Skip to main content

Know what bike gear you need to bring on your next mountain bike adventure

Must-haves while mountain biking in the wild or even close to home

Man and woman biking on a dirt path

We often make sure our mountain bike is in good running condition before a ride, but checking the bike gear we bring along can often slip our minds. Think of this as a checklist of sorts, so you’re ready for your next mountain biking adventure!

Mountain biking safety

Safety should be the number one priority when considering bike gear. At the bare minimum, you should wear a quality helmet when you are on the bike. Helmet manufacturers consider the features found on mountain bike trails when designing their helmets, so choosing a mountain bike-specific helmet is important. Consider buying a helmet with MIPS technology. MIPS helps reduce rotational force if your head hits the ground during a crash. With more and more helmets incorporating the technology, it’s clear engineers are doing something right.

Mountain bike trails can get especially dusty. Mountain bike eyewear may turn your ride from miserable to awesome. Many companies have interchangeable lenses, keeping your eyes free of dirt and dust, regardless of how sunny it is. Cuts and gashes can be frequent while mountain biking, so making sure you have a proper first-aid kit is a must. A kit designed specifically for adventure will be your best bet, as it will have everything you need at a minimal weight. 

Vibrelli mini bike pump and glueless puncture repair kit

Tire repair kit

Mountain bike trails and flat tires seem to go hand in hand. A flat is the most common mechanical issue you are likely to encounter, so having a kit in your bike gear is a necessity. At a minimum, make sure your tire repair kit has a hand pump and tire levers. Different kits come with various items, but these two are essential.

The mountain bike of today is likely tubeless, but a tubeless trail-side fix can be tricky. Having a spare tube that fits your tires will ensure you’ll keep riding, rather than walking back to your car. While you grab a spare tube, pick up a tire repair kit that has all the tools you need to actually change a tire, even out on the mountain bike trails.

Man and woman taking a break while riding their Schwinn mountain bikes

Hydration and energy

Lastly, make sure you stay hydrated and fueled. Before you head out, you can easily make some high-energy, low-waste, and low-cost snacks at home that will help keep you spinning your wheels. Snacks like granola bars and even squeezable peanut butter pouches are good options. They are relatively small, won’t make a mess in your bag, and pack lots of energy.

Bringing water mountain biking seems like a no-brainer, but water may not be enough. We lose sodium, magnesium, and potassium through our sweat when are mountain biking. Add an electrolyte mix to a water bottle to replenish what you will lose.

Pack all the loose bike gear in a mountain bike hip pack, and you’ll be ready to confidently and comfortably hit the trails. Mountain biking is a blast, but like many outdoor activities, being unprepared can spoil the time. There’s a chance you may never use any of this bike gear (well, you’ll use the water and snacks for sure). But considering you may be 10 miles away from your car on a mountain bike trail, it’s better to have the gear and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Editors' Recommendations

Travis Reill
Contributor
Hi! I'm Travis, a teacher turned stay-at-home dad turned freelance writer. Mountain biking is my passion. Fortunately, I've…
A beginner’s guide to fly fishing: Everything you need to know
This great American pastime is almost always about everything but the fish.
fly fishing

A passion for the great outdoors is usually enough to spark a foray into fishing, in general, and perhaps fly fishing, in particular. Those who’ve logged real time in waders with a pole in hand know that it’s almost always about everything but the fish. It’s about the sound of the rushing river; the critters ambling, swimming, or flying about; and the taking time to absorb the soothing rhythms of the natural world.

A fulfilling or challenging hike or camping trip will get you close to nature, but through fly fishing, you’ll get even closer. First, you’ll learn to speak the language of water, gaining an appreciation for all things aquatic and their vital place in the circle of life. Later, should you stick with it, you might even be able to predict insect hatches and experience the unrivaled joy of catching a fish with a fly that you tied yourself (or at least mindfully selected from your box).

Read more
Discover the best electric mountain bikes for hitting the trails this year
A review of 2023's top e-MTBs
A mountain bike in action

Down with exhausted calves — all hail the rise of the ebike! Electric bikes are taking over anywhere bicycles roam, including off-road trails. Few things have changed the MTB (mountain biking) space like electrification, taking trail capabilities to a new level, and allowing riders to actually enjoy the uphill pedal. To that end, we’re looking at the best electric mountain bikes of 2023.

Each of these e-MTBs has been tested extensively in a wide range of trail conditions, from easy flow trails to more technical challenges. While electric mountain bikes tend to be fairly pricey — it’s not uncommon for them to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $8,000 — the recommendations below represent a wide range of budgets. Check back often, as we'll be updating our ebike coverage regularly, looking at standout models like the Juiced RipCurrent S and the VanMoof S3.

Read more
When you need the very best EDC knife, these 8 knives make the cut
From slicing open Amazon packages to processing firewood, the right EDC blade can do it all
EDC knife

No EDC (everyday carry) kit is complete without a reliable pocket knife. The best EDC knives are those utility tools that you don't realize how much you need until you started carrying one for yourself. Whether it's an overzealously taped Amazon package, an itchy tag on a new sweater, or a loose thread on that slick needlepoint you just finished for your sweet ol' granny, your trusty pocket knife is ready and waiting to be of service. Not sure where to start? If you buy just one EDC blade, make it one of these.

Read more