When you start the search for a kayak car rack, you quickly discover there's a large variety to choose from. There are several ways that you can travel with your kayak on the roof of your vehicle - car, truck or SUV.

So, your primary goal is to choose the right car rack for your vehicle and one that securely holds your kayak. You want to ensure that the system you purchase is reliable and a good fit to hold your size kayak - and even multiple kayaks.

First, you need to familiarize yourself with the three main types of kayak mountings. Each is efficient and reliable, but the one that's best for you depends on the size of your kayak and the type of vehicle you'll be using to get from adventure to adventure.

Saddle System

The saddle system car rack consists of four padded holders that are attached to your vehicle for the kayak to rest on. This car rack system also combines with straps that wrap around the kayak to prevent your craft from skimming places it shouldn't - like the pavement!

Roller System

The roller rack system is the exact same as the saddle system except that it has wheels. This makes for a easy loading and easy removing of the kayak. Even though kayaks aren't that heavy, if you want an easy go of it then you'll want to consider a roller system.

Verticle Support System

As the name implies, the verticle support system hold your kayak upright. This is a holder that usually goes on the back of your vehicle and it's often used on big rigs like vans or SUVs. The verticle support system incorporate upright poles and straps to ensure your kayak stays in its upright position for the entire ride.

Although there are a limited number of verticle systems available, it is most common to see kayakers travelling with with their kayak on the roof of their vehicle. But these are great systems to use and extremely reliable if installed correctly - which goes without saying for each of the systems we describe.

So get the right car rack for your needs, put in on your car, and take off for a kayaking spot - like Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona, Arizona! Kayaking is a great workout and tons of fitness fun.