I'm actually very paranoid about strapping a 20 lb airplane wing to my sports coupe going at 60mph, but I needed a way to get my board to the beach an hour away so I tried this one after researching lots of options.I'd say this one is definitely best value, not bc I've tried all of them but bc this one is cheap and works fine. Time will tell if it holds up, but based on the construction, I'll keep using it until the straps lose their grip, which can be tested easily with a strong pull with the buckle closed.Easily 4-5x cheaper than the most expensive soft roof racks but I can say this one works well, but needs a few modifications/clarifications.While it feels sturdy and has survived four 1-hr trips so far, and I've only had to re-tighten it due to user error, I'd advise not exceeding 60mphI can't comment on the rain leakage issue yet as I haven't driven in the rain.The instructions are confusing as hell so I'm gonna give you all the tips and instructions you need:1. I made sure that the roof loop (the one that goes around the roof of the car and through the windows) had the tightening buckles facing UP. If tightening buckles are facing down, your roof will get gouged for sure2. I wrapped strips of microfiber towel around the sections of the straps that wrap around the car roof edges. (and secured with a loop of duct tape, this way I can move them up and down on the straps as needed). Just ~4" to protect the part of the door frame that touches the straps.3. I put a soft bath mat between the surfboard and the straps to pad the roof and prevent the surfboard from bouncing and making noise.After unpackaging, you want to identify the surfboard loop and the roof straps. The surfboard loop will have the S-shaped bracket thing and the roof loop strap will have one super long end and the other end a heavy buckle with teeth to lockStep-by-step detailed installing instructions:1. Always put the loops over the surfboard first, This will make installation a lot easier. One of the straps should be near the fins, and the other should be further back on the board, based on the distance between your front and rear windows... I don't have any so I just put them back as far as I could.2. Tighten straps as possible but don't worry about getting the loop tight, you will tighten them down later3. While taking care of the heavy buckles (if they bang around, they can damage your car), put your looped up surfboard up on the roof of the car with the fins over the FRONT of the car (**VERY IMPORTANT** you want a failsafe in case the strap system somehow fails, the fins in front of the straps will prevent the board from sliding back off the car at speed). Best way to do this is, standing on the driver's side at the front of the car, lengthen the strap as needed and gently toss the buckles over the hood of the car to clear it (if the straps are too short, you're going to bang the other side). Then hoist up the looped up surfboard onto the hood of the car (SLOWLY, so as to not pick up the buckles you've thrown on the other side) and slide it onto the roof from front to back. If you have a shark fin antenna, just place your board on either side of the fin. If your board is too wide to fit on one side, you're going to have to put something underneath to clear the antenna...4. Now you can loop the longer straps through the car windows and use the teeth buckle to tighten as much as possible.5. **VERY IMPORTANT STEP** Now, you should give a few very strong tugs on the straps that connect the surfboard loop to the roof loop while holding the surfboard down. This is to ensure that the loops are TIGHT and gripping on the board. If there is ANY slack, that will transfer to the roof loop strap and your board will move side to side at speed.6. Now go inside your car (leave window/door open) and pull as hard as possible on the roof straps while locking the buckle as tight as possible7. Close your door/window on the roof strap and you are good to go, you will have no issues if you follow all steps exactly

Very easy to install. Very strong. I would recommend the soft rack

Outstanding you could literally take it anywhere and use it on any vehicle and put as many surfboards as you like on your vehicle without a problem it doesn't without a hiccup takes a little time to assemble so that's a little bit of a pain but eventually when you get used to it it's not that difficult. Worth it in comparison to everything else. With this product the best part is that you can curl it up stick it in your bag and take it with you Hawaii New England California not a problem get up and go just the way I like it

Love this rack, small and easy to use and travel with!!!

High quality and affordable.

Compact and just as described.

returned

Hands down these are the best travel racks you can get. Super compact design, lightweight (product weight, not its ruggedness) it is adaptable to every possible car situation you will encounter (including old-school rain channels) and the actual tie down design is different than all other systems - the way these racks tighten, where the loop around the board is actually inter-connected to the tightening system around the car, create a downward tension that holds the boards to the car better than every other soft-rack system out there.