If you’re fond of going on an outdoor cycling adventure, then a bike rack can be essential.
You don’t have to disassemble your bike just to take it with you in your vehicle. It can be very convenient most of the time.
Numerous manufacturers have been aiming for the top spot, and two of these brand names are Thule and Yakima. Both offer a wide range of options for their racks, and you may be overwhelmed to choose one.
But which brand is right for you? This article will be a Thule vs. Yakima discussion that can give you the answer. You will be able to choose the one you require confidently.
So, without further ado, let’s start!
Table of Contents
Thule Vs. Yakima Bike Rack- Comparison in 2022
| Color | Material | Brand | Item Dimensions | Item Weight | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thule T2 Pro XT | – | – | Thule | 54 x 15 x 43 in | – | Check Price |
| Thule Apex XT | Black | Metal | Thule | 28.2 x 11 x 37 in | 35 Pounds | Check Price |
| Thule EasyFold XT 2 | Black | Aluminum, Plastic | Thule | 48.4 x 25 x 26.75 in | 45 Pounds | Check Price |
| YAKIMA – HighRoad Wheel-On Mount | Black | – | YAKIMA | 56.5 x 6.3 x 10.43 in | 8.61 Kilograms | Check Price |
| YAKIMA, RidgeBack Tilt-Away | One Color | – | YAKIMA | 12.2 x 16.14 x 44.09 in | 33.07 Pounds | Check Price |
| YAKIMA – ShowDown Rooftop Mounted | Unset | Waterproof | YAKIMA | 47 x 14.5 x 10.5 in | 30 Pounds | Check Price |
Thule Bike Rack
Thule has undoubtedly come a long way since it was first introduced in the industry in 1942.
Nowadays, it became one of the top-leading manufacturers on the market. In fact, the brand continues to fabricate high-quality products such as roof racks, hitch-mounted racks, and trunk-mounted racks.
Wide a broad selection of merchandise, many consumers around the world have been commending them.
Why? There are a lot of reasons to love Thule. Their products might be slightly pricey, but it incorporates a lot of exceptional features.
Specifically, the bike racks come with all the accessories that you need, and most of them don’t require any special tools for installation.
That’s why many cyclists say that it’s amicable to utilize. Thule also has test centers to assure the quality and performance of their product before it goes out to the market.
With a perfect balance of efficient design and durable materials, they deliver some of the best products. Keep on reading to know more about their best bike racks.
Recommended Thule Bike Rack to Buy
Among the best ones from Thule, we have picked three bike racks that we recommend to you.
Choosing any of these will guarantee you to have a high-value product. So, let’s delve further!
Thule T2 Pro XT Bike Rack
Get out and bring your two wheels with you using this Thule T2 Pro bike rack. It holds a lot of excellent features that would make you want to have it this instant.
First off, this bike rack features an auto-attach knob making it easy for you to attach and detach it from your vehicle without utilizing any special tools.
Also, you will be able to adjust the spacing between the mounts up to 197 mm to avoid any collision.
On top of it all, you’ll be able to increase the load capacity of the rack by availing Thule T2 Pro XT add-on.
With this extension, you can bring your whole family’s bikes on your much-awaited adventure.
This carrier also includes a ratcheting arm that can help you secure your bike without touching the frame.
You can avoid any damage to occur for sure. It also has a 24-inch cable lock that fastens your bike tightly into the rack. Also, you can retract it to the ratcheting arm when not in use.
So, if you opt for a model that can give you confidence while on the road, then this product is for you indeed – from maximum security up to its user-friendliness, it can deliver!
| Receiver Fits | 2″ (class 2-4) 1¼” (class 1-2) |
| Bike Locks Included | Yes |
| Maximum Tire Width | 5″ |
| Tilt Function | Yes |
| Tool-Free Install/Removal | Yes |
PROS
- Securely fastens bikes
- Excellent bike clearance
- Comes with HitchSwitch lever
- Tool-Free attachment
- Doesn’t damage the bikes
CONS
- Instructions for assembly might be challenging to understand
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Thule Apex XT Bike Hitch Rack
Wouldn’t it be nice to carry around your bike wherever you decide to be, right? Well, this Apex XT is an elite bike hitch carrier that provides superb protection for your two-wheel.
Moreover, it is also available in numerous options for the sizes that fit your family’s needs.
This rack is equipped with a cable lock that allows you to secure your bike on the mount.
Thule Apex XT carrier comes with an anti-sway cradle to offer superior stability for your bike.
You can always remove it when you don’t need it. Also, it’s equipped with a SnugTite Stinger that promotes a tool-free installation, eliminates rack movement, and secures the rack to your vehicle.
Furthermore, you’ll be confident that no matter how bumpy your ride is, your bike won’t get any dents and scratches.
It has generous spacing of up to 7 inches between the bikes to avoid them from being damaged.
Overall, this bike rack is indeed a premium choice that incorporates numerous exceptional features.
| Receiver Fits | 1.25″ & 2″ |
| Bike Locks Included | Yes |
| Max Capacity | 37.5 lb |
| Distance Between Bikes | 7 in |
| Tool-Free Install/Removal | Yes |
PROS
- Doesn’t need any special tool for installation
- Safe and secure
- Comes with dual-folding arms
- Superior stability
- Generous spacing
CONS
- The complex strapping mechanism makes loading take so much time
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Thule EasyFold XT Hitch Bike Rack
Biking with your family can be enjoyable. So, make sure no one gets left behind by bringing all your two wheels with you.
And this Thule EasyFold XT can do the job for sure. It is an outstanding carrier that’s perfect for heavy mountain bikes and electronic bikes.
As the name implies, this bike rack is fully-foldable and designed to have more convenient handling, mounting, and storage.
This rack has a total capacity of 130 lbs, which is more than enough. However, it might tend to be very heavy since the rack itself is 48 pounds already.
Thule has also equipped this bike rack with its very own lockable uptight torque limiter.
This quality guarantees you have a safe and secure rack when attached to the vehicle’s back.
Given all of these great features, you’re sure to have a worthy investment. This bike rack from Thule will never disappoint for sure!
| Receiver Fits | 2″/1 ¼” (class 1-4) |
| Bike Locks Included | Yes |
| Load Capacity | 130 lbs |
| Tilt Function | Yes |
| Maximum Tire Width | 4.7″ |
PROS
- Has ergonomic design
- Allows easy access to the trunk
- Anti-Theft characteristic
- Easy mounting and fully-foldable
- Equipped with lockable uptight torque limiter
CONS
- Straps that come with it are too small for e-bikes
Yakima Bike Rack
If you want to be ensured with the product that you’re buying, then Yakima is the best option.
They are one of the leaders in the biking industry. Ever since they stepped into the spotlight in 1979, they have had an eye on exceptional quality and build.
Yakima is very much committed to continually innovating and updating its designs.
Hence, they never fail to fabricate state-of-the-art products. It doesn’t matter what car you’re driving, for sure, they have one for you.
They even made great history as they appeared in the 1984 Olympics. From then on, their name was never forgotten.
Each merchandise comes with a unique characteristic, which makes them highly loved by many cyclists worldwide.
One exciting feature of their bike racks is the capability of carrying bikes of all sizes.
Most of them can accommodate bikes up to 29 inches. And they have more to offer. Keep reading to know more about some of their best products.
Recommended Yakima Bike Rack to Buy
Below, you’ll find three of the top-quality bike racks from Yakima. They have been carefully chosen to guarantee you an outstanding product. So, let’s get started!
Yakima Highroad Bike Rack
Sleek, secure, and user-friendly are just some of the reasons why bikers love this Yakima Highroad bike rack. It is the newest elite upright bike mount of Yakima.
With this rack, you’ll carry almost all types of two-wheels, including road and mountain bikes.
It will be able to accommodate wheels from 26 inches up to 29 inches and tires from 23 millimeters to 4 inches without any adjustments.
On top of it all, this product offers streamlined protection. It comes with a low-profile tray that lessens the hatch interference.
When loading your bike, you don’t have to remove its wheels, and you’ll appreciate how it won’t make contact with the frame which may sometimes cause damage.
Also, it is easy to use. This rack is equipped with a new TorqueRight tightening knob that you can adjust easily and quickly. With this feature, you’re guaranteed to secure your bike with precision.
Although it is a little pricey for some, it ensures that it will be worth it. You’d still obtain a high-value product jam-packed with a lot of amazing features overall.
| Mount Type | Fork Mounted |
| Bike Quantity | 1 Bike |
| Bike Size | Fits 26-29†wheels and tires <4†wide |
| Compatibility | BandClamp universal roof rack fit |
| Item Weight | 8.61 Kilograms |
PROS
- Can accommodate various bike sizes
- Offers streamlined protection
- Tool-Free installation
- Universal
- Ease of use
CONS
- Slightly expensive
- More air drag since it’s upright
Yakima RidgeBack Hitch Bike Rack
Enjoy your outdoor adventures anywhere while bringing your bike with you. This Yakima RidgeBack bike rack can help you do that.
It is a fantastic hitch-mounted hanging carrier that’s very convenient to use even daily while being heavy-duty for long distances transit of bikes.
What’s more surprising is that it features a removable tie-down system, which they call the Zip-Strips.
This attribute will make it much easier and quicker to load your bikes into the rack than any traditional tie-downs.
You can also choose the carrier capacity – 2, 4, or 5. Regardless of the number of bikes that it can hold, it has a maximum weight capacity of 40 pounds for each motorcycle and an overall weight of 150 pounds.
However, the spacing of the different carrier capacities also varies. It turns out that the gap between the cradles on the 5-bike is 4.88 inches on the center while 4-bike has 5.5 inches apart. So, it might be challenging to fit all your two-wheels on a 5-bike cradle.
Nevertheless, Yakima RidgeBack hitch bike rack is an excellent product overall. It goes long when it comes to features, that’s why it’s one for the books indeed.
| Max Bike Capacity | 2 / 4 / 5 |
| Locking Speedknob | Yes |
| Hitch Compatibility | 1.25″ & 2″ |
| Individual Bike Weight Limit | 40 Lbs |
| Bottle Opener Included | Yes |
PROS
- Easy and quick to install and remove from your vehicle
- Lightweight
- Compact design; takes a little space when stored
- Constructed from high-quality materials
- Perfect for both short and long distances
CONS
- Cradles are spaced closely together
- Zip-Strips are not flexible enough
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Yakima Showdown Rooftop Mount
If you opt for a product that doesn’t just let you carry a bike, then this versatile Yakima Showdown Rooftop carrier is for you.
It’s an exceptional rack that can accommodate one large kayak and two stand-up paddleboards with an overall weight of about 80 pounds.
The rack can tilt down up to 26 inches from the height of the roof rack. You’ll also love how it provides about 30%-45% of weight assistance.
This feature will make loading and unloading of kayaks and boards a breeze.
Much more, Yakima Showdown comes with universal mounting hardware that will make it suitable to most roof racks. They fit well with a minimum crossbar spread of about 24 inches.
It also offers padded protection on the cradles to protect your kayaks and boards from any damage while transporting them. All the needed tie-down straps to secure them tightly comes with the product.
Without a doubt, this Yakima Showdown is a fantastic product with a lot of great features.
| Ideal Boat Type | Rec., Ocean, Fishing |
| Max Boat Capacity | 1 Boat / 2 SUP |
| Tool-Free Install | Yes |
| Fully Assembled | Yes |
| Boat Weight Limit | 80 Lbs |
PROS
- Easy loading and unloading
- Fits most crossbars
- Installation is quick and straightforward
- Offers padded protection
- Provides weight assistance
CONS
- Locking mechanism sold separately
Thule Vs. Yakima Bike Rack Comparison
At this point in the article, we’ll provide you a comparison of Thule and Yakima when it comes to various features
Style
These two products have been offering products in different styles. Thule offers hitch mount, bike wheel carrier, roof rack mount, truck bed, and spare tire.
On the other hand, Yakima offers hitch mounts, trunk mounts, roof rack mounts, and spare tires. You’re sure to have a wide range of options from both brands.
Average Price
Price can be an essential factor in choosing a product. Thule manufactures products with an average price of about $40, while products from Yakima have an average price of $70. So, select one according to your budget in buying a bike rack.
Available Accessories
Some accessories are essential in using a bike rack. I think Yakima wins when it comes to this factor since Thule doesn’t come with any accessories. Yakima includes locks and roof rack wind fairing.
Conclusion
Both brand names have been offering top-notch products without any doubt. If you ask which one is right for you, the answer only depends on your needs and preferences.
It may still be hard to choose one, but hopefully, this Thule vs. Yakima bike rack discussion helped you come up with an informed decision.