The Best Fat Bikes of 2020

The Best Fat Bikes of 2020

Are you checking out the simplest fat bike for snow, sand, or year-round riding? Within the past three years, we've tested 15 models, and for 2020 we specialize in eight of the simplest. Our testers spent months riding these bikes on grooming and packed snow, dirt, sand, and a mixture of smooth and rough terrain. We rode them back to back for comparison and to realize an understanding of their performance characteristics. While riding, our testers focused on each model's climbing, descending, and all-around performance, also because of the geometry and component specification. We hope this detailed comparative review helps you discover the f​ at bike​ that suits your needs and budget.

Giant's entry into the fat bike market was long overdue, but it seems they did their homework once they created the Yukon 1. This fully rigid model features a sleek-looking aluminum frame paired with a composite fork. The moderate geometry feels good and this bike is comfortable and adept at tackling snow, sand, even some light-duty riding. It's stable at speed yet plenty maneuverable and fairly capable on steeper rougher terrain with a talented pilot. It also comes with a dropper post which boosts the fun factor and takes its performance on the descents to a different level. The Yukon climbs also because it descends, with an excellent body position and a top-quality component specification and large tires with decent rolling speed and a lot of climbing traction.

While we found little to not like about Yukon 1, it wouldn't be our first choice for riding. While it's a competent descender, it's a rigid bike and maybe a touch jarring over the really rough stuff. It is also moderately heavy and therefore the massive tires can feel a touch draggy outside of the standard​ ​fat bike​ conditions. That said, for correct fat bike riding, the Yukon 1 really impressed us with its all-around performance and we've given it our Editor's Choice Award.

The Rocky Mountain Blizzard 20 may be an affordable and impressively capable fat bike and we've given it our greatest Buy Award. Rocky Mountain broke the normal mold by giving the

Blizzard a somewhat more aggressive geometry, especially the slacker headtube angle of 67-degrees. thanks to the very fact that it's longer and slacker than the competition this bike features a notably more confident feel when pointed down steeper or slightly rougher terrain. It's still a rigid bike, but it feels more composed than other models with more conservative geometries. The seated pedaling position is comfortable, and this bike plods along flat terrain and moderately pitched climbs just fine. The build is budget-oriented but perfectly functional, and therefore the massive 4.8-inch tires have a lot of traction and help dampen the ride.

The biggest gripe our testers had with the Blizzard 20 is that the weight. At over 35 lbs, the Blizzard is the heaviest bike we've tested,

and by a good amount. This weight makes it feel a touch sluggish all around, but especially when climbing. Our other concern is that with such massive rims and tires, the Blizzard's dirt riding versatility is somewhat diminished by the load and drag. Despite these issues, we feel this is often an excellent fattie for snow, sand, or adventure riding, and a reasonable one at that.