Bontrager Hodag tire and Jackalope wheels are mounted on a Trek Farley 8. The Hodag is seen here accelerating on a snow trail. Photo by S Lorence
The Lowdown: Bontrager Hodag Tire and Jackalope TLR 26 Wheels
The aim of Bontrager's first fat bike tire was a versatile weapon that would be fun to ride on snow, sand, dirt, and even pavement. Trek's apparel and component arm also wanted a tire and wheel system that would be tubeless compatible at extremely low pressures (sub-5 psi). Have they succeeded? The answer is a resounding yes. This fat bike tire is indeed a winner in all conditions. Traction is available in spades and it is predictable, delivering a balance of stability and agility. Bontrager's TLR tubeless system is a breeze to install and inflate, and it brings the proven Bontrager solution to the fat bike world without the need for homebrew DIY tubeless. That's a good thing; being able to run tubeless is critical for fat bikes because the tubes are so heavy - and fixing a flat on the trail more difficult.