The 8 Best Mountain Bikes to Change Up Your Workouts

For runners in search of an alternative sport that can serve as a fun and especially on technical terrain, and can even work for some light-duty—look no further than mountain biking. An excellent cross-training exercise for runners, mountain biking can help build muscle in areas that are typically undeveloped in runners (think glutes and core).

Hopping on a bike is another way to challenge yourself by mixing up your regular training plan or incorporating a new workout in the off-season. A huge benefit of mountain biking: it’s considered more “low impact” than running. It allows you to boost your cardiovascular endurance while giving your muscles a break from higher-impact running.

The Best Shoes at the 2024 London Marathon trail runner? Mountain biking can serve as a beneficial way to explore trails and cover more ground—a quick and fun way to scope out your next run. Climbing a steep single track on a bike will give you that good suffer-fest that most athletes live for and cherish.

The different options, customizations, and styles (not to mention the upfront cost of this sport) might feel overwhelming, but it’s manageable if you know what you need to get started. Whether it’s a full suspension downhill shred machine or a hardtail cross country bike, I’ve picked my favorites. Read on to find the mountain bike that's best for you.

Best Mountain Bikes

• Affordable Full Suspension: Marin Rift Zone 2
• in. XS,S, 29-in. M,L: Cannondale Scalpel HT Carbon 3
• Best Women's Full Suspension: Liv Intrigue Advanced
• Great Beginner Bike: Cannondale Trail 5
• Great First Race Bike: Trek Marlin 7

The Expert: As a Pacific Northwest native, I’m an avid skier (alpine and backcountry), mountain biker, and kiteboarder. Simply put, I enjoy all things outdoor sports related. I didn't start mountain biking until I was an adult but hit the ground running. Along with my husband, I have tested and ridden countless types of mountain bikes over the years. Most recently, we traveled to Italy to explore trails in Finale Ligure on the Italian Riviera.

What To Consider When Buying a Mountain Bike

Types of Mountain Bikes

The kind of riding you plan to do will help determine the style of mountain bike you should purchase.

Suspension

There are one of two types of suspension on your average mountain bike—hardtail or full suspension. Hardtail mountain bikes have a front fork suspension. Full suspension bikes have both front fork suspension and rear suspension.

A hardtail bike will usually be lighter, easier for climbs, and is better suited for cross-country-style mountain biking, while a full suspension bike offers more comfort riding through technical terrain, a cushier feel, and is better equipped for downhill riding that involves jumps or drops. The decision is dependent on riding style and budget. On average, though, full suspension bikes are more expensive than hardtails.

Hardtail

If you’re interested in logging miles and don’t mind climbing, a hardtail mountain bike is for you. Hardtail bikes only have a front fork for suspension (no rear suspension), which allows the bike to climb uphill more efficiently. Keep in mind, however, that you'll lose some of the cushion/absorption on the descent. Most cross-country bikes fall within this category. If you’re a runner who might enjoy a longer ride, and your priority is efficiency on climbs over downhill performance, go for a hardtail.

Full Suspension

A full-suspension/trail mountain bike has both front and rear shocks to help absorb rough terrain. This is the catch-all for the average rider. Most full suspension bikes are capable of handling rugged downhill single track, varied terrain as well as manage uphill climbs.

There are varieties of full suspension bikes, including “Enduro” and “downhill.” Enduro bikes are built more for downhill racing with longer travel and slack geometry but are still capable of efficient climbing. Downhill-specific bikes are designed for just that—downhill riding. The massive suspension allows for high speeds and big drops yet you’ll sacrifice uphill performance.

E-MTBs

For lower impact rides or if you want to cover more ground in less time, E-mountain bikes have become incredibly popular. The latest technology and designs are lighter in weight and handle more like a regular bike. Most large bike manufacturers now have E-bikes in their lineups.

Sizing

Frame size and wheel size are keys to finding the right fit with a bike. The majority of adult mountain bikes come with 27.5-inch or 29-inch wheels. Generally, the larger 29-inch wheels offer more speed and stability while the 27.5-inch wheels deliver a more responsive “snappy” feel as the smaller wheel accelerates a bit faster.

Shorter/smaller riders might want to try a bike with 27.5-inch wheels, while taller riders may prefer one with 29-inch wheels. There is also a new style of bike that has emerged in recent years. The mixed-wheel or “mullet” bike is set up with a 29-inch wheel in the front and a 27.5-inch wheel in the rear.

This mixed-wheel style is better suited for fast, technical terrain, as it provides more control in the front and more clearance in the rear and, therefore, may be best for more advanced riders. Frame sizes usually run S, M, L, and XL and are determined based on height. Some brands also offer custom sizing with the additions of XS and XXL frames.

Gearing

Many modern mountain bikes are equipped with one (1x) drivetrain—a single chainring on the crank. These drivetrains are simpler, lower maintenance, quieter, and less likely to drop the chain than 2x or 3x drivetrains. At the rear, many 1x bikes have 10, 11, or 12 aka “eagle” rings which offer more range and tighter jumps between gears.

While there are less expensive mountain bikes with 2x or 3x drivetrains, for this roundup I have focused on the newer and more advanced mountain biking technology. The latest trend in the mountain bike world is a drivetrain with electronic shifting. This can be seen on e-mountain bikes but now it’s being used on standard pedal bikes as well.

Seatpost

A standard seatpost is adjustable by hand to the height of the rider. Many riders will lower their seatpost when riding downhill to allow more maneuverability and raise their seatpost again when climbing uphill.

A dropper seatpost or “dropper” is an integrated cable (or in some cases electronic) which allows the rider to quickly adjust the height of the saddle with the use of a lever usually located on the handlebar. This saves time and eliminates inconvenience of making manual adjustments. Many new mid- to high-end mountain bikes come stock with a dropper post.

How We Selected These Mountain Bikes

Based on my knowledge of many of these brands and types of bikes, I have picked the mountain bikes featured below as the best ones for runners who may want to invest in a mountain bike. Many factors are at play when determining which mountain bike is best for you, so I evaluated these on the key factors like the quality of parts/components, value, my experience riding similar models, and how the overall package meets the needs of the intended rider. These are the mountain bikes to try now.