[rack your brains]

Your best bet is going with the Thule 430 Tracker II Complete Roof Rack Base System as the multi-purpose base rack system you will need first of all. No matter what gear you plan to carry on your '06 Honda Element you will first need to install a base rack system. It attaches directly to the contact points that Honda has included on the Element roof. The 430 Tracker II includes four TK9 Tracker Kits that snap directly into these contact points (no drilling or anything required). The other components included in this system are four Thule 430 Tracker II Feet (these snap onto the TK9 Kits that are mounted to the rooftop points) and a pair of load bars. The 50 inch load bars are the recommended length for your rooftop. You can then connect any of Thule Racks gear bags directly to the load bars.

The Thule 630 Ranger roof bag is a really nice option for camping gear. It's water proof and attaches directly to the base rack load bars. An excellent feature of this bag is that it has a sturdy and firm base and also rides above your rooftop so all gear contents is fully protected and there is no danger of the roof bag or contents making contact with the rooftop. Holds alot of cargo in its 12 cubic feet of storage space.

The Thule 867 Tahoe roof bag is another excellent option. Attaches directly to the base rack load bars also. Water proof and quickly removes and folds for easy storage when not in use. The cargo capacity of this bag is larger than any other, including the 630 Ranger, providing a whopping 17 cubic feet of cargo space for camping equipment and all kinds of luggage cargo gear.