If you’re a paddling enthusiast, you undoubtedly have faced the problems of having to transport your kayak to and from your favorite paddling launch site. There are quite a few ways to do this, and most of them depend on what kind of kayak you have. For example, if you have an inflatable, you can deflate it and place it in the trunk of your car, it takes up very little space. But, if you have a hard-shell kayak, and most of the more advanced paddlers choose this as their primary kayak, you will need a way to transport it.

Malone Auto Racks.

They are a rack accessory company, based in North America, and have over ten years of experience in the industry. You can find their products in more than 1,500 outdoor shops, both online and locally, and they’re all over the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia.

They operate from the Coast of Maine, and what they strive to do is stay true to their values and primary mission. All of their products have three primary goals – they must be simple to sell, simple to install, and most importantly, simple to use. The products are made to help people enjoy the rivers, lakes, and oceans, and make sure they get there with ease, all the while minimizing the customers’ carbon footprint. Their primary goal is to give the consumers the best possible value and provide reliable and innovative products that meet the customers’ demands.

Malone Kayak Trailers

The Malone Xtralight Base Trailer is an excellent tool for anyone who has a kayak, or a canoe for that matter, up to 14’ in length. It has a frame made of galvanized steel and steel-coated load bars. The wheels are 8” in diameter, and have composite fenders. The trailer has a maximum weight capacity of 275 lbs.

It is made primarily for the recreational boating enthusiast, and it provides incredible versatility. The most important thing is the fact that you will get the freedom to go anywhere alone and provided your boat isn’t very heavy, you can load it and unload it alone, which isn’t the case with other means of transport, such as a roof rack. The trailer is ideal for higher speeds as well, and all you need to be careful about is having your vessel tight on the rack, and you’re ready to go. You can even attach a grip to it, which makes it even easier to steer it around when it is unhitched.





While we’re discussing it, you can also get the Malone Xtralight Base Trailer w/ 2 V-Kayak Bonus racks. This is a complete package, and you get the Xtralight base trailer, along with two sets of V-style, hull-down kayak carriers. This makes the rack ideal for you and a friend, or partner, or anyone else for that matter. The carriers each have a durable steel frame and steel-coated load bars. The limitation of 14’ still stands, and you can also use the racks for paddleboards. The bars are over three feet wide, and the trailer has four saddles with straps, meaning you can adjust it for any width kayak you want. It is very lightweight and will exceed your expectations.

The only potential downside you should be careful about is the assembly time. The instructions say you can get it done in three hours, but if you’re going at it alone, it’s going to take a lot more time.





Another option, albeit more expensive, is Malone’s MicroSport Trailer. What justifies the price, however, is the fact that it can carry longer vessels than the Xtralight. It expands the 14’ limit and takes it up to 19’, allowing you to be able to take much longer kayaks. It also holds almost 100 lbs more, coming in at a maximum capacity of 355 pounds. It is made of a galvanized steel frame and has 60” aluminum cross rails. The wheels have sealed hubs and sit on a 54” galvanized axle, and they’re basically maintenance-free. The 12” wheels will let you roll over anything with ease, and you’ll be able to take this on the highway as well. It is also easy to assemble and use, and you get detailed instructions with it as well. All in all, you will eliminate the headaches of loading, and you’ll also save on gas with your gear riding in your slipstream.

Just like the Xtralight, you can also get the Malone Auto Racks MicroSport Trailer Kayak Transport Package with 2 Malone J-Pro2 Kayak Carriers, which allow you to easily transport two kayaks without the need to lift them on the roof. This package is the ideal combination of quality, design reliability, and affordability. The two pairs of J-Pro2 J-style kayak saddles are very well built, and sturdy enough to allow you to transport two kayaks, as well as some other gear. The load bars come with a standard rectangular shape, which means that they’re compatible with rack accessories from most other brands you can find on the market. The kayak racks are well padded and come with all the straps you might need to secure your vessel and take it with you wherever you need it. They do the job quite well, and you will be surprised by the trailer and its quality.





Malone Kayak Carts

IIf you need a way to transport your kayak while on the ground, there is no better way than with a kayak cart. And one of the best choices is the Malone Clipper Deluxe Universal Kayak Cart. It comes with a universal frame that allows you to use it with a canoe or a kayak, whichever you prefer. The 10” tires are airless and won’t go flat, so that’s one less thing you need to worry about, and they’re also removable. The frame is oversized and well-padded and will protect your boat and not damage the hull when you place it on top.

There’s also a stabilizing locking kickstand that keeps the entire thing steady. The maximum capacity comes at 200 lbs., which should be plenty for your kayak. There are also tie-down straps, for extra security. All in all, this is a well-designed, sturdy and easy to use kayak cart.





For those of you who like the idea, but want better performance over more kinds of terrain, you can also get the Malone Auto Racks Clipper Deluxe universal kayak cart with the Rover all-terrain wheels. They will give you smooth performance over uneven terrains such as soft sand or mud. The remaining part of the cart is the same as the one with regular wheels – there’s an anodized aluminum frame which resists corrosion and is foldable. You can disassemble it to have it fit inside your kayak or canoe. However, even though the cart itself is incredible, both in design and build quality, you should be aware that using it in the very soft sand might cause some problems. Keep in mind, though, that most, if not all other kayak carts also have issues with soft sand, especially when you overload the cart.





If you’re using a sit-on-top kayak, and your kayak has scupper holes, there’s an even better option as far as carts are concerned, and that is the Malone Xpress Scupper-Style kayak cart for sit-on-top kayaks. This introduces a concept that is slightly different from putting the kayak on top and strapping it to the cart. Instead, here you have two poles on the cart, which fit inside the scupper holes. The cart then supports the weight of your kayak, and you can use your kayak’s handle to pull the cart wherever you need to go.

The cart will fit any standard kayak which has scupper holes, and has variable width locking control which adjusts from 6.5” to 16.5”. The aluminum frame won’t corrode, and there’s a 6” by 4” removable foam pad to add some protection to your kayak. The 200 lbs load capacity should be plenty for your kayak, as well as your gear.

Another option for ground transportation is the Malone Nomad Standard universal kayak cart. The Nomad is the smaller, lighter alternative to the abovementioned Clipper. However, the Nomad is limited to kayaks, and comes with a lower maximum load capacity of 150 lbs., unlike the Clipper’s 200 lbs. The folding anodized aluminum frame will fit in nearly any kayak hatch, and it will resist corrosion. The tires are airless and 10” in diameter, and you can pop them right off the frame for easier storage. The oversized padding on the frame will protect the boat when you’re loading it, and the locking kickstand will keep the cart steady.

There are also tie-down straps included which only add more security. All in all, the cart is very lightweight, yet extremely sturdy. It is also very easy to load, and you can do it by yourself with no trouble whatsoever.