Hey everyone! I recently joined the club and picked up a 2024 Mazda CX-50 in Zircon Sand. I’m absolutely loving the drive so far, but now that the weather is warming up, I’m ready to start taking it on some proper outdoor adventures. Since this car is marketed as the 'rugged' sibling in the Mazda lineup, I really want to get it outfitted with a solid roof rack and some cargo accessories, but I’m feeling a bit stuck on which direction to go.

When I bought the car, the dealership tried to push the OEM Mazda crossbars, but I’ve read a few comments online saying they can be a bit noisy at highway speeds. Since I do a lot of long-distance driving to get to my hiking spots, wind noise is a big concern for me. Plus, I have the panoramic sunroof, and I’m terrified of getting a rack that interferes with it opening or, worse, something that might crack the glass if it’s loaded down too heavily.

My main goal is to be able to haul two 10-foot kayaks during the summer and then switch over to a cargo box or a basket for camping gear during the fall. I’ve been looking at the Thule WingBar Evo because they seem sleek and quiet, but I’ve also seen some CX-50s with the Yakima OffGrid basket that looks amazing and fits the aesthetic of the car perfectly. I’m also curious about the 'platform' style racks like the Rhino-Rack Pioneer—are they worth the extra cost for someone who isn't doing 'hardcore' overlanding every weekend?

I’ve got a budget of around $800 to $1,000 to get the initial bars and maybe one accessory started. I’d love to hear from anyone who has actually lived with a specific setup for a few months. Did you go with the factory bars or go aftermarket?

For those of you who are already using your CX-50 for gear, which roof rack brands have you found offer the best balance of low wind noise and easy installation, and are there any specific cargo boxes you’d recommend that don’t look way too bulky on the roof?