Yakima FatCat 6

We attached the Yakima FatCat 6 to my friend's Saab Thule rack because, frankly, my gas-guzzling rig wasn't going to make the three-hour drive to Wolf Creek without costing me the gross national deficit of Liberia—if it made it there at all. The Six, with aerodynamic lines and a matte silver exterior, complemented the Swedish car with a clean, Euro feel, and adapted nicely to the Thule system.

Larger than its little sibling, the FatCat 4, the 6, constructed of powder-coated aluminum and stainless steel, generously cradled two wide snowboards with room to spare (and could've handled a pair of skis in there as well) and the big, red button allowed for almost-hands-free accessibility (I tried to butt it with my helmet but alas, to no avail).

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Funny enough, that extra space came in handy. Halfway to powder, we made a pit-stop for watered-down coffee and a bathroom break when a fellow scruffy man approached (I too am a scruffy man).

"Dude, our car broke down and we're trying to get to Wolf Creek."

Fate would have it that we were headed the same direction and the deserted couple hopped in (good karma for a month).

The integrated ski lift allowed for the boards—now numbering four—to fit snugly, base to base, without grinding the bindings into the roof, and the system held strong, even after being attacked by a kamikaze bird at 80 miles per hour (bad karma for a week).

The two passengers, a little shaken after a ride with a caffeine-fueled driver, emerged unscathed—boards intact and grateful for the lift. All thanks to the help of the FatCat 6. $199, yakima.com.

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