Aero Car Roof Rack Pads for Surfboard Kayak SUP Snowboard [Pair] 28" & 19" - for Large Aero Bars (19 Inch Black Small)

This review is intended for kayakers using the product. It is undoubtedly well-made and durable, also easy to put on and take off the factory crossbars of my Subaru Crosstrek. The "small" size fits the Subaru factory bars. It's really a nice product, but the question remains whether it is suitable for use with kayaks? I think it is ONLY IF you use it for short periods of time, and only if you crossbrace the bow and stern securely with guy lines from both sides of the car to prevent the boat from twisting sideways in gusts of wind.My kayak has a rigid hull and a relatively flat bottom under the cockpit where the supports would go. These pads would be very unsuitable for a kayak with a clear "keel" line running the length of the hull, which would be characteristic of most sit-inside kayaks with polyethylene hulls.I say the above (as my photos illustrate) because the foam used inside the ballistic nylon covering is very stiff or firm. The photos show how little deflection occurs with a 55-pound fiberglass/kevlar sea kayak sitting on them, that is, not very much. This would be especially problematic for heavy kayaks with a polyethylene hulls where the plastic is soft and susceptible to denting. Still, if you keep the kayak up there only for a short time for local paddles, it would be okay, but not for long trips or where you intend to keep the boat on the cartop overnight.The shape of the pads is wrong for kayaks because it isn't curved so as to distribute the weight of the kayak over a large enough surface area. The stiffness of the foam doesn't allow the foam to deflect enough to "cradle" the hull. This in turn leaves the boat vulnerable to twisting when the vehicle turns or in crosswinds. The shape of the pads is just not well-suited to transporting a kayak hull. It would be great for surfboards and paddleboards however because they have flat bottoms and are significantly lighter than a kayak.The ballistic nylon covering is tough and obviously durable, but it's also slippery, which also contributes to vulnerability of the boat to twisting on top of the car if not carefully guyed. If not adequately cradled by the foam, a kayak fishtailing on the roof of the car at highway speeds, in the wind, can be unnerving if not dangerous.For transporting kayaks on a cartop with standard crossbars, I'd recommend 18" wide "Riverside" foam kayak blocks, available on Amazon or from REI for about $40. These are wider to distribute the weight of the boat better, and they're curved to cradle the boat to better resist the boat sliding sideways and twisting around in crosswinds. They're not as convenient to put on and take off as these Cor pads, and the foam is vulnerable to tearing (because it's bare foam without a covering) if not handled carefully. I kept the Cor pads reviewed here for short jaunts out to the local lakes, but I wouldn't take them on long trips, through windy places, or where I intended to keep the boat locked up on the roof overnight. They're good if you use them right and bad if you don't.

I bought this Aero Rack Pads for my car 2 Months ago. The pads work great but I couldn't believe they started to discolor within the month of purchase. I do not leave them 24/7 on my car but I do leave them when out surfing. Something for a weekend of surf travel.I have owned few other brands pads and they never faded their color, well maybe after a year or so.Although I love the style and design but Not really happy for this product. I went ahead and bought another Core set and returning this one. Also I'm spending extra to buy "Scotch Color guard with UV color protector"Regards,Joe

I bought these for my roof rack so I could carry my kayak. They are exactly what I wanted. Easy to install and are padded to protect my roof rack and my kayak.

To a road trip about 4 to 5 hundred miles around trip with surf rods, the smallest being 6' and the biggest at 15'. 8' if you pull it a part still to big to fit inside. and with the pad rack the rods made it down and back with no issues

Great product - love it. Well worth its money

These fit great and work great on my flat panel type roof racks.

Faded to a light grey after 4 months

Item is great and works for its intended purpose. However, when I received the item it was filthy and covered in mud/grime that got everywhere when I opened the packaging.Sort it out!