The New Thule AeroBlade

Thule has just released their new AeroBlade crossbars, a revamped version of their premium crossbar system. They are a successor to the previous generation, the Rapid Aero Bar.  These new AeroBlades are fully compatible with all Rapid System feet and kits. Thule has marketed these new generation bars as being stronger and quieter than ever. We at Rack Attack agree, the AeroBlades have a much more aerodynamic design and feel, while at the same time looking and feeling stronger than their predecessors. The outcome is quite impressive, and although the shape has been altered they continue to work flawlessly with most of Thule’s ski, bike, kayak, surf, and cargo accessories.

The real magic behind these new crossbars is the large reduction in wind noise. Thule put the new AeroBlades to the test and since I am no physics major I will let them explain it:

“It showed a result of 13 dB lower noise than the old Thule Rapid Aero Bar. So how little is that? Well decibels are hard to explain. The scale is logarithmic. Every three decibels means double the noise. So, 13 dB would mean half of half of half. It produces only 6% of the original bar’s noise. Basically noiseless.”

If logarithms are not part of your everyday vocabulary, this means  that  (according to the Thule test facilities)  these bars create 90% less sound energy and 55% less drag force than their former bars produced. And as a bonus, no strength was sacrificed.   In a stationary vertical load test these aluminium bars could sustain over 800 lbf (foot pounds) of force.  Thus, the AeroBlades are one of the strongest non-commercial load bars on the market.

It’s also important to note that the AeroBlades are made of aluminum — as were the Rapid Aero Bars, and as such are much more rust resistant than the steel alternatives. Plus, they look great installed on your vehicle:

A 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport with Thule's 480R and AeroBlade bars

The above picture shows a 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport showing the AeroBlades installed on the car. This set-up includes Thule’s 480R Foot Pack, a pair of 60″ AeroBlades, a 4-Pack of locks, and Fit Kit 1456.

The bottom line is the AeroBlades are great looking, strong, and very quiet. They would make a great upgrade for existing Rapid Tower owners, or a superb choice when purchasing an entire rack system. The AeroBlades come in four sizes: 43″, 47″, 53″, and 60″, and if you need help determining what size you need, please feel free to give us a call at the Toronto store — 416-424-1201.

Jordan