Thule Universal Pull Top Ski Mount
The appeal here was straightforward and still is: a ski carrier that slides toward you so you can load it without reaching over the roof, which matters if the car is tall or you are not.
The specific model has been superseded, but the sliding pull-top design became a standard feature rather than a novelty, and it is the feature worth paying for. Thule's current carriers and Yakima's equivalents both do it.
What to check before buying any ski carrier:
- That it fits your crossbars. This is the whole problem. Square, aero and factory flush rails all need different hardware, and both makers publish a fit guide keyed to your car's exact model and year. Get that right first; the carrier is the easy part.
- That the clamp opens far enough for modern wide skis with bindings attached. Carriers designed around 2010 ski widths are a genuine annoyance with anything fat.
- That you can work the lock in gloves. You will always be doing this cold.
Two practical notes. Measure your loaded roof height and write it down, because car park barriers are how roof-mounted gear dies. And take the rack off between trips: the drag costs real fuel, and on an electric car it costs noticeable range at motorway speed, which was not a consideration when this was written.
Part of the guide to ski and snowboard.