You’ve bought the bike and mastered the skills. Now, you need to stock up and get the gear you need for your adventures. We’ve prepared this mountain biking gear list to help you sort through the essentials, the nice to have and the luxurious.
Mountain biking trips become memorable when they take an unexpected turn. With the right preparation, the surprises become the highlight of a great biking tale. Weather can turn on you; your bike can break; even your own body can rebel if you’re hungry or thirsty. This list will help you get through the challenges and enjoy your ride.
Here at The Adventure Junkies, we’re passionate about the outdoors. We’ve been in tricky situations and know what worked well when challenges arose. We’ve prepared this list to give you a leg-up for your own adventures.
HOW TO USE THIS PACKING LIST
This list will tell you what to buy, what to use it for, how much it should cost, and then share our top picks in each category. Let’s break down each of the fields we use to define the categories.
PURPOSE: What does the gear do? What use will you get out of it?
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Should you just stay home without this? The item will say “yes” next to this field if it’s absolutely necessary.
PRICE RANGE: To help you budget, this range will give a rough idea on pricing and cost.
LOOK FOR: Our quick considerations in selecting an item.
LEARN MORE: An article on how to select this gear.
BEST MODELS: An article listing the 10 best items for this category.
ATHLETIC CLOTHES
MOUNTAIN BIKE SHORTS
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
PURPOSE: Improve Your Comfort On A Ride
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $30 – $100
LOOK FOR: Quality Chamois Padding And Friction-Less Stitching
OUR MEN’S PICK: Pearl Izumi Men’s Elevate
OUR WOMEN’S PICK: Pearl Izumi Women’s Elevate
BEST MODELS: Top 10 Mountain Bike Shorts
HALF-FINGER MOUNTAIN BIKE GLOVES
PURPOSE: Protect Hands From Friction, Vibration And In Crashes
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $9 – $30
LOOK FOR: A Good Fit, Easy Removal
OUR MEN’S PICK: Fox Men’s Ranger Short Gloves
OUR WOMEN’S PICK: Specialized Grail
BEST MODELS: Top 10 Mountain Bike Gloves
SHORT-SLEEVE JERSEYS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Snag-Free Sweat-Wicking Top Layer
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $20 – $120
LOOK FOR: Blended Fabrics, Good Zippers, Useful Back Pockets
OUR MEN’S PICK: Pearl Izumi Quest
OUR WOMEN’S PICK: Zerobike Short Sleeve
SUNGLASSES
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Eye Protection From Rocks And Sun
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $20 – $100
LOOK FOR: Polarized, Shatterproof, Replaceable Lens
OUR PICK: Tsafrer Polarized Sunglasses
FOOTWEAR
MOUNTAIN BIKING SOCKS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keep Feet Comfortable And Dry
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $8 – $20
LOOK FOR: Wicking Fabric, Good Fit
OUR MEN’S PICK: Pearl Izumi Ride Elite
OUR WOMEN’S PICK: DeFeet Aireator Joy
MOUNTAIN BIKING SHOES
PURPOSE: Secure, Stable Riding On Clip Or Flat Pedals
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $60 – $200
LOOK FOR: Snag-Free Lacing And A Good Fit
OUR MEN’S PICK: Giro Grynd
OUR WOMEN’S PICK: Pearl Izumi X-Alp Seek
BEST MODELS: Top 10 Mountain Bike Shoes
NAVIGATION
MOUNTAIN BIKE GPS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Wayfinding, Route Planning
ESSENTIAL ITEM? Depends On Area Knowledge
PRICE RANGE: $80 – $600
LOOK FOR: Good Battery Life, Easy To Use
OUR PICK: Garmin Edge 520
BEST MODELS: Top 10 Mountain Bike GPS
MAPS AND GUIDES
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
PURPOSE: Wayfinding, Route Planning
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $18 – $25
LOOK FOR: Color Maps, Detailed Descriptions
OUR PICK: Mountain Biking Moab
SAFETY GEAR
HELMETS
PURPOSE: Protects Your Head
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $80 – $100
LOOK FOR: Comfortable Straps And Buckles, Air Vents
OUR MEN’S PICK: Giro Montaro Mips
OUR WOMEN’S PICK: Giro Montaro Mips Women
BEST MODELS: Top 10 Mountain Bike Helmets
LIGHTS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Make Your Bike And Trail Visible
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes At Night
PRICE RANGE: $20 – $350
LOOK FOR: Brightness, Settings, Battery Life
OUR PICK: NiteRider Pro 1800
BEST MODELS: Top 10 Best Mountain Bike Lights
ELBOW AND KNEE PADS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Protect Joints In Crashes
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Only For BMX Or Hardcore Trail Riders
PRICE RANGE: $25 – $200
LOOK FOR: Rigid Yet Comfortable Protection
OUR PICK: JBM BMX Pads
CLOTHING FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER
FULL-FINGER MOUNTAIN BIKE GLOVES
PURPOSE: Protect Hands From Friction, Vibration, Cold Weather, And Crashes
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depending On Temperature
PRICE RANGE: $15 – $20
LOOK FOR: Good Fit, Warmth
OUR MEN’S PICK: Troy Lee Designs XC
OUR WOMEN’S PICK: Troy Lee Designs XC Women
BEST MODELS: Top 10 Mountain Bike Gloves
JACKETS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keep Rain Off Your Core
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depending On Weather
PRICE RANGE: $150 – $250
LOOK FOR: Ventilation, Water-Proofing
OUR MEN’S PICK: Showers Pass Men’s Elite 2.1
OUR WOMEN’S PICK: Showers Pass Women’s Elite 2.1
BEST MODELS: Top 10 Mountain Bike Jackets
RAINPROOF SHOE COVERS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keep Shoes Dry
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depending On Weather
PRICE RANGE: $20 – $40
LOOK FOR: Fit
OUR PICK: Bikeroo Shoe Protectors
CLOTHING FOR COLD WEATHER
THERMAL JACKET
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keep Core Temperature Warm
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depending On Weather
PRICE RANGE: $30 – $100
LOOK FOR: Warmth, Fit, Good Zippers
OUR PICK: Wolfbike Fleece
THERMAL SHOE COVERS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Keep Feet Warm
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Depending On Temperature
PRICE RANGE: $50 – $60
LOOK FOR: Warmth, Fit
OUR PICK: Endura MT500
BEST MODELS: Top 10 Mountain Bike Jackets
FOOD AND DRINK
HYDRATION PACKS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Convenient Access To Water Or Sports Drink
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $25 – $75
LOOK FOR: Easy To Wear, Proper Capacity For Your Trip
OUR PICK: Camelback Hydrobag
BEST MODELS: Top 10 Mountain Bike Hydration Packs
FOOD BARS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Bigger Snacks While Riding
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $1
LOOK FOR: Flavor, Calorie Quantity
OUR PICK: Clif Energy Bar Value Pack
GEL SNACKS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Stave Off Hunger And Fuel Up On The Trail With Quick Bites
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $1
LOOK FOR: Flavor, Calorie Quantity
OUR PICK: Clif Bloks Energy Chews
TRAIL-SIDE TOOLS & REPAIR
MULTI-TOOL
PURPOSE: Fix Common Bike Problems
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $30 – $50
LOOK FOR: Useful Wrenches And Variety
OUR PICK: Topeak Alien
MINI-BIKE PUMP
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Inflate Tires After Flat
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $20 – $40
LOOK FOR: High-Pressure And Small Size
OUR PICK: Mini Bike Pump
PATCH KIT FOR PUNCTURES
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Cover Up Puncture Holes On Innertube
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: Yes
PRICE RANGE: $6 – $9
LOOK FOR: Easy Adhesive
OUR PICK: Oumers Inner Tube Repair Kit
TRANSPORTATION
ROOF RACK FOR CARS
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Carry Bikes On Top Of Vehicle
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $50 – $100
LOOK FOR: Easy Installation And Secure Carrying
OUR PICK: Swagman Upright Roof Rack
BEST MODELS: Top 10 Mountain Bike Racks
REAR RACK FOR CAR
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Amazon
PURPOSE: Carry Bikes Behind Vehicle
ESSENTIAL ITEM?: No
PRICE RANGE: $30 – $60
LOOK FOR: Easy Setup And Removal
OUR PICK: Allen Sports 2-Bike Trunk Mount
BEST MODELS: Top 10 Mountain Bike Racks
PERSONAL ITEMS & ACCESSORIES
READ MORE
For more of our top mountain biking gear recommendations, check out these popular buyer's guides: