Thule SUP Taxi XT Surfboard Rack Review | Is It Really Worth It?

Updated August 2026

As an owner of over five years, my Thule SUP Taxi XT Surfboard Rack review will cover why I bought it, how easy it is to install and use, and if I think it’s truly worth buying.

There are a lot of options for securing your paddle board and you don’t have to buy an additional rack to transport your board. However, if transporting your board is laborious, you’ll be less motivated to get out on the water, or at least that’s what happened to me!

So is the Thule SUP Taxi XT Surfboard Rack worth it? Here is my review of using it since 2019 and transporting it around east, central Florida.

Why I Bought the Thule SUP Taxi XT

I’ve had my paddle board since 2010, so I’ve logged a lot of miles of transporting it. In the early years, I just used my mom’s Honda Pilot and put it inside the SUV and just secured the trunk. This worked for a while until the vehicle got to 300,000 miles!

I had a smaller car at the time and decided to get a Subaru. After I installed the cross bars, I was able to transport my board. However, it was laborious and I would always feel nervous as to whether I strapped it in well.

Since it would take about twenty minutes to load it up, I started to feel like it wasn’t worth the hassle. At this point, I knew I needed to figure out if there was an easier way or my SUP would start collecting dust.

Thule SUP Taxi XT Installation

To google and Amazon I went and I found the Thule SUP Taxi XT Surfboard Rack. I made the purchase in 2019, not quite sure if it would make loading my paddle board easier. 

The Thule SUP Taxi XT attaches to your vehicle’s crossbars, so you will need crossbars already installed before you can use it.

The setup was relatively easy out of the box and the racks can be adjusted in width to fit your board. No frustrations really stuck out to me and the instructions were decent. I am good with Ikea furniture and instructions, so this is subjective, of course.

Unlike my surfboard rack where the instructions were actually wrong, these were easy enough to follow.

Reinstalling on a New Car

I have since got another vehicle, a Mazda CX-5. Despite the age of my Thule SUP Taxi XT, I was able to remove it and reattach to my new car. The rubber attachments you tighten on the crossbars are old and will leave a removable mark on my car. However, they are still strong and overall have held up really well!

Check out the Thule SUP Taxi XT Surfboard RackThule SUP Taxi XT Surfboard Rack

How Easy Is It to Load a Paddle Board?

I’ve been lifting weights again, so my upper body has improved, but I still use the same strategy from the beginning. Here are the steps I follow for my 11ft board!

I load my paddle, leash, or flotation device into my car first. Since my board is so long, the trunk cannot open fully once it’s installed, so I load the car first.

I prefer to reverse so the back of my car is by the grass. However, if that’s not possible, I will lay a towel down. Then I put the nose of my stand-up paddle board by the back of the car. From there, I grab the bottom end of the board, where the fins are, and I lift it until I can lean it against my car with the fins facing back (so they will face up when installed).

From there I grab the nose and push it up on the taxi rack. Once the board is positioned, I put on the straps and I’m done! Of course, I do check the board to make sure it’s secure.

What used to take twenty to thirty minutes, now takes five! It’s so incredibly easy and has made the loading up process a breeze!

How Secure Is the Thule SUP Taxi XT?

I’ve driven 70mph consistently, and according to the directions, it’s good up to 80mph. Even though I tend to be a fast driver, I get paranoid, so I try to keep my driving speeds reasonable and well below 80mph.

There is a stretch of road where 70mph is the speed limit, and thankfully I’ve never had an issue.

I also just keep the taxi installed year round and I do tend to drive fast on the highway. It stays secure on my vehicle and thankfully I’ve never had an issue!

Negatives of the Thule SUP Taxi XT Surfboard Rack 

I do have two negatives though. The lock system isn’t great, at least on the 2019 version. It got stuck in the first few weeks of owning and I was too scared to lock it again. The lock for the paddle board itself doesn’t really make sense, since you can cut the straps.

However, the lock on the rack system could be useful, though the hassle of removing it from a car should be deterrent enough! Either way, if the lock is a selling point, check the more recent reviews of the Thule SUP Taxi XT Surfboard Rack.

The other negative is you can’t take your car through a car wash. So if that is something you do often, you will need to either remove it first, which will be hassle or hand wash your car.

Thule SUP Taxi XT Pros & Cons

Pros

• Makes loading dramatically faster
• Easy to use
• Adjustable width
• Can carry two boards
• Long-term durability
• Secure once properly strapped

Cons

• Lock system on my 2019 model wasn’t good
• Can’t leave it on for a car wash
• More expensive than simply using straps

Is the Thule SUP Taxi XT Worth It?

If you are only paddle boarding once a month or less, then you may not want to invest in the Thule SUP Taxi XT. However, if you want to paddle fairly often, this can make your life so much easier!

Loading my board now takes five minutes instead of thirty and I feel far more secure with the taxi than when I try to tie the board down myself. That peace of mind goes a long way!

Since it’s now easier to transport my paddle board, the loading and unloading process is no longer a deterrent! I used to have to find the motivation because of how laborious it was to load and unload the board twice per session, but now it’s barely even a thought.

I know a lot of people opt for inflatable stand up paddle boards these days, which is a great option if you don’t have crossbars on your vehicle. However, I also surf waves with my paddle board, so I get way more use out of my SUP than I would with an inflatable.

Overall, I would say it’s worth it if you want to paddle often. You can try to use just your crossbars for a bit to see if you are able to tie it down quickly and find a system. If you find, like me, that you are losing motivation because of how long it takes, then consider getting the Thule SUP taxi.

Check out the Thule SUP Taxi XT Surfboard Rack

Final Thoughts on the Thule SUP Taxi XT Surfboard Rack Review

As stated previously, I love how easy it makes loading and unloading the SUP. The instructions state you can transport two paddle boards and though I don’t own two, I do own a longboard surfboard and the SUP. I’ve had no issues transporting both!

As someone with a bit of a lead foot, I appreciate you can drive 80mph, though I try to stay below that speed when I have the board. While mine is going on five years old, it’s still holding up well!

I hope you found this Thule SUP Taxi XT Surfboard Rack review helpful. If you are considering Thule SUP Taxi XT, I can’t imagine you ever regretting it! The easier it is to transport your board, the more you will want to enjoy using it!