Checklist · 11 picks · 5 categories

gifts for mountain bikers

Edited by Zach · updated Oct 31, 2026 · How I pick

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Easy win Crankbrothers M19 Best for a full toolset without spending much$25-50Shop on Amazon
Quiet chain Smoove Universal Chain Lube Best for fewer re-lubes and a quiet drivetrain$25-50Shop on Amazon
Big splurge Osprey Syncro 12 Best for all-day rides with a jacket, snacks and tools$150-200Shop on Amazon

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Mountain bikers are always fixing, tuning or upgrading something. The Crankbrothers M19 is OutdoorGearLab's best bang for your buck multi-tool, and the Lezyne Super V 22 is its best overall.

The CYCPLUS, its best electric pump, tops off tires for them. Finish Line is Cycling Weekly's best dry lube for dusty rides, and Smoove, its best overall chain lube, kept a test chain quiet after 150 miles. The Giro DND is OutdoorGearLab's best bang for your buck glove and the Troy Lee Designs Air its best overall. Race Face Chester pedals replace the plastic ones a bike came with, and the Five Ten Freerider is its best bang for the buck flat pedal shoe. The splurges are the Osprey Syncro 12, its best overall hydration pack, and Wolf Tooth Waveform pedals, its best flat pedal. Every pick is on one of my lists with its source.

Who this is not for. Skip this if they ride to work more than on trails; the gifts for cyclists page has lights, locks and helmets.

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01 Tools and pump

the first pick is the one I would start with

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Crankbrothers M19	budget	$25-50	a full toolset without spending much	1 outlet
Lezyne Super V 22	mid	$50-100	one tool that covers nearly every bolt	1 outlet
CYCPLUS Electric Pump	mid	$50-100	hands-free top-offs at home and on the go	1 outlet

Top pick

budget pick · 19 functions

Crankbrothers M19

Best for a full toolset without spending much

OutdoorGearLab's best bang for your buck multi-tool: a classic folding design with hex keys, Torx bits, screwdrivers, a chain tool and spoke wrenches that testers found durable and comfortable.

Heads up. Relatively heavy, and the carry case adds weight you don't need

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Bang for Your Buck multi-tool.

$25-50

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mid pick · 22 functions

Lezyne Super V 22

Best for one tool that covers nearly every bolt

OutdoorGearLab's best overall bike multi-tool: a simple, low-profile layout packed with hex, Torx and screwdriver bits plus spoke wrenches, a rotor truing tool and a chain tool.

Heads up. The finish is prone to wear

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Overall Bike Multi-Tool.

$50-100

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mid pick · Electric

CYCPLUS Electric Pump

Best for hands-free top-offs at home and on the go

OutdoorGearLab's best electric pump: set the pressure, attach it to the valve and it tops off the tire for you, and it doubles as an emergency inflator in the car.

Heads up. The small screw-on adapters don't store on the pump, and battery life is the main worry

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best electric pump.

$50-100

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02 Drivetrain

Best chain lube

splurge pick · 125 ml / 4.22 oz

Smoove Universal Chain Lube

Best for fewer re-lubes and a quiet drivetrain

Cycling Weekly's best overall chain lube: a wax-based drip lube that kept the test chain running smoothly and noise-free after 150 miles in varied conditions, including rain.

Heads up. Needs a deep chain clean before the first application

1 outlet. Cycling Weekly best overall chain lube.

$25-50

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budget pick · 60 ml / 2 oz

Finish Line Dry Bike Lube

Best for dry, dusty rides

Cycling Weekly's best dry lube: very effective at repelling dirt, which makes it a good choice for dry and dusty riding.

Heads up. The wide bottle opening makes it easy to apply too much lube

1 outlet. Cycling Weekly best dry lube.

under $15

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03 Gloves

Best bike gloves

budget pick · Pick by hand size

Giro DND

Best for a comfy everyday trail glove

OutdoorGearLab's best bang for your buck glove: a classically comfortable, well-ventilated, affordable glove for warmer riding.

Heads up. Minimal protection

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Bang for Your Buck mountain bike glove.

$25-50

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mid pick · Pick by hand size

Troy Lee Designs Air Glove

Best for a snug fit on long summer rides

OutdoorGearLab's best overall mountain bike glove: form-fitting and lightweight, with the features and comfort for a great ride.

Heads up. Thin fabric on the back, and not for colder rides

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Overall Mountain Bike Glove.

$25-50

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04 Pedals and shoes

Top pick

budget pick · 110 x 101 mm platform

Race Face Chester

Best for swapping out the plastic pedals their bike came with

OutdoorGearLab's best pedal for your buck: an affordable, well-built and durable pedal that will last a long time.

Heads up. No traction pins along the axle, and only eight pins per side

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Pedal for your Buck.

$50-100

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mid pick · 446 g per shoe (size 11)

Five Ten Freerider

Best for sticky grip without the pro price, if you know their size

OutdoorGearLab's best bang for the buck flat pedal shoe: an affordable shoe with exceptional grip that leaves a bit to be desired in stiffness and power transfer.

Heads up. Less rigid with less power transfer than the competition, and a little heavy

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Bang for the Buck flat pedal shoes.

$100-150

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05 Splurge

Top pick

splurge pick · 12 L

Osprey Syncro 12

Best for all-day rides with a jacket, snacks and tools

OutdoorGearLab's best overall hydration pack: comfortable, breathable, supportive and full-featured, and a great choice for mountain biking.

Heads up. Expensive, with no hip belt pockets

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best overall hydration pack.

$150-200

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splurge pick · 105 x 99 mm platform

Wolf Tooth Waveform

Best for max grip on climbs and descents

OutdoorGearLab's best flat pedal: one of the best-feeling and best-performing pedals it has reviewed.

Heads up. Price

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best flat pedal.

$150-200

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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me

Questions people ask

What do you get someone who mountain bikes?

A multi-tool or chain lube, since neither depends on their size. The Crankbrothers M19 is OutdoorGearLab's best bang for your buck multi-tool, with a chain tool and spoke wrenches, and Smoove is Cycling Weekly's best overall chain lube.

Are mountain bike pedals a good gift?

They are if they ride flat pedals. The Race Face Chester is OutdoorGearLab's best pedal for your buck, affordable and durable, and the Wolf Tooth Waveform, its best flat pedal, has exceptional grip.

When should I order so it arrives by Christmas?

USPS's recommended last send dates for December 25 in the contiguous US are December 17 for Ground Advantage, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express. Retailers set their own order-by dates, so check at checkout.

gifts for mountain bikers