The Best Skis Racks of 2023

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

Secure your skis to your vehicle with these racks, boxes, and hitches.

A day of skiing can be a bit of a production. Big crowds, cold weather, lots of gear, parking, lift tickets, shuttles—so the more you can simplify the process, the more fun you’ll have. Most of us don't have unlimited trunk space for long, bulky, often wet and sharp items like skis and snowboards. That said, one of the easiest ways to solve some of the logistics is with a dedicated ski rack. These make it easier for you to get loaded up at home, safely carry your skis or boards, keep your other gear safe, and make unloading at the mountain all that much easier.

Thankfully, there are a lot of great ski racks out there loaded with technology. Here's how to pick the best ski rack for you.

There are three primary categories of ski racks—all offering pros and cons—in different price ranges. The most popular type, the clamping roof-mounted rack, attaches to your roof bars and closes on the tips and tails of your skis or snowboard to secure them. These racks leave your skis exposed to the elements (even if they are incredibly secure) and don't allow you to store anything else with them. The upside for this type of rack is that it's relatively inexpensive, easy to use, and takes up minimal room on your roof. Most of them (but not all) will lock to your cross bars and come ready to mount. Keep in mind, though, that you will need crossbars on your roof to use any of these (either factory-installed or aftermarket).

Roof boxes are another popular option for carrying skis and do double duty giving you more storage. These boxes also attach to your roof bars, like the clamp racks, but open and close completely, allowing you to store much more than just skis—think boots, poles, clothing, and whatever else may fit. Roof boxes are more expensive, will take up more room on your roof, and may put a bigger dent into your fuel economy. These come in a lot of different sizes, but you can often find boxes designed specifically for skis—they’re often long and skinny. Just double check the length of your skis against the length of the box you’re looking to purchase

A third (and probably least-popular) option is the hitch-mounted ski carrier. This carrier inserts into your vehicle's trailer hitch (you obviously need to have one, or you can buy an aftermarket receiver for less than $200) and holds your skis upright in a similar way to roof racks. They’re out of the wind and don't impact fuel economy as much, but might block access to the back of your vehicle.

You’ll also need to consider the number of skis you want to carry—most come in 4 or 6 ski sizes, but there are others. That size represents the maximum number of skis it can carry, but you can always carry less. The more skis a rack can carry, the more space it will take up.

The racks represented here suit a wide range of skiers and snowboarders: everyone from the single person or who only needs to store a pair as quickly and cheaply as possible, to the family heading to the slopes with 6 pairs of skis and in need of the greatest efficiency possible. I’m recommending the best options, after years of experience and testing, for most common use-cases. I primarily look for ease of use and durability, as well as feature sets and ease of installation.

Thule's SnowPack line is a tried-and-true design of a ski carrier (I have the medium version, ideal for 4 pairs of skis, on my car currently). A well-tested clamping design sandwiches your skis between two grippy rubber pads at the tip and tail. The Extender version takes that a step further, adding a sliding base that allows you to slide the whole rack out closer to the edge of your car, making it easier (and less risky for your paint) to load and unload skis.

If you’re not skiing much, just trying it out, or need a backup ski carrier for your second car, this one from DRSPORTS is going to do the trick. At roughly $100, you’ll get a capable aluminum ski rack that installs easily and secures your skis safely to your vehicle. It also holds more skis that you’ll probably need. But you will get what you pay for: It's not the most durable, and while a thief won't be able to get your skis out of the clamps, they could just take the whole thing off your roof.

If your vehicle has no roof bars but does have a hitch receiver, a model like the HitchSki may be the best option for you. This system takes clamp mounts similar to other models here and places them vertically on a hitch-mounted arm at the back of your vehicle. These aren't quite as simple to load as laying your skis down on a roof rack, but ding your gas mileage less than any other option here.

If you’re looking for features, the Grip 6 has them all. The giant handles on the ends make closing and locking the clamps easy, and it has a built-in sliding feature similar to the Thule. The rubber grippers use a tread-like pattern, boosting friction, and the mounting system makes them easy to remove from your roof bars when the winter ends.

Ultimate versatility comes from using a roof box rather than a standalone ski carrier. Models like the Pulse Alpine are designed specifically for skis, so they’re long and narrow (creating less wind resistance than other larger roof boxes). Load them up with skis, boots, poles, bags, and more. Loading and unloading is also a cinch: Just toss everything in there without needing to worry about it blowing away or getting pounded by falling snow on your drive to the hill.

Somewhere in between the DRSPORTS and the higher-end models on this list, the Rhino Rack is the ideal step up for folks who want a little bit more from their rack but are still working within a fairly tight budget. You can mount this set onto just about any crossbar, the opening button is easy to push with gloved hands, and it's secure. While the rack doesn't technically lock to your roof bars, it does use a special wrench that would-be thieves likely don't have on hand. Expect more plastic pieces, though, than you might find in other models.

The FatCat's oval profile and low height mean it cuts down on wind resistance and noise more than a lot of other roof-mounted carriers—not to mention it looks sleek and stylish. The big buttons and locks on the sides are easy to operate with gloved hands, and it easily mounts to a wide range of roof crossbars. The downside: Unlike a lot of the models here, it's largely plastic which means it may not hold up as well in the long run.

For couples or single people who don't need to tote a crew's worth of skis to and from the mountain, or needs to save some roof space for something else, the INNO Gravity is small enough to get the job done. It has only about 14 inches of usable space, keeping it tight to one side of your roof. The button, however, can be a little bit hard to press to release the clamp.

PM: Should I look for a roof rack that not only transports my skis, but allows me to haul different gear, too, like my mountain bike?

RW: Any reputable roof rack or system of cross bars will be able to accommodate a ski carrier, bike carrier, box, or just about any other accessory. Before purchasing accessories, think about how much you want to have on your roof at a time: If you’re going on a trip where you want to bring both your skis and your bike (or you just don't want to remove the bike rack in the winter), you might need a smaller ski carrier to fit them both. You won't be able to fit a bike in a roof box, but one of their biggest benefits is their versatility to carry skis in the winter, camping gear in the summer, or whatever else you want.

PM: Does my type of vehicle factor into which type of ski rack is best? If I have a compact car versus an SUV, for instance?

RW: The first thing to consider is whether or not you already have (or are willing to install) a roof rack or trailer hitch. If you already have one and not the other, that might be what determines the type of ski carrier you get. After that, it's less about the type of vehicle you have and more about how you would like to store and retrieve your skis. If you have a tall vehicle, maybe it's too difficult for you to place your skis on the roof, so you might opt for a hitch rack, for example.

PM: Is it better to get a larger capacity ski rack right from the start so I can take friends along without worrying about how we’re getting our gear to the mountain?

RW: That's certainly not a bad idea! If you anticipate having friends with you on a powder days, it would definitely make sense to size up, as long as you have the space for a larger rack.

PM: Do I need a different type of rack for skis versus snowboards—or these typically fit for both types of gear?

Most ski racks will handle snowboards just fine. Keep in mind, you’ll probably be able to fit fewer snowboards on your rack than you might skis. Also consider how much space is between the rack and the roof of your vehicle. If you’re loading snowboards in upside down (or base-to-base), snowboard bindings are thicker and could come in contact with your car's roof. Either take them off or look for accessories for your ski carrier to raise it up slightly.

Climber, skier, and mountain enthusiast, I’m the editor-in-chief of the backpacking publication Trails Magazine, and have been a writer and gear reviewer for Backpacker and Outside Magazines. Find me on Instagram: @ryan_climbs

The Best Camping Tents for Any Base Camp

The Best Binoculars for Getting a Closer Look

The 9 Best Ultralight Camping Chairs

The Best Bug Zapper for Camping Is 24% Off

The 7 Best Kayaks for Fishing and Floating

The 7 Best Outdoor Blankets for 2023

The Best Outdoor Gear From REI's Memorial Day Sale

Shop Backcountry's Unmissable Memorial Day Sale

Tested: The Best Camp Chairs of 2023

The Best Hiking GPS Devices

The Ultimate Fly-Fishing Gear Guide

The Best Inflatable Standup Paddleboards