Mountain biking is a fun activity, especially for those who like the adrenaline rush of it.
If you are new to mountain biking, you may have noticed that there are hundreds of different brands and models to choose from. Whittling them down can be a difficult task.
Mountain bikes can quickly become expensive. If you are a newbie or are shopping on a budget, mountain biking does not have to be expensive.
You can rest assured knowing that there are many great mountain bikes you can purchase for under $300.
In this article, we have reviewed and discussed ten of the best mountain bikes that are all under $300.
We have included a useful list of pros and cons for each so you can compare them.
Just because you are purchasing a cheaper bike, does not mean you have to sacrifice the quality.
We hope this article will get you geared up and ready to purchase the best mountain bike!
In A Hurry? Here is our top pick:
This bike is of fantastic quality and is particularly good value for the money.
It is well within the $300 price range, comes in a range of colors, and is unisex. It is suitable for anyone over 5 feet and has raised handlebars for comfort.
It is lightweight and has a steel frame. The Huffy Hardtail Mountain Bike is great on all terrains, easy to pedal uphill, and is lightweight. There are 21 different speed settings to choose from.
The seat is comfortable, and the kolo 1200 fork absorbs impact from bumps and uneven surfaces, making your ride smoother. It is made from good quality materials and is a great choice of mountain bike overall.
It is worth noting that it does not come fully assembled and you will have to assemble some of it manually. There is a user guide and tools included to assist you with this.
OUR TOP PICK
This mountain bike is a popular choice and comes in 6 colors, such as denim blue and solar flare.
The Huffy Hardtail mountain bike is reasonably priced and is well within the $300 budget. This is a unisex bike.
It has 26-inch wheels and a 17-inch frame. The frame is made out of steel and is fairly lightweight. The hardtail frame gives a good, durable performance.
It weighs a total of 42.7 pounds. It has front suspension which is great for tougher terrains.
It has 21 different speeds to choose from. Riding uphill is easy with this bike and it provides you with good pedal power and acceleration.
The seat can easily be adjusted for users of different heights. This bike is a great fit for those who are over 5 feet.
The Huffy comes with an in-depth user manual that explains everything you need to know about this bike. The bike comes with a warranty, should anything go wrong with it.
The seat is comfortable and the kolo 1200 fork will absorb impact from bumps and uneven surfaces, making your ride a lot smoother.
The tires are of good quality and the traction works well in both wet and dry weather. The tires perform well on all terrains.
The handlebars are slightly raised for extra comfort to prevent back and shoulder pain. The gears are protected by the rear derailleur that can be removed.
It is worth noting that this bike does not come assembled. You will need to install the wheel, seat, pedals, and handlebars manually.
All of the tools required for assembly are included.
Pros
- Fantastic value for the money
- 21 different speed settings
- Handlebars are raised slightly for extra comfort
Cons
- Does not come fully assembled
EDITORS CHOICE
The Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bike is unisex and suitable for both adults and teenagers.
It comes in 12 colors, which include, teal and light purple. This is a more expensive mountain bike but is still within the $300 budget.
It has a lightweight steel frame and 27.5-inch wheels. It is great on all terrain types.
The steel frame is particularly durable, which is essential for a mountain bike. The wheels have alloy wheels. Not only are they strong, but they are lightweight too.
The Schwinn has a suspension fork, which will allow for a smoother ride on uneven terrains. In addition to this, it has front and rear brakes that are powerful and secure.
The bike has 21-speed options and the derailleur allows you to change your gears quickly and efficiently while riding.
This model comes with a limited warranty. It is worth noting that some users have stated that this bike is more suited to teenagers and shorter adults due to its size.
Pros
- 21 different speed settings
- Comes in many different colors
- Good suspension fork
Cons
- Some users have noted that this bike may be more suited to teenagers or shorter adults due to its size
BEST VALUE
This is another Huffy Mountain bike, but it is slightly smaller than the first we featured and does have a different spec.
It comes in 8 colors, ranging from matte acid green to satin tropic blue. It is a reasonably priced bike that is well within budget.
This Huffy Hardtail has 24-inch wheels and the frame is 16.75 inches. It is made from lightweight aluminum. This bike is more suited to riders ages 12 to 19 and with a height of around 58-70 inches.
It is great at gaining momentum and is easy to peddle, gain speed, and accelerate. It has 21 speeds and the gears can be changed easily.
The tires are deliberately oversized slightly to allow for maximum traction. This helps particularly on dirt and tougher terrains.
The suspension fork is good at absorbing bumps and is great for steeper hill climbs.
This bike comes with a ten-year warranty. The saddle is stitched for maximum comfort and the resin pedals are responsive.Pros
- 10-year warranty
- Oversized tires to maximize traction
- Lightweight, aluminum bike
Cons
- More suited to teenagers than adults
RUNNER UP
This is a fantastic women’s mountain bike that is reasonably priced. It is one of the cheapest bikes we have included in this article and would be great for beginners. It comes in one color, purple.
The wheels are 26 inches and the brake style is a linear-pull. The suspension is at the front of the Roadmaster.
It is great for all terrains from roads to gravel paths. The frame is made out of steel which is durable.
The overall ride of this bike is smooth and the alloy trims are durable and stable. The bike comes with 18 different speed settings, which is slightly less in comparison to some of the other adult bikes included in this article.
It has a Shimano rear derailleur which allows you to take your riding to the next level.
Pros
- Great value for the money
- Well-loved and trusted brand
- Shimano rear derailleur
Cons
- Only has 18-speed settings, which is less than the majority of adult mountain bikes
RUNNER UP
This is a unisex bike that comes in one color, green and grey. In terms of the price, it is very reasonable, and one of the cheapest bikes featured in this article.
This Northwoods bike has 24-inch alloy rims. Given that the wheels are alloy, they are more durable and lightweight for tougher terrains.
The bike has full suspension which is great for bumpier tracks. It has a 50mm steel crown fork suspension.
The frame is made from aluminum which is more lightweight than steel. This will help you to ride this bike with ease.
It has a triple crank-steel and 21 different speed settings. The bike also comes with an alloy sleep clamp.
It is worth noting that the front wheel does not have a quick release to pop off to transport.
Given this, if you have a smaller car and no bike rack, you may find transporting the Northwoods a little tricky.
Pros
- Lightweight aluminum frame
- Steel crown fork suspension
- Great value for the money
Cons
- As the front wheel does not have a quick release, it may be more difficult to store and transport
RUNNER UP
This Schwinn bike is perfect for teenagers and adults. It comes in 12 colors, such as pink and red.
It is at the higher end of the price range, being just within the budget. It is worth noting that while this bike states that it is suitable for adults, anyone over 5 feet 6, would be too tall for this bike.
The wheels are 24 inches and the aluminum frame is lightweight which creates an easy ride. It is durable for use on tougher terrains. The traction on the tires is suitable for all terrains.
The High Timber has alloy linear-pull brakes, which is accurate and stops the bike quickly. The triple cranks are also alloy and allow you to change gears with ease.
There are 21 different speed settings to choose from. The derailleur allows you to change the gears with no issues while riding.
The bike comes with a limited lifetime warranty. If you are looking to purchase a bike for an older child or teenager, this is a great option.
Pros
- Aluminum lightweight frame
- Durable on tougher terrains
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Although the bike states it is suitable for adults, it is not suitable for those taller than 5 feet 6
RUNNER UP
The Mongoose Mountain Bike is unisex and reasonably priced. It is well within the $300 budget. It comes in only one color, black, and red.
The wheels are 26 inches and this is a perfect bike for those of a height between 64 to 74 inches.
The frame is made from lightweight aluminum and has hydroformed tubing. The aluminum is strong and durable.
The alloys are light and durable. They are strong enough to support the 2.12-inch mountain bike tires.
The tires can ride over rough terrains and the suspension fork makes the ride a lot cleaner. The bike has 21 different speed shifters and changing gears is smooth and easy.
The Mongoose has two v-brakes that are fast-acting. The seat is easy to adjust to change the height.
The bikes come with a five-year warranty and the individual bike parts are covered with a one year warranty.
Pros
- Lightweight and durable aluminum frame
- Reasonably priced
- Five-year warranty on the bike and one year warranty on bike parts
Cons
- Only comes in one color
RUNNER UP
If you are looking for a mountain bike suitable for younger children this is a great option. The Hiland is suitable for children aged between 5-9.
The height range this best suited for is 42 - 56 inches. It comes in 6 different colors to appeal to both boys and girls, such as black and pink.
The tires are 20 inches, and the suspension fork is 40mm. The fork is great at smoothing out rides on bumpy terrains. The bike is suitable to be ridden on dirt trails and other terrains.
The handlebars are flat and provide support and safety when the bike is ridden on uneven surfaces. It has 6 gear options that are easy to switch between. This helps to teach children the basics of changing gears when needed.
The overall design of the bike is low and the frame is 10 inches, which is easy to mount and dismount.
Please be aware that this bike does not come fully assembled. You will need to install the last 15% manually.
The tools needed to do this are included. This is very reasonably priced and would be great as a first mountain bike.
Pros
- Great starter mountain bike for children
- Low 10-inch frame for easy mounting and dismounting
- 6 gears to teach children the basics of changing gears
Cons
- Bike only comes 85% assembled
RUNNER UP
The Flite Taser II is created with men in mind. Given this, it is one of the larger bikes we have included in this article.
It comes in one color black and yellow. In terms of price, it is one of the cheaper options available. It is a great value for the money.
The wheel size is 26 inches and the frame material is steel. Although it is not as lightweight as aluminum, it is still easy to ride.
The steel frame is 18 inches in total and has full suspension. This helps to create a smoother ride.
It has a fully adjustable rear shock until it helps to absorb bumps. The alloys are silver and durable. There are also front suspension forks.
The Flite has two V-brakes and 18 gears. It is worth noting that this is slightly less than some of the other mountain bikes we have reviewed.
The mountain bike was created with high standards and has a safe specification. It is particularly good riding uphill and has a comfortable seat.
Pros
- Full suspension
- Adjustable rear shock
- Comfortable seat
Cons
- Only has 18 gear settings
RUNNER UP
The Huffy Mountain Bike is tailored towards boys. It comes in one color gray and black. Its overall dimensions are 54.33 x 8.27 x 45.76 inches. It weighs a total of 45.8 pounds.
It has front suspension which helps to create a smoother ride when on dirt paths or uneven terrains. The bike is particularly responsive.
It has a twist shifting system and 21 different speed controls. The indexed derailleur allows you to change the gears with ease.
There are two brakes, for the front and the rear wheels. It issues a dual disc brake system that is particularly responsive. The brakes are not affected by adverse weather conditions and work well when it is raining.
The seat is padded for maximum comfort. It also has an adjustable height which can be adjusted easily using the binder clip. No tools are necessary.
Overall this is a great bike, but it is tailored more towards boys than girls and is not suitable for adults.
Pros
- 21 different speed controls
- Great braking system
- The height of the seat can be adjusted quickly without the use of tools
Cons
- Aimed specifically at boys, may be off-putting for girls wanting to purchase this bike
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you to find a mountain bike that is best suited to your needs.
We have included a whole range of mountain bikes from children’s bikes to men’s bikes, to ensure that we cover all of the potential bases.
The most important thing to remember is that the price of the mountain bike does not necessarily reflect its quality.
While expensive bikes are great and worth investing in, you can still purchase a good quality mountain bike at the fraction of the price.
We would recommend checking out the options we have included if you are a beginner or if you are shopping on a budget!