Sherpa Olympus Roof Rack for 2015-2025 Subaru Outback
Sherpa Olympus Roof Rack for 2015-2025 Subaru Outback
Installation Requires Headliner Removal
The Olympus mounts with no drilling, but the headliner has to come down to access the mounting points from inside. It is a careful job rather than a difficult one, and many owners have it done by a shop. Plan a few hours either way, and read the install guide before you start.
The Outback is the vehicle that quietly does everything. Ground clearance most crossovers do not have, symmetrical all wheel drive, and a roofline made for carrying things. The Olympus is the Sherpa PEAK Subaru Outback roof rack built to match, covering the 5th and 6th generations from 2015 through 2025.
This Subaru roof rack spans roughly 80 inches with 8 extrusion crossbars and carries 300 lbs dynamic and 700 lbs static. Construction is 1/4 inch aircraft-grade aluminum side panels with stainless steel hardware, at about 55 lbs. Bolt into the crossbars or strap gear directly to the side plates. No drilling is required, though the headliner does come down during installation. Black textured powder coat, black anodized crossbars, black oxide stainless hardware. Choose a Full Height wind fairing or a Half Height fairing sized for a single-row light bar. Manufactured in Colorado. Lifetime Warranty.
Beyond the Factory Crossbars
Shopping for a Subaru roof rack usually starts with a fair question: why not use what came on the car? Every Outback comes with factory rails and crossbars, and they are fine for a couple of bikes or a cargo box. They are not a platform. You cannot mount an awning cleanly, you cannot strap a long load across the full roof, and most factory setups cap out well below what the Olympus carries.
A proper roof rack for Subaru Outback builds gives you a continuous surface with eight crossbars and full-length side plates. Awning on one side, traction boards or a shovel on the other, cargo down the middle, and a rooftop tent if you want one. That is the difference between hauling a couple of items and actually building the car out.
5th Gen or 6th Gen
The Olympus is made for both, with slightly different dimensions to suit each roofline.
| 5th Gen (2015-2019) | 6th Gen (2020-2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rack Dimensions | 80.5" x 45.5" x 2.25" | 81" x 45.5" x 2.5" |
| Crossbars | 8 | |
| Load Rating | 300 lbs dynamic / 700 lbs static | |
| Weight | ~55 lbs | |
The differences are small: half an inch of length and a quarter inch of profile height. Width, crossbar count, and load rating are identical. What matters is ordering the version that matches your generation, since the mounting geometry differs. If you are unsure which you have, the 6th Gen arrived for the 2020 model year.
The PEAK Series
Industry leading premium roof rack systems. The PEAK series is the go-to for a premium aluminum roof rack. It is the line that Sherpa built its name on, and for years it has carried the gear of the most extreme adventurers. Sherpa believes in the constant evolution of their products, building the toughest systems on the market. From industry-leading alloys to uncompromising mounts with rubber seals, you will always Adventure with Confidence.
Crafted
Manufactured in Colorado with precision laser-cut 1/4" aluminum sideplates formed with CNC accuracy by Sherpa's team of professionals. They have created a very stout mounting structure, secured with stainless steel hardware, that will keep your gear where you need it. Six mounting brackets ship with rubber seals, which seat cleanly against the roof and keep water out.
Adaptable
Sherpa knows the importance of mounting all of your goodies on your rig. With the PEAK Series, you have the ability to mount just about anything, anywhere. With slots and holes all over the rack, plus Sherpa's line of accessories, you will never find yourself wishing you could mount something. For anyone shopping Subaru Outback accessories to build out an overland setup, the rack is the foundation the rest of the roof hangs off.
Durable
Strength is built into Sherpa's brand and the PEAK System is what they built their name on. Using the best in materials and hardware, you can beat on this system every weekend and trust it to show up to work on Monday. On an Outback that spends weekdays commuting and weekends at a trailhead, that is exactly the right standard. All backed by Sherpa's Lifetime Warranty.
Which Fairing Is Right for You?
Sherpa's full height fairing is built for people who do not want to put a light bar on their rack. The half height fairing is made so you can fit a single row light bar while keeping everything flush. Both cost the same, so this is purely a build decision.
Specifications
| Vehicle | 2015-2025 Subaru Outback (5th and 6th Generation) |
| Weight | ~55 lbs |
| Crossbars | 8 |
| Rack Dimensions | 80.5" x 45.5" x 2.25" (5th Gen) or 81" x 45.5" x 2.5" (6th Gen) |
| Dynamic Load Rating | 300 lbs |
| Static Load Rating | 700 lbs |
| Sideplate Material | 1/4" aircraft-grade aluminum |
| Mounting | 6 brackets with rubber seals |
| Installation | No drilling. Headliner removal required |
| Finish | Black textured powder coat |
| Crossbar Finish | Black anodized |
| Hardware | Black oxide stainless steel |
| Fairing Options | Full Height (no light bar) or Half Height (single row light bar) |
| Manufactured | Colorado, USA |
| SKU | 154744 |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
What's Included
📄 Installation Instructions
Download the Olympus install guide, including the headliner removal steps. Worth reading before you begin.
Pros
- A full-length Subaru Outback roof rack platform rather than a pair of factory crossbars
- 700 lbs static and 300 lbs dynamic, well beyond factory rail limits
- Eight crossbars across roughly 80 inches of roof
- Built for both 5th and 6th Gen Outbacks with generation-correct dimensions
- No drilling, with six rubber-sealed mounting brackets
- 1/4" aircraft-grade aluminum sideplates, thicker than most competing racks
- Choice of Full or Half Height fairing at the same price
- Made in Colorado with a Lifetime Warranty
Cons
- Installation requires removing the headliner, which is the most involved step on any PEAK rack
- About 55 lbs on a car that feels roof weight more than a truck does
- Order the version matching your generation. 5th and 6th Gen are not interchangeable
- Fairing choice is made at purchase, so switching later means buying the other fairing separately
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the headliner have to come out?
The mounting hardware is accessed from inside the roof, so the headliner has to be dropped to reach it. Nothing is drilled and nothing is permanently modified, but it is the most involved installation of any PEAK rack. It is careful work rather than difficult work. Many owners have a shop handle it, and either way, read the install guide fully before starting.
Will it fit my Outback?
The Olympus covers 2015 through 2025, spanning the 5th and 6th generations, with a slightly different version for each. The 6th Gen started with the 2020 model year. Dimensions differ by about half an inch in length and a quarter inch in height, but the mounting geometry differs too, so order the version matching your generation. Call us at 844-200-3979 with your year if you are unsure.
Why not just use the factory crossbars?
Factory rails handle a couple of bikes or a cargo box, and for many owners that is enough. What they do not give you is a platform. The Olympus provides eight crossbars and full-length side plates, so you can run an awning, strap long loads across the full roof, mount recovery gear, and carry far more weight. If you want an Outback roof rack you can build on rather than just hang things from, that is the difference.
Can I mount a rooftop tent on it?
Yes. 300 lbs dynamic covers the tent plus accessories while driving, and 700 lbs static covers the tent plus occupants once parked. The roughly 80 by 45.5 inch platform suits most softshell and lighter hardshell tents. Worth remembering that an Outback is a car, so a lighter tent keeps handling and fuel economy closer to normal. Browse our rooftop tent collection here.
Does it fit the Outback Wilderness?
The Wilderness is built on the 6th Gen Outback, so the 6th Gen version is the one to look at for an Outback Wilderness roof rack. Because the Wilderness ships with its own heavy duty factory rails, call us at 844-200-3979 with your year and trim before ordering and we will confirm fitment for your specific setup.
Which fairing should I choose?
Choose Full Height if you are not running a light bar, since it deflects the most air for the quietest ride. That is worth weighing on an Outback you commute in daily. Choose Half Height if you want a single-row light bar to sit flush with the fairing line. Both cost the same, so if a light bar is anywhere in your plans, Half Height saves buying a second fairing later.
Complete Your Build
5th Gen or 6th Gen?
Tell us your year and trim. We will confirm which version fits and talk you through the headliner step before you order.
844-200-3979
