Best Bike Gear of 2024 | Tested & Rated

We put together our dream team of bike-related products and accessories — everything we would choose for our perfect riding setup. It includes all of our favorite biking gear fit for various biking styles and budgets. From big purchases (like a top-ranked mountain bike!) to small but helpful accessories like a frame pump, the best bike shoes and our favorite mountain bike wheels, this list has got you covered with advice on everything you may need to enhance your next two-wheeled adventure.

First and foremost, you've got to protect your noggin. All of the bicycle helmets we tested will do the job, but if you're bombing down a steep trail on your enduro, you may want more coverage than if you're pedaling cross country on your top-ranked gravel bike. Different helmet styles have features that may be a better fit. Some may prioritize airflow, ventilation, and comfort, while others put more emphasis on protection and coverage. In the end, it really comes down to your personal preference and riding style.

Getting stuck with a flat is a surefire way to ruin anyone's weekend ride, and worse still is returning from a quick pit stop to find that your bike is not there at all. Of all the bike related gear we have tested, racks, locks, and pumps may not be as enticing as, say, a zippy top-rated electric bike. However, these essential pieces can help get you out and riding and protect you from potential trail mishaps.

The shoes you wear to bike in varies significantly from rider to rider, but as with most outdoor activities, your footwear matters. Clipping into your road bike can improve energy transfer and help you squeeze every last drop out of each pedal rotation. Perfectly sticky mountain bike shoes can give you more control over your bike and offer a firm pedaling platform. Whatever your needs, we've got you covered with our favorite bike shoes for each category.

While not always necessary, certain accessories can add elements of comfort and convenience to your ride. Hip packs, and knee pads keep you safe and hydrated, while the ever-handy bike multi-tool is an accessory many would consider essential. Solid upgrades to your components, like new flat pedals, extra knobby tires for your mountain bike, or the top-rated mountain bike wheels, can elevate your riding to a new level without breaking the bank. These are some of the best add-ons for any biker:

Bike seats built for performance aren't always the most comfortable, and protecting your tush is essential when you start getting into longer and more consistent rides. It is important to find the right shorts for any occasion, on or off the trail, and bike-specific styles are designed to keep you cool, comfy, and chafe-free through your most intense sessions.

At GearLab, we love all things biking. Whether you're looking for a perfect bike shorts, a set of the best road bike pedals, or a budget pair of bike shoes, we've tested it all. For over a decade, our team of experts have been getting outside with the latest biking gear and pushing the products to their limits so we can find the top performers. We start the process by researching the top gear on the market and narrowing down our selections to include only the best of the best. We then purchase the gear and develop an unbiased rating system to score each product throughout the testing process.

Our all-star roster of testers includes Joshua Hutchens, Zach Wick, Jeremy Benson, and Rebecca Eckland. Joshua Hutchens is our Senior Mountain Bike Review Editor and leads our team of bike testers. He has spent virtually his whole life in, on, and around bikes and got his start racing BMX and working in a bike shop at the age of 12. Since then, Joshua has lead numerous bicycle trips, owned a boutique bike shop, co-founded an indoor bike park, and raced in every cycling discipline (but still prefers his mountain bikes). Zach Wick has been riding mountain bikes since he was a kid and lives and spends more time on a bike than off. He is a state champion road cyclist, an elite mountain bike racer and does just about everything else in between. Jeremy Benson is a gravel and mountain bike racer who has been riding for three decades. Benson is also the author of Mountain Bike Tahoe, a mountain biking guidebook for the Lake Tahoe area. Rebecca Eckland is a former USAC Cat 3 Road bike racer, winner of the 600-mile California Triple Crown Stage race, and does everything from racing bikes to commuting. She knows firsthand the importance of having good gear for comfort and success. These three experts researched and tested these award-winning products.

To help kickstart your bike gear quiver, we've provided four important buying considerations, including budget, riding style, and must-have gear.

When building out your quiver of bike gear, it's wise to consider the most important areas worth investing in early on. While you can probably get by without aftermarket saddles and tires, other gear, such as a proper helmet, is downright necessary. A good rule of thumb is to start with gear that prioritizes safety and then look for other gear that can improve performance. Inexpensive but important gear such as multi-tools and bike locks are great accessories that provide increased levels of safety and last a long time.

It's also important to consider what type of riding you usually do and how that affects the type of gear you invest in. A biker who focuses on downhill and enduro racing will absolutely need a full-face helmet and knee pads, while a biker who just uses their bike to commute will prioritize a bike lock and pump. While most of us wish we had unlimited funds, thinking about what gear is most applicable to your typical riding helps save that hard-earned dough.

Once you've checked the boxes and found the right safety essentials, it's time to find clothing and shoes. A good pair of shoes is especially important for newer riders to help with foot placement and grip. Bike-oriented clothing also helps keep you more comfortable and ready to tackle anything from long, hot summer days to cold fall mornings.

After you've got your essentials dialed in, it's time for the more enticing side of bike gear: the components. Whether it's upgrading your bike with a new dropper or finding the right tires for your terrain, key upgrades can vastly improve confidence and performance. Ideally, component upgrades should help improve the riding characteristics of your bike. Manufacturers often equip bikes with certain kits and specifications with room to improve. If you notice your tires are having difficulty grabbing on turns, it might be time for a new set, or if you feel like you could improve your braking with a new set of brakes, that could be the answer. When looking for components, we recommend starting with the highest priorities and avoiding upgrading parts out of FOMO.