Thule

Thule is the 800-pound gorilla of the rack world. Founded in 1942 in Hillerstorp, Sweden by Erik Thulin, the company started as a manufacturer of fishing traps and hay elevators before pivoting to car accessories in the 1950s. The first Thule ski rack came out of the founder needing somewhere to put his own skis on the family car.

Today Thule makes roof boxes, crossbars, hitch-mount bike racks, rooftop tents, kayak carriers, and ski carriers across more than 140 countries. The engineering is what you pay for — they maintain over 2,000 vehicle-specific fit kits, which is why their racks just work when everyone else's "universal" solution turns into a weekend of swearing in your driveway.

The downside is price. Thule is rarely the cheapest option in any category, and it never will be. But if you want a rack that lasts twenty years, survives salt, and holds its resale value, Thule is usually the safe bet.