Car surf racks buying guide
Getting your surfboard to the beach is step one. In Los Angeles — driving to Venice, Malibu, Zuma, El Porto, or the South Bay — you need a reliable way to carry a board on your car. Here's what we carry and how to choose the right system.
Soft racks — no roof rack required
Soft racks attach directly to your car's roof without a permanent rack system. They use two foam-padded tubes that sit on the roof, with straps that loop through the car doors to lock in place. Board goes on top of the pads, tie-down straps hold it down.
The Creatures of Leisure Wrap Wrax and Block Surf Block Wrap Rax are single-board soft rack options. Creatures also makes a double Wrap Wrax for carrying two boards. Soft racks are the most accessible option — no roof rack, no installation, they work on virtually any car. The limitation is carrying capacity and aerodynamics on the highway. For regular surfers who drive to the beach daily, a roof rack system with aero pads is more secure and longer-lasting.
Aero rack pads — for existing roof racks
If your car already has crossbars, aero rack pads sit on the bars and protect both your board and the crossbars. Dakine makes the widest range of aero rack pads we carry — 18" for closer bars, 28" standard, 34" for wider bar setups, and an XL 44" for trucks or wide-bar configurations. The Creatures of Leisure Aero Rax and Aero Pad are compatible with both round and square crossbars. Also available: Creatures of Leisure round Rax Pads in 17" and 28" for round-bar roof racks.
Tie-down straps — the most important part
Even the best rack pads are useless with bad straps. Block Surf 15ft tie-down straps are the standard workhorse — long enough to go over most boards and through the car interior. Dakine Baja 12ft straps are a solid alternative with a good buckle system. The Thule 10ft Locking Tie Down Strap adds a locking mechanism — useful if you're leaving your board on the car while you grab coffee or surf check. Creatures of Leisure 12ft Tie Downs are another reliable option.
Tailgate pads — for trucks and SUVs
If you drive a truck or SUV with a tailgate, a tailgate pad replaces the soft rack entirely. The board lays across the tailgate pad, fins overhang, and tie-down straps hold it in place. Much more stable than roof-mounting for long boards. Dakine and Block Surf both make tailgate surf pads. The Block Surf Truck Tailgate Surfboard Rack is a more structured option.
How to strap a board down safely
Board wax-side down on the pads, fins at the rear of the car. Run straps over the board and through the car interior — not around the roof rack bars. Twist each strap two or three times before buckling to prevent flapping and noise at speed. Always test the board for movement before driving. On the highway: check the straps after 15 minutes of driving the first time. Straps settle.
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