Saddle vs j cradle on roofrack

[Volkswatson]

So I need to transport my OK Malibu 2 over 400 miles on an older Toyota.

Here's my take:
1 - j cradle is easier for loading yak, easier on the wallet, but I'm wondering about strength, durability, & safety.
2 - saddle brackets seem more stable, but costs more.

I'm looking at the cheaper versions on amazon, not Thule or Yakima. If anyone has any experience with these, let me know?

[Endo]

Hard to visualize what you're dealing with without pics.

For what its worth, for many many years and thousands of miles, I transported my kayak just turned upside down on my roof rack. I used both the stock rack that my truck came with and I later used two painted 2x4 crossbeams to add a bit more platform.

So I used neither cradle or saddle and worked fine.

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[Volkswatson]

Hey,
I've used the foam blocks for this trip before, and I typically have to stop and readjust every few hours...

My car is pretty small & low to the ground, so I'm just trying to figure the best way to transport. I hate using the foam blocks and want something a little easier to get the yak on and off.

[Endo]

For what reason are you using foam blocks? All I've ever used as a buffer between my yak and the roof rack is indoor/outdoor carpet. I just wrapped and glued down a layer of carpet over the rack cross-bars, then lashed the yak down. Again, I flip my yak upside down to have a relatively flat even surface between the rack and the kayak, so it rides nice.

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