Best Mountain Bikes Under $300

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Last Updated on December 27, 2021

Look:

You don’t have to spend months saving up for big bucks mountain bike. If you’re seriously on a budget and a MTB is a must-have, you can consider mountain bikes under $300 that perform well just like their high-end brothers.

And the best part is this:

They pack tons of features often found in expensive bikes, which means you end up getting an immersive riding experience, except for cheap.

Today, we look at some of the best mountain bikes under 300 dollars. Let’s get started.

Contents

Top Rated MTB Under $300 Comparison & Rating

Preview

Frame Material

Brake Type

Number of Gears

Price

Huffy Kids Hardtail Mountain Bike for Boys, Stone...

Steel

Linear pull hand brakes

6

Schwinn High Timber Youth/Adult Mountain Bike for...

Steel

Linear pull brakes

21

Dynacraft 26-Inch Womens Mountain Bike for Age...

Steel

Front and rear v brakes

21

Mongoose Status 2.2 Mountain Bike 26' Wheel Men's...

Aluminum

Front and rear v-brakes

21

Kent International KZ2600 Dual-Suspension Mountain...

Aluminum

Disc brakes

21

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Heat treated alloy

Linear pull v-brakes

21

No products found.
Mongoose Dolomite Mens Fat Tire Mountain Bike,...

Steel

Disc brakes

7

Mongoose Impasse Full Suspension Mountain Bike,...

Aluminum

Disc brakes

21

No products found.

Aluminum

Disc brakes

21

No products found.
Vilano Blackjack 3.0 29er Mountain Bike MTB with...

Aluminum

Mechanical disc brakes

24

1. Huffy Kids Hardtail Mountain Bike

Built for boys that love cycling after school, on weekends, and on holidays, the metallic cyan Huffy Kids Hardtail is a superior mountain bike at a price that beats the odds. Sufficient for outdoor fun, this mountain bike can immerse your youngster in a fun moment of cycling binge, not to mention boosting their physical fitness.


Huffy uses steel to construct the frame. And while this is a great move to enforce strength and durability, the bike packs a lot of weight. For a kid’s bike, 35.2 pounds is just too much. But owing to the sturdiness of the bike, the weight is downright a bargain.


The kilo 1200 suspension fork is dead handy, particularly for the boys that love to ride on bumpy and rugged roads. By absorbing impact from the dips, for fork gives delivers a more comfortable ride that feels smooth throughout the session.

For a boy’s bike, the 6 speeds are more than enough. Good for climbing, descending, and generally acceleration, and easy to control through the micro-shift twist shifter, the gear system delivers just the right speed to get your child riding like a pro.

2. Schwinn High Timber

Since mountain and road bikes from Schwinn fall in the high-end category, the low cost tag of the High Timber MTB comes as a surprise, at least for most of us.


High Timber is the pearl in an oyster, a worthy choice if you’re seriously on a budget and want to buy a bike from a brand that knows its thing.


Schwinn integrates a 21-speed system with a Shimano derailleur on this bike. Often found only in expensive bikes, this gear gives you multiple options to ride at a pace of your choice, while easily switching from speed to speed option without taking your eyes off the road.


While it doesn’t feature a full suspension, the front fork suspension is good enough to manage impact from different paths and give you an unbeatable riding experience.

The frame of this bike is made of steel, so don’t expect it to be as lightweight as some bikes in the Schwinn mountain bike series.

3. Dynacraft Slick Rock Trails Bike

As the duel between mountain versus road bikes continue to rage in the cycling community, the fact remains that both fall in low-end as well as high-end categories. And if you feel like a cycling maniac, who would rather hit the trails on a mountain bike, then the Dynacraft Slick Rock Trail makes a good choice.


The looks are undeniably cool. So if you’re a cyclist who likes to factor in appearance during purchase, the purple, silver, and white aesthetic should please you.


Beyond appearance, you get 21 speed options, which give you total control of the bike so you can ride at your own pace. Add to this the Shimano grip shifters that make changing gears easy and what you get is a mountain bike that you can easily maneuver.

With sufficient padding on the saddle, riding for long hours is as easy. The adjustable seat post lets you get a comfortable height that best suits you. And the front and rear v-breaks give you the stopping power that you need to control the speed of the bike.

4. Mongoose Status 2.2

Mongoose Tyax and Ruddy Comp are some of the brand’s top mountain bikes. Except they fall in the category of mountain bikes under $2k, which may be expensive for some riders.


Status 2.2, however, changes the price quo, completely breaking the price record yet giving you the same riding experience as Ruddy Comp and Tyax.


Going for under $300, Status 2.2 features an aluminum frame, which makes it relatively lightweight compared to steel bikes.


Accompanied by a combination of SRAM twist shifters and Shimano rear derailleur, the 21-gear system gives you the option you need to ride the bike at a pace of your own.

In addition, the bike also features v-breaks, which give you control over speed and stopping power when you need it the most.

The suspension fork combine with the knobby 2.125 tires on the 26-inch alloy when gives you a smooth ride, hence a good cycling experience.

Mongoose Status 2.2 doesn’t come assembled. So, you need to be ready to take the challenge of putting the parts together on your own. If you can’t, then you should consider taking it to a bikes shop.

5. Kent KZ2600 Dual-Suspension MTB

While not as popular as Schwinn or Mongoose bikes, Kent KZ2600 is one of the best dual-suspension bikes available for under five hundred bucks. You obviously don’t expect much from a lesser-known brand. But Kent has really tried its best to optimize this bike for performance.


One of the things that you will love about Kent KZ2600 is the full suspension system. It makes it easy for you to ride the bike on different roads, especially the roughest ones. By absorbing the most shock from the terrain, the suspension creates a smooth ride, giving you an ultimate riding experience during your cycling session.


You get 21-speed options for the price, with easy to use shifters that let you switch from one gear to another in a snap without taking your eyes off the road. 

Then there are sturdy, high quality disc brakes, which give you the full stopping power to control the speed of the bike. Whether you want to lower your pace or make an emergency stop, the brakes are equal to the task.

6. Merax FT323 MTB

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Merax has had one goal since 1995: to design high quality bikes that can give you the best value for your money. With years of engineering experience, the brand has designed some of the most affordable mountain bikes, including the FT323 model.


Merax FT323 is an entry-level mountain bike with a heat-treated alloy frame. It features a dual-suspension build, which gives you the kind of comfortable ride you need on all roads. In particular, the suspension smoothens out bumps and dips, giving you more control for a smooth ride even on the most unfriendly terrains.


Merax adds a 21-speed derailleur to this bike. This comes with reliable, easy to maneuver shifters that make it easy for you to shift from gear to gear as you ride the bike. As for the capacity, the model can support a maximum of 330 pounds.

The linear pull up breaks do their job right, giving you the speed control power you need to reduce speed or make an emergency stop when you need to.

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7. Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Mountain Bike

Bikes with fat tires aren’t nearly as common. But if you’re a cyclist who fancies being different from other riders, then the Mongoose Dolomite is the way to go. Built by experienced cyclists for cycling maniacs, this mountain can cut it on off roads trails with ease. 


The frame is pure steel. And while it’s not as lightweight as aluminum, it’s durable and strong. One of the best things about the build is that it comes fully assembled.


So all you have to do is get on it, take it for a test ride, and have fun cruising the city and riding on off road trails.


You aren’t getting much when it comes to the gear system. Unlike other mountain bikes in Mongoose lineup, Dolomite has only 7 speeds with twist shifters. 

These are sufficient to climb hills, but you might strain a little to go up steep mountains. If you want more speed, then you should consider Status 2.2.

8. Mongoose Impasse

The Impasse is another well-priced bike from Mongoose. And it’s a decent option for someone who’s looking for a full dual-suspension mountain bike under budget.


This is an entry-level bike, an ideal choice for someone who’s just getting into mountain biking and can’t wait to start enjoying the thrill of riding on different terrains.


Impasse has a frame as colorful as other bikes in Mongoose bikes and the frame build is what makes the difference. Instead of using steel, the brand builds the frame with premium grade aluminum, giving the bike a durable construction while keeping the overall weight to a minimum. 


Given that it’s lightweight than bikes whose frame are made of steel, you can expect the bike to ride faster with the least pedal push.

The bike’s dual suspension build gives you a better cycling control, allowing you to ride smoothly, even on unfriendly terrains, but absorbing as much impact as possible. Equipped with a 21-gear system with SRAM twist shifters, you can ride Impasse mountain bike at a pace of your choice and switch from one speed to another with ease.

9. Max4out MTN Bike

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While Max4out isn't even close to as popular as Tommaso and Schwinn brands, their mountain bike is a unique work of art.


Weighing just 37 pounds, this is the most lightweight mountain bike for adults on this list.


Plus, it's versatile in terms of fit, suitable enough for riders of height between 5.2 and 6 feet.


The frameset is made of high quality, premium grade aluminum. Like steel and carbon alloy, this material is highly durable.


And the best part, it's so lightweight that it makes this bike easy to ride, even on steep trails.

Max4out fits a 21-speed system on this mountain bike. The varied gear options give you full control over speed, allowing you ride at a pace of your choice depending on the trail. And when it's time to lower speed or make an emergency brake, simply use the integrated disc brakes.

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10. Vilano Blackjack Mtn Bicycle

Vilano Blackjack is so sleek, so lightweight, and so fast that its price tag is obviously a steal.


Made of handcrafted 6061 aluminum, this bike packs the least weight while remaining as stable on all terrains. 


And thanks to its suspension fork, which smoothens out rough paths, you literally have full control of your ride regardless of the nature of the trail.


Want to ascent at top speed to reach your destination faster? Or maybe you want to cycle up a hilly trail without peddling fast like a rider in the 80s?


Put the 24-speed system with Shimano EF-51 Easyfire shifters, tune your gear, and hit that trail like a pro.

And when it’s time to lower speed, make an emergency break, or call anywhere for a stopover, simply tap the mechanical disc brakes, a function of maximum stopping power on any trail in all conditions.


There you have it, folks. A list of the best mountain bikes under 300, which perform just as great as their high-end brothers do.   



Harold Whitford

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About the Author

My name is Harold Whitford, a husband, father, and avid cyclist with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from the University of Delaware. Having been in the industry for more than 15 years, I have a number of the road race and national time trial championships in my bag.

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