In this article I’m going to give you the ultimate list of the very best 29 inch bikepacking tires money can buy.
To create this list I’ve taken into account the fact that bikepacking means something to different riders. And to come up with an overview that caters to different riding conditions I’ve taken inspiration from my research into both touring, gravel, cross-country, trail, and enduro riding.
Incorporating tires from those disciplines basically means going up in weight, width, puncture protection, knob height, to be able to incrementally withstand the rigors certain road conditions will throw at you.
For obvious reasons, big fat knobby tires will grant you loads of traction, grip, and braking power, but that won’t get you very far if you’re predominantly riding on tarmac. The same goes for the opposite. Lightweight, nimble, relatively slim tires with a semi-slick tread pattern will make you fear for your life on a rocky descent.
Only you can decide what’s best for you, but be sure that there’s a solid option among this high-quality list of the best 29 inch bikepacking tires.
Maxxis Ardent Race
The Maxxis Ardent Race is a great option to mount as a very grippy dual XC setup, an aggressive XC front tire, or a lightweight, fast-rolling trail tire.
The triple compound provides a fast-rolling center with softer and grippier side knobs for added traction and cornering confidence.
In dry conditions the traction will prove to be outstanding. In wet conditions the small close-knit knobs can get packed with mud. So you’ll need to resort to a different tire if you want to ride year round without swapping tires.
- A highly versatile grippy XC, or aggressive, lightweight trail tire.
- None
Maxxis Assegai
If you know mountain biking you know Greg Minnaar. And the Maxxis Assegai is said to be designed with his help. So what does that say about this tire?
Well, he’s a downhill champion, so expect monstrous level of grip and traction in a tire well-suited for the most aggressive trail riders among us. For such an aggressive tire, the profile is relatively rounded still, smoothing out transitions from straight to cornering, without that vague feeling you sometimes get in between.
This tire sits just below a true mud tire, so all of that traction will come at a premium, and the price you pay is of course a slow, and heavy tire in those times when you don’t need as much grip. When choosing tires you have to compromise, and when the going gets tough this is the tire you want to be riding.
- Very grippy tire, meant for bad conditions
- Meant for downhill
Maxxis Crossmark II
The Maxxis Crossmark II is fast-rolling, dry condition, XC or gravel tire with the shallow center knobs and minimal side knobs.
It’s designed for speed on dry hardpack when going in a straight line, with the most minimal tread pattern you can find within this mountain bike category.
The hard-wearing 60 TPI dual casing and EXO reinforced sidewalls make it an excellent companion for long gravel and/or touring rides as well. Especially if you want to have the flexibility to veer off the beaten path yet still ride with confidence.
- Fast-rolling, and versatile tire, Maxxis' build quality with EXO protection.
- None
Maxxis High Roller II
The Maxxis High Roller II is a solid option, both front and back, in loose and dry condition riding.
If you don’t have that much climbing to do, you might opt for a dual High Roller setup. But for any non-competitive riders. However, the DHR II plus High Roller front and back respectively, is a more forgiving, allround setup.
But as far as downhill goes, the High Roller’s spaced out knobs proved a perfect amount of bite in loose conditions.
- Solid trail and enduro tire, preferably up front.
- None
Maxxis Ikon
The absolute cross-country king in Maxxis’ lineup. The Maxxis Ikon has near perfect all-round tire characteristics, which makes it an excellent option for diverse road and trail conditions. Though it’s categorized obviously as an XC tire, it’ll also perform superior for bikepackers and gravel riders.
That being said, this is a racing tire, which means it’s light. But the reliable EXO compound, also used for harsher enduro racing, also means you’ll enjoy this tire for many miles.
As with any tire with this type of tread, it’ll perform well in dry conditions. The 26 inch version has both a 2.35 and 2.2 inch width option. You can run this tire both front and back, and might opt for the wider version in the front for some added grip. Especially if you expect some portions of your ride to be particularly rough.
It’s undeniable that the top-of-the-line products of Maxxis are superior to many if not all of their competitors. And the Maxxis Ikon shows it, with a perfect blend of weight, speed, grip, and protection.
- The cross-country king. Highly versatile tire which excels in XC, bikepacking, and gravel, lightweight. Can be used front and rear. Pair with Ardent Race in the front for ultra-fast yet grippy XC setup. Tan options available
- None
Maxxis Minion DHF
When you’re looking for a mountain bike tire it’s almost impossible not to have heard of the Maxxis Minion DHF. The reason being it’s like the ultimate fit-and-forget mountain bike tire on the market. That means that the tire is just about perfect for any local trail riding, to enduro and downhill races.
The tread pattern shows that this tire prefers to sit on your front wheel. You can opt to put another fan favorite, the Maxxis Minion DHR II, at the back. That tire has horizontally aligned knobbies for increased braking power.
Its popularity ensures there are many options to choose from, both with respect to size, as well as casing. And all of them offer either the EXO sidewall protection, or Double Down breaker. For those with a penchant for tan sidewalls, there are those as well.
On its own, or paired with the Minion DHR II, the Maxxis Minion DHF is such a no-brainer that it’s hard to not recommend it to anyone for all-round trail-riding and downhill.
- Superb allrounder with loads of sizing / compound combinations possible. Combines with Maxxis Minion DHR II for an excellent all-round trail setup.
- None
Maxxis Minion DHR II
The “DH” in DHF and DHR stands for “downhill”. The “F” and “R” for “front” and “rear” respectively. The “downhill” in the name is a bit misleading, because the horizontal tread pattern of the DHR not only aids braking but also gives more traction when going uphill. Both tires have the same side knobs to maximize grip while cornering.
Maxxis intended these two tires to be used together as their go-to allround solution for trail riding. And these tires are in some many lists that it’s probably the best allround no-worries solution money can buy.
Together with the Minion DHF, the Maxxis Minion DHR II is a fantastic and confidence inspiring tire that will take your downhill rides to the next level.
- One of the best rear tires available, combines with Maxxis Minion DHF for an excellent all-round trail setup
- None
Maxxis Minion SS
When riding in dry conditions the Maxxis Minion SS is probably the fastest-rolling enduro tire on the market.
It’s strange to call this tire a semi-slick, because that’s what SS stands for. The center tread, consisting of very small knobbies, are indeed a feature of what I would consider to be a semi-slick. But the side knobbies are the same as the DHR or DHF. That means you maintain high levels of speed on the straights with the proven grip when cornering.
It’s a formula which is as simple as it is effective, turning this tire into a speedy, dry condition enduro tire. I’ve seen the tire ridden both in the front and back, but to me the back seems the most logical choice, with a grippier tire up front.
- Very fast XC, great cornering grip, rear tire
- None
Maxxis Rekon Race
The Maxxis Rekon Race is a perfect allround option to use as a 29 inch gravel tire.
Multiple widths are available from 2.25 up to 2.40 inches. In general the entire premium lineup of Maxxis are great tires, and I particularly like the Rekon Race.
The reason is that the tire provides lots of grip for true gravel riding in dry conditions. And if there’s one thing I love to do is moving through a forest at lightning speed.
Maxxis often makes heavier tires than the counterparts of either Continental or Schwalbe, but their EXO casing has proven over the years to be extremely reliable. And speed is great, but reliability is more important if you ask me.
And in the end weight isn’t the only factor that makes up a high-quality tire. And I firmly believe the 120 TPI versions are fantastic tires for your gravel setup.
- Great allround option, very durable
- None
Continental Cross King ProTection
The Continental Cross King ProTection is the newer version of a magnificent, lightweight cross-country racer.
ProTection replaces the RaceSport moniker. It’s a three- and four ply system underneath respectively the tread and sidewall, ensuring maximum puncture protection and shieldwall tearing.
This doesn’t take away from the fact that this tire is still one of the lightest in its category. A true racer.
- Maximum puncture protection in a lightweight cross-country racing tire.
- None
Continental Der Baron Projekt ProTection Apex
The Continental Der Baron Projekt is a very aggressive mountain bike tire. Massive blocks sufficiently spaced ensure you have both maximum grip and maximum mud clearance, making this tire a solid enduro allrounder in both wet and dry conditions.
Even in the 2.4 inch width version, this tire weighs 890, which makes this tire a great option if you want to ride all year round, but you stay away from the trail in the worst of conditions.
The BlackChili compound from Continental is known for its great durability. So if you’re also looking for a tire that’ll last you a very long time, and save on cash that way, the Der Baron Projekt is a solid choice as well.
- Extremely lightweight gravity tire, durable
- Meant for downhill or enduro
Schwalbe G-One Speed
If you’re a person who likes fast, plush rides on pavement and slightly coarse roads the Schwalbe G-One Speed is probably the best tire money can buy.
It’s an exceptional big volume road tire that’s light, nimble, and lets you rip down the road with a big grin on your face. It’s a step up in width from your average road tire, which means you get an incredibly supple and plush ride and loads of grip. Sure you have to sacrifice a bit in the rolling-resistance department when compared to a 25 millimeter road tire, but this tire is simply more fun to ride and much, much more comfortable.
And this tire doesn’t shy away from light gravel riding as well, broadening the range of application beyond very fast commuting.
- Extremely fast-rolling tire, great option for both gravel and commuting
- None
Schwalbe Hans Dampf
The Schwalbe Hans Dampf is a good rear enduro tire.
A classic-looking all-round tire with large side knobbies, and smaller horizontally aligned knobbies in the center tread. This tire transitions smoothly from fast straight into tight cornering, something not every tire does.
That smooth feel provides exciting reliability on everything but the most aggressive trails, where you might want larger knobs providing more grip in corners.
It’s becoming harder to distinguish tires within a certain category from each other, with all premium tires from major brands nearing perfection. With this tire it’s the same. It checks all of the boxes, but maybe outperforms none of its competitors who sacrifices one characteristic to excel more in another.
That means this tire is very reliable for the majority of riders out there.
- aggressive rear allround tire, reliable option
- performs best in dry conditions
Schwalbe Magic Mary
The Magic Mary is Schwalbe’s grippiest tire from their entire lineup. It performs both brilliantly as a downhill tire, but is just as effective for all-round trail riding in brutal conditions.
It has top-of-the-line traction combined with super fast rolling characteristics and a good feel for the trail at high speeds. If you want to be in the moment and experience flow going down sloppy slopes the Magic Mary delivers big time, with virtually zero cons.
Good braking power, allround riding characteristics in dry and wet conditions, this is Schwalbe’s top tire for all-mountain, enduro and downhill, no matter what the conditions are.
- Very grippy, go-to gravity tire, solid braking power, 4-season downhill tire
- Meant for downhill
Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB
The Schwalbe Marathon is the ultimate allrounder in the tire department and one of the best-selling tires on the market. So the German brand decided to make a MTB-specific version of this tire: the Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB.
Although it looks like a knobby tire, if you look close enough you can see that the center tread will let you run smoothly across pavement. And just like the standard Marathon is meant for commuting and touring, the same goes for this one.
It’s a heavy tire when compared to some of the XC racers. But the biggest plus for hauling all that extra weight is that in terms of puncture protection, this tire has no equal. The reason is pretty simple. Schwalbe stuffed a 5mm strip underneath the center tread, made from highly puncture resistant rubber. And as simple as that sounds, it’s extremely effective in preventing punctures.
So for those of you who want the risk of flats nearing zero, this is the tire for you.
- Mile cruncher, unparalleled puncture protection
- Heavy, meant for commuting, touring, and bikepacking.
Schwalbe Nobby Nic
The Schwalbe Nobby Nic is the best all-round trail tire from the German manufacturer. If there’s a tire that could rival the dominance of the Maxxis DHR and DHF and its omnipresence on the trail, it’s this one.
It’s tread pattern provides loads of grip and traction. Its allround nature means it’s just as good in the front as it is in the back. And it’s also often seen as a grippy front tire for aggressive XC riding, with a faster and lighter tire in the back.
You can go up to a size 2.35 if you want to and it’s also the only tire that comes in a 26 inch tan version. So if you’re looking for a solid all-round setup, meant for every conceivable condition, dry and wet, hardpack and forest trail, and you want to ride a tan version, this is the tire for you.
- High quality fit-and-forget all-round trail option. Loads of sizing / compound combinations possible. Can be used both front and rear for trail riding, or front for XC.
- None
Schwalbe Racing Ralph
Schwalbe’s lineup consists of a number of highly specialized cross-country tires. The Schwalbe Racing Ralph being one of them.
As stated on the website, the Racing Ralph was designed for the rear. That’s because it has the shallowest center tread pattern, making it perfect for riding as fast as possible in dry conditions.
Although it’s meant for a combo setup with a grippier tire in the front, you could actually use it as a dual setup when bikepacking or gravel riding instead of pure XC racing.
If you want to ride as fast as possible, and maintain that speed when cornering, I suggest pairing it with a grippier front tire. You can opt for the Racing Ray, Rocket Ron, or Nobby Nic. With the Racing Ray offering the least amount of grip and the Nobby Nic the most. The Rocket Ron sits in between the three.
- Fantastic rear XC tire. Low weight, and super fast. Combine with Racking Ray, Rocket Ron, or Nobby Nic for a grippier setup.
- None
Schwalbe Racing Ray
Where the Schwalbe Racing Ralph was designed as a rear tire, the Schwalbe Racing Ray is meant for the front. It also means that one of the most obvious choices for a Schwalbe cross country setup would be the combination of the two.
And it seems that the combination works for a lot of people better than ever. with great braking power and traction in the back and great traction and grip in the front, even for wet conditions.
- Extremely fast front XC tire, super fast setup with the Schwalbe Racing Ralph
- none
Schwalbe Rocket Ron
Both the weight and tread pattern puts the Schwalbe Rocket Ron squarely into XC territory. The evenly spaced knobs mean you always hold contact with the ground ensuring a low rolling resistance.
They are small as well, which means you need to look for the Nobby Nic if you want a more allround and grippy trail tire. But if you want a bit more speed the 640 gr. for a 2.35 inch version you can run two of these.
You should be able to confidently do light trail riding in loose and wet conditions with these tires, and the XC-oriented tread pattern combined with either the Super Ground or Super Race compound will provide you with the speed you need.
It’s worthy to note that the Schwalbe Rocket Ron performs really well in the rolling resistance department, as do all Schwalbe tires. So it’s both light and fast.
- great allround XC tire, perfect for gravel and bikepacking, very fast tire
- - None
Schwalbe Thunder Burt
Another fantastic option from Schwalbe, and on the more premium side, is the Schwalbe Thunder Burt. It’s a very lightweight XC tire with hardly any tread pattern in the center to speak of.
If you feel that you might be gravel oriented with your bike this is an excellent choice. The raised knobbies on the side will give you the confidence you’re looking for, while the extremely low weight of just 510 grams also means these mid-size tires are very fast.
- Lightweight, cross-country tire, gravel tire
- None
Vittoria Mezcal
Another cross-country crossover well-suited for bikepacking is the Vittoria Mezcal. The single 2.1 inch width version available for 26 inch tires, has a very low-profile tread pattern to improve rolling-resistance.
The 620 grams for a single tire is very light. And it’s this tire that has been on several cross-country championship bikes. So as far as speed is concerned, it’s extremely fast.
But for bikepacking you’ll need much more than speed. You want longevity and durability. Vittoria Mezcal uses their proprietary graphene enhanced 4C compound. It prevents the knobs from squirming on the hardpack, which in turn increases speed and durability.
The Mezcal is most at home on hardpack, but does perform well on other surface types. But like all of the other tires mentioned here, you will run into issues when encountering mud. The knobs are simply bunched too much together.
The Vittoria Mezcal makes for a fast and durable dual setup.
- Lightweight XC tire, can also be used for bikepacking and gravel, fast
- Sacrifices a bit of grip for speed, not good mud
Specifications 29 inch bikepacking tires
Name | Size | ETRTO | Weight (gr) | Tread color | Sidewall color | Compound | Puncture protection | Tire bead | TPI | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maxxis Ikon | 29×2.20 | 57-662 | 685 | Black | Light Tan | 3C MaxxSpeed | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Ikon | 29×2.20 | 57-662 | 735 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxSpeed | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Ikon | 29×2.35 | 60-622 | 830 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxSpeed | EXO | tlr | 120 | |
Maxxis Ardent Race | 29×2.20 | 56-622 | 767 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxSpeed | EXO | tlr | 120 | |
Maxxis Crossmark II | 29×2.25 | 57-622 | 780 | Black | Black | Dual | tlr | 60 | ||
Continental Cross King Racesport | 29×2.30 | 58-622 | 670 | Black | Black | BlackChili | RaceSport casing | tlr | 3/180 | |
Schwalbe Racing Ralph | 29×2.10 | 54-622 | 630 | Black | Black | ADDIX Speed | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Racing Ralph | 29×2.25 | 57-622 | 655 | Black | Black | ADDIX Speed | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Racing Ralph | 29×2.35 | 60-622 | 730 | Black | Black | ADDIX Speed | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Racing Ray | 29×2.10 | 54-622 | 630 | Black | Black | ADDIX SpeedGrip | Super Ground | tlr | ||
Schwalbe Rocket Ron | 29×2.25 | 57-622 | 630 | Black | Black | ADDIX Speed | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Rocket Ron | 29×2.25 | 57-622 | 645 | Black | Black | ADDIX SpeedGrip | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB | 29×2.10 | 52-622 | 1275 | Black | Black | ADDIX | SmartGuard | wired | ||
Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB | 29×2.10 | 52-622 | 1350 | Black | Black | ADDIX | SmartGuard | wired | ||
Maxxis Rekon Race | 29×2.25 | 57-622 | 691 | Black | Black | Dual | EXO | tlr | 120 | |
Maxxis Rekon Race | 29×2.35 | 60-622 | 805 | Black | Tan | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Rekon Race | 29×2.35 | 60-622 | 762 | Black | Black | Dual | EXO | tlr | 120 | |
Maxxis Rekon Race | 29×2.40 | 61-622 | 759 | Black | Black | Dual | EXO | tlr | 120 | |
Schwalbe Thunder Burt | 29×2.10 | 54-622 | 550 | Black | Black | ADDIX Speed | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Thunder Burt | 29×2.10 | 54-622 | 545 | Black | Transparent | ADDIX Speed | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Thunder Burt | 29×2.25 | 57-622 | 615 | Black | Black | ADDIX Speed | Super Ground | tlr | ||
Schwalbe Thunder Burt | 29×2.25 | 57-622 | 645 | Black | Transparent | ADDIX Speed | Super Race | tlr | ||
Schwalbe Thunder Burt | 29×2.35 | 60-622 | 745 | Black | Black | ADDIX Speed | Super Ground | tlr | ||
Schwalbe Thunder Burt | 29×2.35 | 60-622 | 730 | Black | Transparent | ADDIX Speed | Super Race | tlr | ||
Vittoria Mezcal | 29×2.25 | 57-622 | 690 | Black | Tan | 4C Graphene | XC Race TLR | tlr | ||
Vittoria Mezcal | 29×2.10 | 54-622 | 680 | Black | Anthracite | 4C Graphene | XC Race TLR | tlr | ||
Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.30 | 58-622 | 925 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.50WT | 63-622 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.50WT | 64-622 | Black | Tan | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.60 | 66-622 | 978 | Black | Tan | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.60 | 66-622 | 995 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | tlr | 120 | |
Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×3.00 | 76-622 | 1110 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | tlr | 120 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.30 | 58-622 | 825 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.30 | 58-622 | 1040 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | DD | tlr | 120 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.40WT | 61-622 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO+ | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.40WT | 61-622 | 988 | Black | Tan | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.40WT | 61-622 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxGrip | DD | tlr | 120 | ||
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.60 | 66-622 | 1035 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO+ | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis Minion DHR II | 29×2.60 | 66-622 | 983 | Black | Tan | Dual | EXO | tlr | 60 | |
Maxxis High Roller II | 29×2.30 | 58-622 | 920 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis High Roller II | 29×2.50WT | 64-622 | 990 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis High Roller II | 29×2.50WT | 64-622 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 120 | |||
Schwalbe Hans Dampf | 29×2.35 | 60-622 | 1055 | Black | Black | ADDIX Soft | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Hans Dampf | 29×2.60 | 65-622 | 1110 | Black | Black | ADDIX SpeedGrip | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Nobby Nic | 29×2.25 | 57-622 | 810 | Black | Black | ADDIX SpeedGrip | tlr | |||
Schwalbe Nobby Nic | 29×2.60 | 65-622 | 1080 | Black | Black | ADDIX SpeedGrip | tlr | |||
Continental Der Baron Projekt ProTection Apex | 29×2.40 | 60-622 | 990 | Black | Black | BlackChili | ProTection Apex casing | tlr | 3/180 | |
Maxxis Assegai | 29×2.50WT | 64-622 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 60 | |||
Maxxis Assegai | 29×2.50WT | 64-622 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 60 | |||
Maxxis Assegai | 29×2.60 | 66-622 | 1129 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 60 | ||
Maxxis Assegai | 29×2.60 | 66-622 | 1087 | Black | Black | 3C MaxxTerra | tlr | 60 |
Johan van Seijen
FoundeR Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.
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