You need the best material, because you are the engine!
This statement has accompanied me my entire life and reflects my standards for bicycle technology over the last 35 years. I put these standards into practice as a technician in the bicycle industry. The best technology that moves me forward most effectively. My ambition went so far that I began my first steps in the bicycle industry in frame building, to develop and construct my own frames. I learned the fundamentals of frame building – the development of a frame wouldn’t happen until 30 years later with the Monowalker. My path led me from bicycle retail to the bicycle industry years later, where, as a product manager and quality controller in Eastern Europe and Asia, I managed bicycle and frame production and monitored their quality.
When my ex-wife said – Honey, we’re going hiking again with a tent, sleeping bag, and provisions – and remarked that she couldn’t carry such heavy loads anymore after the birth of two children, it was clear: “I can’t carry the load for two.” Her statement, “You carry everything” motivated me to think about it. And of course, like so many others, I quickly thought of donkeys and pack goats as transport aids. But I know from stories that hiking with animals, while pleasant, can also be strenuous. So I looked at the travoy—pulled pack frames consisting of two poles—of the North American Plains Indians.
The Monowalker is essentially a modern travoy. Except that the load is supported by a wheel. Just two poles and a wheel aren’t enough, unfortunately, because with straight poles, the loaded weight tends to rotate around the virtual axis of the two poles. The Monowalker’s Z-geometry, on the other hand, is modeled after the shape of a dinner fork and allows the weight to rest securely on the hip belt without tipping over.
The Monowalker Fatmate went through several development stages—until the Corona crisis hit and importing and exporting for the upcoming production run was no longer possible. Therefore, I returned to my roots and founded a bicycle repair shop in the middle of the Corona crisis, which was even considered systemically important at that time because it fell under the disaster relief law and – similar to a car repair shop – maintained people’s mobility. For five years now, we have been running the Bike Doctor business with six people.
Although we took a break from producing the Monowalker in recent years—the bike.doctor kept us very busy—the inquiries from all over the world never stopped coming. Thank you for all your positive feedback! The feedback and input from various sources motivated us to rethink this already excellent product from the ground up and make it even more innovative and practical—so that the Monowalker Fatmate can be a constant companion for a wide variety of scenarios.
After six months of development, I am now able to present the new, tool-free foldable Monowalker Fatmate in the spring of 2026. But that’s not all. I’m someone who transports all sorts of things by bike and backpack and loves modular transport systems.
The new Monowalker Carbon Fiber Packframe is the contemporary interpretation of the classic aluminum cargo frame – lightweight, elegantly designed and multifunctional. It can be equipped with our specially developed 40-liter and 80-liter pack bags.
With the “Batwings” attached to the Carbon Fiber Packframe, you can individually transport everything—from groceries and a bag of charcoal to packed lightweight inflatable boats (packrafts)—whether for everyday use or leisure. The modular design leaves nothing to be desired and, thanks to its materials and technical execution, is poised to find its place in many areas of outdoor sports.
The first two Monowalkers were made of wood – initially steam-bent ash, later glider plywood. As the Monowalker grew in popularity, user demands for durability increased, so today the Monowalker is made of aircraft aluminum. Aluminum, like carbon fiber, is energy-intensive to produce, but to meet the demands of the market, we have no choice but to use these materials.
To minimize our environmental footprint, we manufacture the Monowalker in Germany/ Baden-Württemberg, near our assembly workshop, keeping transport distances to a minimum. We assemble it for you in beautiful Freiburg at the bottom of the Black Forest Mountains, where the Monowalker Fatmate is developed and tested.
Kai Fuchs
Founder and developer of the Monowalker Fatmate
