Tubeless riders: Do you carry a spare tube on MTB rides?

Tubeless bike tires rarely flat, but when they do, a spare tube could allow you to keep rolling.

By Jeff Barber
March 2, 2025

17 comments

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Two bicycle inner tubes. — Standard MTB inner tube left, TPU tube right.

Tubeless mountain bike tires are a God-send, but they’re not completely fool-proof. And believe me, there are a lot of fools (myself included) who ride mountain bikes!

I suspect a lot of riders, like me, carry a spare tube just in case a tubeless tire can’t be repaired or re-seated on the trail. Then again, maybe not. Fill in the survey below and tell us how you roll.

If you answered “no” to the first question, do you just risk it, or do you have a reliable tubeless repair method to share? And if you answered “yes” to carrying a tube on some rides, tell us how you decide which ones in the comments below.

Tire Sealants

How often do you top off your tire sealant?

Tires

Do You Use Light or Heavy-Duty Casing MTB Tires?

A person holding a tire repair tool with a brown rubber plug, preparing to fix a flat bicycle tire in a natural outdoor setting, with a bicycle tire and a tree trunk in the background.

Tires All

Have you Ever Successfully Plugged a Tire Puncture on the Trail?

Tires

Do You Run the Same Width Tire Front and Rear?

17 Comments

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Rockpicker Missouri // 2022
3 weeks ago

I always carry a tube, pump, Allen wrenches, patch, etc. But I'm serious old school and not that far removed from running tubes regular. Saved me many times prior and I can't shake the prep need.I do love tubeless now though.

1 reply

michaelglee California // 2022
3 weeks ago

I can barely manage to mount tires in the garage, without at least a bunch of failed attempts to seat the last bit of bead, Pedros levers scattered everywhere, try again, fail, crack a beer, try again, fail, more beer, repeat for a couple of hours. I'd be back at the car long before I could fit a tube on the trail.

bikejoy Georgia // 2023
Mar 4, 2025

I haven’t needed a tube in years, so on short local rides often just bring plugs. But I know I am tempting fate and should bring a tube always!

Zoso 2016
Mar 3, 2025

I thankfully haven't needed my spare for years as if I can't get it to seal with plugs and it's <2 miles to walk out, I usually just walk it.

Shad Holland 2019
Mar 5, 2025

It depends on the length of ride. If I am somewhere where I will be going a long distance and far away from the trailhead I bring a spare tube. For most of my local trails, if I get a flat it's an easy walk out to the trailhead so I prefer not to carry one in that situation.

Honestly, since I have gone tubeless over 6 years ago on all my MTN Bikes, I have had one total flat that the sealant couldn't fix. I could not have ever said that had I been running tubes.

Toyon Proulx California // 2021
3 weeks ago

Admittedly, I find myself in a very fortunate situation, but I ride a single speed with an insert in the back tire most of the time. My trails are almost literally in my back yard so, I only carry a tube if my ride is far enough away that I have to drive to the trailhead or if time wouldn’t allow for a hike a bike back to the house.

0 reply

itsinai Israel // 2011
Mar 4, 2025

I always carry TPU tube, never had to use it though
I’m using tubeless setup for years by now, I guess that if it wasn’t a TPU tube I wouldn’t carry butyl tube with me

JSTootell 2017
Mar 5, 2025

I carried a spare in my down tube for years, never used it. Gave it away to someone else a couple of times, but never for myself. Any failure I did have was either repairable with plugs and sealant, or irreparable with a tube (destroyed wheel). I run DH casing on my trail bike.

I carry a tube for big rides on my XC bike, but again have only ever given it away.

Peter Rabbit Arkansas // 2024
Mar 5, 2025

I carry Stan's Dart plugs. Riding around Bentonville and Bella Vista Arkansas where I think we have the sharpest rocks, these are a must. Work great even on small sidewall tears.

AwintersTale California // 2024
Mar 4, 2025

I carry a small, air tight prescription bottle with liquid sealant and two CO2 cartridges, in an under saddle pack, with a disassembled injection tube. Altogether, these components are lighter than tube and mini pump. But never had to use it, yet.

B Griff 2024
3 weeks ago

I picked up a spare butyl tube for a trip to PHX that never happened. For my local trails I won’t ever bring a spare tube. So I’ve never had a spare tube with me while running tubeless.

Spikem Arizona // 2016
3 weeks ago

Like most others, I carry a plug and bacon strips always--both of which I have used more than once in over 10 yr of riding MTB. And, I did carry a standard tube on remote and more risky rides in rocks. But, recently got some TPU tubes and will start carrying them instead.

SkiBikeHike Alberta // 2025
Mar 3, 2025

Picked up some TPU tubes last fall, both as spares for my tubeless MTB's and to replace the butyl ones in my gravel bike (I swap tires winter/summer and haven't bothered going tubeless on it). First ride with the new TPU tubes and one sprung a leak because I didn't realize the lack of rim tape would allow the TPU to expand into the spoke holes as a butyl tube had been in there since the bike shop fixed a spoke and removed the rim tape (they also managed to put the Sawtooth on backwards, must have been a Friday).

That's pretty much the only flat I've had, even though I always carry spares. And that time I just walked home since it was -10C and I didn't want to screw around with cold rubber and fingers.

Dr Sweets Georgia // 2016
Mar 2, 2025

The last time I had to put a tube in was seven years ago. That was way TF out in Moab on the WE and that was also the last time I ran Cushcore. :( I do carry a lightweight tube, but have yet to need it. On the contrary. I have carried tire plugs of assorted sizes and those along with some stick-on tire boots have worked perfectly to keep me and others rolling. .

dlawson 2018
Mar 3, 2025

Had to laugh about the CushCore - the last time I need to use a tube, I wore my CushCore out of the woods like a bandolier.
I carry plugs and a lightweight tube in an Ibis pork chop bag in my frame. Everything was choosen based on size/fit in the bag. It was nice to loose the back/hip pack.

hutchYorks England // 2025
Mar 4, 2025

Usual,, as in not in a race or a really local section training session.. used to carry a tpu tube until I needed it and it was in shreds.. so now use a shchwalbe 19a super light tube..

Greg Heil Colorado // 2008
3 weeks ago

I always carry a tube but this poll has me questioning whether I even need to. I don’t remember the last time I tubed an mtb tire. I did tube a gravel tire recently but that was because I didn’t have any plugs with me. Went out and bought another plug kit to remember that.

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