Yakima Mako Aero Saddles Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $99.00
Sale Price: $81.27
Today's Bonus: 18% Off

I just want to make this known. I reviewed, and reviewed, and picked this item above others related to cost and description. However, when the product came, located on the bottom corner of the box, was a small symbol, with : "CARRIES ONE BOAT when paired with another set of saddles or rollers" Inside package information says the same. Well looking at the item on this site, there are four attachments pictured, and nowhere does the description read that only two are included, and that you need two more....if you pay attention, another set of saddles or rollers absolutely doubles the price, AND I didn't have time to wait for further shipping. I ended up buying something local. I'll be returning this package.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I gave this product only three stars based on several factors. First, the product description leads you to beleive you are ordering a complete kayak rooftop rack with tie downs; it reads,Yakima MakoAero Saddle Rooftop Kayak Rack with Tie Down. Well, you are only getting "half a saddle"; you have to order two of these saddles, and they're expensive at $80 a pop!

Secondly, the mounting instructions were a bit difficult for me to understand(and I'm pretty handy with tools and such), but a call to the Yakima customer service folks did help. I think this is probably typical in todays world; if you're a novice you will struggle as you proceed through the learning curve of any activity. I guess it's an unwritten rule you have to spend a lot of money on several products before you finally get what works for you.

Although I think these saddles will work OK for our Perception Tribe SOT kayaks, it's not the best fit. Why, because our SOT kayaks have hard chine hull shapes whereas most sit-in kayaks have round hulls.

IMO you need to ask two important questions when you purchase any kayak or canoe; is there a specific mounting system that will accomodate MY kayak/canoe and fit MY vehicle roof rack/cross bars??!!! This "one size fits all" approach really means, we have a pretty close idea of what a really good fitting rack/canoe/kayak transporting system ought to be, but in the interest of our profit margin and marketing, we don't expect to get it right every time...oh well. If you own an Xterra with the big diameter tube roof rack system, you will have trouble fitting any canoe/kayak mounting system. You would think each vehicle would design a roof rack to actually carry something, but that's another story....

Yakima does a good job, but it's not perfect. It's obvious the designer of this saddle doesn't like SOT kayaks, or never took the time to see if it would actually work for SOT kayaks. The saddle mounting system is also evidence a couple of sliding pads may work on "most" cross bars, but not all. I'm sure nobody actually "field tested" these on the factory roof racks for all the SUV vehicles they were targeting. Computers can't do everything....

I have yet to road test this saddle system because I only received half a saddle. I ordered the other half, so we'll have to wait a week or so before we will know how these saddles handle going down the road with my kayaks on the roof! I can't wait....

Best Deals for Yakima Mako Aero Saddles

i have tried several ways to carry my kayaks and this is the best i have found. The kayaks slide on very easily and than are held in place very securely with the provided straps. Originally I paired with Hully rollers but quickly found that i was not happy with the rollers. they seem to bind on my kayaks hull and made loading more difficult. I sent them back and ordered another pair of the Aeros and am very happy now.

Honest reviews on Yakima Mako Aero Saddles

Unfortunately I had to return my first set of MakoAero Saddles because the locks would not fit the saddle housings and it was a hassle because my trip was the following day. It seems the new manufacturing plant in Mexico (?) is not the same quality that I experienced with my original Yakima rack and add-ons that I purchased 18 years ago. I have the same issue on one of the four locks on the actual rack. The saddle design is fine and firmly held the kayak in place.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Yakima Mako Aero Saddles

User easy & very well made. It also has non slip carpet for liading and plenty of height so your yak doesn't sit on the crosd bars. I highly recommend them and get the locks too they are made very well.