Honest MTB, Gravel & e-MTB Gear Guides

Every buyer’s guide in the stash

Research-based MTB, gravel and e-MTB buyer’s guides, with the short answer from each one. Prices and specs come from the makers’ own pages, and every guide says how it was researched.

Mountain bike gear

• Best MTB Helmets: Smith Forefront 3 Mips is our best overall trail helmet, the Fox Speedframe is the value pick and the Bell Super Air R Spherical is the convertible.
• Best MTB Knee Pads: POC Joint VPD Air for low bulk, Fox Launch Pro for its removable hardcap, or POC Joint VPD 2.0 for a manufacturer-listed Level 2 option.
• Best MTB Flat Pedals: Start with your shoes: the size-specific Crankbrothers Stamp 7, the two-size composite Race Face Chester or the serviceable DMR Vault.

Gravel gear

• Best Gravel Bikes Under $3,000: The Scott Addict Gravel 30 is the best carbon value, the Niner RLT 9 RDO suits bikepacking and big tires, and the Scott Speedster Gravel 10 keeps the cost down.
• Best Gravel Bikes Under $5,000: The Santa Cruz Stigmata 4 CC Rival AXS is the best overall, the Niner ORE 9 RDO is the wireless value pick and the Cervelo Aspero suits fast gravel and racing.
• Best Gravel Bikes Under $10,000: The Santa Cruz Stigmata 4 CC Force AXS RSV is the best overall, the Scott Addict Gravel 20 suits big tires and the Cervelo Aspero-5 is built for racing.
• Best Gravel Bike Tires: Schwalbe G-One RX Pro for rough mixed gravel, Teravail Cannonball Gen 2 for racing and Vittoria Terreno T30 for dry hardpack; we recommend 42 mm minimum.

e-MTB gear

• Full-Power e-MTB Shootout: The Specialized Turbo Levo 4 Comp is the best overall, the Amflow PX Carbon has the most power for the money and the Santa Cruz Vala is the Bosch CX pick.
• Best e-MTB Tires: A Maxxis Assegai front with a Continental Kryptotal-Re rear for mixed terrain, or Pirelli’s e-MTB-specific Scorpion E-MTB M.
• e-MTB lights: The Magicshine ME 2000 V2.0 is our e-MTB pick: a claimed 2,000-lumen headlight that runs off the bike’s motor system.
• e-MTB helmets: The Leatt MTB AllMtn 4.0 is open-face but certified to the ASTM F1952 downhill standard and the Dutch NTA 8776 fast e-bike standard.

Components and accessories

• Best Bike Computers: The Garmin Edge 850 for most gravel and MTB riders, the Edge 1060 for long races and bikepacking, and the Edge 540 for value.
• Best Smart Trainers: The Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 with Zwift Cog and Click suits most riders, the Van Rysel D500 is the direct-drive pick under $500 and the Wahoo KICKR ROLLR keeps your wheel on.
• Best Bike Lights: Outbound Trail Evo is the best all-in-one MTB bar light, the Magicshine Monteer 8000S V2.0 is the most powerful and the Outbound Detour suits gravel.
• Best Tubeless Tire Sealant: In a dry climate, pick a sealant you will actually top off: Orange Seal Endurance for longer intervals, SILCA Ultimate for valve-injected top-ups.
• Hydration Packs for Cycling: Decide on bottles, a pack or both first; the Osprey Raptor 14 is where to start if you want organized tool storage.

Colorado riding

• Colorado E-Bike Laws (2026): A Class 1, 2 or 3 e-bike at or under 750 watts is treated much like a bicycle, but where you can ride depends on who manages the land.