The 5 Best Kayak Storage Racks For Outdoors, Garage & More

Owning a kayak is wonderful until you have to work out where you can store it. There’s nothing better than being able to get out on the water whenever you feel like it. 

The problem is: 

Kayaks are a large piece of outdoor equipment that can take up a lot of room in your garage, which is why you need to look for the best kayak storage rack. 

Storage racks help you store your beloved kayak in the most efficient manner possible.  

You see:

Storing your kayak correctly isn’t just about making more room; it’s also about prolonging the life of your kayak.

If you don’t correctly keep your kayak, there’s a good chance that you will shorten the lifespan, which is not something you want. 

And that’s why I want to talk you through some of the best kayak racks on the market. Not only that, but I’m going to explain how to pick the right kayak storage rack for you.

Sounds good?

IN A HURRY? HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS…

Reviewing The 5 Best Kayak Storage Racks

RAD Sportz Double Kayak Storage Rack

This RAD Sports kayak rack was designed to hold two kayaks comfortably, which comes down to its robust design. It’s made with rigid steel tubing where each set of hooks can hold 100 lbs. in weight. 

Not only are the hooks solid, but the company also padded them in with a thick foam. The foam padding helps protect your kayak from scratches when you’re docking or undocking the boat. 

One of the great things about this outdoor kayak storage rack is that you can use it indoors or outdoors, which gives you more options. To make things better, you can also adjust the length of the double kayak storage system to suit your kayak. 

If you’re looking for an outdoor storage rack that doesn’t require any DIY skills, then this might be the option for you. You don’t need to drill any holes in your walls; all you have to do is slot all the pieces together. 

StoreYourBoard 2 Kayak Ceiling Rack

If you’re looking to get your kayaks out of the way, then this might be an excellent option for you. The set comes with two heavy-duty steel outdoor kayak storage racks that allow you to store two kayaks on the ceiling with ease.

In total, the kayak storage rack can hold 150 lbs. in weight, which equates to 75 lbs. per side. You also have an option in arm lengths, ranging from 25” to 30”, so you can choose the size that suits your kayaks. 

Another great thing about this storage rack is that you can adjust the height from 10” to 18”, allowing extra room for your kayaks.

When installing the kayak rack, you shouldn’t have any problems. Each bracket requires two screws to secure it to the ceiling. And to help fit the frame to your joists (You can learn how to find joists in your ceiling here), it rotates 90° to allow a safe and secure installation. 

RAD Sportz Kayak Hoist Set

This is another excellent option if you’re looking to store your kayak on the ceiling, especially if you have a high roof. Thanks to the hoist system, you can store your kayak on a ceiling up to 12 feet. 

The system comes with two hooks coated in rubber to prevent scratches to your kayak or abrasions to the staps. They also added improved straps that can easily hold a 125 lbs. weight capacity. 

One of the best things about the hoist system is the safety locking mechanism that helps you lift and lower the kayak safely. 

Overall, if you’re looking for an easy-to-install hoist system to lift your kayak off the ground, then this might be your best option.

Best Marine Folding Kayak Stand

This is a fantastic option if you’re looking for an easy-to-use outdoor kayak storage rack. The foldable kayak stand is straightforward to use and doesn’t require and DIY skills or knowledge to use.

The kayak stand is made with powder-coated steel that allows you to use it outside without the fear of rust forming. It also comes with rubber padding around the metal to help to prevent scratches to your kayak. 

The pack comes with two stands that can hold 100 lbs. of weight without being put under too much pressure. And to stop the stands from sliding across the flow, they placed rubber pads at the bottom. 

One of the best things about this kayak rack is how versatile the stand is; you can use it for kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes. 

RAXGo Freestanding Kayak Rack For 4

If you’ve got quite a few kayaks in your household, you probably don’t want to set up multiple wall kayak storage racks so you can store them all. And that’s where the RAXGo freestanding kayak rack can come in handy.

You can store up to four kayaks on the weight with a maximum weight of 220 lbs. without it wobbling, tipping, or becoming warped.

It’s made with a powder-coated stainless-steel frame, which allows you to use the stand outside without any issues. It also comes with eight hooks that have been padded with foam to hello protect your kayak from scratches.

One of the main problems with this outdoor kayak storage rack is how much room it takes up, but if you’ve got the space and a few kayaks, then it is an excellent option for you.

Our Top Choice

Choosing the best kayak storage rack is never an easy task; there are so many factors to think about, such as:

Due to these factors, what’s suitable for me, might not be right for you, which is why you should read the following section.

But before you move on, let me show you which kayak storage rack I think is the best. 

My personal favorite is the RAD Sportz double kayak storage rack. It can hold two kayaks comfortably and doesn’t take up much room.

You also don’t have to lift the kayak too high, which is excellent if you don’t have much upper body strength.

Overall, the kayak can hold up to 200 lbs in weight, which is more than enough for two kayaks. 

I also really loved the padding around the hooks; they provided excellent protection for your kayak. It’s was also great to see some straps around the hook so your kayak won’t fall off if it gets knocked. 

If you’re not sure if this is the best kayak storage rack for you, then don’t get anywhere. The following section will help you decide which rack is best for you.

If you want to store your kayak outside with one of the racks above, make sure you check out this article about how to store your kayak outside.

Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Kayak Storage Rack

Choosing one of the best kayak storage racks is never an easy task. There are so many things you have to think about, and that’s what this section is going to clear up.  

So, let’s take a look at the things you need to consider you even think about buying a storage rack:

What’s Your Budget?

When you’re considering buying something, you need to have an idea of how much you’re willing/can afford to pay.  

The price can vary greatly depending on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a low-budget option, you should expect to pay around $100.

These usually have enough space for one/two kayaks and are relatively well built. 

And if you go to the polar opposite side of the spectrum, they could go up to $500. These outdoor kayak storage racks are usually huge and can comfortably hold multiple kayaks. 

Before deciding on your budget, you need to think about how many kayaks you have and what you’re actually looking for.

What Type Of Rack Are You Looking For?

Another thing you have to think about is what style of kayak storage rack you want to use. Most people will choose between one of the three options:

To help you choose the right one for you and your house, let’s talk a little bit more about the different styles of racks:

Freestanding Racks

As you can imagine, freestanding racks don’t need any type of mounting to walls, ceilings, or anything else. They are a freestanding structure that can stand on the floor independently. 

So why is this good? 

One of the main reasons is you don’t have to drill any holes into your wall. You can also move them around very quickly, so you can change your storage locations as you please, without filling any holes.  

But they do have a downside: 

They take up a lot of room, and if you don’t have much space, you might find these aren’t the best option for you.

Ceiling-Mounted Racks

Another option you have is to use a ceiling-mounted rack, and as the name suggests, it’s a kayak storage rack that your mount to your ceiling. 

One of the best things about using this system is the amount of space you can save due to using the overhead area. And this is an area most people overlook. 

So, if you haven’t got much floor space in your garage, a ceiling-mounted rack is a fantastic option for you to use.  

But it does come with problems:

Ceiling-mounted racks can be tough to set up, so you need basic DIY knowledge to get everything sorted. 

The other issue is if you haven’t got much physical strength, you might find it tricky to get your kayak up to the ceiling.

Even if you get the pulley system, you still might find it difficult getting your kayak up there. 

Wall-Mounted Racks

The final option you have is the wall-mounted rack (You can take a look at some of the best kayak wall mounts here). Again, as the name suggests, it’s a rack that mounts to the wall and stores your kayak. 

For this storage rack style, you’re going to need a solid structure like a wall or a fence that doesn’t have anything on it. So, what makes this type of kayak storage rack so effective? 

The main advantage is it’s pretty easy to install without having too much DIY knowledge. The other bonus is that it raises the kayak off the floor space, giving you a bit more room. 

The downside is, some people can find it pretty challenging to mount their kayak on the wall if it’s pretty heavy.

Weight And Size

One of the things I like to think about when choosing a kayak storage rack is the size and weight. That being said, this is more of a factor when you’re looking at a freestanding kayak rack. 

Freestanding racks can be pretty heavy and very large, making moving them around tricky. So, you need to check whether you’ll be able to handle the weight so you can move it when you need to. 

You should still be aware of the weight when it comes to ceiling/wall-mounted racks. They tend to be lighter, but you have to mount them to the wall.

And if it’s too heavy for you to hold in place, you’re going to find it very difficult to install it.

Assembly Requirements

Another thing you have to think about is the assembly requirements. Unfortunately, outdoor kayak storage racks don’t come ready to go, so you’re going to have to do it.  

Before you buy a new kayak storage rack, you need to think about how you’re going to put it together and what tools you need.

Weight Capacity 

Weight capacity usually isn’t a problem when buying a kayak rack, but it’s still something to think about.

Most kayaks weigh around 30 lbs., but of course, this depends on what style of kayak you have.

If you’ve got multiple kayaks to place on your rack, you need to weigh them all before buying a kayak rack; you need to know the kayak storage rack can handle the weight. 

If you don’t get the weight capacity correctly, you could wake up to the sound of your kayaks crashing to the floor.

Storage Capacity 

You need to think about what storage capacity you’re going to need for your kayak rack. And it comes down to two factors:

Large touring kayaks need different storage solutions when compared to playboats. It’s a lot larger, so it needs to hold more weight, have larger brackets, and have more stability. 

The length of your kayak plays a massive part in the storage rack’s capacity. With long kayaks, you need arms that are far apart, so they stay in place without too much overhang.  

And when you have a short kayak, the arms need to be close together so it doesn’t fall through the gaps or warp. 

The final thing you need to think about is how many boats you need to store. If you have multiple kayaks, it’s probably a good idea to find a kayak storage rack that can hold them all.

Reputation

The last thing I like to check out before purchasing a new piece of equipment is the product’s reputation.

Not all kayak racks are built to the same quality, so it’s a good idea to see what other people think of the kayak rack before you make a purchase. 

Look at their social media sites and Amazon reviews to see what other people are saying.

That being said, companies can’t please everyone, so you’ll have to work out which people are complaining about nothing and which ones are genuine.

Frequently Asked Questions