3:17pm Thursday 11th December 2008
Whether it’s a lack of funds or an incompatible vehicle which is preventing you from getting a solid roof rack for your car, the HandiRack could be the best solution.
Made from a combination of high-denier nylon and reinforced and airtight PVC, the rack consists of two sets of twin tubes (which are inflated and can carry loads of up to 80kg on most cars) with straps which pass through the car doors.
I was really impressed by the design of this product, and its apparent compatibility with so many cars – even three-door ones.
My Peugeot 206 has a huge sunroof which covers a large part of the roof, so I have always been unable to fit a permanent roof rack – a big inconvenience as I often have to transport my surf board to the coast.
The only part of the HandiRack package I wasn’t completely satisfied with was the hand pump it came with, which didn’t appear to have a non-return valve, making it difficult to pump up the tubes without sucking the air back out.
Luckily, it’s not a very big inflatable so it doesn’t require much air inside it, but I still think a better designed pump would have halved the time it took me to assemble the product.
Also available is the HandiHoldall, a durable attachment to the HandiRack which is ideal for transporting any extra luggage you simply can’t fit in the car.
Rating: 3/5
HandiRack – the world’s first inflatable roof rack. £49.99 (exc. P & P)
HandiHoldall (£79.99)
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