This year鈥檚 round-up of trail mountain bikes ranges from hard-charging, downhill-oriented crushers to more cross-country-style rippers. Our testers and editors tested 25 trail bikes in the category from Bellingham to Squamish, in all kinds of conditions. After months of testing, these picks are the ones that came out on top.

Updated May 2025: We added three new bikes to this list for 2025, including our new Editors’ Choice pick, the Canyon Spectral. We also updated pricing and info on bikes we previously tested and still highly recommend.听

Best Trail Mountain Bikes at a Glance

• Editors’ Choice:
• Best Adjustability:
• Best Value:
• Best Descender:
• Best High-Pivot:
• Most Versatile:
• Best for Getting Air:
• How to Choose a Trail Mountain Bike
• How We Test Trail Bikes
• Meet the Lead Testers

Editors’ Choice

Canyon Spectral

Build: CF9
Weight: 32.4 lb (size M)
Travel: 140 mm rear, 150 mm fork
Frame: Carbon
Wheels: 29″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Versatile
鈯� Good value
鈯� Supportive suspension
鈯� Not a lot of room for a water bottle

Canyon’s goal with the latest version of the Spectral was to make it more of an all-around trail bike, as opposed to an all-mountain rig. As we’ve established, mountain bike categories are harder to define than ever, but to accomplish that goal, Canyon reduced the rear travel by 10 millimeters, dropping it to 140 millimeters, and equipped the bike with a 150-millimeter fork. The bike can be set up with dual 29-inch wheels (the way we tested it) or with mixed wheels, thanks to a flip chip on the chainstay. Other than the change in rear travel, the other main revision to the Spectral was the addition of in-frame storage. It’s not the roomiest compartment out there, but it’s a handy spot to stash a tube, tire levers, and a CO2 inflator just in case.

The new Spectral has the snappy, energetic manners that you’d hope to find in a trail bike. Step on the pedals and it happily surges forward鈥攖here isn’t any wallowing down or sluggishness. The head angle is on the slacker side, but that didn’t seem to hinder its uphill abilities.

Rather than feeling like a slightly shorter travel enduro bike, the Spectral feels at home on a broader range of trails. It’s just as entertaining to ride on smooth, flowy singletrack as it is on tighter, jankier trails. The suspension sits high when you want it to, but still provides enough traction to keep that rear wheel tracking on choppier climbs.

The supportive suspension that helps the Spectral shine on the climbs translates very nicely to the descents鈥攊t was a crowd pleaser on faster, flowier trails, where you could really push it into steep bermed turns and pump every roller to for maximum speed. On rougher, natural tracks, the fact that there’s less travel than bikes like the Santa Cruz Bronson is noticeable, but it never felt chattery or overwhelmed. Even without a hydraulic bottom-out feature on the shock, there weren’t any harsh bottom-out events, and it saw its fair share of sizeable sends.

Yes, you’ll feel more feedback compared to those longer travel options, but the Spectral does a very good job of managing its travel. Smack into something hard and it’s like punching a memory foam mattress. The Spectral is one of those bikes that’s easy to recommend to just about any rider, no matter their skill level. It’s tons of fun on mellower, more meandering terrain, and it can still hang on rougher, rowdier trails. It鈥檚 a versatile trail bike that left us impressed by its unflappable nature in a wide variety of terrain.

Best Adjustability

Trek Top Fuel

Build: 9.9 XX AXS
Weight: 28.2 lbs (size L)
Travel: 120 mm, 130 mm fork
Frame: Carbon
Wheels: 29″ (MX compatible with 140 mm fork)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Wide range of adjustment
鈯� Clean-looking frame
鈯� All modern amenities included
鈯� Underpowered brakes
鈯� Should be lighter for the price

It’s easy to obsess over a bike’s actual weight, but there’s something to be said about how a bike feels out on the trail. With the Top Fuel, it feels fast and eager to accelerate, even with tires and wheels that aren’t all that light. The Top Fuel manages to be quick and efficient without any harshness, a feat that’s not easy to accomplish. The suspension remains calm under harder pedaling, while retaining enough compliance to keep chunkier climbs from feeling jarring.

The geometry is nicely balanced, too: the chainstay length and overall wheelbase have grown compared to the last model, but if anything, I’d say that improves the bike’s handling while climbing and descending. On the climbs, it helps create a more centered position, which makes it easier to maintain traction on steep sections or to pause for a brief trackstand in the middle of a particularly tricky jumble of roots.

With the Top Fuel Gen 4, when the trail points downhill, the handling is quick without feeling sketchy. It’s right at home on rolling, meandering trails, and it does a great job of maintaining speed on descents that require pumping and pedaling to avoid getting hung up. Just like on the climbs, there’s support for those moments when an extra pedal stroke or two is required, and enough small bump sensitivity to keep the wheels gripping on slippery, awkward sections of trail.

At its core, the Top Fuel is a truly excellent bike, a prime example of how well-rounded a modern trail bike can be. Sure, it’s not as light as it once was, and there are a few spec choices that could be improved, but the ride quality and sheer number of possible configurations help make up for that. For riders on the hunt for a bike they can customize to perfectly suit their favorite local trails, the Top Fuel is well worth considering.

Best Value Trail Bike

Specialized Stumpjumper 15

Build: Comp Alloy
Weight: 36 lbs (s4)
Travel: 145 mm, 150 mm fork
Frame: Aluminum frame
Wheels: 29″ or MX

Pros and Cons
鈯� Sensitive suspension
鈯� Extensive adjustment capabilities
鈯� Descends like a bigger bike
鈯� Heavy

The Stumpjumper is Specialized’s now ubiquitous do-everything trail bike, with adjustability and adaptability integral to the bike’s character. This year’s update to the 15th iteration of the bike wasn’t some massive overhaul, but more of a refinement, with very similar geometry to the outgoing Stumpjumper EVO, and the introduction of the Genie shock. While not necessarily required, this shock is core to the bike’s purported improvement in suspension performance, and does achieve some impressive marks on paper.

The Stumpy’s ability to hum through rough and technical terrain is very impressive, thanks in part to its active suspension feel. Rear wheel traction is plentiful, meaning you can focus on putting down power without worrying about spinning out when things get tricky.

As terrain smooths out and climbs hit a more consistent gradient, the Stumpjumper 15 isn’t the most energetic of the bunch, due more to the active suspension and slack seat angle. Those looking to maximize the pep in the new Stumpjumper platform would benefit from adding more spacers to the Genie to reduce the extra volume and add some support through the main portion of the stroke. There’s a tradeoff with grip, but that’s to be expected.

The Stumpjumper 15 shines brightest in its stock setup, with the neutral headset orientation and high bottom bracket setting. No painting yourself into a corner鈥攖his is simply where the Stumpy feels most adaptable and ready to tackle varied terrain.

The geometry and corresponding handling of the bike feels natural, intuitive, and well-rounded, which lends itself to the varied riding one might expect to do on a capable trail bike. A few of us regularly referred to the bike as “safe” feeling, thanks to an easygoing nature that managed to extend even into some pretty gnarly sections of trail.

The Stumpjumper 15 should work well for new riders and experienced folks alike, growing with that skillset and adapting well to changes in terrain.

Best Descender

Scor 2030 GX

Build: 2030 GX
Weight: 29.9 lbs (size M/L)
Travel: 120 mm, 140 mm fork
Frame: Carbon
Wheels: 29″

Pros and Cons
鈯� It’s a better descender than most 120-millimeter travel bikes
鈯� Very quiet, no cable rattle or excessive chainslap
鈯� Your enduro bike might start collecting dust

It only takes one three-letter word to summarize why the Scor 2030 is our 2024 Editor鈥檚 Choice winner: FUN. With its stubby back end and relatively slack head angle, the 2030 is incredibly entertaining, especially on technical, rolling terrain. Pumping, manualing, and jumping are the 2030’s strong suits, but it also squeezes every last drop of performance out of its 120 millimeters of rear travel. That trait allows it to shine brighter than most bikes in this travel bracket when faced with chunky, technical sections of trail.

The 2030 is more focused on the descents than some other bikes in this category (like the), but Scor’s designers didn’t forget that it needs to go uphill, too. It’s an energetic pedaler, free of any wallowing or mushiness while still delivering enough traction to keep that low-profile Rekon tire from spinning wildly. The perfect balance between efficiency and grip can be tricky to achieve, but the 2030 does it very well. It has the quickness you’d hope to get from a 120-millimeter bike without any accompanying harshness.

The geometry plays a large part in how comfortable the bike feels in the steeps, but the suspension deserves a mention, too: the Deluxe Ultimate shock is very well controlled, with a smooth ramp up at the bottom of the stroke. It’s a trait we noticed with the Scor 4060 a couple of years ago鈥攖here’s no harshness towards the end of the travel, which makes it easier to plop off a drop or push through a pointy rock garden without worrying about running out of travel.

Yes, there are limits鈥攚e’re still talking about a 120-millimeter trail bike here鈥攁nd I’m not about to say it can go wheel-to-wheel with a full-on enduro bike. However, the fact that it can handle those more technical trails while also remaining entertaining on mellower ones is worth noting. The suspension opens up nicely at higher speeds, and it can deal with quick impacts very well.

The frame itself ticks all the boxes when it comes to the features we’d expect to see on a modern trail bike鈥攖here’s in-frame storage, angle-adjusting headset cups, well-sealed bearings, and effective chainslap protection that keeps the 2030 satisfyingly silent. The 2030 is one of those bikes that makes you want to keep on riding, sneaking in as many miles as possible before it’s time to return to reality.

Best High-Pivot Trail Bike

Forbidden Druid V2

Build: GX FX
Weight: 32.4 lbs (size M)
Travel: 130 mm, 150 mm fork
Frame: Carbon
Wheels: 29″ or MX

Pros and Cons
鈯� Descends like a longer travel bike
鈯� Extremely quiet ride
鈯� The extra idler wheel can require more servicing
鈯� A unique spin on geometry means the XL frame鈥檚 chainstay grows extremely long through the travel

If you鈥檝e ever ridden an idler-equipped high-pivot bike鈥攎eaning the bike鈥檚 main pivot is placed above the top of the chainring and the rear wheel axle鈥攜ou know the calming effect that the rearward axle path brings to the nature of the ride. Forbidden has taken that to a trail bike, something seldom utilized on a 130-millimeter-travel bike. The original Druid won over fans of shorter travel bikes with its ability to handle descents as if it had magical powers鈥攏ow, it鈥檚 transcendent. Even with a longer-travel model in the lineup, Forbidden鈥檚 enduro racer, Rhys Verner, claimed the top spot this season aboard the Druid V2.

We took the Druid V2 out on singletrack uphills and downhills with chunky rock outcrops, and the bike felt superbly balanced. Thanks to the high pivot design and the Super Deluxe rear shock, the Druid handled technical bumps with ease and had no trouble carrying speed. The Druid V2 thrives in singletrack because you can stay seated upright and comfy, and you don鈥檛 lose much speed when pedaling across roots.

However, the admirable suspension qualities of high-pivot bikes don鈥檛 come easily鈥攖hey typically require more upkeep to maintain maximum drivetrain efficiency. Due to the precise placements of the pivots on the Druid V2, you cannot adjust the geometry. To pick between a 64 or 64.5-degree head tube angle, you鈥檒l need to choose the specific frame member that houses either a 27.5 or 29-inch rear wheel. Although the brake line鈥檚 routing passes through the seatstay, it鈥檚 not a swap you鈥檒l be making in the parking lot. On that note of chainstays, Forbidden scales their front to rear center lengths proportionally per size, so the same ratio is kept on all frame sizes. Even taller riders may have trouble wielding the 466-millimeter chainstay found on the XL frame size.

Overall, the Druid V2 is one of the more capable short-travel bikes for riders who prefer snappy handling. It might take a while for some riders to acclimatize to its lengthy rear triangle, but the unbelievably smooth descent is worth it.

Most Versatile

Cannondale Habit Carbon LT 1

Build: Sram GX Eagle
Weight: 31.4 lbs (size L)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Balanced and composed in tricky situations
鈯� Not super efficient on the uphill

When we covered the , it struck us just how sensible and conventional it was. There was no quirkiness to it, at least on the surface, and everything about it seemed to be pragmatic and well-judged. The Habit LT’s geometry, frame features, and simple layout all scream modern, sensible trail bike. The frame has some nice subtle features, with a rubber cover to stop your chainstay from gobbling up rocks, non-guided routing that is very easy to work with thanks to a removable panel on the downtube, ISCG threads, and a tried-and-true threaded bottom bracket.

Though it is a typical four-bar bike, the Habit has a comparatively low anti-squat value. This may be bad news for all-out efficiency on smooth roads, but it鈥檚 good news if you need your suspension to adapt to terrain on rougher climbs. The Habit is comfortable on undulating terrain thanks to that higher stack, and the suspension tracks and grips well. We sometimes used the climb switch for hard-pack fire roads or tarmac stretches, but for anything remotely rough, we set it to open and let it flow. It might not be the most suited to out-of-the-saddle pedaling hard, but the bike does strike a great balance between tracking and efficiency. The Habit LT is weighted on the front, balanced on most trails, and able to handle very steep trails because of this well-proportioned and pragmatic geometry. We’re not big believers in massive reaches, especially when combined with short rear ends鈥攖he grip the Habit achieves on any type of trail is a testament to this. Extra-regular is no bad thing.

Overall, this is a very well-executed bike that simply works very well. Balance, composure, maneuverability, and comfort can oftentimes seem like ideologies that are opposed to one another in bikes, and you can merely have two or three out of the four at best. The Habit LT makes a very strong argument that, as riders, we might just be able to have it all.

Best for Getting Air

Commencal Tempo LTD

Build: Tempo LTD
Weight: 30.9 lbs (size S)
Travel: 125 mm rear, 140 mm fork
Frame: Aluminum
Wheels: 29″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Quick and lively
鈯� Never met a jump or corner it didn’t like
鈯� Thru-headset cable routing can make maintenance more difficult

No matter which direction the trail points, the Tempo is fast. It has a satisfying snappiness that rewards hard pedaling efforts, especially on rolling terrain where the bike can be pumped and pushed to maintain that momentum. It’s also a very energetic climber, which will be a welcome trait to anyone coming off of a longer travel machine with more subdued pedaling manners. Compared to longer, slacker bikes where you need to swing wide to navigate awkward switchbacks, the Tempo is happiest taking the inside line, following a tight, precise arc on its way upwards. We’d be tempted to call it a trail bike for riders who prioritize the climbs鈥攅xcept that it’s a blast on the downhills too.

The Tempo is the type of bike that can breathe new life into mellower trails while also holding its own on the rowdier stuff. Modern mountain bike categories can be nebulous at times, but this is a trail bike in the truest sense of the term, well-suited to spinning out the miles while also goofing off and hitting every lip and landing possible. Do we wish it didn’t have thru-headset cable routing and better-sealed frame bearings? You bet, but we wouldn’t consider either of those deal-breakers. The overall ride characteristics of the Tempo are overwhelmingly positive, enough so that we’d be willing to deal with a little extra shop time.

How to Choose a Trail Bike

The trail bike category is the most saturated in mountain biking, so it鈥檚 understandable if you鈥檙e feeling a bit overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are a few easy questions you can ask yourself to narrow the field.

What kind of riding will you be doing?

As much as you may want to answer this one with flowy, singletrack heaven, it鈥檚 important to be realistic about what you鈥檒l actually be riding. This can be determined by the time of year that you mostly get out there (which will determine what the conditions will be like), which trails are most accessible to you, and which region you bike in. Are you planning on taking big trips consistently, or will you mostly stay local?

Will you be riding lift-accessed trails?

If most of the riding you鈥檒l be doing is lift-accessed, you may want to look in the enduro category. If you鈥檒l be doing a mix of both and are planning on hitting jumps, look for a bike that has enough travel but doesn鈥檛 compromise on the uphill either.

What鈥檚 your riding style?

If you prefer to charge through steep, technical sections, you could be looking at a very different bike than if you鈥檙e a more playful rider who likes to find side hits. Again, be honest with yourself about this. How do you actually ride, and what鈥檚 aspirational?

What鈥檚 your budget?

Yes, mountain bikes are expensive. But you do have options. Consider buying used (the market has finally gotten more reasonable this past year), by checking out or looking on Craigslist. Or, check out our best value bikes page for cheaper new bikes. If you鈥檙e thinking about buying a used bike (which can be an excellent option), watch from Pinkbike Originals.

Are you able to test it out?

You must take a bike at least for a spin around the block before you pull the trigger. You might find that you鈥檙e uncomfortable on a bike with a certain geometry that you鈥檙e not used to鈥攁nd although sometimes it does take some more time on the bike鈥攜ou鈥檒l know if you鈥檙e just not sitting right. Taking it for a spin will also help the shop determine which size is best for you.

How We Test Trail Bikes

• Number of Testers: 6
• Number of Products Tested: 25

Pinkbike leads our mountain bike testing and just like in previous years, the team took out as many trail bikes as they could over the whole year. They tested trail bikes in Bellingham, Washington, and Squamish, BC, in a wide range of conditions that included everything from muddy, rainy days to ones with blue skies and perfect dirt. Testing was lead by Mike Kazimer, Pinkbike’s editor in chief, who is based in Bellingham, Washington and manages all mountain bike gear coverage.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Mike Kazimer is Pinkbike’s editor-in-chief, and has been entrenched in the mountain bike world for well over 20 years. From crushing cardboard boxes as a shop grom to his current role as Pinkbike, he鈥檚 long been fascinated with the elegant simplicity of human powered machines. Based in Bellingham, Washington, Kazimer鈥檚 no stranger to wet weather, and his favorite rides tend to be long, technical forays deep into the forest.

Dario DiGiulio is a tech editor for Pinkbike. You can find him biking the trails of Bellingham, Washington year-round.

Matt Beer is a tech editor for Pinkbike. He’s based in Squamish, B.C.

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It was last fall when I realized that everything had changed. First there were the back-to-back high-country rides where my friends and I were the only ones on mountain bikes without motors. Then there was the eleven-mile climb where a hiker squinted at my crankset, exclaimed, 鈥淣o battery!鈥� and began to clap. There was the exchange later that day with the only other cyclists we saw riding traditional pedal bikes, who shouted as they passed, 鈥淲e鈥檙e a dyin鈥� breed!鈥� Finally, there was the encounter at the top of an obscure peak in the Sierras, when an older man looked at my bike and said, 鈥淚 remember riding this trail on my analog bike.鈥�

Depending on who you ask, we are approaching, at, or past a tipping point for eMTBs. This year, Santa Cruz Bicycles could sell more eMTBs than pedal bikes, the company鈥檚 product director Josh Kissner tells me. Specialized鈥檚 model has been its top-selling mountain bike for years. And Cannondale currently has more eMTBs in development than analog. Professional mountain biker Paul Basagoitia, who鈥檚 ridden e-bikes since a 2015 crash at Red Bull Rampage left him paralyzed, laughed when I asked whether eMTBs were the future of the sport. 鈥淭he future?鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat do you mean? It鈥檚 here, it鈥檚 now.鈥�

Industrywide, bike shops still sell more pedal bikes than eMTBs. But product managers from the brands above believe e-bikes will soon represent more than half the bikes on the trail. How much more? Specialized was the most bullish, with Turbo product director Marco Sonderegger and eMTB product manager Joe Buckley guessing they could become 75 to 80 percent of the bikes sold. Kissner of Santa Cruz thinks it could be up to two-thirds. Cannondale senior global marketing manager Mike Marro believes that in the future, 鈥渁nalog will have its place,鈥� but it will dominate only for 鈥渟pecific use cases,鈥� like cross-country race and downhill categories.

鈥淗ow many people are cross-country skiing compared to alpine skiing?鈥� asked Buckley, rhetorically. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where it鈥檚 going to go.鈥�

The inflection point that once seemed impossible, then unlikely, then far off, is suddenly here. European eMTB models emerged in the early 2010s, but they had kooky bolted-on batteries and carried their weight about as well as a JanSport backpack stuffed with Encyclopedia Britannicas. Specialized is credited for launching the North American eMTB revolution in 2015, when it debuted the sub-fifty-pound Turbo Levo 6Fattie, with its integrated battery and refined handling. But eMTBs still had a long road to social acceptance. In 2018, an 国产吃瓜黑料 columnist wondered if they were 鈥�Dorkmobiles or Saviors of the Universe.鈥� By 2019, however, bike reviewer Aaron Gulley allowed that they鈥檇 鈥渃ome far enough that they鈥檙e well worth buying.鈥� Around 2020 or 2021, Sonderegger says, the Levo began to lead Specialized鈥檚 mountain bike business. Today, he tells me, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 see a way back.鈥�

How you feel about this change depends, unsurprisingly, on whether or not you ride an eMTB. Most eMTBers I spoke to said they鈥檇 welcome a future in which they鈥檙e the majority (duh). Most industry professionals expressed optimism as well (at least outwardly) for a scenario in which e-bikes grow ridership, stoke trail building, and get more Americans exercising. One industry professional admitted that he would feel 鈥渁 little bit sad鈥� if eMTBs one day outnumbered pedal bikes. Then he asked if he could stay anonymous.

A lot of longtime riders can probably relate to this sentiment鈥攁s well as the reluctance to voice it. It鈥檚 not really OK to be anti-e-bike anymore. Most of us know or love people who ride them, many of whom couldn鈥檛 (or wouldn鈥檛) ride otherwise. If you love the sport, it鈥檚 tough to criticize gray-haired dads riding with their kids, injured cyclists returning to the trail, or, really, any rider more readily accessing the joy of mountain biking.

It鈥檚 not really OK to be anti-e-bike anymore. Most of us know or love people who ride them, many of whom couldn鈥檛 (or wouldn鈥檛) ride otherwise.

But also, if you love the sport, you might not want it to change. Many die-hard pedal bikers thus find themselves in an awkward position. Just because you support eMTBs doesn鈥檛 preclude you from dreading their ubiquity, or worrying about a future in which they completely take over. It鈥檚 either naive or disingenuous for people to reduce the debate to 鈥渞ide whatever makes you happy,鈥� as if pedal bikers have no stake in whether they鈥檙e eventually outnumbered.

No one wants to be constantly buzzed on singletrack by much faster riders; and despite the industry鈥檚 claims that eMTBs don鈥檛 damage trails mile-for-mile more than pedal bikes, concerns about overuse by virtue of an eMTB鈥檚 ability to cover more mileage are legitimate. Marro also tells me that one reason people buy e-bikes is to keep up with their friends. In his view, riders like me could soon have to make a decision: Do I buy another analog bike? Or do I get an e-bike so I can keep riding with the group? (The product managers I spoke to also agreed that most companies will pare down their pedal offerings if growth continues to lag.)

Not everyone believes our electric future is a foregone conclusion. Kyle Young, founder of Transition Cycles, for example, doesn鈥檛 think it鈥檒l happen (although even the decidedly core Washington brand sells one eMTB out of every four mountain bikes sold).

But wherever the long-term ratio shakes out, we鈥檝e already hit some undeniable tipping point鈥攖he alienating experiences I鈥檝e had recently would have been hard to imagine even a year ago. If there was any moment where the eMTB revolution could have stalled, Cannondale mountain bike product director Scott Vogelman believes it would have been five to eight years ago, when battles over trail access for eMTBs were most hotly contested. Since then, eMTB riders have won access to many trails.

鈥淎t this point the ball is rolling down the hill,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 stopping.鈥�

The Turbo Levo turns ten this year. As with other technological changes over the past decade, eMTBs show that we鈥檙e living in a time when a lot is changing very fast. Now, buoyed by their success, the outdoor industry is experimenting with what else it can motorize. Companies have recently released electronic touring skis, hiking pants with a powered exoskeleton, and an electronic tow rope for backcountry skiing. On a Reddit thread about the electronic skis, commenters dismissed them as 鈥渁bominations鈥� and said they would never be allowed on public lands where most backcountry skiers go. They could be right. But I remember similar conversations when we saw the first eMTBs too.

This piece first appeared in the summer 2025 print issue of 国产吃瓜黑料 Magazine. Subscribe now for early access to our most captivating storytelling, stunning photography, and deeply reported features on the biggest issues facing the outdoor world.听听

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Once you’ve experienced the magic of packing cubes you just cannot go back to throwing your clothes naked into a suitcase. I mean, how many pieces of gear both double your ability to bring stuff along with you and help you stay tidy? I know there are some fancy numbers we could probably crunch at the 国产吃瓜黑料 Gear Lab to quantify just how much more capacity cubes let you squeeze into a carry-on. But I’m going to shoot from the hip here and say I can likely double my packing capacity when I use cubes. As a dad who travels with a six-year-old often, every centimeter of that carry-on is precious space. You better bet I make the most of it.

Not all are cubes created equal, though. To help you invest in the right ones for you, I tested 23 different packing cubes and identified the six best systems on the market. Do yourself a solid, get a few, and take some of the stress out of holiday travel this season.

At a Glance

• Best Utility Player:
• Best for Families:
• Best for Big Trips:
• Best for Wet Gear:
• Best Value:
• Lightest:
• How I tested

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Best Utility Player

Thule Compression Cube Set

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Dimensions: Small (10.2 x 7.1 x 4.3 in.); Medium (14.0 x 10.0 x 5.9 in.)

Weight: 7 oz.

I have come to expect Thule products to be cleverly designed, simple to use鈥攁nd expensive. Fortunately, only the best two of those three attributes proved true for this cube set. Performance-wise, the two cubes did everything I could have asked for鈥攖hey provided solid compression for the two jean jackets and three pairs of jeans my daughter wanted to take on our trip. They also boast a nice, simple, clean look and a lightweight weigh-in: the two clock in at just over seven ounces put together. The 100-denier nylon was plenty hearty for our stress-testing, as were the large zippers with solid, straightforward pulls. The nylon was also water-resistant, which made these cubes a fine place to stash slightly damp bathing suits. While the semi-transparent material made it easier to spot key pieces of clothing (namely鈥攁ll of Josie鈥檚 denim), it wasn鈥檛 transparent enough to pick out small items like a floating toothbrush. Still a great option for the price, particularly for someone who travels alone a lot and needs just two straightforward cubes.

Best for Families

NOMATIC Compression Packing Cubes

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Dimensions: Small (7.75 x 7.75 x 5 in.); Medium (11.5 x 7.75 x 5 in.); Large (11.5 x 11.5 x 5 in.)

Weight: 15 oz.

This set of three extremely durable cubes was perfect for organizing a carry-on bag for a family trip. A swath of mesh in the front of each one makes it easy to see what’s in them, while the rest of the compartment is made of a heavy-duty nylon. The result was a cube that could really withstand some squashing. I was able to cash in on the breathability of the mesh without worrying about these things feeling fragile. The big zippers and paracord zipper pulls also felt hearty. While all of this bodes well for a long life, it did result in a weight penalty: each was nearly a pound. That wasn’t noticeable when I was walking them from parking lot to hotel, but it would be too much weight to bear if I was trying to travel light on a big trip or absorb one of the cubes into my backcountry ski kit.

Best for Big Trips

Eagle Creek Isolate Carry On Set

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Dimensions: Small (10 x 7 x 3 in.); Medium (14 x 10 x 3 in.)

Weight: 9 oz.

I audibly giggled with satisfaction when I realized how perfectly this set of cubes absorbed my daughter’s and my necessary gear. The four straightforward and thoughtfully built cubes not only fit all of our clothes and toiletries volume-wise, but they were also sufficiently water-resistant to keep wet bathing suits and sweaty running socks contained. The compression zippers were strong enough to squeeze piles of gear to half their original size when I brutally overpacked the cubes, and the lightweight nylon construction made it tempting to turn one of them into a first aid kit for my next backpacking trip. It’s definitely the most expensive set on this list, but it also has the most cubes, which does ease the sticker shock a bit. Plus, nine ounces for four cubes is pretty hard to beat.

Best for Wet Gear

Sea to Summit Hydraulic Packing Cube Set

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Dimensions: Extra-small ( 5.7 x 3.7 x 2.4 in.); Small (8.3 x 4.3 x 2.8 in.); Medium (10.4 x 5.5 x 3.9 in.)

Weight: 4 oz.

These cubes are bonafide multitaskers: they’re at once highly water resistant and extremely packable while also still maintaining a very light weight. I came up in the outdoor world as a raft guide and then an editor for a kayaking magazine, so I gravitate toward water-compatible gear. These three cubes were the best for keeping the wettest and grossest pieces of clothing separate from clean, dry, clothes. That’s thanks to a TPU-laminate, 70-denier ripstop material that packed down small but repelled water like a light-duty drybag when full of completely soggy bathing suits. I would add any (or all three) of these cubes to a rafting, expedition kayaking, or backcountry ski kit without a second thought due to the incredibly light weight and fantastic water resistance. The only downside: they did not feature compression zippers like most of the cubes in this test, so it took some manual squeezing to compress them down to size. That definitely didn鈥檛 allow for as much volume add in my carry-on.

Best Value

GoRuck Packing Cubes

Dimensions: 5L (10 x 8 x 3 in.); 10L (15 x 10 x 3 in.)

Weight: 6 oz.

These heavy-duty packing cubes come in at a killer price ($15 for the 5-liter and $20 for the 10-liter) and definitely deliver in terms of packability and durability. The full-mesh front was a bonus in some ways鈥攍ike making tiny socks easy to find quickly鈥攂ut did not make these cubes a great option for my stinky run shorts or soggy swim trunks. The 200-denier nylon backers were nearly as thick as the fabric on the NOMATIC cubes, and the hearty zippers took all our abuse with aplomb. If you are looking for something simple, well-built, and at a very reasonable price, these cubes will serve you well.

Lightest

Peak Design Ultralight Packing Cubes 3-Pack

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Dimensions: XX-Small (7 x 3 x 2.3 in.); Extra-small (9 x 4.3 x 3.5 in.); Small: (11.8 x 6.7 x 5 in.)

Weight: 3 oz.

Like pretty much every Peak Design product I’ve ever tested, these cubes are so damn smart. They were the lightest on the list and still were fantastic at dealing with moisture thanks to their internally taped seams, which made the cubes borderline waterproof. The durable #5 zippers were a huge bonus, but the stretchy zipper pulls were pretty stressful to watch Josie work over during the stress test. I have a very hard time faulting these cubes for that too hard because they are so incredibly light. I would use these to organize any number of things in my backpacking kit. The only downside to the featherweight construction: the 40-denier nylon was the least abrasion-resistant material in the test.

How I Tested

At first glance, it seemed like everyone who makes bags makes packing cubes. To help work through the myriad options available, I researched packing cubes online and picked the ones with the most compelling designs and materials. I reached out to the brands with the most positively reviewed packing cubes and received 23 packing cubes to test. I weighed all of the cubes together as a set on a kitchen scale to double check manufacturers’ numbers. It is also worth noting that the GoRuck cubes don鈥檛 come in a set, but I tested the two size options as one for congruence with the rest of these sets.

Packability

I then crammed tons of stuff in the cubes to test their packability. I packed every cube in this test 15 times with laundry in my house and fake-packed my Sea to Summit 65-Liter Duffel, which has been my go-to carry-on since I dragged it behind a car for a duffel test in 2016. The consistent repeatability of this experiment allowed me to zero in on the nuances of each cube and sniff out the smartest design details.

Real-World Use

For a real-world test, I took these packing cubes on a family road trip to Eugene and Portland, Oregon, that we had planned in celebration of my daughter Josie turning seven. This was a gear- and outfit-heavy trip since my daughter鈥檚 new favorite hobby is fashion, my wife and I prioritize getting exercise on these trips, and Josie and I are serious hotel pool enthusiasts. We brought three different carry-on-sized bags that I filled with cubes. We packed and unpacked them a full four times over the course of the trip with everything from toys to dirty clothes to wet bathing suits.

Durability

I spent an inordinate amount of time thinking of amusing ways to destroy these cubes. I was tempted to drag them behind my truck or create a wild pulley system in my garage to tear them apart. While those tests would have been fun for me, they really wouldn鈥檛 have given you much useful information, so in the end I stuck with a pretty vanilla but very realistic stress test. I overpacked each one and zipped it up 25 times when overpacked (a common cause of zipper failure). That was meant to mimic the most real-world stress test these would face. I also encouraged my six-year-old daughter to beat the living hell out of them because it was fun, cute, and a real-world way to test the durability of things like handles, zipper pulls, and tie-down spots.

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The first time I pitched a performance flannel review to an editor was a little over six years ago. In the pitch, I made some snarky remarks about how the term felt like a light oxymoron. Like saying high-tech wool or hydrophobic down, talking about a flannel being a badass performance piece felt like an oversell. Well, sometimes even veteran gear reviewers eat their words. After diving deeper into the category, I discovered that they can indeed deliver the best of both worlds in terms of performance and style. Half a decade later, performance flannels make up about 45 percent of my wardrobe in the wintertime. I love that a single shirt can be perfect for a date, an on-camera work meeting, or a sweaty mountain bike ride. But which ones do it best? To help you choose, I tested more than a dozen options and rated the top eight.

At a Glance

• Best in Test: ($119)
• Best for Travel: ($95)
• Best for Mountain Jocks: ($95)
• Best Trail-to-Tavern: ($100)
• Most Versatile: ($89)
• Most Classic: ($65)
• Best Value: ($45)
• Quickest Drying: ($120)

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Best in Test

DUER Performance Flannel Button Down

Performance: 5/5

Comfort: 5/5

Style: 4/5

I鈥檓 used to DUER鈥檚 pants and shirts performing well stretch-wise, but I was shocked (in a good way) by how supple and soft the DUER Performance Flannel Button Down was. Next to skin, it was the softest of the bunch. At first look, the Button Down looks like a thick-weight wool, but thanks to its 40-percent synthetic content, it moved like a lightweight wicking layer in the gym and on my mountain bike ride. And even after I worked up a sweat on the ride’s big climb, it dried within the seven-ish minute descent. The Button Down was almost too thick for most other aerobic activities, though: I overheated while riding in temps above 55 degrees. But for slower-paced activities, it shone. The 60-percent cotton, 36-percent Lyocell, and four-percent Elastane fabric is some magic amalgam of stretch that felt unrestrictive during yoga stretches but still maintained a nice tight, clean-looking fit for days spent at my desk. It鈥檚 almost like an optical illusion: If you put it on with closed eyes, you could almost think it was some type of a soft-pile fleece rather than a flannel shirt. Between the fabric鈥檚 considerable stretch and next-level softness, it scored top marks both in comfort and performance.

Best for Travel

Stio Miter Stretch Lightweight Flannel

Performance: 4.5/5

Comfort: 4.5/5

Style: 5/5

I wrote 鈥渇eels like an old friend鈥� in my notes after my two days of wearing the Miter Stretch pretty much nonstop. That includes falling asleep in it at least once while reading my kiddo books at bedtime. The double-brushed weave鈥攎ade of 97-percent organic cotton and three-percent elastane鈥攔eally did wear like a beloved cotton shirt that you鈥檝e washed 200 times. It toed the line between casual t-shirt and dressy button-down. That鈥檚 in large part thanks to its cut, which was trim enough that it never felt sloppy, but boxy enough that it never constricted my back or shoulders on mountain bike rides. The small elastane content in the otherwise organic material was enough to boost the fabric鈥檚 flexibility鈥攕omething I appreciated during heavier physical activities, like digging a trench in my yard. This high level of comfort and versatility make it an ideal travel piece. In fact, this was the flannel I packed for a rainy work trip in Washington, and I鈥檓 glad I did: it鈥檚 really lightweight, was comfortable to fly in, and didn鈥檛 overheat under a rain jacket. It definitely looked more casual than the other flannels on this list due to its cut and cotton-like finish, though, so I wouldn鈥檛 choose it if you’re looking for something to wear to an office.

Best for Mountain Jocks

Flylow Handlebar Tech Flannel

Performance: 5/5

Comfort: 3.5/5

Style: 5/5

As an aging mountain jock, I can say with authority that the Flylow handlebar is aimed directly at my demographic. I particularly loved the arched cut at the sides of hem, which made the shirt easy to tuck in, but still looked handsome untucked. I also found the tailored cut flattering on my body, which trends on the Marge (medium-to-large) side of medium. On the practical side, I loved the two buttoned chest pockets, which each fit a pack of gummy bears鈥攁 perfect snack for my kiddo on errand runs, or for me on a longer ride. This was the only shirt in this test that had snap buttons, which made donning and doffing super easy (I also personally love how snaps look). The sleeves are a little longer than the other flannels on this list鈥攊deal for when my arms were extended on the mountain bike. It’s not the stretchiest of flannels, but it’s built with some extra length in the arms and some articulation in the elbows. That permitted effortless, unimpeded motion both on the bike and in the gym. In terms of next-to-skin feel, the Handlebar definitely trends more synthetic and less cozy than the Stio or Outdoor Research options, earning it a slightly lower comfort score.

Best Trail-to-Tavern

Royal Robbins Lost Coast Flannel

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Performance: 3.5/5

Comfort: 4/5

Style: 4.5/5

I had extremely high hopes for this offering from Royal Robbins since the Thermotech Drake I tested for this publication five years ago remains an all-time favorite of mine. The Lost Coast did not disappoint: its crisp lines made it wear like a fancy dress piece, and it was incredibly lightweight. It was breathable enough for warm afternoons but cozy enough for cool mornings and evenings. Extra material in the sleeves delivered a few extra degrees of movement in my arms on the bike, and it looked the nicest tucked-in of all the options in this test. That made it my go-to for important meetings. However, it’s a polyester-cotton blend, limits stretch. I felt the lack of elastane in the gym and during yoga sessions, but the fact that it got high marks on the mountain bike and could be worn in a boardroom kept me from getting too mad about it.

Most Versatile

Outdoor Research Ravenna Flannel Shirt

Performance: 4/5

Comfort: 4.5/5

Style: 5/5

Fit-wise, the Outdoor Research Ravenna’s cut straddles the line between a boxy and tailored, making it an ideal date-night top in a mountain town. I found myself grabbing for the Ravenna for mountain bike rides even beyond the testing period because its 8.6-ounce weight was enough to give me a slight thermal boost on brisk fall rides, but the 47-percent recycled polyester material moved moisture incredibly well when I broke a sweat on my climbs. The other 53 percent of the fibers are cotton鈥攚hich means it felt organic and super-soft next to skin, particularly after the first couple of washes. I really appreciated the light weight and moisture-moving qualities when I got into heavier yardwork jobs like raking or moving wood around. However, though it was a perfect weight for fall here in the Pacific Northwest, I’ll definitely need to layer over it as the days get colder. I also might be too thin for late fall in colder climes like the Rockies. If you live somewhere truly frigid, opt for the thicker Dickies or DUER flannel instead.

Most Classic

L.L. Bean BeanFlex All-Season Flannel Shirt

Performance: 5/5

Comfort: 3.5/5

Style: 4/5

OK, can we just stop for a second and love on L.L. Bean for naming a shirt the BeanFlex? The name is adorable (and almost even cool?) in a way that only a heritage brand like L.L. Bean could pull off. Everything about this shirt surprised and delighted me in a nostalgic way. The colorway I tested (Barley!) reminds me of looking through L.L. Bean catalogs in my childhood. And while nostalgia led me to love this shirt while testing, I was also happy with the pre-inflation look of the $65 price tag. The fit is definitely a classic flannel cut, but the flex is anything but retro. It lived up to its cute moniker during every arm exercise and yoga move I put it through. It also felt downright nimble on the downhill portion of my mountain bike test, despite clearly not being cut for cycling (there’s not a ton of of articulation in the sleeves or body). Next to skin, it skews more synthetic in feel and doesn’t have the softness of a classic cotton flannel like the Stio or Outdoor Research do. Still, this is a great lightweight, straightforward flannel, especially if you like a classic boxy cut.

Best Value

Dickies FLEX Long Sleeve Flannel Shirt

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Performance: 5/5

Comfort: 3.5/5

Style: 3/5

Of all the flannels I tested, the Dickies FLEX had the largest, most relaxed fit in both the sleeves and in the cut of the torso. I had to double check that this top was a medium because the top was so boxy, but I ended up not minding the extra fabric because it gave my arms and shoulders some more room to move on the mountain bike and in the gym. Its heavyweight, 4.6-oz stretch flannel was woven with one-percent spandex which made it flex really well (as the name would suggest). That said, I didn’t end up testing that flex too much: unlike other shirts in this review, the FLEX was too heavy to wear for vigorous exercise. I sweat completely through it on a mountain bike ride on a 60-ish-degree F morning and it proved slow to dry; it was still soggy when I took it off to shower 45 minutes after my ride. I will be grateful for that extra weight in the winter, though, and will likely be reaching for this when I harvest firewood during the first snowfall.

Quickest Drying

Fj盲llraven Fj盲llglim Shirt

Performance: 4/5

Comfort: 3/5

Style: 4/5

The Fj盲llglim has some of the smartest design details of any of the options in this test. Take the zippered pocket that hid underneath the regular chest pocket and fit my phone, which I loved for mountain biking. Or the button on the arm that allows you to fold it up into a short-sleeve shirt鈥攁dding to the versatility of this piece. I found it to be a great travel shirt because of the extra pockets as well as the fact that it can pull double-duty as a short-sleeve shirt and a long-sleeve shirt. Its 100-percent polyester material didn’t have as much stretch as the elastane- and spandex-infused tops above, but it moved better than a 100-percent cotton shirt of a similar weight would have. It also wicked moisture away from my body like a thick technical base layer so I rarely felt clammy. I also didn鈥檛 feel much impediment to my movement during the arm exercises, though I did notice some constriction along my back in downward dog.

How I Tested

As a longstanding flannel enthusiast, I started by researching the companies that have traditionally made great flannels. I looked for currently available offerings that had some technical fiber woven into them鈥攗sually some type of elastane or a stretchy polyester blend. These fibers enhance a flannel鈥檚 flexibility, durability, and drying time, making them a dead-giveaway that a shirt is going to be able to keep up with active outdoor pursuits. I ended up testing 13 flannels and whittled them down to the eight below.

The main factors that caused flannels to get cut from the roster were weight, lack of durability, or lack of stretch. Once I had my eight flannels to focus on, I wore each of them for two full days doing my everyday fall tasks like playing with my kiddo at parks, raking leaves and obsessively tending to my compost, and working in coffee shops. I also rode my out-the-front-door mountain bike route, Lower Wasabi, which is just shy of six miles round-trip from my yard. The ride has about a half mile of a technical climb and a fun, flowy descent (It鈥檚 both a great workout and downright hoot!).

To get a more distinct view of how each shirt moved, I also put together an exercise routine that included push ups, dips, and curls. I also did an extended downward dog-based stretching session in each of these flannels to see how the back flexed. At the end, I tallied the scores, reviewed my notes, and collated it all into the reviews you鈥檒l see below.

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Whether you鈥檙e looking for steep singletrack, a short kid-friendly route, or solitude in the forest, you鈥檒l find it in . This midwestern state is home to a growing community of mountain biking enthusiasts who know something others don鈥檛: Minnesota boasts some of the best riding in the country. You鈥檒l become a believer too after hearing from local expert . He knows Minnesota mountain biking鈥攈e鈥檚 the former volunteer president of the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew and the president of Strateligent and Cuyuna 国产吃瓜黑料 Town USA. Hautala is passionate about sharing the state鈥檚 outdoor recreation opportunities with visitors鈥攅specially the mountain biking trails.

国产吃瓜黑料: What makes Minnesota a premier mountain biking destination?

Aaron Hautala: Minnesota is rich with new and well-designed trails surrounded by pristine lakes, beaches, the Mississippi River, and hardwood forests. Whether you鈥檙e an experienced rider or it鈥檚 your first time mountain biking, you鈥檒l find the perfect trail here. You鈥檒l also find that many of the popular trail destinations are complemented by a welcoming, small-town culture where outdoor adventure meets midwestern art, food, and hospitality. When I think about the best time to ride in Minnesota, autumn prime comes to mind. From around mid-September until mid-October, it鈥檚 fall colors galore.

Can you mountain bike if you aren鈥檛 traveling with your bike or gear?

Yes, there are lots of mountain biking gear rental options in Minnesota. In the Twin Cities, visit with our friends at , , or . Duluth also delivers when it comes to gear rental at , , and . If you鈥檙e interested in guided day trips, check out . Whenever I visit a new trail destination, I opt for a guided first day of riding to get the lowdown on the system and the talk of the town. In Cuyuna, check out for your gear rentals, and reserve your guided rides and bike-skill lessons with Mari and Derek at .

Where are the best places to ride in Minnesota?

Target the state鈥檚 , which deliver the best experience, both on trail and in town. The organization is dedicated to increasing the quality and quantity of riding across the United States by providing the resources to create and maintain mountain biking trails. Minnesota is home to three of these renowned locations.

• : Gold Ride Center
• : Silver Ride Center
• (Minneapolis-St.Paul): Bronze Ride Center

Be sure to check out some of the other activities in and around Duluth, Cuyuna, and Minneapolis-St. Paul, like , , , aquariums, museums, and more. But when it comes to riding, here鈥檚 a sampling of my favorite trails in each area.

Minneapolis-St. Paul

The twin cities boast more than 100 miles of bike-specific singletrack. I鈥檝e always been amazed by how easy it is to get into nature in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Minnesotans love it, and you鈥檙e likely to, as well.

Beginner

New riders will love Minneapolis-St. Paul. Salem Hills has three short loops for 4.6 miles of easy riding. And if you鈥檙e looking for the perfect family ride, has an adaptive/universal trail that everyone can enjoy.

Intermediate

There are plenty of trails to entertain experienced riders visiting the area. encompasses 25 mountain biking trails with winding singletrack, while has 12.7 miles of singletrack and 4,900 acres of outdoor space to explore.

Advanced

has a vast collection of singletrack trails, beautiful lakes, and interpretive programs. For big jumps that offer the opportunity for some aerial miles, check out Sunfish Lake Park.

Cuyuna

When you ride Cuyuna, you can also experience additional trail systems across the towns of Cohasset, Chisholm, Biwabik, and Ely. But beginner, intermediate, and advanced riders can all find great trails within Crosby-Ironton’s .

Beginners

Head to the Sagamore Unit and enjoy more than seven miles of universal/adaptive trails, including Copper Nugget, Klondyke, Syracuse, and Blaster. Klondyke weaves and bobs throughout the Sagamore Forest鈥攊t鈥檚 the width of a paved trail, but the surface is red dirt. It鈥檚 amazing and produces a significant number of smiles per hour.

Intermediate

Bob Sled, Sand Hog, Screamer, Mucker Mountain, Backcountry, and Bison Run trails are all perfect for riders looking for a thrill.

Advanced

Choose from Sinter (big jumps), Sledgehammer (rocks, rocks, and more rocks), and Cruser鈥檚 Kettle (glacial moraine wonderland left behind by moving glaciers).

Duluth

The perk of Duluth is you have all the trail systems on the North Shore of Lake Superior at your fingertips. Duluth is also commonly regarded as one of the top mountain bike destinations in the world, offering trails for every style of riding.

Beginners

Mission Creek, Hartley, and Lester Park have many easy routes. For gravity riding, Spirit Mountain has several entry-level flow trails, including Happy Camper, All Weather, and Candy Land.

Intermediate

The Duluth Traverse ties all five Duluth trail systems together, offering about 41 miles of riding. On the North Shore of Lake Superior in Split Rock Wilds, you鈥檒l find the smooth and flowy Mail Route Trail. Additionally, try the Britton Peak Trail System on Lake Superior鈥檚 North Shore, including Jackpot and High Climber. You can ride these as an out-and-back or start at Britton Peak and end at the Lutsen Mountains Resort. It鈥檚 one of the most iconic backcountry rides in Minnesota.

Advanced

Shred the Piedmont Trail System and the lift-served gravity riding at Spirit Mountain. Just north of Duluth, Split Rock Wilds delivers both uphill and downhill challenges, plus a lot of technical rock crawling.

Explore Minnesota is dedicated to promoting tourism and livability in Minnesota. Visit to find travel inspiration and things to do, subscribe to, and download . See even more by following Explore Minnesota on .

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