The Best Mountain Bikes of 2025: Staff Picks

If you thrive on a fast, flowy singletrack (think banked turns, pumping rollers and smooth descents), the Rocky Mountain Element Alloy 30 is built to manage your energy. This responsive mountain bike offers the perfect balance between speed and control, making it a popular choice for riders who want to climb with ease and descend with confidence.

“The geometry of this bike is the perfect middle ground for a flow trail,” says Allison Williams, a buyer for bike clothing and accessories at REI. “A 130 mm trail bike is just what you need.” To customize your ride, the RIDE-4 adjustment system lets you dial in the geometry so you can better match the trail or your preferred riding style.

A steep seat tube angle keeps you centered on steep climbs, while the 29-inch wheels and 2.4-inch Maxxis tires let you roll fast and stay planted, even on loose corners. This full-suspension bike lets you do a little bit of everything without losing momentum.

With space for two water bottles, you’ll stay hydrated whether tackling short laps or dusty all-day trail adventures. Available in four sizes for riders 5’1” to 6’6.” Buy here.

The DRT 3.3 from Co-op Cycles helps beginners feel confident while delivering the performance that experienced riders want when negotiating technical singletrack. Its approachable price also endears it to entry-level riders, and yet the build includes quality components that appeal to the full ability spectrum and make this model an incredible value.

"The four-piston brakes are very strong, ensuring controlling speed on the descent," says Robert Blazoff, a retail specialist in the Northville, Michigan, REI store. Two-piston models cost less but typically deliver less stopping power. Paired with large, 180mm Shimano rotors, the Shimano Deore disc brakes scrub excess speed in a jiffy. That reassures tentative riders, and the shorter stopping distance also helps experts maintain momentum. Smaller sizes incorporate 27.5-inch wheels, while larger riders get 29-inch hoops. Doing so optimizes the bike's weight and handling for the size of its intended rider. And at 2.4 inches wide, the Maxxis tires balance rolling efficiency with confidence-boosting traction. Says Blazoff, "It will provide grip even on the steepest root-filled rocky technical climb." Thus, the DRT 3.3 provides all-around performance at a great price. Buy here.

When the trail gets rough, the Rocky Mountain Altitude Alloy 50 delivers. Technical terrain – including chunky rock gardens, steep switchbacks and unruly descents – meets its match with this mountain bike that’s built for enduro riding and gnarly terrain.

“Its purpose-built to go fast and handle steep trails,” says Williams. “It’s going to eat up everything that you throw at it.” A full suspension bike, with 170mm of front travel and 160mm in the rear, the Altitude smooths out even the harshest terrain, so you can stay confident and composed.

The RIDE-4 adjustment system lets you tweak the geometry to match trail conditions, all with a single Allen key. It rolls on 29-inch wheels fitted with grippy 2.5-inch front and 2.4-inch back tires, offering superior traction and stability through technical corners, loose rocks and slick roots.

If your idea of a great ride involves a mix of speed, rowdy terrain and a little chaos, the Altitude Alloy 50 is up for the challenge. It comes in four sizes to fit riders from 5’1” to 6’6.”  Buy here.

The Moterra SL 2 electric mountain bike from Cannondale is a lightweight, yet powerful electric mountain bike that excels on both technical climbs and fast, flowy descents. Weighing just over 45 lbs., it’s one of the lightest full-power e-MTBs out there—deftly balancing performance and ease.

Built with a lightweight carbon fiber frame, the Moterra SL2 houses a custom 601Wh battery that offers a 43-mile range with four levels of assist – from eco to turbo – so you can adjust power as needed during your ride. “You can go on longer rides endurance-wise, because you have the battery helping you,” says Williams.

Equipped with the Shimano EP801 motor, the bike provides smooth, responsive assistance, while the full suspension (160mm front, 150mm rear) absorbs bumps for a comfortable and controlled ride, even on rough, unpredictable terrain. Its mixed-wheel setup (29-inch front, 27.5-inch rear) lets you be both nimble and playful. The Flip Chip feature lets you convert to 29-inch wheels at both ends for enhanced traction and stability.

A versatile bike that can handle technical trails, long days and variable riding styles, the Moterra SL 2 makes it easier – and more fun – to tackle any trail you can find. Keep in mind, this bike does not come with pedals. Buy here.

This bike is not just for shorter people. Offered in sizes ranging from XS to XL, the Habit 4 represents excellent value in a mid-travel bike built for smooth-packed dirt and moderately technical trails. The Habit 4 from Cannondale accommodates the not-tall end of the size spectrum with an appealingly shorter reach (405mm in the XS), a low standover height (37.8 inches in the XS) and size-specific engineering. Instead of simply shrinking size Medium, Cannondale tweaks the geometry of each frame size so it performs best for the intended rider. Size-specific suspension kinematics further ensure that the smallest (and biggest) riders all enjoy optimal handling.

The setup also strives to balance uphill and downhill capability and results in a major fun factor on all parts of the trail. The 77.5-degree effective seat tube angle places the rider in a forward position that helps conquer climbs. The 65.5-degree head tube angle hits the sweet spot for ups and downs: It lets riders maintain control over the front wheel while gaining elevation and offers stability during descents. It's the jack-of-all trades trail bike that lets enthusiasts enjoy easy paths, ambitious singletrack, and bermed corners in lift-served bike parks. Buy here.

This is no bike-path build. The Timberjack SLX 29 from Salsa uses a long, low and slack geometry that delivers stability through rough trail features. The front end features a 66-degree head tube angle to soak up big roots and rocks. That, combined with the 130mm front fork and the larger wheels' ability to create a smooth ride over lumpy singletrack, helps this hardtail conquer technical routes.

It pairs the long wheelbase with short chainstays (420mm to 437mm) that keep the handling from feeling sluggish. The design feels snappy in turns and makes this bike a wheelie machine: The rigid frame lets riders execute bunny-hops and manuals with less effort.

At 33 pounds, it's not the lightest hardtail available (its weight is comparable to many mid-travel full-suspension bikes) but it's less expensive—without sacrificing quality components. The Shimano drivetrain and MT brakes promise excellent durability and low-fuss maintenance. And because the frame includes Salsa's alternator dropout, riders can customize the geometry to adapt to their needs: You can lengthen the chainstays to improve stability at high speeds or while bikepacking, or achieve enough chain tension to turn the rig into a single-speed. Buy here.

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