Of all the bike accessories we’ve used and reviewed, none of them have transformed our view of cycling quite like the BOB Yak. Unlike fancy carbon components or ultra-efficient upgrades, the Yak doesn’t promise to make you a faster rider. What it does, however, is open you up to the worlds of cyclo-tourism and car-free living. I first attached the Yak to my commuter road bike two months ago to take it for a quick test ride. Little did I know how addicting it would be- I haven’t removed it since.

First, let’s take a look at the Yak’s construction and features. It’s a single-wheel trailer, which compromises stability at low speeds but improves rolling resistance, flat protection, aerodynamics, and cornering ability. The trailer adds about five feet to your bike’s wheelbase, but even fully loaded (up to 70 lbs), your gear doesn’t rise above the level of your rear tire.

The Yak is available in two sizes- standard, for 26” mountain bike wheels, and as the “Yak 28”, for 29” and 700c wheels.

The trailer attaches to your bicycle using a custom rear-wheel skewer. Once you’ve replaced your rear skewer, removing the trailer is incredibly easy and takes about ten seconds. The trailer attaches securely on both sides using pins that slide into the two arms that rest on the rear skewer extensions.

The rest of the trailer is fairly straight forward. The front wishbone attaches to the trailer using a long bolt that rotates during turns, and allows you a small degree of freedom when backing up. The rear wheel attaches with a quick-release, and accepts a standard 16-inch tire and tube. The fender is solidly built and is a welcome addition in wet climates- it blocks the wheel spray that would otherwise drench your load.

The best thing about the Yak is how easily it is forgotten when riding. A trailer is far more aerodynamic than panniers, and its low center of gravity means your bike will handle more like a bike and less like a truck. Going up hills is a different story- the empty trailer adds 13 pounds to your total weight, and you’ll likely be carrying over 30 pounds of gear on a touring trip. One think the Yak teaches you to do is carefully route your trip around hilly areas. This isn’t a flaw in the product’s design, however, and with some research you’ll find that the Yak is actually one of the lighter trailers available.

The only awkward part about the Yak is attaching and detaching it to your bike if you don’t have an assistant. Unlike two-wheel trailers, the Yak can’t remain vertical without being leaned against something. When it’s loaded with thirty pounds of equipment, removing it from your bike while keeping both your bike and the trailer upright requires some coordination. Thankfully, the Yak has two anti-skid patches on each side where the trailer naturally touches the ground. This prevents the frame from getting scratched up, and also allows you to “park” your rig by turning the trailer to a 90-degree angle to your bike and carefully setting it down.

Our main gripe with the trailer is that it doesn’t fold down for travel. The trailer could technically break down into three pieces- the front wishbone, the center section, and the rear wheel, but the height of the center section prevents it from being packed into any regular-sized box. A deconstructible design might have negatively affected weight and sturdiness, but we’d love to be able to bring the Yak with us while flying to another country.

The BOB Yak is an extremely well-built and versatile trailer. With a retail price of around $300, it’s a bit more expensive than racks and panniers, but its elegance is well worth it on longer touring rides. If you don’t require a foldable design, the Yak’s solid construction, speedy shape, and high carrying capacity will provide you with many, many miles of fun.