Rack has the X factor

There is never enough room in the car when you’re going on holiday, but the boffins at Rackinabag believe the new XRack is the answer to your luggage-carrying woes.

It’s a ‘soft’ roof rack that the maker claims is easy to use – and avoids damaging your car. The first thing you notice when taking the kit out of the box is the number of parts and straps it seems to have. A quick read of the instructions and diagrams is a must during assembly.

However, the rack is actually pretty easy to fit. And the good news is you don’t need to worry about marking your car’s paint, as the soft rollers slide into the bag and raise it off the bodywork. It lies flat on the roof and – just as the name suggests – forms the shape of the letter X, which holds down your luggage. To secure it, you tie two of the straps to the front door hinges and clip the remaining ones on to the lip of the hatch opening.

The XRack can carry up to 40kg, which is the equivalent to a couple of large suitcases. Not only is it simple to assemble and put in place – we took just over 10 minutes to attach ours – but as a bonus, it can be swapped from car to car, too. Ideal for a summer holiday!

Rackinabag XRack soft roof rack, price: £35, rating: 4/5, buy from: 01604 768598, www.rackinabag.co.uk