Yakima Products Inc., a vehicle racks and cargo solutions company, has partnered with Locally, an online-to-offline commerce platform that supports local retailers by guiding consumers to local dealers with the desired Yakima products in stock.
“We love that Locally supports both our consumers and our brick-and-mortar retailers. It brings together the best of both worlds for our consumers – blending our unparalleled online vehicle customization tool plus the convenience of the 24/7 online experience with the hands-on help and support from local retailers,” said Jason McGibbon, VP of sales at Yakima. “For our retail partners, Locally enables them to have a wider-reaching online presence, and to reach their local customers.”
Locally currently features more than 250 Yakima products. Consumers can do their research online, then find a local retailer to complete their transaction, enabling customers to support their community and get expert in-person assistance.
Lake Oswego, OR-based Yakima launched Locally’s Dealer Locator this summer, which allows shoppers to browse a participating store’s in-stock Yakima selection. Yakima’s phase two, which debuted on November 1, includes a Locally-powered Product Locator installed on every Yakima product page. This feature enables a shopper viewing a specific item to see which nearby store has that exact item in stock.
The Product Locator is powered by live retailer inventory feeds provided by dealers. Through Locally’s “Buy it Locally” conversion platform, shoppers can reserve an item or pay online for in-store pickup at a participating store.
“We’re very excited to have Yakima join the Locally family, and to empower both their local retailers and consumers,” said Mark Strella, Director of business development at Locally. “Yakima has a robust digital platform that lets consumers do online research for the best fit and products for their vehicle. Our tools take the experience one step further and translate that consumer research into local sales.”
The Yakima portfolio of brands includes Yakima, Whispbar and Prorack.
If you like to travel with a few ski or board options on a weekend trip or love to carpool with friends or have a family that skis together, then you should check out the Yakima FatCat 6 ski rack.
Yakima FatCat 6 Capacity
The Yakima FatCat 6, as its’ name suggests, can carry up to 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards. To put this to the test, we loaded up the rack with 2 pairs of backcountry cross country skis, 2 pairs of All-Mountain skis, and 2 pairs of powder skis, with approximately 100-110 mm underfoot width. The FatCat 6 was able to accommodate the load with ease thanks to the DualJoint hinge system; the skis felt secure within the rack and the rack itself can be locked closed even when accommodating a large load. If you have super fat skis, then you will likely only be able to fit up to 4 or 5 skis. Unlike any other rack on the market, the FatCat 6 also features an integrated ski lift that helps to raise the binding up off of the roof of your car for taller bindings.
Part-way up locking position
The FatCat 6 features 3 different lock closure positions, which allow you to close the ski rack all the way down if a smaller load, part-way if carrying 3-4 skis, or at the top tier with a max capacity load. No matter the location, a simple turn of the key and the FatCat 6 locks your gear in place, while also locking the rack to your car. Like many newer Yakima products, you can utilize the “SKS” or same key system and eliminate having 4 keys for all of your Yakima products and simplify to just one key. SKS is a major bonus in my book, as a large key ring is annoying when you are on the move.
Secured and locked. Showing the many points of latch/lock.
Yakima FatCat 6 Set Up
For starters, the Yakima FatCat 6 can be used on factory, round, or square crossbars. We tested the FatCat 6 on Thule and Yakima crossbars, as well as our Subaru factory bar. The hardware worked on all three, which is a major plus.
Another bonus, no tools or special hex tools required. This was a major complaint with my previous ski rack, as I could never seem to track down the special tool when needed. I also felt that a thief could easily steal the rack off the car if they too owned the tool, which is easy to find online or even a bit matches from your local hardware store. The mounting hardware strap on the Yakima FatCat 6 may appear as if it would be easy to saw through and remove the rack from your car. Fortunately, the strap is stainless steal and features a rubber coating to stick to your bars better and prevents marking on the crossbars as well.
Sleek Design
The Yakima FatCat 6 is much more aerodynamic than its’ predecessor. I did not notice or appreciate a difference in road noise when comparing my cross bars alone vs with the FatCat 6 on top. Carrying 2-4 skis I still didn’t note a difference, however with a full load I could notice it a bit more, but still not awful or anywhere comparable to a cargo box. In addition to sound, I didn’t note a significant change in miles per gallon, despite having the rack on my Subaru for the past 2 months.
The price tag is a bit higher than lower end models, at $249 for the complete set up. However, if you want a ski rack to perform, come with easy installation, provide security, and look good in the process, then you should check out the Yakima FatCat 6. If you like the features of the FatCat 6 but want more room up top for let’s say a bike rack, then check out the Yakima FatCat 4: same great features with scaled down size and carrying capacity.
For more information check out the video below or visit your local Yakima retailer.
Camping? Leaf peeping? Thanksgiving at grandma’s? Our cargo boxes let you load up and go. Secure, and easy to install and use, Yakima cargo boxes come in a range of shapes and sizes, so there’s one just right for your autumn adventures.
ShowCase 20
Our most advanced cargo box offers sleek design, a glossy finish and family-sized cargo capacity in a do-it-all box that looks great on top of any car.
SkyBox Lo
Under the radar aerodynamics and fifteen cubic feet of cargo capacity make this a versatile choice – great for fall camping trips and winter skiing.
RocketBox 12 PRO
A proven classic, sized for smaller cars and hatchbacks, and easy to put on and take off, it holds a long weekend’s worth of gear for two.
Vehicle based travel is an ever bigger part of the outdoor industry landscape.
The biggest news at this year’s Summer Outdoor Retailer show didn’t pertain to a particular product or innovation, but a new bias towards all things overland. I’ve been attending this show since the mid 1990s, and over the years have witnessed certain trends wax and wane, but the explosive influence in overlanding is an unexpected twist. At the root of it, the actual pursuit of overland travel is not experiencing an uptick in popularity as much as it is an acceptance of overland travel tools used to access the backcountry. Ask the show participants who they are, and you’ll likely get the typical responses. Many will say they are climbers, skiers, backpackers, or mountain bikers, but few will say they are true overlanders. That doesn’t mean they don’t drive a Sportsmobile, built-up Tacoma, or have a strong want for a rooftop tent or 10,000 pound winch.
As we walked the show this year, the overlanding vibe was felt at every turn. The event’s daily publication even featured a full article on overlanding and how it is influencing the market and the outdoor audience. Last year marked the first year we had seen a rooftop tent at the show, but this year Tepui, James Baroud, and Freespirit Recreation were on exhibit. One of the most significant launches at the show was at the Yakima booth with their latest project, a hyper-light rooftop tent.
When I walk the floor of the Outdoor Retailer show, I consider myself part of the outdoor industry tribe. They’re my people. I’m an overlander in the sense that I actually like the journey to the trailhead as much as the adventure that lies beyond. I don’t pretend I don’t burn gas or drive a vehicle. I’m stoked to see the outdoor segment is beginning to accept the automobile as a necessary tool in the pursuit of outdoor fun.
Yakima SkyRise RTT
Ever since the RTT started to gain popularity in North America, countless people asked why the typical tent weighed so much and why they didn’t employ modern tent fabrics. Yakima just launched their new SkyRise tent, and with it, an answer to that question. You can make an RTT with lighter materials and in doing so, bring the weight down to just 80 pounds give or take a few. It also has quick-release attachment points, a welcome innovation for those of us tired of banging our knuckles trying to remove a handful of nuts. At an MSRP of $999 it also hits the value proposition. Time will tell how it stacks up to the competition, but talking to the designers, who have ample experience in the traditional overlanding space, I think it will be a solid success.
If I have come to learn anything throughout the years, it is that overlanders love to put stuff on top of their vehicles. That said, they are very particular about how they do so. Lashing piles of gear to the roof in a manner reminiscent of the truck from The Grapes of Wrath is curiously acceptable, but the use of a sleek and aerodynamic cargo box is not. Oddly enough, the same people so quick to define good roof top taste often dress like they’re on the lamb from the fashion police. A cargo box is out, but a shirt with 19 pockets is in? Anyway, I digress.
There are a number of reasons why the modern rooftop container is such a convenient storage solution. They are quiet, fuel efficient, easy to load and unload, protect your possessions from prying eyes and sticky fingers, and defend against foul weather. They can also be mounted or removed in a matter of minutes without tools or a second set of hands. There isn’t a great deal of downside, particularly with nicer systems like Yakima’s new Showcase 15.
On a recent three week road trip, I opted to augment our storage capacity with Yakima’s latest hauler and it performed beautifully. With 15 cubic-feet of volume, the Showcase was a perfect size to accommodate a complete assortment of camping goods from tents and pads, to sleeping bags, camp furniture, and all the trimmings. There was ample room to spare and during our 3,400 mile jaunt, everything within remained dry, clean, and readily accessible.
This is not my first Yakima cargo box and I can’t dismiss the fact they continue to get better with each successive generation. The latest models feature improved aerodynamics, recessed latches, quick-release attachment points, and like previous models has dual sided hinges allowing the case to be opened from either side.
At just 46 pounds, the Showcase is easy for one person to lift onto even a tall roof without much effort. The 80-inch length positions the bulk of the box forward of the mounting points providing ample clearance at the aft end for most vehicle lift gates to clear the lower aspect of the box. The 14.5-inch height is not the most low profile on the market, but creates enough internal volume to accommodate bulky items like my two North Face duffels. At 36-inches in width, the box allows for ample load bar space to also fit at least one bike mount.
When mounted to Yakima’s new aerodynamic Corebars, the Showcase was extremely quiet and by my best guess reduced my fuel efficiency only by an imperceptible amount. Mounted to a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a diesel engine, we still achieved 29.1 mpg over the course of 3,400 miles. In the best run without the box, we only scored 29.8 mpg. On the bumpy backroads of Wyoming and Montana the box produced no rattles or squeaks and I’m amazed that as dusty as the vehicle was, the interior of the box was immaculately clean.
There are several other fine touches Yakima applied to the Showcase. When locking the lid, the key cannot be withdrawn from the lock core until the latches are securely fastened. This eliminates the possibility of driving off with the lid open or unlocked. The internal clamps that fasten the Showcase to the load bars have pre-set tension knobs which once set, allow the clamps to be secured by simply folding them in the closed position. I can have the box mounted or removed in less than two minutes.
It’s another nice storage solution from the rack experts at Yakima. Whether deployed as a temporary hauler for the occasional trip or used day to day, the Showcase 15 is a proven winner. Better yet, you don’t look like the Clampetts rolling into Beverly Hills with all of your junk strapped to your roof.
The SkyRise is Yakima’s first entry into the tent market, but seeing as how it mounts to your roof rack, it makes sense. Instead of searching for the perfect spot free of roots and rocks to make camp, you just put your vehicle in park and pop up the tent. For those who like to car camp (like me), it looks like the SkyRise will make getting into the woods quicker and easier.
The tent itself is constructed from 210D ripstop nylon, with a waterproof polyurethane coating. For star-gazing, the SkyRise has a mesh roof. Should the weather turn on you, there is a rainfly included as well. Two sizes of the SkyRise will be offered. The small will fit two adults, while the medium will sleep up to three. Full specs from Yakima are below.
Shared features:
Rugged 210D nylon tent body is certified fire-resistant, breathable and exceptionally lightweight
Mesh panel improves ventilation, allows view of starry skies
210D nylon rainfly with PU coating is waterproof and durable
Spring steel rainfly poles are light and strong
2.5-inch high-density foam mattress with waterproof bottom
Fast and simple vehicle attachment – no tools required
Universal crossbar compatibility
Locks to base rack with SKS (Same Key System) Lock Cores for added security
The SkyRise with rainfly deployed
SkyRise Medium
Dimensions: 56” x 96” x 48” H (expanded); 56” x 48” x 12” (folded)
Weight: 90 lbs.
Sleeps 3 adults
MSRP: $1,349
Available: Spring 2017
SkyRise Small
Dimensions: 48” x 84” x 42” H (expanded); 48” x 42” x 12” (folded)
PinkBike: As seen recently in Death Valley: an 80s something Porsche 911 with a Yakima roof rack with all the trimmings.
As I drove down I-84 towards Hood River, OR, I heard nothing. Nothing at all. Sure, the hum of my tires on the asphalt, but that was pretty much it. Which surprised me, considering I had a rack on the roof of my car and some accessories. Why is this a surprise? Let me turn on the way back machine to 28 years ago…
I got my first Yakima rack back in 1988. Those round crossbars across the roof were my portal to adventure. First came skiing. Then snowboarding. Then biking. All with these classic round Yakima bars and Yakima’s nifty accessories for carrying my various toys. Since that first rack, I’ve had a number of other cars and made use of a number of Yakima’s other racks and mounts to carrying my gear around: everything from roof racks and all the attachments to hatchback/trunk racks to trailer hitch mounted racks. You name the activity, and Yakima had something for getting my gear from the front door to the start of my next adventure. The matching lock cores, while not unique to Yakima, were sweet, too; one key to rule them all.
But the heart and soul of the system (less the trunk and trailer hitch racks) was always this simple round bar rack system with a variety of towers that would somehow attach to the roof of damn near any car – even an old Volkswagon bug with its rounded roof. And recently, as pictured above, I saw a Porsche 911 with a Yakima roof rack in Death Valley, CA. But here’s the catch: ease of attachment and versatility were great things, but lash that sucker to a roof and hit highway speed and the racks nearly always made a surprisingly loud amount of noise. But it was the type of noise one easily and automatically tunes out – like when you live next to a railway yard or near a highway: after a week or so, you sleep through that midnight express or the din of rush hour traffic. So after 28 years of rack noise, I never knew what I was missing until I experienced Yakima’s new JetStream bars, one of the new aero shaped roof rack cross bars Yakima is rolling out with their new StreamLine System. Golden, blessed silence reigns supreme as you get from A to B with them on the roof. It may not be complete and total silence, but it’s a noticeable improvement over the old round bars. And really only noticeable by its absence.
The new JetStream bar is an extruded alloy bar; the cut-away shows the internal reinforcing of the bar. It may not be as svelte as the new Whispbar, but it’s nearly as quiet when it comes to rocketing around the countryside with one on the roof.
The new CoreBar; as the cutaway shows, is a simple roll form steel aero bar with a coating to allow rack accessories a bit more bite ala the old round bars. It, too, is almost as quiet as the Whispbar, as well as being a lot easier on the wallet than the Whispbar system. It’s also the first steel aero type cross bar on the market.
Jet Stream bars in both black and silver with the new Tee Slot mounting system visible. Certain rack accessories attach via the Tee Slot gutter in the middle of the bar. Any Tee Slot rack accessory will mount in the rubber center line and lock in with a simple twist of the Tee nut that gives the Tee Slot its name.
Not all rack accessories are getting the new T-mount system; in some cases Yakima has called it good with a simple clamp that will work with not only the new aero shaped bars but also with the old round bars, too.
But if the bars are the face of the new StreamLine system, the manner in which one attaches those bars is the heart and soul of the new system. To accommodate them, Yakima had to completely re-design all their towers, making them stronger, more streamlined to fit in with the design philosophy of the new bars, more adaptable by building in pitch adjustments, and by creating a variety of foot pads and clips for various roof and rail attachments – the clip library for the new towers can now accommodate an astounding 95% of existing vehicles on the road today without any modifications. And if you’ve got the old round bars and all the accessories to go with them but just need a new set of towers and clips for your new rig, no problem: the new towers and clips will also work just fine with the old round bars, too; as Yakima’s Product manager put it at the roll out for the new racks, “We can party with everyone.”
The new kids on the block: the new Yakima towers (from top left, clockwise). The Timberline tower with the old round bar; the Skyline tower with the new Core bar; the new Ridgeline tower with the JetStream bar; and finally, the new Baseline tower, also with the JetStream Bar. These new towers up the ante by adding not only the more aero design but also more load carrying capacity. The old towers were rated for only 165 lbs; these new ones allow for 220 lbs of load (75 vs 100kg of load).
Yakima Kills The Q Tower, Launches StreamLine System
Yakima is starting over. Say goodbye to the long-enduring rack design. Rolling out this month, the roof-rack juggernaut embarks on the largest product launch in company history.
Goodbye Q Tower. Outdoor enthusiasts have long adored Yakima racks. They have enabled us to get outside and explore on bikes, kayaks, skis, and more.
For years, a “Yak Rack” consisted of Q Towers and round bars. This year, Yakima rolls out the StreamLine system — new towers and components with an updated design and aero options.
Upgrades to both the hitch and trunks systems also abound this year, adding to the company’s massive re-launch. Under new ownership and with a new CEO, this year is a big test for the 36-year-old company.
Yakima’s JetStream bar on StreamLine towers
StreamLine Towers
The StreamLine towers have fewer clips. They fit more cars, and the bars to accompany them are aero and stylish. The upgrades are not just cosmetic, the system will carry more weight: The old towers were rated at 165 lbs — the new ones are good to 220 lbs (depending on vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation).
Yakima’s StreamLine system tower shown here with JetStream bar attached.
The towers are also less complex. The clip library has been drastically reduced, so fewer clips fit more vehicles and fit them better. Plus, the towers are more adaptable — with built-in pitch adjustments to ensure the aero-shape bars remain flat even on curvy vehicles.
If you have the old round bars (and the accessories to go with them) but just need a new set of towers and clips, you’re fine. The new products are backward compatible. Also, support of the old stuff will continue through at least the remainder of 2016, and it will be referred to as “Yakima Classic.”
Crossbars
Yakima now has three bar options, the RoundBar, CoreBar, and JetStream bar (available in black and silver).
Yakima’s new aerodynamic bars borrow technology from the brand Whispbar, which Yakima owns. The new bars adapt design elements from Whispbar into a stronger version that meets the Yakima consumer’s needs. The ideas is for them to be almost as quiet as Whispbar, and built to be stronger.
The RoundBar ($89/pair) remains unchanged. It’s a strong, simple, affordable, and time-tested bar. Its drawback is the noise created by the non-aerodynamic shape.
Steel CoreBar atop a Streamline System tower
The brand’s first steel aerodynamic crossbar, the CoreBar ($119/pair) combines the strength of steel with a teardrop shape that makes the bar quieter and may slightly increase gas mileage because of less drag. It is available in four sizes, the widest of which is 80 inches, downright giant.
The CoreBar is the strongest crossbar on the market, Yakima says.
The JetStream ($195/pair) is an alloy crossbar, made with a T-slot attachment and a wind tunnel-designed aerodynamic shape. The T-slot attachment is designed to make switching out accessories more convenient. It’s available in black and silver, and it has a premium look, much like Yakima’s sister company, Whispbar. The JetStream bar is the quietest of the three options, and are compatible with all Whispbar accessories.
We like the SpareRide’s quick and easy installation, and built in rubber tire paint damage protection
Upgrades and updates have been made across the entire hitch category. One notable upgrade is the addition of easy to use ZipStrips, which are used to hold bikes to the rack and simply ratchet into place for a strong hold.
ZipStrips are both secure and convenient, but we don’t like their tendency to get misplaced. Yak sells replacements online if needed.
Yakima has new ShowCase premium cargo boxes, too. No new features stand out on the boxes, which have evolutionary refinements to the sturdy and aerodynamic, dual-side opening boxes.
These are expensive but make a huge function and fashion impact. Not many need an SUV if equipped with a cargo box, as they haul copious amounts of gear. Our favorite thing about them is that, like all of Yakima’s cargo boxes, they are made in the USA.
All of Yakima’s cargo boxes are made in the USA
We’ve had Yakima Q towers on our cars for about 20 years, atop all the rusty adventure vehicles we’ve owned. They’ve been around since we discovered the outdoors. They get used in the best of times — when you get together with your friends to go play outside. We’d be nostalgic for the old stuff to be dying off if the new stuff was not looking so good.
NEW! Aerodynamic design with clean, high-gloss modern styling – the ShowCase 15 elevates the cargo box. Sized just right for weekends with friends, everyday urban traverses, and short road trips, this midsize box is ideal for wagons, cars and CUV’s. The dual-sided opening makes access easy, and ergonomic hardware makes install a breeze.
15 cubic feet of cargo space in an ideal fit for smaller vehicles, wagons and SUVs
High-gloss automotive quality finish highlights a distinctively modern aesthetic
Dual-sided opening provides quick and easy access from either side of your vehicle
Easy, intuitive push-button latch holds tight to keep gear safe
Internal lid stiffeners improve hatch durability, ease opening and closing
Fits round, aerodynamic, factory and square crossbars
Comes in two colors QuickSilver & Anthracite
SKS Locks included for added security
Made in the USA
SHOWCASE 20
$779.00
NEW! Big space, sleek lines, glossy finish – the aerodynamic ShowCase 20 delivers exceptional cargo capacity with a clean, modern design. Big enough for extended trips with a car full of friends, loading up the entire family’s ski gear, or heading out on ultimate endless road trip, this spacious box easily fits larger wagons and SUVs.
20 cubic feet of cargo space in an ideal fit for larger vehicles, wagons and SUVs
High-gloss automotive quality finish highlights a distinctively modern aesthetic
Dual-sided opening provides quick and easy access from either side of your vehicle
Easy, intuitive push-button latch holds tight to keep gear safe
Internal lid stiffeners improve hatch durability, ease opening and closing
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