Best Foam Block Kayak Carriers
Updated How we research
Yakima Universal Kayak Foam Block Carrier
Yakima's universal kayak foam block carrier, a simple roof top carrier for cars without crossbars.
Malone Deluxe Foam Block Universal Car Top Large Kayak Carrier Kit
Malone's Deluxe foam block universal car top carrier kit, sized for large kayaks.
Foam blocks are the budget answer for a bare roof or an occasional trip. They spread hull load across the roof panel and cost a fraction of a rack. They also demand more care, because nothing is bolted to the car. The setup relies on straps through the door frames, plus bow and stern lines to stop the boat shifting fore and aft. Blocks differ in foam density, whether they sit on the roof or clamp to crossbars, and how the shape matches your hull. We weighed foam that holds shape under a heavy boat against blocks that compress flat, strap kits that come complete versus ones you must supplement, and how the grooves match round or square bars. Roof-only blocks suit short trips at moderate speed with a light boat. Bar-mounted blocks suit anyone who already has crossbars and wants cheap padding. Always add bow and stern lines with foam.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.4 to 8.1 out of 10.
- Best overall:Yakima Universal Kayak Foam Block Carrier. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.1/10.
- Also great value:AQUARM Universal Kayak Carrier Premium Foam Blocks for Car Top Roof Racks with Tie-Downs. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.0/10.
- Solid build:Malone Deluxe Foam Block Universal Car Top Large Kayak Carrier Kit. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.1/10.
- Feature-rich:WOOWAVE Kayak Carrier Deluxe Kit Universal Soft Foam Block for Roof Racks with Tie-Downs, 12 inch. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.0/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Yakima Universal Kayak Foam Block Carrier8.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Malone Deluxe Foam Block Universal Car Top Large Kayak Carrier Kit8.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.AQUARM Universal Kayak Carrier Premium Foam Blocks for Car Top Roof Racks with Tie-Downs8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.WOOWAVE Kayak Carrier Deluxe Kit Universal Soft Foam Block for Roof Racks with Tie-Downs, 12 inch8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.AQUARM Universal Kayak Carrier Kit Foam Blocks for Roof Racks with Tie-Downs, 12 inch7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Seattle Sports Sherpak Universal Kayak Non-Skid and Anti-Slip Foam Block Carrier Deluxe Kit for Car Roof Top (16 Inch)7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Attwood Universal Rack-Free Car-Top Kayak Carrier Kit, Foam Block Roof Transport System with Adjustable Straps & Bow/Stern Tie-Downs7.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Yakima's universal kayak foam block carrier, a simple roof top carrier for cars without crossbars.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Yakima is a leading roof rack brand with a long track record
- + Universal foam blocks fit many kayak hull shapes
- + No crossbars needed for occasional transport
- - Foam blocks are less secure than dedicated rack systems
- - Straps may need to run through the car doors
#2Malone's Deluxe foam block universal car top carrier kit, sized for large kayaks.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Deluxe kit is designed for larger kayaks
- + Malone is a respected kayak transport brand
- + Universal blocks sit on many car roofs without special fittings
- - Large blocks take more storage space when not in use
- - Foam carriers are slower to load than J-cradles
#3AQUARM's universal kayak carrier premium foam blocks for car top roof racks, supplied with tie-downs.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Tie-downs included, so the kit is ready to use
- + Premium foam blocks cushion the hull on the roof
- + Universal fit works with many kayak shapes
- - Requires existing roof racks or crossbars to mount and use
- - Lesser-known brand compared with Yakima or Malone
#4WOOWAVE's deluxe kayak carrier kit, universal soft 12 inch foam blocks for roof racks with tie-downs.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Tie-downs included, so no separate strap purchase is needed
- + Soft foam protects both the kayak hull and the crossbars
- + 12 inch blocks slide onto many crossbar shapes
- - Requires crossbars, so bare roofs need a different kit
- - Short blocks give less support to very wide hulls
#5AQUARM's universal kayak carrier kit with 12 inch foam blocks for roof racks and tie-downs included.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Kit bundles crossbar pads and tie-downs together
- + Foam pads cushion the hull against metal crossbars
- + Universal design fits many roof rack types
- - Needs a roof rack, not suitable for bare car roofs
- - Similar to other foam kits, so compare strap quality
#6Seattle Sports Sherpak deluxe kit with two 16 inch non-skid foam blocks and two 18 foot V-style bow and stern cam buckle straps. Made for carrying a kayak on a car without a roof rack.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Non-skid, anti-slip blocks are made for use on vehicles without racks
- + Kit includes two 18 foot V-style bow and stern cam buckle straps along with the two blocks
- + Lightweight and stowable when not in use, with fast on and off according to the listing
- - A deluxe kit priced above basic foam block sets, so it is not the cheapest way to carry one boat
- - Blocks are 16 inches long, and the listing gives no weight limit or hull width range
#7Attwood's rack-free car-top kit: two angled foam blocks, two straps with adjusting buckles and clips, and guy ropes for bow and stern. A complete low-cost setup for a bare roof.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Kit includes 2 foam blocks, 2 straps with adjusting buckles and clips, and guy ropes
- + Angled foam blocks cushion the hull and help prevent scratches on the car roof
- + Straps are poly web with vinyl-coated clips, from an established marine accessories brand
- - The listing does not give the foam block dimensions or a weight limit for the kayak
- - Only two blocks are included, with no extra pads for wide or heavy boats
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Foam blocks are less secure than dedicated rack systems (Yakima Universal Kayak Foam Block Carrier)
- Large blocks take more storage space when not in use (Malone Deluxe Foam Block Universal Car Top...)
- Requires existing roof racks or crossbars to mount and use (AQUARM Universal Kayak Carrier Premium Foam...)
- Requires crossbars, so bare roofs need a different kit (WOOWAVE Kayak Carrier Deluxe Kit Universal...)
- Needs a roof rack, not suitable for bare car roofs (AQUARM Universal Kayak Carrier Kit Foam...)
- A deluxe kit priced above basic foam block sets, so it is not the cheapest way to carry one boat (Seattle Sports Sherpak Universal Kayak...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among foam block kayak carriers?
Yakima Universal Kayak Foam Block Carrier is our top overall pick. Yakima's universal kayak foam block carrier, a simple roof top carrier for cars without crossbars. It earns our score of 8.1/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Malone Deluxe Foam Block Universal Car Top Large Kayak Carrier Kit is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Malone's Deluxe foam block universal car top carrier kit, sized for large kayaks.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Kayak Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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