Low-pressure tire gauge
Fat bike pressure matters at the 1 psi level, and most floor-pump gauges are useless below 10. A 0–15 psi gauge is the one tool everyone should carry.
Home / Gear
What to bring fat biking
You don't need much beyond a fat bike, but a few pieces of gear decide whether a cold ride is fun. Here's what experienced winter riders carry.
Pogies (handlebar mitts)
Insulated covers that mount on the bars, so you can ride in thin gloves and still reach the brakes and shifters.
Studded fat bike tires
For icy, hardpacked or wind-scoured trails. Optional on soft groomed snow; very useful on frozen lakes and plowed paths.
Winter cycling boots
Insulated boots that grip flat pedals or take clipless cleats. Cold feet end more rides than anything else.
Insulated water bottle
Uninsulated bottles can freeze solid on a long ride in single-digit temperatures. Carrying an insulated bottle upside down helps keep the valve from icing.
Bike lights
Winter daylight is short, and a ride that runs long ends in the dark. Batteries drain faster in the cold, so keep a spare warm in a pocket.
Balaclava or neck gaiter
Covers your face on downhills, where windchill bites hardest.
Frame or handlebar bag
Room for a spare layer, snacks and a pump without wearing a sweaty pack.
No fat bike yet?
Rent before you buy. Each state page lists shops that rent fat bikes near the trails, and many Nordic centers rent them on site.
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