For a few years I've used the Curve brand roof rack pads for the aero bars I have on my car to put my boards on. I've used 2 sets in 3 years and it seems the sun likes to kill them. Has anyone had better success with another brand of roof rack pad?
BTW, I now need both a circular bar and aero bar option thanks to a recent unlimited board purchase.
Any suggestions?
Yep slice up one of those interlocking mats and use electrical tape to hold them down.
I use these on my aero bars - they'd work just as well on round bars too i reckon as they velcro on... which potentially makes them thievable i suppose, but i've not had an issue in 18months...:
www.rhinorack.com.au/products/sport-leisure/water/accessories/universal-wrap-pads-700mm-_rwp04
They do a couple of different widths as well as an option for roof trays...
I have these. www.dakine.com/products/aero-rack-pad-long
which I bought here www.wetsuitwarehouse.com.au/dakine-aero-rack-pad-long
It says 2 foot long but they're actually 28"
Best by far I reckon is the UV-stabilised stuff from Clark Rubber - the stuff used to cover playground equipment, not the pipe lagging they sell ( that stuff is definitely unfit for the purpose). It will fit snugly slip over wider aero bars like Rola and Rhino and comes in 1m lengths which are easily cut down (I use Mrs Cartoon's breadknife).
Second IMO is the 30" Yakima velcro-on pads - I use them now but only because I currently have the small-profile Thule roof bars (too small profile for the playground stuff, or I would be using that).
I've got the Yakima pads as HumanCartoon mentioned. They fit my Thule Aero bars perfectly and are pretty slim but well padded (if that makes sense).
Picked up some "Grunt" brand pads at Bunnings for $7 each (in the tie-down aisle). Don't fit on my wide aero type bars, but would suit thinner bars well I think.
I use the DaKine ones, but I do like to remove them when not in use. I do a fair few Km without boards on the roof, so it's nice to be able to easily remove them and cut the wind noise in the car.
