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Malone Stax Pro2 Kayak Carrier

rated 3.5 of 5 stars
photo:   Malone Stax Pro2 Kayak Carrier paddling accessory

The Malone Stax Pro2 kayak carrier is a rooftop collapsable single or double kayak tie-down system. It's simple to install and folds down when not in use. It makes transporting kayaks safe for highway speeds and for narrow roofline vehicles.

Pros

  • High quality aluminum posts
  • Grade 8 hardware
  • Simple design

Cons

  • Straps take time to set up and take down
  • In questionable areas, it could be stolen fairly easy.

I bought the Stax Pro2 from a local kayak outfitter. It came highly recommended by them, and I found out why. It's a great system to secure kayaks to existing roof racks on your car or SUV. It has high impact ABS plastic clamps which fit over your crossbars and secure with Grade 8 hardware and thumbnuts.

The aluminum posts are about 1 1/2" square and very sturdy. It comes with 4 cinch straps and 4 rope tie downs for the ends of the kayaks. I've had two 60-lb kayaks on the roof at 70mph and never had an ounce of worry about them flying off or coming loose.

Honestly, it's a great piece of equipment; with one exception. It does take about 20 minutes to strap everything down. It's a lot of back and forth and setting up the straps before you set the kayaks on the foam blocks that come with it. Once they're up, you throw the buckles over the sides of the kayaks and cinch them down.

Unless you're familiar with cinch straps, I'd suggest replacing them with ratcheting straps as they tend to not come loose like cinch straps sometimes do.

I really only have one other complaint, and it's an easy fix. The clamps secure to your crossbars with bolts that go through the two pieces and then tighten with a wing nut. If you leave it on your racks all the time like I do, sticky fingers could probably loosen and yank them off in about 30 seconds. A quick solution would be to use two nuts and lock them together after tightening the clamp, or to use nylon lock nuts which can't be loosened by hand. 

Bought new, I paid about 150$ for the whole kit which includes: 2 tower posts, 4 red cinch straps for securing the kayaks to the roof rack, 1 blue strap for cinching 2 kayaks together, 4 shock cords and 4 stainless hooks for tying the ends of the kayak to the front and rear of the car, 4 foam blocks that slip over your crossbars and all Grade 8 metric hardware for securing the clamps to the crossbars.
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Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $150

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Specs

Price MSRP: $139.95
Reviewers Paid: $150.00
Capacity 70 to 80 lb kayaks / 32" wide kayaks
Dimensions 5" x 5" x 20"
Frame Aluminum and Nylon

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