7 Best Mountain Bikes Under 300 | All Bikes Tested
A wide range of budget mountain bikes still have outstanding performance abilities to tackle more challenging mountain paths. Even at the best price point, you can easily find good-performing best mountain bikes under 300 dollars. These bikes will provide the most enjoyable adventure rides and comfortable urban commuting.
If you are new to mountain bikes or have already done some research and have a minimum budget around $300. This detailed comparative review will help you a lot to get your desired footing. In this article, we have prepared a comparison list after in-depth testing of the best cheap mountain bikes.
For this review article, we spent more than six months completing the testing review process. Our team members continuously scroll online bicycle marketplaces and visit different local bike shops to find the most reliable and solid mountain bikes.
During testing, our bike riders rode each MTB model on mountain racing trails of Willowdale State Forest, Linebrook RD. We ranked these mountain bikes based on our rating metrics after getting test results. According to our results, HILAND Slycan and Huffy Stone are the best mountain bikes under $300. Here is the ranking list of our pick of the top 7 best budget mountain bikes.
Our team of professional testers regularly tests different bikes, cycling gear, and bike repair tools. If you have a slightly high budget, you can also check our tested review on the best mountain bikes under $600. In addition, you can see our best cycling gear section for any type of upgrade and bike-repairing guides to resolve bike maintenance issues quickly.
Best Mountain Bikes Under 300:
HILAND Slycan Mountain Bike
Huffy Stone Hardtail Mountain Bike
Jasion EB5 Electric Mountain Bike
Hiland Gamille 2.0 Mountain Bike
Ecarpat Full Suspension Mountain Bike
Huffy Exxo Hardtail Mountain Bike
Mongoose Flatrock Mountain Bike
1. HILAND Slycan Mountain Bike
Features:
- Anti-Rust Aluminum Alloy Frame
- Full Shimano 21-Speed Shifters
- Front & Rear Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 27.5-inch Double Wall Aluminum Rims
- Non-Slip & Breathable Padded Seat
- Front Lockable Alloy Suspension Fork
- Recommended Height: 5’5” to 5’11”
- Maximum Weight Limit: 275 Pounds
The Hiland Slycan Mountain Bike is a highly in-demand entry-level MTB bike and got top position in our reviews. This bike is equipped with lockout-suspension fork and dual powerful hydraulic disc brakes. you will really find these features in any other MTB bike in the $300 range.
This Slycan is built around an easy-to-clean, strong aluminum frame and features internal cable routing to protect cables from the outer environment. The provided breathable seat is non-slip and wide enough to absorb shock on bumpy roads and provide you with comfortable long rides.
Other reliable features that impressed us very much during test rides are its Shimano 21-speed derailleur for fat speed, double-wall aluminum wheels to protect the inner tube, and 27.5” x 2.1” XC tires, which are non-slip and provide fast-rolling to increase pedal efficiency.
2. Huffy Stone Hardtail Mountain Bike
Features:
- Hi-Strength Hardtail Alloy Steel Frame
- Kolo 1200 Front Suspension Fork
- Shimano 21-Speed Twist Shifter
- Shimano TZ-31 Indexed Derailleur
- Adjustable Saddle & Rise Handlebar
- Front & Rear Linear Pull Hand Brakes
- All-Terrain Bike Tires & Alloy Wheels
- Three Sizes Available For 4’8” to 5’10”
- Maximum Weight Limit: 250 Pounds
The Huffy Stone Mountain bike is a top-selling model on Amazon with more than 4450 customer ratings. The main reasons for its popularity are its lightweight hardtail steel frame, Kolo 1200 suspension fork, and anti-slip tires.
The well-chosen combination of the Shimano 21-speed micro shift twist shifter and the Shimano TZ-31 indexed derailleur provide accurate and quick gear shifting. Its adjustable padded saddle that comes with stitched sides. in addition, its slightly-rise handlebar gives an upright riding position to minimize back and shoulder pain.
Our little complaint with this Huffy Stone was that its padded seat is narrow, which makes it uncomfortable for heavy riders. Overall, we found it to be one of the best men’s mountain bikes under $300, which allows you to enjoy aggressive riding, urban commuting, and outdoor fun.
3. Jasion EB5 Electric Mountain Bike
Features:
- Rust-Proof Aluminum Alloy Frame
- High-Speed 350W Brushless Motor
- 36V 10Ah Removable Li-ion Battery
- Full Shimano 7-Speed Thumb Shifter
- 160mm Dual Mechanical Disc Brakes
- Colorful Smart LCD Display Screen
- Back, Forth & Height Adjustable Seat
- Total E-Bike Weight: 50 Pounds only
- Recommended Height: 5’4” to 6’4”
The Jasion EB5 Electric Bikes is the most popular electric mountain bike under $300 and made using a high-carbon steel frame and equipped with a wide range of height adjustments to make it convenient and easy to handle for 5’4” to 6′ 4” tall riders. The whole electric bike is ROSH/CPSC verified and comes with a UL2849 certificate to ensure it is completely safe for senior riders.
Electronic Features of Jasion EB5:
This city-style Jasion EB5 is equipped with a high-speed 350W brushless motor that provides a top speed of 20 mph. Its 36V 10Ah Removable Lithium-ion battery gives more than enough range of 25 miles in pure electric throttle and up to 40 miles in pedal assist mode.
Its Intelligent, colorful LCD panel shows real-time, accurate details about PAS mode, speed, distance covered, and battery level. You can adjust LCD brightness from 1-5 levels, and three PAS modes.
General Specifications of Jasion EB5:
This Jasion EB5 is built around a high-carbon steel frame and features with high-carbon steel suspension fork to provide a good damping effect for absorbing vibrations and bumps. Its mechanical disc brakes are very sensitive to give all-weather stopping power. The manufacturing company give a gift of a full Shimano 7-speed thumb shifter for gear shifting.
Our rider was extremely impressed with its puncture-resistant tires and ergonomic adjustable seat that will keep you safe in complex road conditions. After three months of routine testing, we can confidently say that Jasion EB5 is one of the best budget mountain bikes.
4. Hiland Gamille 2.0 Mountain Bike For Women
Feature:
- High-Strength Carbon Steel Frame
- Full Shimano 21-Speed Twist Shifter
- Front & Rear Mechanical Disc Brakes
- Front Suspension Fork & Soft Seat
- Double Wall Aluminum alloy Wheel
- Non-Slip Mountain Grippy Tires
- Suitable For 5’0” to 6’0” Females
The Hiland Gamille 2.0 Step Through MTB bike is an upgraded edition of Gamille. It is specially made for women, following American-based standards. Our testers really enjoyed the new upgrades in this MTB model and did not have any issues during test rides.
Hiland made many useful changes in this model to make it more user-friendly. Such as changing its cable routing design, replacing the normal shifter with a Shimano Twist shifter, integrating the latest disc brakes, adding fenders, and replacing the position of the kickstand to make it more convenient.
Its assembling is very easy and takes about 30 minutes. However, during assembly, we noted that the adjustment of disc brakes and derailleur may be tricky for beginners or first-time assemblers. Overall, we found it a durable and reliable mountain bike for 5’0’ to 6’0” female riders.
5. Ecarpat Full Suspension Mountain Bike
Features:
- High-Carbon Steel Frame Material
- Shimano 21-Speed Thumb Shifter
- Front & Rear Dual Shock Absorber
- Front & Rear Mechanical Disc Brakes
- Adjustable Seat Up To 6-Inch High
- 2.1-Inch Non-Slip Rubber Tires
- 3 Sizes Available For 4’8” to 6’2”
The Ecarpat Full Suspension Mountain Bike is constructed with a hi-tensile carbon steel frame and designed with a dual shock-absorbing system to give impressive and comfortable long rides for hours and hours. Its rear suspension is gently designed in parallel with the front suspension fork to distribute road pressure equally.
The Ecarpat model is equipped with a full Shimano 21-speed gear shifting system with a thumb shifter for quick and accurate gear changes. Its dual mechanical disc brakes are very effective even in rainy weather.
During testing, we use aggressive style riding to deeply check the quality of provided rubber tires on gravel and paved roads. These 2.1-inch tires are not easy to slip and have a super anti-skid function. This bike is available in 3 sizes and Its seat can be adjusted up to 6-inch to make it suitable for 4’8” to 6’2” tall riders.
6. Huffy Exxo Hardtail Mountain Bike
Features:
- Lightweight Aluminum Hardtail Frame
- Shimano 21-Speed Quick Twist Shifter
- Shimano TZ-31 Rear Derailleur & Guard
- Quick Release ATB Adjustable Saddle
- Kolo 2200 Front Alloy Suspension Fork
- Front And Rear Alloy Linear Pull Brakes
- 1.95-Inch Wide Tires & Alloy Wheels
- Three Sizes Available For 5’0” to 6’2”
The slim and stylish Huffy Exxo Mountain Bike is made with a lightweight aluminum hardtail frame, and we feel much easier pedaling during test rides. Its quick-release adjustable seat and slightly raised handlebar with Kraton grips are very helpful to minimize pain from hand, shoulder, and back during aggressive or long-distance rides.
The well-chosen combination of Shimano TZ-31 rear derailleur and 21-speed micro-shift twist shifter provide a wide range of gears for uphill climbing, downhill riding and normal commuting. Its machined alloy wheel rims and 1.95-inch knobby tire give reliable grip into dirt and gravel paths.
There are two little but important reasons why the Huffy Exxo MTB bike got last position in this ranking list of the best mountain bikes under 300. One is a 6-month warranty on bike components, and the second is the plastic pedal quality, which was slightly cracked during our aggressive ride testing phase. However, Huffy provides a 10-year warranty on frames.
7. Mongoose Flatrock Hardtail Mountain Bike
Features:
- 6061 Lightweight Aluminum Frame
- 21-Speed Smooth Twist Shifters
- V-Brakes & Disc Brakes Options
- Front Element Suspension Fork
- Double Wall Alloy Strong Wheels
- Wide Knobby All-Terrain Tires
- 4-Sizes Available For 4’8” To 6’2”
During market research, we were looking for lightweight and strong mountain bikes. Then we found this Mongoose Flatrock Hardtail MTB; its price was $289 at the time of purchase for testing. This slim, smart, nice-looking mountain bike has only 33 pounds of weight and is made with a lightweight 6061 aluminum frame.
The Element suspension fork effectively absorbs bumps and vibration to improve performance, and its 21-speed twist shifter provides effortless gear changes to tackle any riding situation easily.
During test rides, we artificially put water on the brakes to check the braking system and found that its alloy v-brakes are less effective for rainy weather but deliver confident stopping power in dry conditions. Mongoose offers 4 different sizes in this model to accommodate 4’8” to 6’2” riders.
Why You Should Trust Us:
We spent more than three months making a list of top-quality budget mountain bikes priced at around 300 dollars and easily available in the online market. After sourcing different bike brands, we shortlisted our findings and purchased the latest mountain bike models for test rides to identify their quality, strengths, and weaknesses to help our readers make well-informed decisions.
For this review, we used our best resources to buy 15 of the most famous and affordable mountain bikes of different brands, with prices under or around $300. After assembly, our testers continuously spent more than 40 hours per week for more than six months completing testing procedures.
Our testers perform multiple-test rides on different types of dry roads, wet roads, and mountain trails to deeply analyze how these mountain bikes perform in possible hard situations. We also use our checklist of performance metrics to determine which MTB bike will provide the maximum value.
At the end of our in-depth bike testing process, we use our rating metrics to compare rating scores and select the most affordable road bikes for our review articles. In addition, whenever we see new bike models, we purchase them at their original price and regularly check and update our previous review articles.
How We Choose Mountain Bikes:
We gently chose top in-demand mountain bikes with prices under 300 dollars, and almost all bikes have relatively similar frame geometry, the same amount of suspension fork travel, and a wide range of size options. The addition of the Shimano gear shifting system and disc brakes significantly improves riding performance.
During market research, we did not compromise on quality and specifically focused on the bike’s weight, shock-absorption quality, frame material, gear shifting system, and speed control features. Most selected mountain bikes are built around high-strength steel or Aluminum frames that can easily bear up to 275-pound riders.
How We Tested Mountain Bikes:
Our bike riders took multiple test rides of these mountain bikes on mountain trails of Willowdale State Forest, linebrook RD. They use almost the same riding styles and similar conditions to evaluate and compare the ride quality and performance. They took different types of tests, which included long rides, and sudden stops, along with the most possible aggressive style tests to check the maximum capability of provided components.
After testing, our testers provide us with quantitative and qualitative details about uphill climbing, downhill performance, brake quality, shifter response, and handling of these mountain bikes for comparative scoring. Then, our review team members discuss highlights, strengths and weaknesses, and overall performance and give rankings and scores using rating metrics to finalize the winner.
Our Rating Metrics:
The most important ranking metrics for evaluating performance and choosing the best mountain bikes under $300 include brake response in dry or wet conditions, tire grip in rain, shifter quantity and quality, seat adjustability, and handlebar grip material. All these rating metrics are gently divided into the following tests.
- Bike Weight & Handling Test ( Frame Material & Geometry)
- Uphill & Downhill Riding Test (Tires & Shifter Response)
- Speed Control Features (Sensitivity of Brakes)
- Shock-Absorption Test (Suspension Fork Travel)
- Budget & Price Point (Provided Specifications & Extras)
Our Test Team Members:
Here at Bestbikeslab, our experienced bike testers and expert cyclists have around 10 to 15 years of strong experience of riding different types of road bikes, mountain bikes, and gravel bikes in many racing competitions and cycling events. They have tested more than 260 mountain bikes for our multiple comparative review articles. Lon Schroeder Michigan, US.
Lon Schroeder is our senior mountain bike review editor at Best Bikes Lab and has reliable contacts to keep updated about the ins and outs of the mountain bike models in the market. In 2010, He made a successful entry into the bicycle industry as an MTB bike supplier. He started his business by purchasing and reselling mountain bikes to local area bike shops in Michigan, US. In 2018, Lon Schroeder moved to Washington, where he is still working as a cycling coach and guiding racing participants to prepare them for different cyclo-cross cycling competitions.
Jason Jones works as a freelance writer for mountain bike reviews. He is an aggressive hardtail mountain biker and loves adventure riding. Recently, he actively participated in Butte 100K Mountain Bike races in Butte, United States, and Montana Enduro Series 2024 Whitefish, United States. Over the past five years, he has served many important roles in the mountain bike industry and published many cycling books. His most popular cycling guide is “Mountain Biking—The Complete Guide To Mountain Biking For Beginners.”, in which he shares many useful mountain biking tips for beginners and professionals to help them get more fun from mountain biking.
Disclaimer:
We try our best and, luckily, find out, purchase, and test the best budget mountain bikes under 300 dollar price. However, many of the bikes in the above list are not equal to top-notch expensive MTB bikes and are limited to normal adventure rides. We will not suggest using them for more aggressive riding or the most challenging mountain bike races.
Nearly all the above-recommended mountain bikes are tested and reviewed here and were available to us under $300 at the time of purchase. We have no control over pricing from the manufacturer’s side. According to our buying experience, we usually face little changes in prices with the passage of time, and it will not affect your budget.
Affiliate Disclosure:
Best Bikes Lab is reader-supported, and we purchase bikes for testing and comparison reviews. Our earning source is affiliate marketing, which we use to re-invest money for our next upcoming honest reviews. If you make any purchase through the affiliate links we provide, we may get a commission from the manufacturer and suppliers. This will not increase or affect the final price of the bike that you will buy through our affiliate link.
Conclusion:
Each bike is not made for everyone. For example, some people need heavy mountain bikes for off-road rugged riding, while lightweight, rigid-frame mountain bikes are made for regular commuting or normal adventure rides. Therefore, It is very important to understand their uses, specifications, price, and additional extras to confirm that the selected bike fits your riding style and budget. We have almost complete knowledge about the above-recommended mountain bikes. We hope this review list helps you a lot to find the best mountain bike under 300 dollars. If you have any questions or suggestions that would be a good contribution to this page, let us know in the comment section below or contact us.
