Best bike rack

Mountain bikers, casual cruisers, and racing bikers will benefit from investing in one of the best bike racks possible. When you think of bike racks, you might automatically consider ones that fit on the trunk of your car, but there are so many more designs to consider. Our best overall bike rack from Allen Sports ended up being a trunk rack. Still, it's the most affordable product on this list and holds two bikes—perfect for an impromptu trail ride. Indoor storage is an essential factor to consider as well; if you live in an apartment, chances are there's limited space to keep your bike safe. Finally, wall-mounted racks are imperative when it comes to maximizing your existing square footage, so we have a couple of those below, too—see which model you like best.

Dick Allen, the founder of Allen Sports, did a great job designing an easy-to-use, reasonably priced bike rack. A former aerospace engineer, Allen built his first bike rack in the early 1970s. It was fashioned from electrical conduit, metal strapping, and, cleverly, fire hose casings to protect from dings and scratches. In time, he patented the tie-down straps that secure the rack's frame to your car's trunk. He thought ahead, too—this bike rack fits snugly on most SUVs, hatchbacks, minivans, and sedans, allowing anyone with an automobile to tote their bikes along. Its carry arms also accommodate a wide range of bike sizes, including children's bikes. If you're concerned about whether the frame will fit your particular vehicle, don't fret—Allen includes a chart of compatible models. As with any bike rack, it's worth keeping a couple of spare bungee cords in your trunk, too, especially if the roads are bumpy and you want to keep your bikes exactly where you put them.

Four sizes are available, catering to all sorts of bikes. I chose the Classic rack since most folks ride standard road or mountain bikes; it'll fit both. The Fat rack will hold oversized bikes or chunky tires, and the Mountain Bike rack will even fit E-bikes—perfect for couriers needing storage. Bikes with fenders have their model as well. However, an unfortunate downside to the Fender rack is its significantly lower weight capacity of 55 pounds, compared to the other three racks' generous 77-pound capacity. To save even more space, you can mount this rack at any angle. As a finishing touch, Steadyrack offers colorful end caps for personalization and organization.

For those of us that prefer an all-in-one bike storage solution, BIRDROCK HOME's combination bike rack and storage basket fit the bill. Now you can keep all of your biking accouterments in a single spot—locks, chains, water bottles, repair kits, and so forth. Plenty of those will fit in this rack's top basket, especially if you need to store more than two bikes. BIRDROCK HOME sells this indoor bike rack in three-bike and four-bike models for homes with more than two bikers. Four movable hooks are present on the rack's center bar as well, allowing you to hang helmets easily. This bike rack can also moonlight as a garage organizer if you prefer to keep your bikes outside of your home. Either way, it's a space saver; it's a shame the price is on the higher end, though.

As a child, my family and I frequently went on biking trips. We'd tear down local beach boardwalks or make destination trips to the Minuteman Trail. While we did have a bike rack, it got rickety and loose over time, and there were a few close calls on the highway. I can say with certainty that we would have benefited from a more durable, compact, and easy-access rack—perhaps like this one from BELL. Since their launch in 1954, they've become a top-of-the-line bike gear company, and I still remember my first bike helmet with "BELL" branded on its shell. 

It has a four-bike capacity, a powder-coated steel frame to avoid rust, and it's capable of carrying up to 140 pounds. Also included are security loops and arched cradles that keep your bikes from shifting as you drive toward your destination. Flip the rack down to unpack your bikes, and you'll find that it's struggle-free; you can lift them right off. Your trunk won't be unusable with this bike rack, either. Pivot down to access the bikes, then pivot up and flatten for storage.

Vertical storage is an excellent way to organize your bikes and display them without losing valuable floor space. StoreYourBoard's wall-mount adjustable rack and shelf do precisely that. It can support five bicycles (totaling 200 pounds), and its solid steel storage shelf holds up to 100 pounds. This bike rack is built sturdily, and mounting it levelly on your wall studs is imperative. And be sure to measure how tall your bike is when standing on its rear wheel and use that as a guide during installation. 

Light-colored walls may smudge with tire dirt over time, so this rack is probably best used in your garage, basement, or on a darker-colored wall that won't show streaks. All hardware is included for easy assembly, but it's geared toward wooden wall stud installation. Exposed brick walls are still compatible with this rack. Still, it might be worth chatting with a professional before attempting to mount it yourself.

Bottom line

Hopefully, if you're still on the search for the best bike rack, my list above will prove helpful as you shop. You might think they're a one-size-fits-all sort of product, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Our best overall bike rack from Allen Sports, for example, is designed for car transport only. It's not something you can hang on your wall or in the garage instead; we'll cover that sort of rack below in a moment. Secure straps and a sturdy steel frame comprise this supportive bicycle rack, and it's capable of fitting two adult bikes. Kids' bikes, unfortunately, are too short to fit correctly. Hence, it's best to bring those along inside the trunk of your car or choose a model with more capacity.

Then some folks want to either put their bikes on display or keep them out of the way indoors. Should you fall into the latter category, then I'd recommend BIRDROCK HOME's all-in-one indoor rack. You can decide between two, three, and four-bike models with bonus storage bins perfectly sized to fit in entryways or mudrooms. 

Finally, for nearly invisible bike storage, choose Steadyrack's aptly named product. It mounts to your wall and holds only the front wheel, leaving you with a gravity-defying bike for all to see. 

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