Rack preference: I was Yakima...met my girlfriend (now wife) who was Thule. My truck has Yakima; her Jetta, Thule. For the most part I prefer the Thule because I prefer the engineering of accessories (Yakima looks beefier, but in my experience does not function as well). I also prefer the square rod because it prevents rotating. Though not for kayak, the Yakima gunnel brackets have to be the worst product Yakima makes. They slide on the bars and rotate even after tightening. The rotation occurs on all of their products I have used. That said, the best way to carry my sea kayak is on $9 pieces of foam (see link below). This fits the round bar (Yakima here...I have not tried it with Thule). Tightened down with straps, my kayak is more solid than anything I have ever used, which includes Thule Hullaport cradles, Yakima Landshark and rollers, and even custom made cradles.

: Either one works equally well. I've always used Yakima but only because the
: first kayak I bought that was the brand that dealer sold and had to have a
: way to get the boat home. Once you've got one brand you tend to stick with
: it as the accessories don't easily convert.

: Bill H.