Alta Racks in Depth Review - Thread + Spoke

After testing out some of the best vertical bike racks on the market, we finally decided that the Alta Rack might be our favorite. Not only is it versatile, but it's unlike anything on the market. After owning and using the rack for some time, we wanted to do an even more in-depth review and share more of our thoughts and opinions on this rack. We also sat down with Ali from Alta Racks to go over more features we may have missed in our first review. 

Quality

Alta Racks are made in the USA and built with amazing quality and attention to detail. The entire build process takes place within 10 miles of Alta Rack’s HQ which gives them a distinguished Green Footprint and thumbs up from us for making their community a cleaner place. Ali, Alta Racks Founder, has ingeniously used his experience and time forging equipment for the US Military into building one of the best performing and durable racks on the market. Each individual basket is rated to carry up to 50 pounds. They also offer a lifetime warranty to the original buyer of the rack, so you have peace of mind after purchasing. 

Versatility

Alta Racks are unique as one of only vertical bike racks capable of transporting anything from mountain bikes to road bikes, fat bikes, dual crown downhill bikes, and even kid's bikes. No matter where or what you ride, this rack works for you. Because the hitch point is angled upward, it gives you more clearance if you’re off-roading with bikes. Even if you have a lower to the ground vehicle, the rack gives you a few extra inches of clearance, so no worries about scraping the bottom. Alta Racks are also RV-friendly.

Another thing we love about Alta Racks is the fact that they use generic hardware you can get at any hardware store to assemble their rack. In the case you need to replace a bolt, Alta doesn't make you buy a custom replacement part from their website. This makes for a quick fix and no searching high and low for a specialty part, while other rack competitors often do.

There is nothing worse than being stuck without a rack during peak mountain biking season. Initially, this is what led me to purchase an Alta Rack. Also, their usage of Voile straps is genius. These straps are great to use and are easily replaceable.

Accessories

One thing for certain is that Ali from Alta Racks thought of everything. Especially when it comes to accessories, there is no shortage of details packed into the design (detailed on his website). We don’t see any signs of it slowing down either. You might not even know there is an accessory on the Alta Rack for you. If you’re at a campsite and want to relax after a long ride, they even offer a hammock stand. If you’re a lover of winter sports, they make an adapter for roof racks to transport skis and snowboards, making this rack more than just for bikes.

Customization

Another unique feature of the Alta Rack is the ability to customize. The basket system allows you to easily swap out different baskets to transport different types of bikes. You can also add or delete a basket (up to 6) depending on how many people you're riding with. You can also purchase the rack in a 3, 4, 5, and 6 spot variation and add on from there if needed. Ali also does a great job of choosing fun and unique colors to make your rack stand out and become a 1 of 1 product that you won’t see anywhere else on the trails.  

Pros

We could go on forever about everything we love about Alta Racks, but for the sake of time, here is a list of some of our favorites!

• Made in the USA and being able to support another local Utah company.
• Lifetime Warranty with exceptional customer service. 
• Accessories and customization options for this rack. 
• Hitch/tow angle of rack.
• Fits every vehicle (SUVs, Trucks, RVs, etc.)
• Ability to carry 6 bikes with a basket rating of 50 pounds per bike. 
• Next day (or same day) pick-up if local. 
• Fantastic rack for off-roading and camping. 
• Voile Straps and overall ease of use.
• Great visibility when driving

Cons

While our list of feedback may be short, we do have a few areas where we hope to see improvement. Being one of the most expensive racks on the market, this can be a big hurdle for a casual rider looking for a rack. Alta Racks does make up for it by having a great product, excellent customer service, and quality materials made in the USA. But still, the price of the rack and accessories is high. We would also love to see the hitch bolt lock and more points for locking included with the rack. You also may need to do a few push-ups before owning this rack… it’s heavy! I’ve had a few humbling moments when pushing the rack back into its regular position. 

Final Thoughts

 Overall, we are very impressed with our Alta Racks plus it pairs quite nicely with our Go Fast Camper! If you are interested in checking them out or have any questions head over to their website or hit up Ali at contact@altaracks.com and let him know we sent you! 

We tested four of the most popular vertical bike racks and put them head-to-head to find our favorite. You can read the full article by clicking on this link! 

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