Thule 2 board side mount rack
Rack installed in minutes, and I can get my boards in and out without having to lean against my car. It still leaves room for my Thule carrier on the other side for all my boots, etc. Exactly what I was hoping it would be. Wish the lock was a combo rather than a key, keys get lost to easily.

Check the box
I would not buy anything from Thule this is the second time I have bought a kit of theirs and half of the parts for assembly are missing - or perhaps it was a returned product????!!!!

Not flexible and functionally is poorly designed.
From the pictures you can't really tell how the rack mount works and I had to play around with it to really understand it.

In text, here's how it works:

-There are two slots that look like an "E", each slot holds one board (though it almost looks like it can hold 2 boards back to back).
-There are 2 non-stretchable cables that have a flat metal stopper on each end. One stopper goes into the back of the rack on the side you cannot see, it is rather difficult to get in and there are 3 possible "slots" for it to lock into.
-The other end of the cable goes into a clamp system that is fairly straight forward.
-The non-stretchable cables themselves have a single rubber "sleeve" that really is useless and gets bent in really weird ways when tightened down. I have a feeling it will crack and break after heavy use.

Now lets run down the pros and cons.

Pros:
-It looks cool. I'm sorry, I'm shallow, but I think it looks cool having the boards up at an angle like that
-It saves a ton of rack space. I have another flat top on the other side of my car to hold any skis if need be.
-Easy to access the boards. Because they're angled out they're easy to put on and off so you don't damage your car.
-Holds boards away from your roof. Bindings won't scratch your paint, yay!

Cons (this is going to be a long list):
-Non locking cables. Because the cables do not permanently or securely lock into the rack when there are no boards, you need to take them off and stow them, then re-attach them when you put the boards on. What happens when one disappears mid trip? You now are driving home with 2 boards only half secured on your roof.
-Inconvenient cable slots. As mentioned before, one end of the cables goes into the back of the rack. You can't see it and have to slip them in by touch. When your hands are freezing thats pretty tough.
-Does not handle different sized boards well. This is probably my biggest gripe. My board is 172cm and most of my friend's boards are around 155cm. Because our board widths are so different, the smaller board doesn't get secured and will actually slide loosely around, even though they have a stopped in the rack to compensate for that. I can't put the second board all the way up because the cables won't be long enough to make it around my super wide board.
-Does not handle different sized boards well, v2. If you have different sized boards on your rack all the time, you need to re-adjust the cables every time, and it's not that easy sometimes.
-Security bolts aren't long enough. The security bolts used to secure the 575 to your base rack are NOT long enough to fit on the Aero bars from Thule. I had to go buy several longer M16 threaded hex bolts to put in and these can be easily removed so the attachments can be stolen. This is a HUGE oversight by Thule. I will be calling them to ask for longer bolts from them soon.
-Locks freeze. There is a cover over the lock hole to keep the lock mechanism from freezing. The cover itself froze and I couldn't get my key in. It's happened on every trip so far. My flat top also from Thule doesn't have this problem so may be a defect but beware.
-Did I mention you can lose the cables easily?


This only got two stars because of the cool factor, otherwise it'd only get one. The design is very poor and is extremely inflexible. Technically I could leave the cables in when there are no boards on the rack but they may end up flailing around in the wind and damage my car which I don't want to happen for obvious reasons.

akward fit
Rack installs in minutes, little tools needed. Straps are adjustable, but worried about how well it will work in mid-winter when I am tired from riding and cold ...ready to go home. Would probably have bought the flat rack for ski and snowboard if I hadn't got this rack at such a discount in a store.

SWEET! Perfect carrier for multiple boards...
We love this thing! No more flat models for us! It is pretty easy to install and remove as well as putting the boards up there and removing them. We bought a couple of these so we can have a total of 4 boards on our top of our van. The design of this gadget prevents your bindings from being smooshed against the top of the van like flat carriers while maintaining a space saving yet very functional design. We love it! Highly recommended!!

Appalling packaging
The box it arrived in was a a very weak manufacturers box. It had clearly not been opened in transit to me but had various rips in it. The product was absolutely used as it had wear marks all over it. The package that contained all the nuts and bolts was cut open and nuts and bolts that were loose in the box must have fallen out of the holes.
Due to being an overseas customer and the hassel of getting another box that would hold this well used [supposed to be new ] product,then going through the refund proccess, it was easier just to take it and try to buy the spare parts. Ive sent mail about this to the seller and Amazon to no reply. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT HERE AS DISAPPOINTMENT IS MOST LIKELY.

Didnt make it out of the box.
The product looked fine however it shipped here in a box that looked like it was delivered by Ace Ventura. The box was completely mangled and re-tapped together. The product did have some scratches and noticeable marks. I returned it immediately.

part missing
Great racks, easy to put on and take off. Great way to put up bikes without having to remove the front wheel. 4 stars only because 1) rough directions re: flipping the rack to a driver side mounting configuration, 2) was missing one little barrel nut with one of the racks when it arrived - Amazon couldn't help except telling me I could return the whole rack for a new one. Thule was great and helped me once I could contact them, but the process meant my wife and I were cramming one bike in the car while we waited for the spare part in the mail.

Very nice rack.
I wanted a rack that could directly mount to my Toyota Sienna (2003) and my RAV4 (2006) factory racks- the large clamps on this unit allows for this and provide a solid, stable mount without additional hardware. I also wanted something that didn't require the removal of the front wheel, and this also fit the bill. I was a little skeptical at first because the main mount seems a bit flimsy, but when you lock it down, it works and my bikes remain motionless, even with my bikes which are all 61cm road bikes. The Thule locks are easy to install and provide a small level of protection for when you really need to leave your bike- as with any of the bike rack locks, I wouldn't leave an expensive bike unattended for too long because the locks probably wouldn't slow down a bike thief too much.

I'd definitely recommend these to anyone looking for a rack, especially for those with factory racks with crossbars that this unit will fit. It will save you about 0 in additional hardware.

3 months later and still going.
These bike racks are great. They're easy to install and use. We've used them on a rather regular basis.

My only caveat - don't buy them here! I had to return the 3 I bought from Amazon b/c they arrived in ripped up boxes (they're big boxes!). I called Thule for replacement parts, but Thule said no b/c Amazon was not an authorized dealer.

I found them elsewhere for about the same price and they shipped w/o any problems.

You'll like these racks. Simple but effective.

Great Bike Mount
I was hesitant to purchase the Echelon bike mount - mostly because of the "locking mechanism" problems mentioned on some of the reviews and on various websites. Well, I've had the rack now for six months and I've used it about a dozen times, and it works like a charm. I'm assuming Thule fixed the locking problems mentioned earlier. I've had no problems with any of the locking features (installation, locking, unlocking, securing, etc). As well, the head portion of the rack is well designed and works smoothly. Granted this is the most expensive bike mount out there, but it's for a reason. The entire mount is sleek, well made, and reeks quality.

Worth the extra dough...
I have an older Peloton (517) but bought two of the Echelon (518) and really enjoy the difference in quality and ease of use. The head is heavy and sturdy and the locks are easier to reach. Actually, everything else (the tire tray) is about the same as the Peloton - it is the head and the mounting bracket that make them different. The bracket is also extremly solid, securing the carrier completely across the base of the head. The Peloton has more of a U-bolt type of bracket and it always makes me feel as if the bike could wobble a bit at high speed.
I am a faithful Prime member and truly buy most everything from Amazon, including expensive cameras and tools. But for some reason I actually had a couple of returns with this product. I had ordered another Peloton first, but it came with a bolt that was not threaded properly, so I returned it and got an Echelon but it had scratches on the tray, so I returned that also and got the two Echelons at East Providence Cycle, my local bike shop.
Let me also add that no store is more accomodating with returns than Amazon. I am always confident in my purchases that they will be stressfree that way.

Find something else.
I owned this product for about a year. From the beginning the locking mechanism on it felt a little odd. It never quite fit right. Everything else about it seemed pretty nice. As I was driving down the hightway a heard a rattle on my roof and stopped to realize the lock had fallen out of the rack and onto the highway. A friend who worked in a Ski shop said he had never heard of this before and later discovered that Thule issued a notice that they were having problems with the rack specific to the locks. However, because it was only a security issue and not a safety issue it would not be an official "recall". It took forever for me to find someone to return the rack locally and get a refund. So I guess as long as your okay with someone stealing your bike and losing your expensive Thule locks on the highway then Thule is happy to have you buy their products.

The best for my 12 foot Ocean Kayak
I don't know about the other reviewers but I actually bought mine from Amazon, so I really have one and I really use it. These saddles will ensure that your kayak will not slide during transit. And since these can only be used with the Thule Hydro glide rear saddles, it also makes loading very easy. The Hydro glide will let you slide the Kayak on the Roof. Once you have the position right, just lower the Bow onto these Set-to-go saddles and it will remain there. Based on the shape and design of these, it is meant for kayaks with a flatter wider bottom, just like Ocean, Cobra, Pelican and Hobie. You obviously should not slide your kayak on these saddles. That is what the Hydro Glide is for. If you had actually done your research and asked the experts, they would have told you how to use these properly. I have seen many people in Newport beach use these as well. Thule is the best brand in roof racks, with Yakima as a close second in my opinion, as we also have Yakima saddles. Thule has an amazing customer service as well. My suggestion is to go to your nearest REI and have a look yourself and ask questions.

Pros:
1. Your kayak will not slide off. It grips your kayak and refuses let go. You need that when you are on the freeway.
2. It is very durable if used properly. Always ask the experts on how to use it.
3. When used with the matching Thule Hydro Glide, loading time is only 5 minutes.

Cons:
1. I am worried someone might steal them off the roof of my car, as they are not cheap, it really concerns me. I have to remove them all the time just to be sure.


It can conform to almost any kayak hull. Just like my Yakima, these need to be adjusted correctly in order to work properly. I have seen people scratch their kayaks because they did not install Thule or Yakima saddles. ALWAYS ASK FOR ADVICE FROM PROFESSIONALS. You just need to ask for advice once anyway. I went to REI, and they were more than happy to give me guidance. As a result, I have never had any problems.

Junk, do not buy!
I bought this item because of the adjustability, I figured being able to change the angle to fit my boat exactly would be a good thing. In theory, sure, but unfortunately Thule decided to make the important parts out of cheap crummy plastic.

I paddle a lot - generally at least a few times a week, and transport my 23lb carbon fiber canoe hull (basically the same shape as a racing kayak). Maybe this item would be acceptable to the weekend warrior who only uses it a few times a year, but then why bother with saddles at all? It wasn't long before I was driving down the road and suddenly my boat started wobbling all over the place. I pulled over to discover that the rack arms had flattened. Fortunately I had some duct tape and extra straps with me so I was able to make it home without losing my boat. I took it apart to see what the problem was and found cheap, soft, PLASTIC teeth that had been stripped (coulda seen that coming, what the heck was Thule THINKING???).

Do not - I repeat DO NOT use these racks. I was very lucky my 00 canoe wasn't damaged. I purchased these racks to protect my canoe, but they'll do just the opposite. I'm going to stick with padded flat racks from now on.

Works Great
I little heavy, and expensive, but they support the kayak well, and keep it from slipping on the rack

Do not buy this if you have a plastic kayak
I purchased these racks last December and installed them on my van. After a while I noticed that the arms that support the rubber slings that are designed to support the kayak would drop down, resulting in the kayak resting more or less on the rack cross bars, instead of being supported by the slings. The problem is made worse by the fact that the sling material is very grippy-great for holding the kayak in place, but making it very difficult to actually get your boat into the racks. With 2 people loading a boat, you can drop the kayak from above, but the kayak needs to be raised up off the grippy slings to adjust its position fore and aft. The boat will absolutely not slide while in the racks. The only way to load a kayak by yourself is to put a towel on the rear saddle (slings), so the boat can slide on the towel, and shove the boat forward with a strong heave. Again, to adjust fore and aft, you need to haul down on the rear of the kayak to get it off of the front rack in order to re-position it.
I was pretty much resigned to dealing with these shortcomings using the work-arounds noted above, until the weather turned hot. Now when I strap the kayak down, the ill-fitting racks push into my plastic boat, deforming it. This is a known issue with roto-molded plastic boats, which is why I bought 0 racks in the first place. I have contacted Thule; they said talk to Amazon, because I bought the racks from them! A very conscientious Amazon rep is going to talk to Thule to try to see what can be done. Incidently, I talked with an employee at my local kayak shop, and he just rolled his eyes, "Yeah, I get the same complaint from everybody that buys this rack." I recommend potential buyers look at Yakima products before buying.
And now the rest of the story:
The conscientious Amazon customer service rep called Thule on Friday, couldn't reach the appropriate person, and called me back to let me know that she would try again on Monday. She called me Monday morning, after reaching Thule with the rep's name. I called him, and he seemed surprised to learn of the problem. He said he could not refund my $$$, but would happily send me another of their products. After re-visiting Thule's site, I picked the 835 Hull-a-port Pro as a replacement. Thanks to Amazon and Thule for helping me correct the Problem!
Mike

Nice carrier when it's not broken
I had Steelheads many years ago and when I needed a rack for my new car I decided to get another set. I leave the rack on my car for extended periods and need the extra security that this mount offers. Unfortunately, I discovered that Yakima does not sell replacement parts for the clamping head. Over time, exposure to the sun has caused the red plastic levers to crumble to pieces, and Yakima Customer Service told me that I would have to buy an entire replacement head which is about half the cost of a new mount. How eco-friendly is that? Luckily, it can be fixed with a stainless worm screw hose clamp threaded through the slot and around the head to keep the halves together. It doesn't look as nice but it's probably stronger than the original design. It would get 5 stars if Yakima provided service parts for the heads.

Beware Trek owners-get the Viper
Got this rack for my girlfriends Trek 7300. The right fork bottoms out on the Steelhead before it reaches the top of the fork cut out. The fork cut out (or whatever it's called where the front wheel mounts to the fork)is 1 inch deep on the Trek 7300. Now here's the kicker. I still used it and it worked OK. We tried the Copperhead and that wouldn't work at all on her bike. If I had a 2008 or newer Trek, I wouldn't bother with any Yakima rack lower end than the Viper. Since I've had the Viper, Steelhead, and Copperhead, I know that the Viper is the only one of the three that works for her 2008 Trek 7300.