WOOWAVE Kayak Carrier Deluxe Kit Universal Soft Foam Block for Roof Racks with Tie-Downs, 12 inch Review (2026)

What this kit is for

WOOWAVE's Kayak Carrier Deluxe Kit is a foam block system for carrying a kayak on a vehicle's roof using existing crossbars rather than a dedicated cradle or saddle rack. The kayak rests directly on two soft foam blocks that sit across the crossbars, which cushions the hull against the hard metal bars and protects the vehicle's roof and rack finish from scuffing. This approach is popular with paddlers who want the lowest-cost way to add kayak-carrying capability to a car that already has roof rack bars installed, since foam blocks are considerably cheaper than rack-specific J-cradle or saddle mounts while still getting the boat off the ground for transport.

Kit contents

The Deluxe Kit bundles two 12 inch foam blocks with two tie-down straps, described as roughly 15 ft cam buckle style, along with two load straps, described as roughly 12 ft, S-hooks, a set of instructions and a storage bag for the components. That is a fuller kit than some rival foam block products that sell only the blocks and leave strap purchases to the buyer, so this is close to a complete, ready-to-use solution for someone who already has crossbars. The included storage bag also helps keep the straps and hardware organized between trips rather than loose in a trunk or garage.

Foam construction

The blocks are built from EVA foam with a padded interior and multiple layers, which WOOWAVE positions as helping reduce vibration transferred from the road into the kayak during transport, in addition to the basic cushioning job foam blocks do against the crossbars. At 12 inches, the blocks are on the shorter end of the foam block size range, which keeps the kit compact and lighter than longer block options but gives less contact area under especially wide hulls. WOOWAVE rates the blocks for up to 110 lbs of onboard capacity, which covers the vast majority of single recreational and touring kayaks.

Crossbar and hull fit

Like other foam block carriers, this kit is designed to sit on top of existing roof rack crossbars rather than attach directly to a bare roof, so a vehicle without a crossbar system will need one installed before this kit is useful. WOOWAVE markets the blocks as fitting many crossbar shapes and sizes, which is the general appeal of foam block carriers over rack-specific mounts, since the same blocks can move between vehicles with different rack setups more easily than a cradle built for one bar profile. Very wide hulls may sit less securely on the shorter 12 inch blocks compared with longer block options in WOOWAVE's own lineup or from competitors.

Value as a complete kit

Against other 12 inch foam block kits on the market, including from brands like Yakima, Malone and AQUARM, this WOOWAVE kit is competitively priced while including the full set of straps and hardware needed for a working setup. That completeness is the main value argument, since a buyer does not need to separately source tie-downs or S-hooks to get the kayak secured. For paddlers who already have roof racks and want the least expensive way to add kayak capacity, this kit covers the essentials, while anyone hauling an unusually wide hull may want to compare against longer foam block options for more support.

Frequently asked questions