Roof Boxes Or Ski Racks?

A common problem that outdoors enthusiasts often run into is how to best carry all their gear and their companions along with them on their trips. This can be especially true when dealing with cold weather outings like ski trips. Yakima offers products that help to solve your packing and organisation needs, but it can sometimes be difficult to choose which option best meets your needs.

We’ll go over some of the pros and cons of roof boxes vs. ski racks here that should help you decide which product is best for your circumstances and requirements.

Roof Boxes

Roof racks come in all shapes, sizes, and styles – roof boxes are just one of those. A roof box is a case designed to sit securely atop the roof of your vehicle in order to provide extra space for hauling your gear and equipment without taking up space on the inside of your car. Roof boxes provide space for any gear you have while protecting the contents from the elements during storage and travel.

Roof Boxes – Pros

Roof boxes allow for the storage of other gear alongside your skis and can also fit multiple sets of skis inside of them. Additionally, roof boxes protect your gear from the wind, dirt, and weather during storage and transportation. A roof box also provides slightly more security regarding theft due to the fact that the contents of the container are hidden from view. Concealing your belongings from sight can help to dissuade potential theft while also protecting your gear from road salt and grime.

Roof Boxes – Cons

While roof boxes provide a lot of benefits, there are some drawbacks when comparing them to ski racks. For one, roof boxes can be considerably more expensive especially due to how large they need to be in order to fit a full-size set of skis (length being the primary issue). Aside from increased price, the size of the boxes and their bulk can cause some issues regarding gas mileage and possibly even fitting into your garage due to clearance. This is especially true for larger vehicles or ones equipped with off-road tires and shocks.

Ski Racks

Ski racks are specially designed ski carriers that attach to your car in order to provide a secure means of transporting your skis without taking up space inside the vehicle – freeing up more room for passengers and other gear while also preventing potential damage or injury that could occur from loose skis shifting around in the cabin of your vehicle during travel.

Ski Racks – Pros

Ski racks provide a safe place to store your skis during travel that prevents the skis from sliding around or shifting and scratching against the car, other objects or themselves. Ski racks are cheaper than roof boxes in both initial purchase price as well as the impact they have on gas mileage at higher speeds. Additionally, ski racks have a much lower form factor, which means they are unlikely to negatively impact your vehicle’s clearance height.

Ski Racks – Cons

Ski racks offer virtually no protection from the weather and dirt off the road. Ski racks also don’t allow for other things to be stored with your skis like you can with a box.

Box vs. Rack – Final Thoughts

As you can see, both options have their strengths and weaknesses, but the overall value provided by either product is a net positive. Yakima creates quality products that offer top-of-the-line value for reasonable rates. If you can’t decide between a box and a rack, you could always get both!