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.

The post The Best Packing Cubes to Help You Survive Holiday Travel appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

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)

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 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.

The post The Best Performance Flannels to Get You Through Fall appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

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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The electric-mountain bike market has grown exponentially in the last decade, and this year鈥檚 options are better than ever. Whether you鈥檙e looking for an option that feels the same as a regular mountain bike or you want a hard-charging chop-crusher, we singled out the best four of the year.

We tested eight bikes this year from Bellingham to Squamish, and these four performed the best.

At a Glance

• Editor鈥檚 Choice:
• Best Lightweight e-MTB: Devinci E-Troy Lite ($7,399)
• Best for Quick Lunch Breaks:
• Best Race e-MTB:
• Best All-Around:
• How We Test
• Meet Out Lead Testers
• How to Choose an E-Mountain Bike

All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. 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.

Editor鈥檚 Choice

Orbea Wild M-LTD

Build: M-LTD
Weight: 49.8 lbs (size L)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Extremely calm and composed
鈯� Powerful Bosch motor with wireless controller, display
鈯� No mixed wheel options in any sizes

Orbea’s new Wild eMTB arrived at the party with revised geometry, a stiffer frame, and Bosch’s latest CX Race motor. All of the models roll on 29-inch wheels and have 160-millimeters of rear travel, but Orbea’s MyO program allows for a wide range of configuration options. Riders can select from a 160 or 170-millimeter fork, a 625-watt-hour or 750-watt-hour battery, the option to add on a display or light package, and to customize the paint scheme.

Orbea did a great job eliminating any unnecessary bells and whistles on the Wild. All too often, e-mountain bikes have big displays, awkward remotes, and a rat’s nest of wires cluttering the cockpit. With the Wild, there’s a small wireless remote on the left-hand side of the handlebar, Bosch’s System Controller integrated into the top tube鈥攁nd that’s it. It’s clean, effective, and there aren’t any vulnerable delicate parts waiting to get smashed to bits in a crash.

A series of LED lights indicate the battery level, and another light at the top of the display shows what mode the bike is in. There are four levels: Eco, Tour+, eMTB, and Race. It’s possible to add on Bosch’s Kiox display for riders that want to see more information at a glance, but I’m a fan of the less is more approach鈥攌nowing what the mode and the battery percentage is all the information I need.

The Wild will blast up short, punchy climbs with ease, but it’s also possible to creep up extra-steep, technical sections the way a rock crawler would. Grab some brake here, a half-pedal stroke there, top it off with a final out-of-the-saddle lunge, and the Wild will get up some seriously awkward sections of trail. The high-end Bosch motor plays a large role in this equation, but the geometry shouldn’t be overlooked. The seated climbing position is upright and centers the rider between the wheels, reducing the number of times you’ll need to make dramatic weight shifts to maintain traction. When it is time to stand up, the higher front end makes it easier to lift the front end up and over obstacles.

Bigger jumps and drops didn’t pose any problems, and even when I used all of the travel there wasn’t any unwanted clanking or harshness at the end of the stroke. It’s the sort of bike that makes you want to go fast, just to see what will happen.

The new Wild may have been designed with racing in mind, but there’s no need to go near a race course to enjoy it. It’s fast, powerful, and incredibly composed while climbing and descending, making it an excellent all-rounder for riders who prefer their trails on the trickier, more technical side.

Best Lightweight e-MTB

Devinci E-Troy Lite

Build: GX AXS 12S
Weight: 43 lbs (size M)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Confident and playful descender
鈯� Top-performing and natural-feeling Bosch motor
鈯� Excellent value for components and a Made in Canada frame
鈯� The walk mode isn’t the easiest to use
鈯� Noisy on the downhill

The new Devinci E-Troy Lite will convert the e-mountain bike skeptics out there. It delivers power so seamlessly and naturally that it makes you feel like you鈥檙e a fitter version of yourself on the climbs. Not only is the climbing smooth and enjoyable, but the E-Troy Lite is a supremely confident descender with well-balanced suspension.

We reviewed back in January before the Canadian brand released the E-Troy Lite this spring, Devinci’s first lightweight e-mountain bike. It comes with a Bosch Performance Line SX motor with 55 Newton-meters of torque compared to the 85 Newton-meters of torque on the full-powered bike and has a smaller battery as well. With the same amount of travel but a slightly steeper headtube angle, the E-Troy Lite weighs over 10 pounds less than the full-powered bike. All sizes of the E-Troy Lite have mixed wheels.

While climbing, there are four assist modes that are easy to toggle through using the small wireless shifter on the thumb-actuated mini remote. While on eMTB mode, it really feels like you’re being rewarded for putting down watts since the motor reacts to rider input. I spent the majority of the time in the Tour+ (second) and eMTB (third) modes on singletrack climbs since they provided the perfect amount of assistance without burning through the battery or feeling like they were overpowering me. I never felt like I needed to jam on the brakes on a climb, which is certainly a feeling I’ve had with some full-powered eMTBs. Without a range extender, I found that the E-Troy Lite could do an 18-mile ride with about 3,200 feet of climbing (though that number will change based on your effort, the mode, your weight, and the trails).

There are some bikes that you just feel comfortable on out of the box while descending, and the E-Troy Lite is absolutely one of them. The geometry is dialed with a 63.6-degree head tube angle, putting you in a confident and strong position when things get steep and rough. While the bike is able to track well and absorb trail chatter, it also feels lively and light, thanks to the active suspension. My current daily rider weighs around 34 pounds, so the extra weight of the E-Troy Lite doesn’t feel as unwieldy as a full-powered e-mountain bike does. Most importantly, I found the E-Troy Lite perfectly manageable to slow down and control on descents, which isn’t something that I take for granted on a full-powered eMTB. There’s still more fatigue in my hands at the end of a long descent than on a lighter bike, but decidedly less so than on a full-powered eMTB.

While it’s a touch noisy on the descents, the E-Troy Lite makes up for it by being a joy to both climb and descend. In addition, the aluminum frame is made in Canada and the parts are well-selected for the bike’s intended use and it comes at a reasonable price. 鈥擲arah Moore

Best for Quick Lunch Breaks

Santa Cruz Heckler SL

Build: GX AXS
Weight: 42.6 lbs (size L)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Relatively light, making it easy to handle
鈯� Quiet and unobtrusive motor
鈯� Smaller battery limits max ride length

The Heckler SL is powered by Fazua’s Ride 60 motor and a 430-watt-hour battery, a relatively light system that keeps the bike’s weight in the low 40-pound range. The frame has a much slimmer look than the full-powered Heckler, and from a distance, it doesn’t immediately stand out as an e-MTB. All models roll on mixed wheels, with a 160-millimeter fork and 150 millimeters of rear travel.

Climbing on the Heckler SL is a calm and quiet affair, especially in the lower two motor modes. The noise increases slightly with the highest level of assistance, but it’s still pretty subdued. The maximum level of assistance is similar to the middle 鈥淭rail鈥� mode of a full-powered eMTB, which gives it a less frantic feeling on singletrack, and means there’s less chance of inadvertently pedaling yourself off the trail.

On the descents, the Heckler SL delivers a very impressive level of grip, especially when it comes to maintaining traction on slippery, off-camber sections of trail. It sticks to the ground incredibly well when necessary, but it’s also a good jumper. It’s noticeably easier to bunnyhop or pop off natural lips compared to a heavier, full-powered e-MTB, and its composed nature in the air is reminiscent of how a downhill bike feels.

Choosing between a mid-power e-MTB and a full-power option really comes down to what sort of ride experience you’re looking for. The handling of a bike like the Heckler SL feels much closer to a non-motorized mountain bike, and it could be the ticket for riders looking to squeeze more miles during a lunch or after-work ride.

Best Race e-MTB

Canyon StriveOn

Build: CFR LTD
Weight: 50.9 lbs (size L)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Relatively light, making it easy to handle
鈯� Quiet and unobtrusive motor
鈯� Smaller battery limits max ride length

Canyon鈥檚 new StriveOn has a penchant for racing, with an unabashedly full-powered 85Nm of torque and a maximum 600-watt power output delivered by the Bosch CX motor. The highest-end model can be equipped with Bosch’s CX Race motor, which is 150 grams lighter and provides extra overrun in Race mode for an additional climbing boost.

The geometry of the StriveOn isn’t too far off from its non-electric counterpart but with the notable omission of the Strive’s adjustability. Starting from the Strive’s downhill position, the Strive:On gets longer chainstays and a steeper seat tube angle to better navigate tech climbing, plus a shorter reach in the handlebars to keep the bike maneuverable.

With four size options, and a reach range from 450 to 525 millimeters, the fit of the StriveOn is definitely biased towards bigger riders. Canyon’s reach numbers are generally pretty aggressive for how long they are per size, but riders looking to size down for more agility will hit the low end of the range pretty quickly. Looking at the StriveOn as a standard enduro bike, it’s simply a well-sorted machine, with great geometry and handling characteristics. Where the head angle and reach might seem a bit extreme relative to current high-level pedal bikes, the extra system weight makes that long reach and slack front end feel calmer than you鈥檇 expect.

All told, the StriveOn proved to be an excellent bike for tackling gnarly terrain. The Strive is eager to remind you that you’re on an ebike on the climbs, but there were plenty of moments on the descents where the extra bulk faded away, making for some truly excellent runs.

Best All-Around E-MTB

Specialized Turbo Levo SL

Build: S-Works
Weight: 39.3 lbs (size S4)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Lightweight for a 50Nm eMTB
鈯� Adaptable for most riding zones or style
鈯� Plush suspension is the right amount of active
鈯� Expensive
鈯� Main battery isn鈥檛 easily removable

In my mind, the Levo SL is the pinnacle of what e-bikes could be鈥攐r all bikes, for that matter. First, it weighs as much as some enduro bikes, which includes its motor. This S-Works model is shod with the cream of the crop components; Fox Factory suspension that is tuned specifically by Specialized, SRAM鈥檚 bulletproof XX Transmission shifting, and carbon nearly everywhere possible on the bike.

As for that tiny motor, it鈥檚 gained 15Nm of torque over the previous generation (50Nm up from 35). A tidy display screen that can be personalized using the straightforward Specialized app is built into the top tube. On the handlebars, you can shuffle through a few of the chosen screens, toggle the assist, and activate the walk mode with ease. A 320Wh battery is located in the downtube. If you鈥檙e looking for extra juice, a 160-watt-hour range extender nestles into the bottle cage and firmly locks onto the charge port.

Its impeccable FSR suspension handles everything from stutter bumps to eroded downhill tracks. The whole time we rode it, the chain and motor clutch barely made a peep. That鈥檚 perhaps the best part of all鈥攖he silence and buttery suspension make it easy to forget that you鈥檙e ripping downhill with a motor hidden in the frame.

Bottom Line: It can be as aggressive as current downhill bikes, or as upright as some cross-country mountain bikes. It works for hauling down the steeps or remaining sharp in rolling terrain. Overall, it鈥檚 just about as adaptable as its motorless sibling, the Stumpjumper Evo.

How to Choose an E-Mountain Bike

Electric bikes have evolved at a break-neck speed in the past five years or so, transforming from huge, bulky beasts into much more refined and svelte electric machines. Though there is still ample room for progress, many of the problems with the first couple of generations of ebikes have been smoothed out. However, buying an e-mountain bike has become even more of a project thanks to all of the new tech that has come out to solve said problems.

For a full rundown on how to buy an e-mountain bike in our current market, check out PinkBike鈥檚 . Managing tech editor Mike Kazimer provides tips by asking questions like: what are you friends riding? How far do you typically go? What type of riding are you planning on doing? How much money do you want to spend? Of course, you can opt to go for a regular mountain bike that isn鈥檛 motored, but if you鈥檙e set on going electric, make sure you鈥檙e paying close attention to these factors.

How We Test

• Number of Bikes Tested: 8
• Number of Testers: 3

The bikes included in this roundup are the result of rolling testing done in Whistler, Squamish, and Bellingham throughout the year by the Pinkbike crew. We also rode some bikes at Crankworx Whistler, one of a multi-stop series of mountain bike festivals put on at multiple locations around the world every year.

Conditions ranged from dusty, rutted-out downhill trails to muddy, technical rides in the rainforest of Squamish. We took some bikes out for over and tested them in as many different types of trails as possible. Testers particularly considered the electric mountain bike’s climbing prowess, descending abilities, and sound levels.

Meet Our Lead Testers

: Managing tech editor for Pinkbike, alien skeptic.

: Tech editor for PinkBike, based in Bellingham, WA.

: Tech editor for Pinkbike, former World Cup Downhill racer.

The post The Best Electric Mountain Bikes to Take You Farther appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Testers and PinkBike editors spent the last year hitting singletrack from Bellingham to Squamish to evaluate 2024’s newest crop of trail bikes. Fifteen bikes, ranging from hard-charging, downhill-oriented crushers to cross-country-style rippers, were in the mix, but when all the dust settled, these six impressed the most in overall performance.

At a Glance

• Editors’ Choice 鈥� Best Overall:
• Editors’ Choice 鈥� Best Value:
• Best Lightweight Trail Bike:
• Best High-Pivot Trail Bike:
• Best All-Around:
• Best for Getting Air:
• Best Easy Ride:
• How to Choose a Trail Bike
• How We Test
• Meet the Lead Testers

All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. 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.

Editors’ Choice 鈥� Best Overall

Scor 2030 GX

Build: 2030 GX
Weight: 29.9 lb (size M/L)

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.

Editors’ Choice 鈥� Best Value

YT Jeffsy

Build: Core 4
Weight: 33.3 lbs (size S)
Sizing: S-XXL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Easy and intuitive to ride
鈯� Good balance between stable and energetic riding
鈯� The suspension has its limits in rough, fast terrain

As a now-longstanding staple of the YT lineup, the main theme of the Jeffsy is alive and well: a 29er trail bike meant to get along with just about anything you might encounter. The all-mountain geometry of the updated model keeps the ride both stable and energetic鈥攖he ideal balance in a trail bike. But the third model also features a host of updates we’re seeing on many modern bikes, the most notable being the in-frame storage. The storage hatch stands alone above the bottle instead of doubling as the plate that carries the water bottle鈥攅liminating the eventual loosening or rattling that might accompany the dual-duty designs.

I had an excellent first ride on the Jeffsy, and the positive feeling hasn’t waned much since that day. From quick laps on my local favorites to longer, very technical rides, the bike has felt predictable, fun, and simply easy to ride. YT seems to have nailed the tricky balance of a bike that is easy to cruise on while still holding its own when pushed hard or thrown into more serious terrain.

Climbing feels supportive and efficient鈥攖he bike remains energetic over technical terrain in and out of the saddle. Descending is intuitive and well-balanced, with excellent cornering performance and great pop on jumps and jibs. With the 145 millimeters of rear travel, I only bottomed out a few times on some serious hits. The bike has an active feel through chattery terrain, especially when you let off the brakes and push through the bike.

An immediate takeaway was just how quiet the Jeffsy is, with no rattles, creaks, or other annoyances developing over the past couple weeks of riding. Another rosy first impression is the dialed build kit鈥攖here’s nothing I’d change out of the gate on my Core 4 test bike. The brakes, drivetrain, suspension, wheelset, and cockpit are all pretty close to what I’d choose for a bike of this ilk, so I’m more than happy to stick with the stock options.

Direct-to-consumer brands like YT can still offer value that most shop model brands can’t compete with, as with the new Jeffsy. Topping out at $6,499, the Jeffsy lineup has 5 builds that cater to a wide array of budgets, depending on price, experience level, and component preference.

Overall this strikes me as a great bike for people looking for easy and intuitive handling, an unfussy layout, and a solid ride feel regardless of how hard you鈥檙e pushing the bike. But don鈥檛 let that dissuade you if you鈥檙e keen to ride hard, as Jeffsy is more than willing to get rowdy.

Best Lightweight Trail Bike

Giant Trance X Advanced

Build: 0
Weight: 30.6 lbs (size M)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Neutral and consistent suspension inspires confidence
鈯� Light
鈯� North America doesn’t see the full range of models

The Giant Trance needs no introduction, having been around for several decades. Today, there are three builds in the Trance family: the trail-ready Trance, the slightly longer travel but still full 29-inch Trance X (which we tested here), and the Trance SX, which uses mixed wheels and has slightly longer travel.

The Trance offers very well-balanced geometry, which excels on flowing trail climbs. The seat tube is amply steep yet slack enough that you feel you can canter along without having too much weight channeled through your hands. The Trance X has a head angle of 64.8 degrees and a solidly steep seat tube angle of 77.2 degrees.

Overall, this is one of those trail bikes that perform extremely well climbing on singletrack and natural tech terrain, all while doing so with efficiency and balance. The Trance offers excellent tracking while climbing, all while being efficient and being able to handle surges in power. While descending, the Trance also excels in balance and consistency. Everything about this bike is well-measured, and it’s a bike happily bereft of any quirky geometry features or strange sizing dimensions. Whether turning on a dime or pointing and shooting through rough and committing chop, the Trance is well executed and composed, thanks to the predictable nature of the suspension. Everything about the platform is consistent, easy, and settled.

The Maestro 3 suspension system is at the heart of this bike, which includes a flip chip, but its function extends beyond just adjusting the bike’s angles. This chip, with its three positions, also allows the Trance and Trance X to switch between 29- and 27.5-inch rear wheels. Due to the extra travel of the SX, it can’t accommodate larger wheels.

All around, I’m a big fan of the Maestro 3 suspension system for shorter travel bikes (the Giant Trance X has 140 millimeters of travel in the rear and 150 in the fork). Packing as much as possible into 140 millimeters is no easy task, and I think Giant has chosen their features well鈥攊t blends great support with very adequate small bump sensitivity. In regards to stiffness, the bike feels direct and stiff, all while being comfortable. 鈥擧enry Quinney

Best High-Pivot Trail Bike

Forbidden Druid

Build: GX FX
Weight: 32.4 lbs (size M)

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 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 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 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.

Best All-Around

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 me 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. I sometimes used the climb switch for hard-pack fire roads or tarmac stretches, but for anything remotely rough, I 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. I’m not a believer 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)

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. I’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 I wish it didn’t have thru-headset cable routing and better-sealed frame bearings? You bet, but I wouldn’t consider either of those deal-breakers. The overall ride characteristics of the Tempo are overwhelmingly positive, enough so that I’d be willing to deal with a little extra shop time.

Best Easy Ride

GT Sensor Carbon

Build: Carbon Pro LE
Weight: 32.7 lbs (M)
Sizing: S-XL

Pros and Cons
鈯� Feels like an old friend鈥攅asy to ride
鈯� Quiet
鈯� No in-frame storage
鈯� No flip-chips or ways to adjust the geometry

In 2023, it was nearly five years since the Sensor received a significant update, so it was high time GT revised its 29-inch trail bike. The Sensor’s frame still has that distinctive GT look, but the amount of rear travel has been bumped up to 140 millimeters, a change that’s accompanied by revised geometry.

There are five models in the Sensor lineup鈥攖hree with carbon frames (except for the chainstays) with 140 millimeters of travel, and two with aluminum frames with 130 millimeters of travel. Prices range from $2,300 for the alloy Sensor Comp and go up to $5,750 for the Sensor Carbon Pro LE.

The Sensor’s geometry falls into what I’d call extra-normal-modern. The 65-degree head angle is moderately slack, but not extreme, and the 480-millimeter reach for a size large paired with a 77-degree seat angle is a familiar recipe. Compared to the previous version, the reach is approximately 10 millimeters longer per size, and the seat angle is a degree steeper.

After a series of almost suspiciously great rides, my conviction is growing stronger that the new Sensor is a good one. It climbs well, with enough support to leave the shock’s climb lever alone, and there’s plenty of traction even when set up with 25 percent sag. On the descents, the suspension does a great job of muting hits of all sizes. The tune on the RockShox Super Deluxe feels ideally suited to the Sensor’s kinematics鈥攊t’s fluttery off the top to take care of the small bump chatter, and then settles nicely into its stroke when dealing with repeated larger impacts.

The geometry may be fairly middle of the road, but it’s a recipe that works well, and the result is a bike that feels like a familiar, friendly companion almost immediately.

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 Mostly 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 Like?

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

• Number of Testers: 6
• Number of Products Tested: 15

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, the managing tech editor for PinkBike, who is based in Bellingham, Washington and manages all mountain bike gear coverage.

Meet the Lead Testers

: Managing tech editor for Pinkbike, alien skeptic.

: Tech editor for Pinkbike, believes in aliens (or lizard people at the very least).

: News editor for Pinkbike who sometimes moonlights as a tech editor.

: Content manager for Pinkbike, former elite-level cross-country mountain bike racer.

The post Our Favorite High-Performance Trail Bikes This Year appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.