say this surfboard racks is perfect for the long-board but only on long, or perhaps, high speed trips. Using this system, your surfboard isn’t going anywhere, I don’t think I ever heard mine move at all while driving on the highway. This is why I give it a thumbs up for long trips. The noise is gone and you have no fear of losing your board. However, for short trips, it might be a little too much for me. It has an added back piece that goes on your truck that has to be fastened to the car’s trunk and then to the board. For me its too much work for a short trip, but I think this systems is for the long haul. And for that, this is a rack system I highly recommended you check it out, especially those of you with Longboards or SUPs

For Pics and Pricing:

http://www.esurfboardracks.com/products/stykor-tadpole-system

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Truck Options

There are many surfboard racks designed to store or carry your surfboard.  We all drive many different types of vehicles, SUV’s, wagons, sedans, motorbikes, scooters even push bikes, but what if you drive a truck?

Often, surfboards can be too long to fit in the back of your truck, however you need not be concerned, this has been considered.  There are racks to carry your surfboard that will fit to the back of your truck to stop the board from moving around from side to side.

The XM Surfboard Truck Tailgate Rack System is one such rack that fits securely onto the back of your truck.  It’s padded with foam, and will hold your board securely with its durable strap and clip system, and is designed to fit most trucks.

The straps are adjustable, and the addition of a new high-tech cam buckle will give you peace of mind that your precious board will be safe and secure, and priced at around $20, its certainly affordable.

At the time of this post paddlesurf had the XM surfboard rack but no longer carries it. You can get the very similar Block Surf tail-gate rack at about the same price and it works the exact same way.

You can find them here @

http://www.esurfboardracks.com/products/block-surf-tail-gate-rack

You can even go with the Paddle Surf, the one in the picture for over-sized boards for your truck. Simply lay your board down in the bed and strap in. The the other strap, this one also keeps it from sliding from side to side as well as from moving forward or backwards.

This one can be found @

http://www.paddlesurfwarehouse.com/car-truck-paddle-surf-warehouse-s-tailgate-surf-rack-pad.html

Van Options

A lot of surfers drive vans, and while you can fit surfboard racks on the top of your roof, maybe you would prefer to fit the inside with racks. This then poses a new problem of space.  By resting the board in the back or on top of the back seats, it isn’t really a safe option and could become a missile in the case of having to stop quickly or a collision.

Internal racks could be the answer to your dilemma.  They can be a bit tricky to find and you may have to tailor your own. I have even seen people take a set of regular roof racks and turn them upside down, or stainless steel towel rails will do the trick too. Secure your board by using an occy strap around the tail of the board and the rack. You can also use rubber to wrap around the rail, so your board doesn’t rub. It’s a great idea for using that extra space up there.

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