Best Bike Gear of 2024

Helmets

First and foremost, you've got to protect your noggin. All of the bicycle helmets we tested will do the job, but if you're bombing down a steep trail on your enduro, you may want more coverage than if you're pedaling cross country on your top-ranked gravel bike. Different helmet styles have features that may be a better fit. Some may prioritize airflow, ventilation, and comfort, while others put more emphasis on protection and coverage. In the end, it really comes down to your personal preference and riding style.

Budget Bike Helmets

For those just getting into biking or who only go out occasionally, there is no need to spend a fortune on your gear. A budget bike helmet will do the trick and keep you safe while riding from point A to point B.

Road Bike Helmets

If you know you lean heavily toward road cycling, you'll want something sleek, aerodynamic, comfortable, and breathable. These are our top choices, but if you want to peruse your options, we included many different styles when we tested road bike helmets.

Mountain Bike Helmets

Protection is probably the first thing you look for in a helmet, especially if you are a regular on knobby and gnarly trails. While maybe a bit heavier than other styles, the additional coverage, and durability found in a top-rated mountain bike helmet is essential.

Downhill Helmets

Downhill riders who live for jumps, drops, and other hefty obstacles should use a top-rated downhill helmet. They provide the most head coverage, wrapping all the way around the face, and are great for anyone who can't stay away from adrenaline-filled rides but still want to mitigate risks.

Bike Racks, Locks, and Pumps

Getting stuck with a flat is a surefire way to ruin anyone's weekend ride, and worse still is returning from a quick pit stop to find that your bike is not there at all. Of all the bike related gear we have tested, racks, locks, and pumps may not be as enticing as, say, a zippy top-rated electric bike. However, these essential pieces can help get you out and riding and protect you from potential trail mishaps.

Bike Racks

There are several ways to get you and your to the trailhead, but if it is any great distance, you probably don't want to waste your time pedaling there. Enter the bike rack. We've tested the best hitch racks, and our full review of bike racks includes models with different mount and carry styles to best fit your vehicle. Here are our favorites:

Bike Locks

City riders will understand the importance of securing your bike with the best bike lock. However, even if you're not in a city, you may have invested hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in your bike. Trust us on this one: a reliable bike lock is worth it. Here are our top locks:

Bike Pumps

Full-size bike pumps are essential for good bike maintenance and are nice to have around the house or to take with you in the car on your way to the trail. Full-sized versions are a bit heavy, but they fill your tires faster and with less effort than a handheld version.

Frame Pumps

For those who ride especially gnarly routes and are prone to flats, you'll want a pump you can take along with you. A useful frame pump is lightweight enough to keep from slowing you down on those grueling uphill climbs and is 100% worth the added grams when you find yourself in a pinch miles away from home.

Bike Shoes

The shoes you wear to bike in varies significantly from rider to rider, but as with most outdoor activities, your footwear matters. Clipping into your road bike can improve energy transfer and help you squeeze every last drop out of each pedal rotation. Perfectly sticky mountain bike shoes can give you more control over your bike and offer a firm pedaling platform. Whatever your needs, we've got you covered with our favorite bike shoes for each category.

Cycling Shoes

The right pair of shoes is one of the best ways to improve your efficiency and power transfer while pedaling and can also give you a higher degree of control over your bike. Out of the best cycling shoes we tested, these are some of our favorite:

Mountain Bike Shoes

Clipless shoes can up your trail game as well. A stiffer sole offers a platform for energy transfer, and being attached to your pedals allows you to execute more complicated maneuvers while out on the trail. From the dozens of mountain bike shoes we've tested, these are the ones that we prefer to hit the trail in:

Mountain Bike Shoes for Women

Bike shoes that are specific to women differ in that they typically run slightly more narrow than their male-specific counterparts and may also come in different colors. These are the top shoes as chosen by our testers:

Flat Mountain Bike Shoes

You may prefer flat pedals depending on your riding style and comfort level. However, you can still find mountain bike-specific flat shoes that offer grippy soles and tread patterns, support, ventilation, and protective features, all of which are intended to improve your performance on the trail.

Flat Mountain Bike Shoes for Women

Women's flat pedal shoes offer many of the same features such as grippy rubber and better ventilation, support, and protections. However, they usually have a more narrow heel cup and less volume in the toe box to accommodate smaller feet. Here are some of our top choices for women:

Bike Accessories And Components

While not always necessary, certain accessories can add elements of comfort and convenience to your ride. Hip packs, and knee pads keep you safe and hydrated, while the ever-handy bike multi-tool is an accessory many would consider essential. Solid upgrades to your components, like new flat pedals, extra knobby tires for your mountain bike, or the top-rated mountain bike wheels, can elevate your riding to a new level without breaking the bank. These are some of the best add-ons for any biker:

Bike Phone Mounts

If you bike in the city or take long tours on your road bike, you may understand the importance of keeping the open map on your phone front and center. Here are our picks for bike phone mounts:

Mountain Bike Tires

A set of mountain bike tires is one of the most accessible and affordable upgrades you can make to your bike. With very little time and effort, you can go from slipping and sliding around corners to digging into sharp turns. Here are a few sets that we recommend:

Mountain Bike Hip Packs

Opting for a hip pack rather than a backpack can lighten your load and lower your center of gravity, making you feel more stable when tackling steep lines. We tested a bunch of great bike hip packs, but these are the options that we like the best:

Mountain Bike Knee Pads

As much as we try to avoid it, crashing is inevitable if you ride your bike frequently, and your knees can often take the brunt of the fall. Investing in a pair of knee pads for mountain biking gives your body a better chance of staying intact. These are a few of our preferred styles:

Mountain Bike Pedals

Your pedals are one of your most vital points of connection with your bike. You'll want to choose a set that helps you feel confident and stable in your stance. Of our favorite mountain bike pedals, these are the ones that really stand out:

Mountain Bike Flat Pedals

If you prefer the freedom of flat mountain bike pedals and shoes, we looked at some of the top options available and chose our favorites. Below are the models that offer the best combination of grip and stability without clipping in. See our bike pedal review for a broader selection of pedals.

Bike Seats

Part of tailoring your bike to your riding style is finding the best bike seat. No matter if you prioritize comfort or weight, there is a seat out there that will support your tush through thick and thin. If you're not sure how to narrow it down, these are some of the ones we prefer:

Bike Saddles

If you are in the market for the best bike saddle for your road bike, we got our hands on a group of the top models, all sleek and streamlined, and selected our favorites. These are the ones that made it to the top ranks:

Mountain Bike Saddles

Mountain riders look for slightly different features in their saddle, and so there is an entirely different market of options to choose from. We rode on some of the top-ranked mountain bike saddles, and these are the ones that we like the best:

Bike Computers

If you are training for a race, tracking your fitness, or are just curious about the details of your ride, a top-rated bike computer if a nifty little device to bring on your cycling journey. Out of the best options available today, there are a few that we would recommend to a friend:

Bike Multitools

If you are going any further than the coffee shop down the street, every rider should keep a multi-tool handy and ready for any mishaps while on the road or trail. Our favorite multi-tools are easy to use and have enough variety to come in handy in almost any scenario.

Dropper Posts

Dropper posts are the easiest way to upgrade your downhill ride experience. Keeping a lower center of gravity makes turning more enjoyable and makes it more likely you won't fly over the handlebars.

Bike Apparrel

Bike seats built for performance aren't always the most comfortable, and protecting your tush is essential when you start getting into longer and more consistent rides. It is important to find the right shorts for any occasion, on or off the trail, and bike-specific styles are designed to keep you cool, comfy, and chafe-free through your most intense sessions.

Bike Shorts

Those who prefer pavement riding will want a pair of bike shorts or bibs for maximum ease of movement. These are the top-performing styles in our testing:

Bike Shorts for Women

The best women's bike shorts are explicitly tailored to fit a woman's frame and provide compression in the right areas. Some of our favorite styles are included below:

Mountain Bike Shorts

The type of riding you do will influence what you look for in your biking attire. On single-track trails that wind through bushes and forests, you'll want more protection; longer lengths and tougher fabric are two hallmark traits of mountain-style shorts for both men and women. These are the best mountain bike shorts for men:

Mountain Bike Shorts for Women

Again, mountain bike shorts made for women perform similar to men's in the amount of protection and comfort offered, but they come in different cuts and colors that cater to a woman's anatomy. These are our top choices for lady riders:

Why Trust GearLab

At GearLab, we love all things biking. Whether you're looking for a perfect bike shorts, a set of road bike pedals, or a budget pair of bike shoes, we've tested it all. For over a decade, our team of experts have been getting outside with the latest biking gear and pushing the products to their limits so we can find the top performers. We start the process by researching the top gear on the market and narrowing down our selections to include only the best of the best. We then purchase the gear and develop an unbiased rating system to score each product throughout the testing process.

Our all-star roster of testers includes Joshua Hutchens, Zach Wick, Jeremy Benson, and Rebecca Eckland. Joshua Hutchens is our Senior Mountain Bike Review Editor and leads our team of bike testers. He has spent virtually his whole life in, on, and around bikes and got his start racing BMX and working in a bike shop at the age of 12. Since then, Joshua has lead numerous bicycle trips, owned a boutique bike shop, co-founded an indoor bike park, and raced in every cycling discipline (but still prefers his mountain bikes). Zach Wick has been riding mountain bikes since he was a kid and lives and spends more time on a bike than off. He is a state champion road cyclist, an elite mountain bike racer and does just about everything else in between. Jeremy Benson is a gravel and mountain bike racer who has been riding for three decades. Benson is also the author of Mountain Bike Tahoe, a mountain biking guidebook for the Lake Tahoe area. Rebecca Eckland is a former USAC Cat 3 Road bike racer, winner of the 600-mile California Triple Crown Stage race, and does everything from racing bikes to commuting. She knows firsthand the importance of having good gear for comfort and success. These three experts researched and tested these award-winning products.

How to Choose The Best Bike Gear

To help kickstart your bike gear quiver, we've provided four important buying considerations, including budget, riding style, and must-have gear.

Where to Start?

When building out your quiver of bike gear, it's wise to consider the most important areas worth investing in early on. While you can probably get by without aftermarket saddles and tires, other gear, such as a proper helmet, is downright necessary. A good rule of thumb is to start with gear that prioritizes safety and then look for other gear that can improve performance. Inexpensive but important gear such as multi-tools and bike locks are great accessories that provide increased levels of safety and last a long time.

Whats Your Riding Style?

It's also important to consider what type of riding you usually do and how that affects the type of gear you invest in. A biker who focuses on downhill and enduro racing will absolutely need a full-face helmet and knee pads, while a biker who just uses their bike to commute will prioritize a bike lock and pump. While most of us wish we had unlimited funds, thinking about what gear is most applicable to your typical riding helps save that hard-earned dough.

Is Clothing Important?

Once you've checked the boxes and found the right safety essentials, it's time to find clothing and shoes. A good pair of shoes is especially important for newer riders to help with foot placement and grip. Bike-oriented clothing also helps keep you more comfortable and ready to tackle anything from long, hot summer days to cold fall mornings.

What About Components?

After you've got your essentials dialed in, it's time for the more enticing side of bike gear: the components. Whether it's upgrading your bike with a new dropper or finding the right tires for your terrain, key upgrades can vastly improve confidence and performance. Ideally, component upgrades should help improve the riding characteristics of your bike. Manufacturers often equip bikes with certain kits and specifications with room to improve. If you notice your tires are having difficulty grabbing on turns, it might be time for a new set, or if you feel like you could improve your braking with a new set of brakes, that could be the answer. When looking for components, we recommend starting with the highest priorities and avoiding upgrading parts out of FOMO.

Conclusion

As much as you may want to hop on your bike and go, even the most minimalist of riders needs a few items to help them prepare for a day on the trail or road. After getting our hands on hundreds of top products, and years of personal riding experience on all types of terrain, we have dialed in on what makes a piece of bike gear worth the purchase and share our top recommendations with you here. If you want more in-depth info, our Buying Advice articles will help guide you through the ins and outs of our major categories to help with your decision. And if you need some help choosing your next two wheels, check out our best bike review that spans multiple bicycle categories.