From entry-level cross-country builds to those designed for more technical terrain, women-specific bikes now span the entire mountain bike spectrum. Geometry tweaks are giving all bikes, especially 29ers, lower standover heights, which makes them accessible to smaller riders. Short-suspension bikes now have slacker geometries that don’t impact climbing and make going downhill a more stable affair. Big-travel bikes are better than ever at pedaling uphill, and many can now handle a range of conditions from technical trails to those found in bike parks.
Check out five of the top women’s mountain bikes below, then keep reading for buying advice and more great options.
A fun and capable train bike ready for some rock drops.
The most fun you’ll ever have on a hardtail.
Stability and a relaxed position makes this an easy rider.
A great option for flowy or techy trails.
Medium-travel and 27.5-inch wheels give you lots of room to play.
What Is a Women’s Mountain Bike?
Much like there is no single female body type, there’s no single geometry tweak or feature set that differentiates women’s bikes from men’s or unisex bikes. But most brands agree that the average woman is shorter and lighter than the average man. Women-specific bikes often come in small sizes not offered in unisex versions, including XS and XXS. Some companies, like Specialized and Santa Cruz, think that a great bike doesn’t need a different geometry to work for male or female riders. All those brands’ women’s models offer are a shock tuned for a lighter rider and female-specific touch points, like a women-specific saddle, narrower handlebar, and shorter cranks. Other brands, like Liv and Canyon, take it a step further, as they believe women are best served by frames tuned based on empirical research of female musculature.
Why Don’t All Brands Make Women-Specific Bikes?
Some companies believe that it’s more important to focus on the differences between small and large riders, rather than the difference between male and female riders. These unisex-bike manufacturers have moved toward making their smaller bikes better for shorter, lighter riders all around by tuning the frame and using suspension technology to address those differences and create a bike that rides best for you based on your size, rather than your gender.
Last July, Yeti discontinued its Beti line, which included women’s versions of the SB5 and the SB100. (Those bikes, like Juliana options from Santa Cruz, had grips, seats, bars, and a shock tuned for women). But Yeti found that riders usually swap out those parts anyway based on personal preference. And shocks have gotten so good that engineers say they can meet the needs of lighter riders with stock settings so they no longer needed custom tunes. “The change was really driven by the women who work here—20 percent of our employees are women,” said Kristi Jackson, Yeti’s marketing director.
Points of Contact
The main points of contact that a cyclist has with her bike are the handlebar and the saddle.
First, the handlebar. Many women’s bikes now come with 740mm, 760mm, or wider setups. Even if a wide bar feels unfamiliar, give it a try before you have your shop pull out the cutting tools. A wider bar can give you more control, though a bar that’s too wide can can have the opposite effect. Take your time to find the sweet spot, and remember that a handlebar can be cut a little at a time. Many women’s bikes also come with narrower grips.
Second, the saddle. Even if your new bike comes with a women-specific saddle, it may not be right for you. Just like testing a bike, you should be able to test saddles at your local shop. Once you find one or more that you like, you can learn to easily make this swap, and subsequent adjustments, at home.
The Right Bike for You
Absolutely more important than what gender your bike is designed for is the kind of riding you want to use it for. Before purchasing a mountain bike, think about what kind of experience you want on the trails, what your current skill level is, where you’ll be riding, and, of course, your budget. A cross-country bike is best for fast and efficient pedaling on smooth trails. Trail bikes are best for a mix of climbing and descending. Enduro bikes are for going big with confidence on technical downhills—though, thanks to modern suspension design, many can handle some climbing, too.
Try Before You Buy
It’s good practice to test a few bikes before you buy one. If you’re able to demo mountain bikes at your local shop, be sure to ask the mechanics to set up the suspension specifically for you. Also ask that they check the compression and rebound settings before you roll out. If these things aren’t set up properly, a bike that might be ideal for you could feel terrible during a ride. Finally, before you head out on your test rides, double check the tire pressure and make sure you can use the full length of the bike’s dropper post (if it comes with one).
How We Chose These Bikes
Every bike on this list has been carefully selected by our test team based on their value, quality of parts (most of which we’ve tested separately), our experience riding similar models, and how the overall package meets the intended buyer’s needs. We’ve put most of these bikes to the test at product launches and on the trails around our home office, sending, descending, hucking, climbing, and just plain riding and enjoying them to determine the best options. Whether you want to go big or spend small, one of these women’s mountain bike models is sure to meet your needs, skill level, and budget.
Pros
- Dropper post
- 130mm fork
Cons
Come for the 130mm fork, stay for the slack front end and the long-travel dropper post (100mm for XS/S, 120mm for M, 150mm for L/XL). The Fuse Comp 29 is a mid-fat hardtail that’s ready to go big. Its grippy 2.6-inch tubeless-ready tires deliver excellent traction on rocks, snow, and slick clay. Test editor, Riley Missel, appreciated the steep seat angle and long reach when climbing. She also noted that the rear wheel maintained good traction on steep trails and that she was still able to keep enough weight over the front wheel to steer. SRAM’s SX Eagle keeps cost in check while still providing a wide range of gears. The wide, 780mm handlebar is great for stability through the most technical trails. Whether you’re new to mountain biking or a veteran trail rider, the fun-loving Fuse can turn every ride into a party.
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Pros
- 100mm RockShox 30 Silver TK Solo Air Fork
- Shimano 1x10-speed drivetrain
- 29-inch wheels
Cons
- Tires aren't tubless-ready
Kona knows how to make high-quality, high-value mountain bikes, and the Mahuna delivers on both. With a longer, slacker geometry than many hardtails, it handled almost everything we threw at it, including some of the most technical, rocky trails in our area. And the whole thing weighs 31 pounds—not a bad number for a bike like this, and it feels lighter on the trail, where it is lively and eager. When the 29-inch wheels get rolling, the Mahuna eats up small trail obstacles, thanks to some really nice parts. The WTB Trail Boss tires are excellently grippy (which seriously helps climbing), and they feel planted everywhere else. The RockShox 30 Silver TK Solo Air fork feels more supple and controlled than most at this price. Kona even gives you Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and a 1x10 Shimano Deore drivetrain. Even with a 28t front chainring, the 11-42 cassette puts you in a gear that can feel too hard on steep stuff, but that’s an easy upgrade down the road. The Mahuna also comes with tubeless-compatible rims and internal-dropper post routing, giving you more opportunities to deck out your ride later.
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Pros
- Wide range of gears with 2x9 drivetrain
Cons
- Wheels and tires are not tubeless-ready
One of the cheapest bikes on this list, the Trek Marlin 7 is ideal for aspiring racers, everyday trail riders, and casual commuters alike. Riders who like to pedal fast will appreciate its steep, aggressive head and seat angles and a high bottom bracket that offers decent pedal clearance on the trail. Its cables are internally routed, too, which isn’t common on bikes at this price. It has a 2x9-speed Shimano drivetrain, which strays from the single-chainring trend that’s popular on off-road bikes at the moment but also provides a wide range of gearing. And even though the RockShox XC30 100mm coil-spring fork is heavier than some comparable air-spring models, it did a surprisingly good job on super-rocky trails. Add to that the 2.2-inch-wide Bontrager tires on 29-inch Bontrager Connection rims, which never squirmed too much on sketchy terrain, and you have a bike that not only looks fast but also offers the kind of sharp handling and precise steering you’d expect from higher-priced racing models.
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scott-sports.com Contessa Active 50
Pros
- Affordable beginner mountain bike
- Sturdy, stable ride
Cons
- A bit heavy
- Stiff saddle
This affordable hardtail from Scott is a great gateway bike for those just beginning to venture off-road. The suspension fork with 100mm of travel smooths out rough terrain. Upright positioning is comfortable on your back, neck, and wrists. Wide Kenda Booster tires keep you planted and stable through corners and on wet trails. The saddle is decent, but begins to feel stiff within minutes of use, so tester Daisy Hernandez suggests swapping it out for one you know you like. The Shimano Tourney drivetrain offered enough gears for finding a comfortable pace to ride uphill, and the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes brought us smoothly to a stop without any jerky movements, Whether you want an affordable option as you explore trail riding or you’re just looking for a super stable, comfortable ride for the bike path, we love the quality and fun the Contessa Active 50 offers at this price point.
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Pros
- Smaller wheels on XXS-XS for easier handling
- Wide, grippy tires
Cons
- On the heavier side
If you’re looking to cruise rail trails, bike lanes, and smooth dirt paths, the versatile Bliss 3 will get you out there. With wide, 2.1-inch tires and a suspension fork, it soaks up bumps in the road and roots on the trail. Sizes XXS and XS come with 26-inch wheels; S, M, and L come with 27.5-inch wheels—both of which are on the smaller end of the scale for tires (i.e. not 29ers), making the bike more responsive to your steering—ideal for riders with less experience. A triple chainring and 7-speed cassette translates to 21 unique gear combos, with plenty of light ones for spinning uphill. A quick-release seatpost allows you to make adjustments to your saddle height midride as you dial in a comfortable fit, and the geometry puts you in an upright position that is kind to your neck and low back.
Pros
- Slays rowdy trail
Cons
- Won’t beat your XC bike uphill
Get ready to clock your best times on your favorite descents. Launched in July of 2019, the Maverick, a 150mm trail bike, fills the gap between Juliana’s Joplin XC bike and its 160mm all-mountain Roubion. Test editor Riley Missel rode the Maverick mostly on our home trails near the office—chunky, rooty systems with foot-high log-overs, steep rock gardens, and jagged, fast descents. And the bike handled it all like it knew the course too, surprising us with how versatile, light, and capable it was. That trail confidence comes from an impressive set of features, including 140mm of rear travel matched to a RockShox Lyrik Ultimate 150mm fork that lets you charge downhill while maintaining full control. The Santa Cruz Reserve wheels navigated over obstacles so swiftly and nimbly that riding uphill was as close to “fun” as we’d ever call an ascent. While the bike’s total weight is right around 30 pounds, the efficient suspension made the Maverick feel even lighter on climbs. And the pro-level fork, shock, and wheels let us keep up speed as we thundered over everything in our path. Plus, the superb grip of the Maxxis Minion DHR2 tires delivered a bomber ride that kept us confident and planted, even across slick, wet roots.
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Pros
- Exceptional pedaling
- Ready for burly trails
- Fantastic traction
Cons
- Rekon rear tire isn't great everywhere
- Pricey
The SB140 is a long and slack trail bike with 27.5-inch wheels for riders who like things to happen quickly. Compared to a lot of 29ers, it feels faster, snappier, and more playful. You can change direction easier, and pop off features that bigger-wheeled bikes would plow over. The heart of the bike is its Switch Infinity suspension system. Other Yeti bikes with the design have won Editors’ Choice awards for how well they blend smooth, efficient pedaling and excellent traction, without sacrificing too much ability to soak up big blows. It’s a testament to the design, and advances in shock tech, that this bike feels like it pedals even better than the previous one. With a 65-degree head angle and 460mm reach, this is one of the longest and slackest trail bikes you can buy. But it still handles incredibly well: You feel the quickness in acceleration, the snappiness as you ratchet the cranks through tricky sections, and the eagerness to lean into corners and pop off the top of a roller, turning wide grade reversals into doubles. It’s one of the most exciting trail bikes we rode all year.
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Pros
- Great all-arounder
- More than XC suspension, less than trail
Cons
- Proprietary dropper post
For the kind of anything-could-happen fun group ride, Cannondale’s Women’s Habit 1 is exactly what tester Taylor Rojek wanted. This carbon trail bike is an excellent all-rounder, not excelling at any one thing, with 130mm of forgiving suspension, 29-inch wheels, and a ride quality that’s calm without being boring. Like most other current trail bikes, the Habit’s geometry leans toward long, low, and slack. It has a 66-degree head angle, 43.5cm chainstays, and a 66.3-degree seat tube angle on our size small. Its SRAM Eagle 12-speed drivetrain provides plenty of range to climb and descend on most trails, while the 130mm rear suspension and 140mm fork fall into the sweet spot for a lot of riders—enough squish to feel plush without being heavy or making us feel like we were wallowing. We expect a 130mm 29er to perform really well on descents (which the Habit definitely does). But we’re less certain of how those types of bikes will climb. Luckily, we were really pleased with the Habit’s uphill performance. It weighs a respectable 30.9 pounds and feels planted and secure while climbing, no swerving all over the trail.
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Pros
- Comes with a RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post
- Active climber that responds quickly
Cons
- 760mm carbon handlebar may be a bit wide for some riders
If you like a lighter and more playful trail bike, the 130mm-travel Juliana Furtado, with 27.5-inch wheels, is a great option. Offered in three frame grades (aluminum, basic carbon, and high-end carbon), two tire size options—lighter 2.3-inch models and grippier 2.6-inch tires—and a multitude of build options, complete bikes start at $2,699 and top out at $9,499. With new geometry and suspension, the Furtado is more sure-footed than ever but retains a lively feel that makes every trail your playground.
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Pros
- 1x12 Sram Eagle SX shifting
- Awesome dropper post
Cons
- On the heavier side
Liv released two new versions of its 150mm-travel Intrigue at more-affordable price levels, and we took the most entry-level option—the 3—out for a rip. If you’re curious about longer-travel bikes but still shredding on a budget, it’s an excellent option for crushing more chunky terrain without having to empty your bank account. Built with the company’s Aluxx (aluminum) frame, it has the same amount of travel (150mm front/140mm rear), women-specific geometry, and 27.5-inch wheel size as the higher-priced Intrigue Advanced models. It also prioritizes higher-quality components—like 12-speed shifting and a dropper post—where they’re most important and cuts costs in places that are much less noticeable (think the handlebar and stem) to deliver a ride better than its price might suggest.
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