Checklist · 13 picks · 6 categories

mountain biking starter kit

Edited by Zach · updated Oct 30, 2026 · How I pick

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Budget helmet Lazer Coyote KinetiCore Best for real crash protection on a starter budget$50-100Shop on Amazon
Grippy shoes Five Ten Freerider Best for sticky grip without the pro price$100-150Shop on Amazon
First flat pedals Race Face Chester Best for swapping out the plastic pedals your bike came with$50-100Shop on Amazon

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Mountain biking is basically recess for adults: dirt, speed and the occasional muddy slide.

You've got the bike, so start with what keeps you safe. A trail helmet comes first, and OutdoorGearLab runs its own impact tests; even its budget pick posted excellent impact scores. Gloves keep your hands comfy on the grips. Flat pedals and sticky flat pedal shoes are the next upgrade as you ride more. A hydration pack and a multi-tool are nice to have once rides get longer than an hour. Every pick comes from OutdoorGearLab's biking tests, and each card shows the drawback its testers called out, so you know what you're trading off.

Who this is not for. Skip this if you ride on city streets; the Bike Commuter list has commuter helmets, lights, locks and panniers.

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Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.

My budget

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see the plan, item by item

Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 31, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.

The must-haves

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01 Helmet

the first pick is the one I would start with

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Lazer Coyote KinetiCore	budget	$50-100	real crash protection on a starter budget	1 outlet
Fox Racing Speedframe Pro	mid	$150-200	everyday trail rides	1 outlet
Poc Cularis	splurge	$200-300	hot summer climbs and big days out	1 outlet

Best bike helmet

budget pick · Pick by head size

Lazer Coyote KinetiCore

Best for real crash protection on a starter budget

OutdoorGearLab's highly affordable and best impact test helmet: a wallet-friendly option with impressive impact scores and color schemes.

Heads up. The large visor is an acquired taste, with a bulkier profile

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab highly Affordable and Best Impact Test mountain bike helmet.

$50-100

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mid pick · Pick by head size

Fox Racing Speedframe Pro

Best for everyday trail rides

OutdoorGearLab's best trail riding helmet: Fox pulled out all the stops for this trail helmet, and it shows.

Heads up. Average weight, and the strap splitters are fixed

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best trail riding helmet.

$150-200

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splurge pick · Pick by head size

Poc Cularis

Best for hot summer climbs and big days out

OutdoorGearLab's best overall helmet with great impact test results: an excellent trail helmet with great ventilation and crash scores.

Heads up. Less budget-friendly, and the Air Node padding is minimal

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Overall Helmet and Great Impact Test Results.

$200-300

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02 Gloves

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Giro Trixter	budget	$25-50	warm-weather rides on a budget	1 outlet
Giro DND	budget	$25-50	a comfy everyday trail glove	1 outlet
Troy Lee Designs Air Glove	mid	$25-50	a snug fit on long summer rides	1 outlet

Best bike gloves

budget pick · Pick by hand size

Giro Trixter

Best for warm-weather rides on a budget

OutdoorGearLab's best budget buy glove: an affordable slip-on glove that keeps your hands cool, though the mesh may be a weak point for durability.

Heads up. Lacks protection, and the fingertip seams could fail

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Budget Buy mountain bike glove.

$25-50

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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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03 Pedals

Best flat pedals

budget pick · 110 x 101 mm platform

Race Face Chester

Best for swapping out the plastic pedals your 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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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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04 Shoes

Best flat pedal shoes

mid pick · 446 g per shoe (size 11)

Five Ten Freerider

Best for sticky grip without the pro price

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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splurge pick · 399 g per shoe (size 11)

Five Ten Freerider Pro

Best for riders who've caught the bug

OutdoorGearLab's best overall flat pedal shoe: the benchmark for flat pedal shoes, a true all-arounder that looks as good as it performs.

Heads up. Expensive-ish

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Overall Mountain Bike Flat Pedal Shoes.

$150-200

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05 Water

Best hydration pack

splurge pick · 6 L

Thule Vital 6L Hydration Pack

Best for long days with water and a few extras on your back

OutdoorGearLab's Top Pick for drinking hose design: a sleek, lightweight pack with an innovative hose setup.

Heads up. Limited overall storage, and the reservoir hanger is tedious

1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab top Pick hydration pack (drinking hose design).

$100-150

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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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06 Tools

Best multi-tool

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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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 gear do I need to start mountain biking?

A helmet, gloves and a multi-tool are the essentials. Flat pedals, flat pedal shoes and a hydration pack are nice to have as you ride more. If you ride on city streets, our Bike Commuter list is a better fit.

Do I need special shoes for mountain biking?

Not on day one, but flat pedal shoes have sticky rubber soles that grip the pedal pins. OutdoorGearLab calls the Five Ten Freerider Pro the benchmark for flat pedal shoes, and its budget pick, the Freerider, has exceptional grip but less stiffness.

Is a cheap mountain bike helmet safe?

A budget helmet can still test well. OutdoorGearLab's budget pick, the Lazer Coyote KinetiCore, posted excellent impact test scores in its reviews; its main downsides are a large visor and a bulkier profile.

mountain biking starter kit

plan my budget pick an amount ↓

The must-haves