Putting luggage in the trunk of your car without restricted access or cramping is a huge challenge faced by adventurers.
For people who face this challenge, especially Outback owners, you need to purchase any of the best roof rack for Subaru Outback.
Looking for the perfect roof racks can be difficult to find that’s why we have decided to compile a list of the best roof racks.
As well as, what you should know in case you decide to buy one but first we have to define the roof rack.
Roof racks are set of bars that are installed at the top of a vehicle’s roof for carrying large luggage.
Car racks allow you to transport items without inflicting damage to the design of your car or causing any effect on the car.
Several types of roof racks exist, and they are designed to fit your specific vehicle and cargo types.
What is the best roof basket for Subaru Outback?
MaxxHaul 70115 Steel Rack 150 Capacity is the best Subaru outback roof rack available on the market after conducting our research.
It is quite easy to install and assemble while offering enough space for luggage and cargoes with crossbars.
However, the Leader Accessories Luggage Waterproof Stretches can function as a reliable alternative if the Maxxhaul Steel rack isn’t suitable for what you need.
Why Maxxhaul 70115 Steel Rack is the best roof rack for Subaru Outback?
Why the Maxxhaul 70115 steel rack is the best for Subaru Outback because of how it attaches easily to most crossbars with easy-to-use U-bolts to lock it in place.
The body has a rust-resistant finish that makes it anti-corrosive.
You will find this roof rack easy to assemble and install because all the necessary gears you need to set it up are attached to the package.
You don’t need any extra installation hardware to set up the rack.
Top 10 Best Roof Rack For Subaru Outback Review 2022
01. MaxxHaul 150 lb.- Best Roof Basket for Subaru Outback
Highlighted Features
- Powder coated to oppose rust
- All-steel frame structure
- Universal mounting system
- Maximum load capacity of 150 lb.
- Size: 46″ x 36″ x 4-1/2″
MaxxHaul roof racks are made of tough steel with a weatherproof finish that opposes corrosion. This crossbar mount is set up to offer instant space for different cargoes.
It includes a rubber gasket to prevent internal corrosion and the rack has an original size of 46″ x 36″ x 4-1/2″ which gives it enough room for your luggage.
The package is easy and quick to install thanks to its universal U-bolt mounting system.
Protecting your luggage during a trip is accomplished through the use of U-bolts that come with rubber caps.
Pros
- Offers outstanding value for its price
- Quick overall installation time
- Solid and doesn’t move when in place
- Can carry up to 150lbs of weight
- Excellent Craftsmanship
- Looks awesome and is great for luggage and cargo
Cons
- Not fully assembled
- Would rust if the rubber gasket isn’t properly covering the screws
02. Leader Accessories- Best Cargo Box For Subaru Outback
Highlighted Features
- Size: 40 x 25.5 x 8 inches
- Car bar distance of 29.7inches and above
- Strap installation manual
- Waterproof and Extra-large cargo bag
- Extra thick bungee net
Leader Accessories Roof Rack is the ideal holder for storing additional cargo bags, luggage, camping gear, and more on top of your car safely.
This product holds up to 150 pounds securely.
It accommodates square and round crossbars of less than 4.6 inches wide and 1.375 inches thick and can easily be mounted with four universal U-bolts on your car.
It stretches to fit odd-shaped loads due to its soft-shell fabric sides.
With its 15 cubic foot capacity, this waterproof roof rack is made with heavy-duty fabrication that enables it to withstand different types of cargo.
There is also an extra-thick bungee web net of over 5mm that stretches up to 6” x 8” and has a mesh square 3” x 3” design to keep smaller items from falling out, adding to its strength and durability.
Pros
- Sharp and Sturdy
- Would fit any gen 4 Outback perfectly
- The well-applied powder coating finish
- Easy Installation Process
- Very good rack for its value
- Fantastic structure to make it fit any vehicle
- Comes with a substantial amount of cargo space
Cons
- U-bolts may not be deep enough to attach the rack to the roof
03. 7BLACKSMITHS Black- Best Quality Roof Rack Outback
Highlighted Features
- Side rails and Bottom metal bars
- Adjustable fit
- Roof rack basket
- Black powder-coated finish
- Size: 40.5 x 25.5 x 8.5 inches
In addition to providing instant cargo space, the Blacksmith Roof Rack is easy to install equipment.
You can easily mount it with four universal U-bolts across your vehicle’s crossbars with the crossbar being 3.25″ wide x 1.375″ thick and round bars with a 1.375″ diameter.
There are plenty of tie-down points on the side rails and bottom metal bars to keep your belongings in place.
The steel wind fairing has a black powder coating to reduce noise and wind resistance while the overall body of the roof rack also has a black powder-coated finish.
Make the most of your available space in your vehicle with a cargo basket that can safely and securely carry up to 250 pounds of gear, cargo, and supplies.
With the use of U-bolts, this handlebar can be attached to almost any square, round, factory-installed, or aero crossbar on just about any truck, car, van, SUV, or other large vehicles.
To avoid corrosion and rust, silicone sealant should be applied to joints and welds in the assembly process.
Pros
- Heavy-duty fabrication to keep properties in place
- Includes steel wind fairing to reduce wind resistance & noise
- Roof rack basket to accommodate a large amount of gear
- Adjustable fit
- Weight capacity of 250lbs and above
- Good product for its price
- solidly constructed
Cons
- Need to seal its weld to prevent inward rusting
04. YAKIMA Heavy-duty JetStream Bar for Roof Rack Systems
Highlighted Features
- Jet flow teardrop shape
- Seamless aluminum fabrication
- JetTruss internal support
- T-slot rubber infill
- high-gloss polymer end caps
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
- Size: 52.3 x 4.1 x 3.9 inches
The new Yakima bar has undergone a complete transformation and redesign from its old model.
The new JetFlow’s high-caliber teardrop shape reduces drag for utmost efficiency and is strong, quiet, and very efficient.
Engineered with JetTruss internal support system for utmost strength with the least weight
With a size of 52.3 x 4.1 x 3.9 inches and weighing 4.74 kg, the new JetStream’s JetFlow was thoroughly tested in a wind tunnel before its release and it proved extremely lightweight, aerodynamic, strong, and exceptionally quiet on the move.
The foundation of this modern rack system supports a lot of cargo while looking good. Its T-slot rubber filling simplifies mounting and provides efficient airflow.
The roof rack package includes 4 glittering silicone end caps which give a polished look and work with T-Slot attachments, Yakima StreamLine Towers, and all Yakima mount gear.
Pros
- They look amazing for a roof rack
- Strong bars and highly durable
- The system is firm for long-distance journey
- Quick installation time
- Design made to last for longer periods
Cons
- It may become noisy if you exceed certain speed limits
05. Ark Motoring 64″x 39″ Rooftop Basket Cargo Carrier Roof Rack
Highlighted Features
- Increased Storage Capacity
- High in strength
- Has a sleek fairing to reduce noise or drag
- Anti-corrosion and rust powder coat’’
- Easily mountable frames
With this roof rack, there is no need to worry about the size of the vehicle being too small to accommodate more luggage.
Doesn’t matter if you’re going camping or doing some interstate trips, Ark Motoring’s roof rack cargo basket is the best choice for you.
The Roof rack cargo basket comes in a variety of adjustable sizes. According to the size of your vehicle, you can choose a basket length that fits.
It is suitable for use on any type of car, including SUVs, saloons, full-size cars, and vans.
The racks provide increased transportation capacity as the cargo basket has walls that are 6 inches high. The rack also features fairing, which reduces wind noise and drag.
With four universal U-bolts, it can accommodate square or round crossbars up to 4.6 inches wide and 1.375 inches thick.
It also features a hard-wearing carbide black powder coat and an E-coat to resist corrosion.
The rooftop carrier is made of lightweight tubular steel that is strong and can carry up to 150 lbs of equipment, gear, and cargo.
This rack has sleek fairings that reduce noise and drag, and the powder finishing is corrosion and rust-free.
But for rustproofing, it is recommended that you park your car inside and use Truck Bedliner Paint on the rack.
Pros
- Excellent value for the price
- Easy to assemble
- Sells for a fraction of bigger brands
- Very sturdy and strong
- Looks great
- Comes with extra accessories to make installation easy
- Guardrail to provide more travel space
Cons
- It May require preparation before use
06. YAKIMA, MegaWarrior Cargo Basket Roof Rack
Highlighted Features
- Size: 50 x 29 x 9 inches
- Heavy-duty weather-resistant steel
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Bomber gear basket
- Customized wind fairing
- Minimal assembly required
- Universal attachment system
You can round up a large lifestyle with the Yakima MegaWarrior if you have an extra-large car, a large group of friends, or both.
Its beefy wide-body design fits any gear you decide to fix in there. It is only the installation of this cargo basket that isn’t beastly like its other parts.
Its Installation process is easy and quick and fits virtually any crossbar.
Users can find this rack very compatible. Designed to fit most Yakima gear mounts such as the square, round, aerodynamic, and factory crossbars.
Most Yakima accessories can be mounted on the rear and front crossbars which also include a moveable accessory bar.
There’s also a custom wind fairing attached to the package to help users reduce drag or any form of noise coming from the rack while on full speed.
Pros
- Very sturdy rack
- Provides more spaces to easily secure and stack luggage
- Easy to assemble
- Looks great after installation
- The basket is easy to remove and install
Cons
- Bolt knobs are close to the mount side
07. BRIGHTLINES Roof Ski Snowboard Racks Carriers
Highlighted Features
- Universal Design
- Compatible with many designs of the crossbar
- Lock and key feature to secure cargo
- Multi-use rack
- Hand tightening thumb nuts
- Smart Mounts available
Brightlines Universal Ski Rack is designed to hold up to four snowboards and six pairs of racks based on their sizes.
However, the maximum length it can hold up is 24 inches.
The rack mounts are 27.5inches apart from each other so users have to pair snowboards and skis back-to-back to maximize all the available space.
This mount perfectly fits factory crossbars that are less than 1.5 inches thick and 3 inches wide.
In addition, it will fit Yakima and Thule round, square, and wing-shaped crossbars.
Each rack has locks and easily accessible opening buttons for users to use and lock their luggage or extra weight in place.
There are no tools needed for its installation. The Smart Mounts added to the package allow for quick installation and removal so users need not worry.
You can use these racks all year long. In addition to snowboards and winter skis, this rack can also carry fishing poles and water skis securely to your favorite location.
Pros
- Installation is relatively simple
- Availability of quick-release thumb nuts and skewers to tighten the rack
- High-level quality
- Good rack
- Locking mechanism
- Perfect fit for service
- Rubber is flexible and locks in extra weight securely
Cons
- Could easily unhook unit from rack with the release skewers and thumb nuts
08. BrightLines Aero Roof Rack Replacement
Highlighted Features
- Size: 47.55 x 7 x 3.8 inches
- Top-quality aluminum body
- The top load capacity of 165lbs
- Adjustable crossbars
- Mounting towers on four sides
Brightlines Aero BL594190 is a roof rack made from aluminum construction of the highest quality.
The racks are easily transportable and sturdy so your luggage can be held in place. This roof rack has a maximum load capacity of 165 lbs evenly distributed among all crossbars.
This durable roof rack comes with an aerodynamic shape that reduces drag and wind noise. The roof rack package includes two crossbars and mounting towers for its four sides.
These crossbars are OEM-specific and have been designed following their specification.
Installing the Brightlines Aero BL594190 requires no drilling as it’s quite easy to install. During installation, these crossbars can be adjusted to any position.
Designed to fit larger vehicles mostly but can be used on any vehicle, the front crossbars are longer than the rear crossbars.
There shouldn’t be any limitations on what you can bring while traveling cross-country or on an outdoor adventure.
With the provision of crossbars, you can carry any item you wish to carry for your journey.
Pros
- Perfectly suits the Subaru roof
- Easy to Install
- Fits perfectly and sits sturdy on the car
- Durable materials
- Affordable
Cons
- Sometimes lock may not work properly
09. ARKSEN Universal Roof Rack Cargo with Extension Car Top Luggage Holder
Highlighted Features
- Rigid construction
- Large storage space
- Additional security
- Multipurpose cargo basket
- Easy installation process
- Size: 64″ x 39″ x 6″
- 150lbs weight capacity
You can maximize all the space in your vehicle’s interior by stacking your cargo, kayaks, bikes, and extra luggage on top of your car.
This roof rack is great for pulling cargo out of your vehicle and loading it on your car roof.
The cargo basket is made from high-gauge steel for durability and waterproofing. The black powder coating prevents rust and makes this rack corrosion-free.
Universal mounting hardware makes it easy to install on almost any vehicle. This rack can hold up to 150 pounds, so it’s a good choice for long trips with a big group.
In addition to the metal bars at the bottom of the cargo basket, there is a steel wind fairing that prevents your luggage or cargo from being damaged by wind and eliminates noise.
With its simple assembly and dimension of 64 inches x 39 inches x 6 inches, this luggage rack fits most vehicles perfectly and can be used for long road trips, camping trips, and moving homes.
When camping, moving houses, or on road trips, you can carry camping supplies, luggage, firewood, fishing and hunting gear, and more load.
Pros
- Fairly rugged
- Looks good
- Easy and quick to install
- Perfect fit for vehicles
- No scratches or dents
- Awesome for its price
- Awesome durability
Cons
- It may have different spacing between the front and rear section
10. XCAR Rooftop Cargo Carrier with Extension Black Car Top Luggage Holder
Highlighted Features
- Robust Fabrication
- Hardware set
- Universal U-bolts
- Square crossbars
- Universal roof rack
- Exceptional functionality
Whether you are planning a trip or going for a weekend hike, rest assured that this rack roof transporter is the best solution to your needs due to the exceptional functionality they offer.
That aside, this piece of equipment is easy to install and lasts a lifetime.
This roof rack was created with outdoor adventurers in mind, allowing room for camping equipment, extra luggage, and cargo bags to be stored.
This system easily mounts on roof rack crossbars or straight bars through the use of 4 universal U-bolts which enables it to carry big loads.
However, please ensure that your car has crossbars, to begin with, and these crossbars must be at a distance greater than 29.7 inches if you want to extend the rear of the roof rack.
Create more space in your ride with the use of this roof rack basket which allows users to carry as much as 150lbs securely and safely.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Solid luggage basket
- Availability of wind deflector
- Good product for its value
- Over-the-top netting to firmly secure cargo
Cons
- Some screw holes may be slightly off
User Buying Guide for the Best Roof Rack for Subaru Outback
Roof racks have probably lasted longer than many people reading this section. They’ve been in existence for a long time.
Many people try to associate them with mainly sports enthusiasts who use them mostly to pack and move their equipment like kayaks, bicycles, skis, snowboards, and much more equipment from one location to another.
However, this belief is not entirely true because roof racks are used by anybody and don’t belong to any particular group.
To purchase the best roof rack for your Subaru Outback, you have to ensure that all the cargo and luggage you want to lift will be carried without any hitch.
Asides from this, there are other certain factors you need to consider before making your selection of roof racks and they include;
Renown Brands
In this line of business, branding is everything. The quality of the product is measured by the strength and popularity of a brand.
Many people say that a brand name is as good as the service or products it sells which is why you should research the best brands in this business and look out for their products.
This doesn’t mean the products of upcoming brands are inferior. These bigger brands just have more fame.
Price
Money is another important factor to consider when selecting the roof rack to buy. While checking out for brands’ names, also look at their prices.
Many of these big brand products are quite expensive so you can research for these new brands without fame who offer products that feature almost all high-quality elements for a cheap price.
From the list we put together, you can find several affordable products that you can consider.
Positive Reviews
Many of the roof racks around you came about through recommendations of previous users from different areas of the world.
The information you’ll gather from the research will point you to the experiences of different people using this same product and from the research.
However, you can get proper recommendations for the best product to buy or improvements on the product they already have.
Features to consider when purchasing a Roof Rack
Perfect Fittings
How the roof rack fits perfectly on your car should be a concern. A roof rack that isn’t the right shape or width of your car roof can be a challenge.
Before selecting a roof rack to settle on, research the one that fits your car roof as there are many available on the market.
Installation
Many people are used to the idea of fast installation processes and I guess you do the same.
When considering roof racks, the type of installation process should be considered as there are many methods in the market.
Some racks are fixed with a claw system while other racks are fixed with a u-bolt system. Depending on your preference, you can purchase any type of them.
Weight
Aluminum is the ideal material used in making roof racks because it is durable, sturdy, and easy to maintain.
Many people also use it because it is cheaper than other options. However, aluminum cannot survive rust and weather elements but if you care for it properly, it will last long.
Steel, despite being expensive is another great option. Many people prefer it because it is rust and weather elements proof while featuring a robust fabrication.
The best steel option is steel with a vinyl cover or stainless steel.
Height
Height is another factor that must be considered. There are two features you would consider which include the height of your car and that of the roof rack.
Each car doesn’t use the same roof rack so you have to find the roof rack that suits your car.
Important FAQs for the Best Roof Rack for Subaru Outback
Do all roof racks fit perfectly?
The answer is no because there are various roof racks types for different cars therefore not all racks can fit a car in the same way.
You should research the rack that best fits your car before purchasing as not to waste time, money, and effort.
Are roof racks removable?
Of course, all car roof racks are removable after use. When you mount the rack, your car tends to undergo more combustion which consumes more fuel.
This act can be frustrating especially when the rack is not in use.
As a way to bypass such issues from happening in the future, manufacturers tend to design racks in a way that they can be disassembled after every trip.
Why do racks tend to be expensive?
Racks are high-grade engineering products that use their sturdy design and high-quality materials to hold up extra weight from your car while the car is in motion.
The materials used in designing roof racks can withstand millions of pounds of force coming from different directions without collapsing under pressure.
The rack has to go through some aero dynamism to silence the noise that will originate as air moves around and over the rack while in motion.
All these factors are put together to contribute to the high price of racks.
With these features, one can say that roof racks are the right investment no matter the price involved.
What type of roof rack fits my car?
While roof racks cover about 98% of your car, you’ll need some parts to hold them firmly to your car.
If your car is the type to have rain gutters, then you’ll need a rain gutter roof rack for your car but that will need improvement here and there.
However, many of today’s cars no longer have gutters so roof racks are designed for these models of cars.
This type of car model uses permanent or removable mount designs with fixpoints, railings, or even clamp mounts.
These gutterless cars make use of the feet, bar, and fit kit to install the roof rack to the upper part of the door to hold it firmly in place.
What are the parts of a rack system?
A roof rack system usually consists of the fitting kit which is made specifically for each vehicle type, the feet where the bar rests, and the bar that’s used to install the rack on the car.
Conclusion
After going through this credible research, you can see that many options can serve as the best roof rack for Subaru Outback.
You should consider them and see which of them fits perfectly.
However, while getting your rack fixed, you need to ensure that it is the right rack for your car and the material is of high quality, strong and durable.
If you confirm every one of these factors, you can be assured that your roof rack will fit nicely without failing when you need it to move equipment safely.
You should also purchase your roof rack from a credible dealer/source so you can find the right one for your car and also partake of the warranty offer available on products.