Elkhorn
$168.00
- The Short fits tires up to 27.5 x 2.8″ or 700c x 50mm.
- The Tall is for maximum mud clearance and fits tires up to 29 x 3.25″.
The Elkhorn is a slender multi-tool of a rack. Stable and secure with 3-pack mounts on the uprights for your favorite cargo or bottle cages and more tie-down points on the deck than you could ever need. Front or rear compatible, the Elkhorn lets you feel the trail beneath you rather than the tail wag behind you.
Old Man Mountain racks are the most versatile racks available. Capable of mounting to suspension forks, full-suspension mountain bikes, gravel bikes, road bikes, fat bikes, even tri-bikes if that’s what you’re into.
Tested and trusted in the most extreme environments on earth (we’re still trying to get NASA to take them to the moon). Our racks have helped riders traverse Iceland in bitter, cold winters, carried the gear of countless GDMBR riders, and circumnavigated the globe. The only remaining question is where will it go with you?
The Elkhorn rack is not designed for panniers, but it works great with our Hemlock bags with FLiP cages. If you are looking for a rack that is compatible with traditional panniers, check out our Divide or Divide XL racks.
Want to use our rack on a bike that isn’t made for racks? Want to swap your rack between multiple bikes? A Fit Kit is all you need.
Related products
Old Man Mountain racks have been around the world, from Alaska to Antarctica, and they’ve carried everything from briefcases and beer to a month’s worth of provisions for unsupported adventure. They’re built to last and have a proven track record.
Trust us, the last thing we want is a call from a customer deep in the Peruvian Andes who needs a replacement rack! We’ve made it 25 years without that call and intend to keep it that way! Knock on wood *knock knock*. Whether you’re headed out to do some birding and bringing a tripod and picnic along, going on a packrafting trip for a week, a quick overnight just out of town, or riding to work, The Elkhorn is the perfect companion.
The solid deck with perimeter rail provides plentiful lashing points and the 3-pack mounts are perfect for bottle cages, cargo cages, or bolt-on bags. Ideal for keeping your gear secure and organized.
It comes ready to mount front or rear if your bike has rack mounts. If your bike doesn’t have mounts we’ve got you covered.
We make a full line of Fit Kits to axle mount the rack. In addition to fitting nearly any bike with the Fit Kits, they also protect your bike from overloading your eyelets. The rack is confidently rated to carry 25lbs.
Everything the Elkhorn comes with.
What Makes The Elkhorn So Special?
Old Man Mountain racks have been around the world, from Alaska to Antarctica, and they’ve carried everything from briefcases and beer to a month’s worth of provisions for unsupported adventure. They’re built to last and have a proven track record.
Trust us, the last thing we want is a call from a customer deep in the Peruvian Andes who needs a replacement rack! We’ve made it 25 years without that call and intend to keep it that way! Knock on wood *knock knock*. Whether you’re headed out to do some birding and bringing a tripod and picnic along, going on a packrafting trip for a week, a quick overnight just out of town, or riding to work, The Elkhorn is the perfect companion.
The solid deck with perimeter rail provides plentiful lashing points and the 3-pack mounts are perfect for bottle cages, cargo cages, or bolt-on bags. Ideal for keeping your gear secure and organized.
It comes ready to mount front or rear if your bike has rack mounts. If your bike doesn’t have mounts we’ve got you covered.
We make a full line of Fit Kits to axle mount the rack. In addition to fitting nearly any bike with the Fit Kits, they also protect your bike from overloading your eyelets. The rack is confidently rated to carry 25lbs.
FRONT OR REAR
Front or Rear mountable to suit your needs.
BUILT TO LAST
The Elkhorn is built to withstand whatever you want to throw at it.
FITS ANY BIKE
The Elkhorn comes in Short or Tall to fit different wheel sizes. We even offer fit kits for any bike, even full-suspension mountain bikes, that don't have rack mounts.
3-pack Mounts
Perfect for carrying bottles, fuel, stuff sacks, dry bags, bolt-on bags, and more.
Ready for everything.
Let’s get into the details and specs. The Elkhorn is built to adapt to your adventures.
- The Elkhorn comes in two sizes; Short and Tall.
- The Short is designed for 27.5 and 700c wheels. Fits tires up to 27.5 x 2.8″ or 700c x 50mm.
- The Tall is designed for maximum mud clearance and bikes with 29″ tires. Fits tires up to 29 x 3.25″.
- Front or rear mountable.
- Made from 6061 aluminum the racks are lightweight, stiff, and strong.
- The rack is made from 1/2″ (13mm) diameter tubing.
- The deck measures 6.3″ x 10.5″ (161 mm x 266 mm)
- The deck includes slots for easily lashing gear in place, and holes for mounting a light.
- The Elkhorn comes standard, eyelet mount ready with optional fit kits available for thru axle or QR mounting.
- The Elkhorn has a load capacity of 25lbs/11.34kg.
- Rack weight (Short): 623 grams with 6″ extenders.
- Rack weight (Tall): 652 grams with 6″ extenders.
- Powder coated a sleek and refined shade of black.
- If you want more precise fit information, the height from the mounting point to the deck is 371mm on the Short and 403mm on the tall. Be sure to leave room for debris and mud clearance.
- Made in Taiwan.
- Lifetime warranty
“The brilliant part of the Elkhorn is its versatility. It can mount to standard bosses or directly to the axle using the optional fit kits available for thru-axle or QR mounting. That with the two pairs of struts and “flippable” design make it about as universal as they come. ”
Logan Watts, Bikepacking.com“Most important to me, no extra preload is put into my suspension fork. I can leave my settings the same as when I ride without any loaded weight. The Elkhorn is truly a game changer for my trail work bike.”
“I’m having a hard time finding anything I don’t like about this system. If you’re cargo rack curious like I was, I highly recommend the Elkhorn rack from Old Man Mountain.”
Carl Presseault –
Once the whole mix-up with the fit kit was sorted (12×100 suspension fork), I was able to install the Elkhorn in the front of my bike and “oh my!”, all the racks I used in the past seems very flimsy in comparison with this one. I can sit on it and it won’t even move a millimeter.
I’m not a fan of lifetime warranty to cover up for dodgy products. Like an inflatable boat in the middle of the ocean, you’d rather have something overbuilt that will last a lifetime than having a piece of equipment failing on you halfway into a trip into Antartica (but with a good replacement warranty!).
If you like great design, versatility and peace of mind, this is a rack for you.
The side attachments allows you to fit extra water, mini panniers or cargo cage, with the advantage of being level with the ground and without the hassle of using hose clamp on your suspension fork.
When it’s mounted on the compatible axle that comes with your fit kit, all the weight is solidly resting on the axle instead of the fork or the frame, giving a very predictable and zero-feedback steering feel.
It’s the last rack you’ll buy (just kidding, you’ll buy a Divide or two for your fatbike haha!)
Oh! And a little extra by the way: It’s also covered by lifetime warranty. Even though I’d be very surprised if any ever go back to OMM.
Chris G (verified owner) –
Awesome rack, and one of the few I’ve seen that can go on front or rear. Also one of the few, or only, that I’ve seen with bosses for mounting bags or bottle holders on it. Once all tightened, this thing is solid, and I don’t anticipate it coming loose or moving around whatsoever!
Reilly F. (verified owner) –
Just spent two weeks touring the Colorado Trail with the Elkhorn as my rear rack. The rack performed perfectly and had zero issues with some really aggressive terrain. Mounting up was easy with the lower eyelet mounts on my frame and I used the puck attachment on the seat stays.
I used a drybag on top of the rack with my tent and sleeping gear. The rack was very stable and I could hardly tell it was back there loaded with gear.
I really wanted to run a dropper seatpost during this ride and the Elkhorn made that possible. I checked the mounting hardware about halfway through the ride and all the hardware was still holding tight!
I will definitely keep running this set up vs. the older seat bag style. So many different options to carry gear.
Thanks for a great product OMM!
Old Man Mountain –
Thanks Reilly, your trip sounds awesome! Thrilled to be a small part of it.
Bruce Y (verified owner) –
I installed the Elkhorn on the back of my Santa Cruz Stigmata using a Robert axle mount. It is completely stable and solid with no rattling at all over rough gravel. For me, it’s the perfect size for my usual day trips with a small bag on the back. If I ever needed more I could always move it to the front and put a Divide rack on the back instead, so it’s very versatile as well. Excellent product!
Christopher Joy (verified owner) –
I actually have 2 Elkhorn racks. One fit perfectly on the front of my Surly Pugsley with an OMM basket, and on my first overnighter it worked great until the top part sheared off due to installation error (doh!). OMM were most generous and accepted a warranty claim to exchange the rack (which was installed correctly and has had no problems since). The other one came on the Chumba I won in a Bikepacking Roots raffle, and has seen more use. I commute almost daily and have been able to strap my u-lock to the deck easily for quick access with many slots to slip a strap through. I have also put a large handlebar bag on the rack to carry my full sleep system for bikepacking, as well as load it full of groceries and the rack is solid with no noticeable flexing. I am happy with how sturdy it is, plus being able to easily attach bottle cages with the 3 mounts on either side. I have a different brand rack on the rear of my Pugsley and while both work well, the Elkhorn is one I appreciate slightly more with it’s overall design and durability. Thanks OMM for making a great product and being super cool with your warranty.
Simon Irving –
I love my Elkhorn so much, I have two! A great piece of kit, and with the axle mounting, I can move them from bike to bike. I’ve used my Elkhorns in several long-distance off road bike trips, and they’ve been flawless: no rattling, no shaking, so solid. 100% recommend OMM 🤘
Clint Boltz (verified owner) –
How to pack gear on the back of your saddle while using a dropper post, that is the question. They do make bags specially designed to do so, nothing as sturdy or with the volume that you can fit on the OMM Elkhorn. An excellent alternative that easily switches between bikes.
It’s my go to.
Robert Villahermosa –
I have used my Elkhorn across 2 different bikes as a rear rack and it has been great. I axle mount it and use a seatpost clamp adapter on one bike and seatstay fender bolts on the other and it is solid and wobble free. Takes 5 minutes to remove or attach. Love it!
Nick S (verified owner) –
Someone accurately described my bike as “one mean ass basket bike” recently. I use the OMM Elkhorn + Basket. Keep rockin it
Mark (verified owner) –
Like it so much, I now have two. I run one on the rear of my Kona Sutra using the axle kit, paired with a trunk bag, and one on the front of my older Salsa Fargo, using the QR Skewer kit, and paired with the OMM basket. Both are rock solid, minimal rattle. Plenty of spots for straps, and the ability to run cages on the bosses is win/win.
Kevin Gray (verified owner) –
I bought The Elkorn and Basket and they both work flawlessly. I’ve been using them mostly around town but have gone on some trail rides. Nothing comes loose or makes rattle sounds. Super solid!
C.M. (verified owner) –
The Elkhorn is a great rack. I use it with the Revelate nano pannier. Have bike packed over 3000 miles with his system. Happy to recommend it!
Mark Shaheen (verified owner) –
Good front racks are hard to find. The elk horn is a great rack it fits my older mountain bike great.Very easy to install. I recommend this rack 100%.
Jackson (verified owner) –
Great quality and fits the basket fantastically. The gear doesn’t shake when loaded heavy and it looks pretty sleek. The only knocks I will mention are that the basket bolt holes don’t line up super logically for the 4 bolts given, but I was able to attach 3 easily and it still feels super secure. The other thing of note is that the basket has more flex than I was expecting but it has held up well for the first few long rides and one overnight. Even with the gripes I wouldn’t hesitate to buy anything from OMM. It’s all quality.
Alex W (verified owner) –
This thing is sick. I’ve put it on my Crust Wombat and Crust Evasion Trail 140. It works great and pairs well with their Atlas bag. I put the king cage manything cage on either side and which makes it easy to pack nalgene bottles with dry bags
I. O. (verified owner) –
I’ve been traveling for 5 months now and it’s wonderful, stable and robust,no complaints at all. I’m traveling from Spain to Mongolia , so it be a good test for years and for me 🤣😂, very good products, if I needed any more, I would not hesitate to buy you again, thanks very much
Zachary Smith –
I wanted set up my Salsa Warroad to carry a boxy Randonneur-style bag and accept a light-mount for Schmidt Edelux lighting. The old-school front racks are great but they’re a little heavy and not built for mounting on a frame like mine. The Elkhorn worked perfectly and has been rock solid ever since. On a related note, I also got the Juniper Trunk bag for rides that don’t require quite as much gear and it has been a star performer as well. It’s kind of a perfect fit.
Cal (verified owner) –
I purchased this rack along with a basket late last year and assembled it and found that one of the bottom axle cups was poorly aligned and not fitting the end of the thru axle. I put it aside and just recently contacted OMM to see if I could get a replacement left leg. They graciously sent me an entirely new rack at no cost that is a perfect fit and a return shipping label for the problem rack. Customer service here is incredible and extremely responsive. I was the slacker on this and they didn’t hesitate to fix the problem with no issues. Wow! I was using another rack with a Wald basket attached with many zip ties. The bike tipped over on a recent trip with a loaded basket and all of the zip ties popped loose and the basket detached from the bike. Sort of sad sight and fortunately I had a few spares to hold it together until I got home. This motivated me to get the OMM rack on the bike as the basket is a super solid bolt on set up and super well made. This is a great company and I will buy from them again.
JS (verified owner) –
I originally mounted the Elkhorn using just two spots on my carbon fork bosses and even though I was only going to carry about 10lbs of gear, i just didn’t feel that confident that I wouldn’t eventually shear one of them. So i bought the axle mount system and it definitely feels way more sturdy. OMM was helpful with a few questions I had on the fit. All in all, it was a much more expensive solution than I had hoped for, but everything is just as solid and useful as I think it could possibly be.
Chris –
I love my elkhorn. Super sturdy, light and adaptable. The three pack mount with a cargo cage is far more secure than any pannier and the trunk bag that OMM makes is very light and works really well
M (verified owner) –
Purchased as a gift for someone setting up a Surly Straggler for bike packing. Easy to install, solid rack – recipient was thrilled!
R Crates –
Dear Customer Service Team
I want to let you know the pleasure I have had with my recent purchase of your Elkhorn rack.
Not only is the design of the Elkhorn brilliant but the whole unboxing and assembly experience felt like a real treat.
Congratulations to your design team for the packaging which has taken a great product to an even higher level.
I look forward to putting the Elkhorn through its paces.
T (verified owner) –
I really love the rack! It is such a perfect fit for what I need, I dont think I could improve upon it in any way. I work for ( x bike co) and I (unofficially at least) personally recommend your products to any rider who is looking for rack options.
Happy Riding
Dani (verified owner) –
I love this rack. It looks fantastic on my bike and stayed put through some seriously rough abandoned old woods roads in New England. Super easy to install, light weight, and has plenty of options for attaching everything. I specifically got this as a rear rack, along with the matching atlas pack, and with the pack fully loaded my dropper still has great clearance.
Nina Ratliff (verified owner) –
Versatile, super sturdy and easy setup. This is my first ever bikepacking rack and I can’t find anything I don’t like about it. I decided for a rack instead of a saddle pack and I’m sure glad I did. It has come on several trips on Idaho’s chunky gravel roads and never gave any occasion to complain. Load is secured and with a good pair of straps there is nothing to worry about, even on rowdy singletrack. Thank you Old Man Mountain!
JH (verified owner) –
I just used my Elkhorn as a rear rack for a trip around the Westfjords of Iceland and was very pleased with how it held up, stayed solid/silent, and held 3 bags + rear light. I’ve traveled with panniers before but felt much more stable / less rickety with the Elkhorn / Hemlock combo. I really like having the ability to add 3 vertical pack mounts to the back of my bike and would love if OMM would make a fat bike version of the Elkhorn next!
Leslie C (verified owner) –
I just completed touring Great Divide Mountain Bike Route with the Elkhorn rack. The rack performed flawlessly and I had no problems. It was easy to install. Even over the roughest of terrain the rack and mounted bags stayed in place. Super happy!
Jason H (verified owner) –
I love this rack. The wide platform and the solid construction keep my bag in place even on the chunkiest descents.