Roof bars

If your hobby or holiday kit is too much for your car, then the only way is up with a roof box or carrier. But whether it's bikes, boats or bags you need to carry, you will need a set of bars. When testing (here), we looked for sets that were easy to fit, created as little wind noise as possible and with no bits to be lost while not being used.

Our winner
Thule 769 Rapid System
Price: £124.79
Contact: www.thule.com
While its roof bars are rarely cheap, Thule knows what drivers need. These are easy to assemble and fit, with a clever design containing everything you need within the mount. Put these on and off just a few times, and you’ll be glad you paid the extra.

Commended
Automaxi Supra 11
Price: £75
Contact: www.mountneyltd.com
Fitting these Automaxi bars requires a bit more effort than the Thule 769, but for occasional users, they make sense as they’re cheaper. They came ready assembled, although needed bolting to our car’s fixpoints. But once on, they were very quiet at motorway speeds.

Thule 869 Rapid System
Price: £159.95
Contact: www.thule.com
Sleek aero bars use the same mounts as our winner, so are easy to assemble, with clear instructions, markings on the bars and click-together fasteners. They’re more attractive than the steel version, but were a little noisy, and we couldn’t justify the extra cost.