Having just taken delivery of my 2023 Estate I need to purchase a roof rack (paddle board transport..), I've zero interest in any sort of roof rack that requires a manual allen-key type bolt being done up to sercure it in place, its time and effort to fit / remove from teh car.

 

Who has and can recomend a decent mechanism type roof rack thats sercureed in place with a simple intergrated latch type fitting that requires no loose tool?

 

Thanks

 

 

(Photo - old mk. 3, with a cheap allen-key wind-up fitment roof rack - Not what I want this time!!)

 

The dealer supplied one meets your requirements. Granted, it’s not cheap but looks ok compared to others I’ve seen

Edited 29 October, 20232 yr by PoloGaz

Yep I've got skoda one and it locks in using the plastic covers instead of Alan key. I was lucky and picked mine up second hand via ebay. 

Hmm - not sure that I would want to carry anything on the roof that wasn't securely fitted / locked.

 

I've been carrying canoes & other 'stuff' for on roof racks for 30+ years and have always had properly fitted bars. On modern cars, the roof rails provide an excellent anchor point and the reality is that it doesn't take long to fit. My Thule Aerobars can be fitted in less than 5 minutes (with supplied torque tool or drill with hex bolt) so unless you are fitting / removing the bars multiple times during the day, having 'quick release' is probably not going to make much of a difference. What is more important to me is wind noise, fuel economy & practicality (e.g. T-bolt fitting for bike racks).

 

 

The skoda bars lock on securely and the caps over the rail locking mechanism also lock with a key.

 

I only use mine for my ebike or carrying stuff at the time. Don't leave stuff on the car that someone would like to steal. Nothing you can get in terms of roof bars will stand up to someone wanting to take your stuff. Seen YouTube videos of people smacking thule Alan keyed racks off with a Hammer

 

Generally if it stays on car while driving securely and stuff can't be stolen in a couple of mins while I'm paying for fuel or something it does the job.