Are Fat Bikes Worth It? Fat Bike Pros and Cons

If you’re a cycling fan, you’ve probably heard of fat bikes because of their increasing popularity in the United States and might wonder if they’re worth the purchase. Before splurging on one of these bikes, it’s important to understand their advantages and disadvantages.   

Fat bikes are worth it for cyclists who want to ride on difficult terrain or in extreme weather conditions. Fat bikes are also great for beginners or children. However, fat bikes are not worth it for cyclists who primarily ride on the road and prioritize speed. 

In the rest of this article, I’ll discuss the pros and cons of these fat bikes in great detail. I’ll also compare these bikes with their most popular alternative; mountain bikes. 

The Pros of Fat Bikes 

First, let’s take a look at the advantages of fat bikes so you can better understand why these bikes are popular and if they’re right for you.  

Fat Bikes Can Handle Difficult Terrain

The main advantage of a fat bike is its ability to handle rougher terrain. The wider tires on fat bikes distribute the weight of the cyclist and their bike more evenly, which allows the tires to roll more smoothly over obstacles instead of getting caught. Therefore, owning a fat bike opens up more opportunities for riding. 

If you want to go off the beaten path and explore new places, a fat bike allows you the freedom to do this. Fat bikes are popular for bikepacking, which involves multi-day mountain biking, because they can handle the more rugged conditions you may encounter on this kind of adventure.   

Fat Bikes Have Great Traction

A wider tire means that there’s more contact of the tire with the ground, which improves the tire’s grip because there’s more friction. Having extra traction opens up more riding opportunities because you’ll be able to ride on rougher terrain without worrying about crashing, and you’ll be able to brake quickly if necessary.  

A good grip is essential to a safe and enjoyable ride, as it isn’t fun to constantly worry about crashing or falling. If you are confident in your bike’s grip, you can focus on the environment and the ride itself than on avoiding falling or crashing. 

Fat Bikes Work in All Kinds of Weather

Another great benefit of fat bikes is that their tires can handle various weather conditions, including ice and snow. The extra traction makes riding in slippery conditions safer, so while you may not feel comfortable cycling on ice using a typical bike, a fat bike can handle the slickness of winter. Therefore, a fat bike is a great choice if you live in an area with rough winters but don’t want to stop cycling for the season. 

Fat Bikes Are Generally Safe

Riding a bike on difficult terrain can be extremely dangerous, especially for beginners. However, the excellent traction and balance that the larger tires of a fat bike offer are forgiving, so even if you hit an obstacle, you’re unlikely to crash or fall. Therefore, a fat bike is a great option for those who want to get into mountain biking and are afraid of hurting themselves or for children who want to explore rougher terrain. 

Fat bikes are also slower than other bikes, so even if you fall, any injuries will likely be less intense than they would’ve been if you traveled faster. 

You can look at riding a fat bike as the first step to more intense mountain biking. Riding on a fat bike can give you an idea of what cycling on rough terrain is like and give you the confidence to switch to a bike with thinner tires down the road. 

Riding a Fat Bike Is a Great Workout

Pedaling a fat bike requires more effort than the average mountain bike, and while some may view this as a disadvantage, you can also consider it an advantage. Biking is a great workout already, and when you add the additional effort it takes to pedal a fat bike, you’ll be burning some serious calories while pedaling. 

Regular biking burns approximately 600 calories per hour, but when you add the extra weight of a fat bike, you’re likely to burn approximately 800 calories or more per hour of consistent biking. Therefore, a fat bike may be perfect if you want to improve your physical fitness or shed some pounds.  

The Cons of Fat Bikes

Now that you know the great advantages of fat bikes, it’s important to know that there are many disadvantages as well. Let’s take a look at these cons: 

High-Quality Fat Bikes Are Typically Expensive

If you decide to purchase a fat bike, you should be prepared to make a considerable financial investment. The average cost of a high-quality fat bike is approximately $1,500, which is significantly higher than the average cost of $600 for a mountain bike. However, the best fat bikes can be well over $2,000. 

If cost is an issue, but you still want to try fat bikes, you can find budget bikes for under $500, but these likely won’t last as long or be as durable as the more expensive options. 

In addition, the parts required for a fat bike are costly. Fat bike tires are more expensive than typical tires, especially if you want a lighter option. If you can, I recommend splurging on more expensive fat bike tires because they’ll probably last longer than cheaper tires.   

Fat Bikes Are Slow

The extra traction on fat tires creates more resistance, which is great for stability and safety, but not great for speed. If you like going fast or want to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, a fat bike might not be the best option for you. Another potential problem is if you’re planning on biking with someone with a typical bike or a mountain bike, as they’ll have to slow down to match your pace. 

It isn’t uncommon for passionate bikers to have a fat bike for difficult terrain and a different bike for road cycling so they can reach higher speeds on pavement or have a different option when efficiency is of utmost importance.   

Fat Bikes Require More Effort To Pedal

Fat bikes are usually approximately 35 to 40 pounds (15.9 to 18 kg), which is approximately 15% heavier than the average mountain bike. Because they’re so heavy, pedaling and moving them requires more effort.   

You can try to decrease the weight of the fat bike by choosing a lighter bike tube or opting to go tubeless. I recommend this Mongoose Fat Tire Bike Tube from Amazon.com because it only weighs 0.25 pounds (0.11 kg), so it’ll shed some weight off your fat bike overall. I also like that it’s made of heavy-duty rubber that will likely last a long time.  

Another way to lighten your fat bike and reduce the energy required to pedal is to buy lighter tires. Fat bike tires will be heavier than mountain bike tires because they’re larger and wider, but there are some lighter options available. A fat bike tire weighs approximately three and a half pounds (1.58 kg), and anything lighter will likely be a somewhat costly upgrade. 

My favorite fat bike tires are the MOHEGIA Fat Tires, which you can get at Amazon.com. These tires are lightweight, easy to carry, and they have great grip and rolling resistance. I also like the upgraded rubber material, which has superior puncture resistance and is comfortable for riding on various terrains.  

Another option is to replace the wheelset of the bike. This will be expensive, but it is the most effective way to make your bike lighter. 

Fat Bikes Require Specialized Parts

If you have a more popular bike, you can typically find any replacement parts you may need at any bike shop. However, fat bikes require more specialized parts because the tires and rims are not standard sizes, so it might be more difficult to find the parts if you need a replacement. 

You can usually find any parts you need online, but this isn’t very helpful if you’re out on a biking trip or need the parts right away and don’t want to wait for shipping. Because fat bikes are popular for bikepacking, this issue is more prevalent than you might think.  

Fat Bikes Are Harder To Transport

Because fat bikes are heavy, they can be difficult to transport if necessary. If you’re moving, it’ll be more costly to ship a fat bike, and most fat bikes don’t fit on standard bike racks, so you’ll need to purchase a new one. 

I recommend this Young Electric 2-Bike Rack Hitch Mount from Amazon.com for a vehicle bike rack that can support a fat bike. I like this bike rack because it comes with soft padded hooks and a locking hitch pin that secures a bike without damaging it and you can adjust the hitch tightener to suit different bike sizes. I also like that it is foldable, so when you aren’t using it, you can fold it to reduce the amount of space it takes up.  

Fat Bikes Don’t Require As Much Technique

At first, this may seem like an advantage, and for some cyclists, it certainly might be. Off-road cycling requires some technique, especially if riding a bike with narrower tires, such as a standard mountain bike. However, fat bikes require less technique because of their thicker tires. 

And a significant part of off-road cycling and mountain biking is learning the specific skills and techniques required to practice this sport safely and effectively. Therefore, you miss out on this part of the sport with a fat bike. 

Are Fat Bikes Worth It?

Fat bikes are worth it if you spend a lot of time cycling on difficult terrain and want a smoother, safer ride, especially if you’re a beginner or considering getting a bike for a child. Fat bikes are also great options for people who live in climates with intense weather conditions, as they can take on rain and snow. 

I’d also suggest a fat bike for someone looking to get into biking to lose weight or get excellent exercise. These bikes require more effort to pedal, which means more calories burned and a more intense workout. 

However, fat bikes certainly aren’t worth it for everyone. First and foremost, I wouldn’t recommend fat bikes for someone who primarily rides bikes on pavement or the road. Fat bikes are made for difficult terrain, so if you aren’t planning on riding in those kinds of conditions, then a fat bike isn’t worth the investment. 

Additionally, I don’t think a fat bike is worth it for cyclists who prioritize speed. For some cyclists, the joy of riding a bike comes from how fast you can go, but fat bikes are slower because of their weight and traction. 

Ultimately, whether or not a fat bike is worth it depends on the cyclist, their priorities, and their desired terrain. 

The following table summarizes the pros and cons of fat bikes: 

Pros of Fat Bikes	Cons of Fat Bikes
They can handle difficult terrain.	Fat bikes are more expensive than typical road or mountain bikes, especially if you want to replace parts.
The bikes can work in different kinds of weather.	Fat bikes are slower than other bikes.
Fat bikes have great traction.	Fat bikes require more effort to pedal than other bikes.
Fat bikes are safe, so they’re a great option for beginners or children.	Fat bikes require specialized parts, which can be difficult to find or get on short notice.
Riding a fat bike is a great workout because of the extra effort required to pedal.	Fat bikes are more difficult to transport and require special bike racks.
	Fat bikes don’t allow you to improve your off-roading technique.

Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of fat bikes is an important part of deciding if fat bikes are right for you. 

Fat Bikes vs. Mountain Bikes

If you’re in the market for a new bike, you’re likely stuck between a fat bike and a mountain bike. Let’s look at the difference between these bikes so you can get a better idea of which bike is better for you.

Fat bikes are off-road bikes with large tires with better traction than other bikes. These types of bikes allow cyclists to handle more difficult and rugged terrain otherwise inaccessible to cyclists. They typically require more effort to pedal than mountain bikes, so they’re great for those seeking an intense workout.   

On the other hand, mountain bikes are all-terrain bicycles with light frames and deep-treaded tires designed for riding in mountainous conditions, especially narrow dirt trails. 

The following table outlines the primary differences between fat bikes and mountain bikes: 

Characteristic	Fat Bikes	Mountain Bikes
Cost	Fat bikes are typically more expensive than mountain bikes, and replacement parts are pricier than comparable mountain bike parts.	Mountain bikes come at various price points, but a high-quality mountain bike is generally cheaper than a high-quality fat bike.
Weight	Fat bikes are heavier than mountain bikes, even if you purchase lighter tires.	Mountain bikes are lighter than fat bikes.
Maneuverability	Fat bikes are more difficult to maneuver than mountain bikes because of their heavier weight.	Mountain bikes are easy to maneuver because they are lightweight.
Traction	Fat bikes have better traction than mountain bikes.	A mountain bike’s traction is inferior to a fat bike’s because the tires are thinner and have less friction with the ground.
Effort	More effort is required to pedal a fat bike than a mountain bike.	You can shift gears on a mountain bike to make pedaling easier, and the lighter weight makes riding a mountain bike require less effort than a fat bike.
Terrain	Fat bikes are suitable for all kinds of terrain, including winter conditions.	Mountain bikes are suitable for some mountainous terrain but not all rugged terrain.
Tires	Tires are wider for fat bikes.	Mountain bikes have narrower tires than fat bikes.
Technique	Fat bikes require less biking technique and know-how than mountain bikes because they are slower and have more traction.	Mountain bikes require more technique, which can be challenging for beginners and thrilling for experienced cyclists.
Speed	Fat bikes are slower than mountain bikes because they are heavier.	The narrow tires of mountain bikes allow cyclists to go extremely fast if they want to, which increases efficiency.
Transportability	Fat bikes usually require specialized bike racks that can handle their weight and width.	Most mountain bikes can fit on standard bike racks, and their lighter weight makes them easier to transport than fat bikes.

Fat bikes and mountain bikes both have advantages and disadvantages, so the best one for you ultimately depends on your priorities and preferences as a cyclist. 

Final Thoughts 

Fat bikes are becoming increasingly popular amongst cyclists because of their ability to handle difficult, rugged terrain, including snowy and slippery conditions. These bikes are also great for a workout, beginners, and children. 

However, fat bikes may not be worth the extra money and effort for cyclists who primarily ride on the road or pavement or for cyclists who prioritize speed and efficiency.