Want to jump straight to the answer? Thule Wingbar Evo Crossbars is the best roof rack for Subaru Outback.
You just bought a new Subaru Outback, and you need to get a roof rack for it. Perhaps you want to upgrade and replace the old one but don’t know which one to choose.
If you’re in the market for a roof rack for your Subaru Outback, you have many great options to choose from. But how do you know which one is the best for your needs?
In this review, we’ll look at the size of the top roof racks on the market and help you decide which one is right for you.
So if you’re ready to hit the open road with your Subaru Outback, keep reading!
Our Recommendations For The Best Roof Racks For Subaru Outback
Check out this list of our favorites if you’re in a hurry, or keep scrolling to read our reviews.
- Thule Wingbar Evo Crossbars – Best Roof Rack For Subaru Outback
- YAKIMA JetStream Bar Aerodynamic Crossbars – Best Alternative To Thule Crossbar
- Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Cross Bar – Best Value Aero Crossbar
- Thule SquareBar Crossbars – Best SquareBar For Subaru Outback
- Malone AirFlow2 Roof Rack – Best Kayak Roof Rack for Subaru Outback
- CargoLoc Roof Top Crossbars – Best Budget Option
Before you buy a new roof rack for your vehicle, here are some important things you should consider.
What To Consider When Selecting A Subaru Outback Roof Rack?
Aerodynamic Vs. Squarebar
When choosing a crossbar, you can choose aerodynamic and square bar designs. Aerodynamic bars are designed to reduce wind noise and drag, making them more efficient in noise and wind drag reduction.
Squarebar designs are more traditional and provide more stability but create more wind noise and drag.
How to stop wind noise from the roof rack?
Weight Capacity
Different roof racks have different weight capacities, so choosing one that can handle the weight of whatever you carry is important.
For example, if you are carrying a kayak, you will need a roof rack with a higher weight limit than if you are only carrying a few camping gears.
Easy Installation
Some roof racks can be installed without tools, while others may require drilling. Make sure you are comfortable with the installation process before purchasing a rack. But worry not; all the products in this review can be installed without any tools.
Price
Finally, the price of the roof rack is an important consideration. Choose one that fits your budget without compromising quality or features. A premium crossbar may be a bit more expensive, but it will be worth the investment.
See also Best Kayak Rack For Subaru Outback
How We Evaluated These Roof Racks
When evaluating roof racks for Subaru Outback, we consulted manufacturer websites for details about each roof rack’s type, load capacity, size, and materials. In addition, we also considered reviews from thousands of users on Amazon.
Hopefully, our picks here will help you choose the right one for your needs.
Best Roof Racks For Subaru Outback Review
Every product has pros and cons. It’s up to you to decide what features or things that matter to you most.
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Thule Wingbar Evo Crossbars – Best Roof Rack For Subaru Outback
Specifications:
- Type: Crossbar
- Size: 53”
- Material: Aluminum
- Maximum Load: 220 lbs
- Weight: 3.07 kg (6.75 lbs)
- Dimension: 50 x 3.15 x 1.15 inches
Thule is probably the most well-known brand on this list. After reading all the real owners’ feedback, we’d recommend this product as the best crossbar for your Subaru Outback for several reasons.
This Thule Wingbar Evo crossbar easily kills the competition because they are excellent noise reducers thanks to its proven Thule’s WindDiffuser and TrailEdge technologies.
Plus, it weighs only 6.75 pounds which is important because it can reduce the weight of a car and improve the overall gas mileage.
This Wingbar is one of the most durable and strongest crossbars out there. Made of durable aluminum material and has been reinforced to be able to haul any load up to a maximum of 220 pounds.
However, we advise you not to maximize its load capacity because the limit weight of the Outback roof rack can hold 165 pounds.
It is very easy to install and features the Upper T-track with the QuickAccess interface feature that lets you quickly install or remove other accessories.
Although we are annoyed by the high pricing, after looking at all the features and the quality it offers, we think this product justifies its price. Furthermore, these sleek and low-profile Thule Wingbar Evo Crossbars will last for years.
Click here to see more photos of this product on Amazon.
Pros
- Wind noise reduction technology
- Better features
- Premium built quality
- Can haul the load up to 220 pounds
Cons
- Pricey
- Confusing installation instruction
YAKIMA JetStream Bar Aerodynamic Crossbars – Best Alternative To Thule Crossbar
Specifications:
- Type: Crossbar
- Size: 50”
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 9 lbs
- Maximum Load: 165 lbs
- Dimension: 52.5 x 3.25 x 1 inches
If you are a big fan of Yakima products, this YAKIMA JetStream Bar Aerodynamic crossbars is the best option next to Thule Wingbar.
Although its weight is about 2.5 pounds more heavy than the Thule Wingbar Evo, it has all the features that the Wingbar has, plus it’s slightly cheaper.
This teardrop shape crossbar can effectively minimize the wind noise and drag, thus ensuring a quiet driving experience.
Installing this roof rack is pretty easy. It features T-Slot attachments that work seamlessly with Yakima mounting systems and other compatible accessories.
The YAKIMA Jetstream crossbar is expensive but slightly cheaper than the Thule Wingbar.
Overall, we like this sleek design crossbar and how it blends in with your Subaru Outback. Finally, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
See more details about this roof rack on Amazon.
Pros
- Better look
- Very durable
- Work seamlessly with other accessories
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Pricey
- Slightly heavy
Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Cross Bar – Best Value Aero Crossbar
Specifications:
- Type: Crossbar
- Size: 59”
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 4.5 lbs
- Maximum Load: 165 lbs
- Dimension: 61 x 9 x 5 inches
If you are pricing out both Thule and Yakima and looking for a cheap alternative yet excellent product, this Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero crossbar is the right one for you. If you don’t know, this brand is the most popular in Australia.
This low-profile crossbar has an elliptical shape design that reduces wind noise, although it’s not the best on this list.
You will appreciate how lightweight it is; weighing about 4.5 pounds will put less burden on your car rooftop. Although not significantly, it does improve the mpg.
This crossbar is also made of sturdy aluminum material and can haul your loads up to 165 pounds.
What we like about this product is although it is inexpensive, it equips with lockable cores security features to deter theft from stealing your roof racks.
This product comes with a 5-year warranty. So if you are looking for the cheapest and most durable aerodynamic crossbars for your Subaru Outback, this is the one you should consider.
Find out more about this product on Amazon.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Good quality product for the price
Cons
- Sometimes there’s a whistling noise
- Rubber channel strips are sold separately
Thule SquareBar Crossbars – Best SquareBar For Subaru Outback
Specifications:
- Type: Crossbar
- Size: 53”
- Weight: 8.2 lbs
- Material: Steel
- Maximum Load: 220 lbs
- Dimension: 53.15 x 1.97 x 0.2 inches
If you don’t fancy the Wingbar or aero bar, this Thule Squarebar crossbar suits your car. This classic crossbar from Thule is one of the popular options among Subaru Outback owners.
The noise and wind drag reduction aren’t its plus points, being a square bar style. But it does what it does. This 8.2 pounds crossbar is made from a solid steel material with a plastic coating and has a maximum load capacity of 220.5 pounds.
However, one of the biggest cons of using steel material is that it can get rusty after exposure to the weather over time. The installation is relatively easy, but it doesn’t equip with T-Track for adaptability with other accessories.
In our opinion, the Thule Squarebar crossbars are a decent product but still practical for your Subaru. It is nothing fancy but reliable roof rack that you can rely on for a road trip.
Click here to read what else the real owners have to say about this product.
Pros
- High load capacity
- Solid and sturdy bar
- Good value for money
Cons
- Noticeable noise when on the road
- Many complaints about missing end caps
Malone AirFlow2 Roof Rack – Best Kayak Roof Rack for Subaru Outback
Specifications:
- Type: Crossbar
- Size: 58”
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 10.9 lbs
- Maximum Load: 165 lbs
- Dimension: 60 x 6 x 4 inches
This 58-inch long crossbar is an ideal roof rack option for people who want to carry some large items like kayaks, canoes, and even bikes for road trips.
The width is slightly wider and extends beyond the roof rails, giving you a more spacious area for those items.
But, the tradeoff is that there will be noticeable wind noise even if it has an aerodynamic design. This AirFlow2 roof rack from Malone is made of aluminum material, weighs about 10.9 pounds, and has a weight limit of 165 pounds.
The installation of this roof rack is easy and doesn’t need any tools. In addition, the T-slots design feature enhances its practicality for attaching accessories like cargo baskets or cargo boxes.
Also AirFlow2 comes with a built-in Allen wrench to tighten the attachments to your Subaru.
The overall quality of this roof rack is good, but it’s hard to beat the fancier Thule and Yakima. Surprisingly it comes with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty.
If you want more space and a sturdy and easy-to-use crossbar, this is the one you should have on your shopping list.
Click here to check the latest pricing on Amazon.
Pros
- Great for hauling large items
- Strong and sturdy
- Easy to install
- I love the adjustment tool is included
Cons
- Noticeable wind noise
- Still fairly expensive
CargoLoc Roof Top Crossbars – Best Budget Option
Specifications:
- Type: Crossbar
- Size: 52”
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 8.6 lbs
- Maximum Load: 150 lbs
- Dimension: 3 x 52.5 x 5.75 inches
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, we recommend purchasing CargoLoc Roof Top crossbars since they are inexpensive and cost-effective for transporting goods on your next trip.
This crossbar has a very simple design and makes it very easy to install. In addition, it is equipped with a keyed locking mechanism to ensure the crossbars stay on the side rails after tightening the clamps.
The overall built quality of this roof rack is not as good as others on this list, but it can handle 150 pounds load with no issue. But, you don’t recommend using it to carry heavy items like bikes.
At first, we were skeptical about whether this product could survive a long trip. However, after reading some reviews, we were surprised about the durability of this product.
One of the owners said that the crossbars survived more than 3000 miles of the road trip from Florida to Washington without any issue, except one of the plastic ends was broken.
If you’re occasionally making road trips with a family and don’t carry some very heavy loads, then this product is worth it. Also, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Check the latest pricing on Amazon.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Simple design
- Very easy to install
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not as sturdy as the other crossbars
- It can’t handle a heavy item of more than 150 pounds
Helpful Video: How To Install A Roof Rack On Subaru Outback
Here’s a quick 4-minute video showing how to adjust the rear spacing of the roof rail crossbars on a 2017 Subaru Outback. Don’t worry. You can follow the exact steps for other roof rack models of your own.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some answers to questions related to Subaru Outback roof racks.
The first thing most people think about when they buy a car is how it will get them out into nature. And since Subaru wants to provide this capability for its customers, the brand has equipped all its Subaru Outback variants with raised roof rails.
This will give an option to the customer (that’s you) to install a roof rack of their choice.
A Subaru Outback roof rack can hold a maximum weight of 150 pounds. Check the weight capacity of your roof rack before loading it up with cargo.
The installation of this bar is simple. Open two screws at both ends and place the bar at the top with small parts at the bottom. Make sure the bar has a front side, and that part should be toward the front of the car.
What Is The Best Cargo Box For Subaru Outback?
If you’re looking for one, I recommend the Thule Motion XT (XL) Rooftop Cargo Carrier as the best one, and it fits well with the recommended crossbars in this article. Click here for more details.
Wrap Up
So, what are the best roof racks for Subaru Outback? If you want a premium product that will last and be very versatile, go with the Thule Wingbar Evo Crossbars.
If you need something more affordable but still high quality, try the CargoLoc Roof Top Crossbars. Whichever option you choose, properly measure your car’s roof dimensions before purchase to ensure compatibility.
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