Gear Lab

The Bell Transfer-9 bicycle helmet received a thorough review by OutdoorGearLab. Ranked as an excellent value due to high safety features at half the price of competitors, the helmet is praised for its robust protection, durability, and comfort. Some of its setbacks includes its heavy weight and some visor issues.

This bike is ultra-smooth, stable, and impressively comfortable with a low step-thru frame and relaxed seated position.

Bikeroo's Oversized Comfort Bike Seat is a great choice for recreational cycling on a cruiser or hybrid bike. This durable model was one of the most comfortable seats we tested for short to mid-length rides.

The Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain and Disc Lock is large, extremely heavy and durable which offers high security for bicycles, despite it being slow and cumbersome to use. The lock is also less portable and ideally should be left stationed at a frequently used bike rack due to its heavy weight.

The Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 U-Lock provides considerable security at a favorable price, combining a U-lock with the versatility of a cable. While not as secure as other U-Lock models, its extra cable creates a deterrent for thieves, making it ideal for those living in low-to-medium risk areas. However, it is slightly bulky and less convenient to carry around.

Various budget bike helmets were reviewed, with top pick being the Giro Fixture II MIPS. Most helmets offered good comfort and safety, but each had its unique drawbacks. Nevertheless, features like integrated lights, adjustable harnesses and visors can greatly enhance the ride experience. Most helmets appear built to last and can provide safe, enjoyable biking experiences.

The Giro Tyrant Spherical is a stylish, sturdy, and well-ventilated mountain bike helmet offering excellent protection for rough terrain, although it is on the heavier side.

The review provides a comprehensive analysis of various budget bike helmets with different features and levels of protection for different types of cyclists. Factors like comfort, ventilation, durability, and additional features like adjustable harnesses and visors are emphasized, leading to the final selection of favorites.

The review includes an evaluation of various budget bike helmets showing that models like Giro Fixture II MIPS, Retrospec CM-1, and PHZ. Adult Bike Helmet offer excellent performance, protection, and value. Factors like comfort, adjustable fit, added features, weight, and durability were considered during the evaluation.

The Smith Network MIPS helmet offers average performance and durability. It features a modern look with matte colors and a solid polycarbonate shell, but compared with other helmets on the market, scores averagely in weight, adjustability, and comfort. However, it is praised for its style and potential long-term durability.

The Bell Stratus MIPS helmet offers reliable performance with great comfort, adjustability, style, ventilation, and durability. It is suited to recreational riders and those in the lower amateur racing categories. The helmet excels in moving sweat away from eyes, has well-designed ventilation, and a durable build, despite being lightweight.

The POC Kortal Race MIPS is a durable and well-ventilated mountain bike helmet with a clean design and extensive safety features, featuring good ventilation and advanced safety technology like the MIPS Integra system and an NFC medical id chip. However, it has a slightly narrower fit unsuitable for round-headed riders, and conflicts with sunglass arms.

The OnGuard Brute STD is an affordable, high-quality bike lock that provides superior security and versatility even under attack. Its main drawback is the frame mount, which may not fit all bikes. It includes five replaceable keys, one with an LED for nighttime use, offering great value for price.

The OnGuard Akita 8041 bike lock is light, inexpensive, and easy to use but is not very secure and can be difficult to transport. It's recommended for lower cost bikes or situations that don't require high security.

_"The **Magnum Metro** ... model impressed us with one of the longest distance ranges of the test, and despite having a slightly smaller 500W motor... It held a high average speed during our throttle-only range test and easily got up to its top pedal-assisted speed of 25 mph. It also proved to be impressively comfortable with a smooth ride, steady handling, and unwavering stability.... the Metro took just minutes to assemble, and it comes with an excellent display/controls."_

The Arkel Signature H Urban Pannier wins the Top Pick Award for Best Urban Pannier with its impressive storage capacity, easy-to-use mounting system, and versatile carrying capabilities. Although the bag is somewhat expensive, it is durable, stylish, and easy to use.

The Yakima HangOver 6 bike rack, though expensive and specifically designed for mountain bikes with suspension forks, offers great build quality and easy use for its target market. Its design lacks versatility, carrying a weight limit of 37.5 lbs per bike, making it unsuitable for heavier mountain or electric bikes. However, for mountain biking enthusiasts requiring to load multiple bikes, it performs exceptionally well.

The Yakima OnRamp is an e-bike friendly hitch rack that delivers a good performance, despite its slight quirks, at an affordable price. It intelligently addresses the challenges related to transporting heavy electric bicycles with a ramp feature and adjustable bike attachment system.

The Yakima HangOver 6 is a high-quality, high-end bike rack that can carry up to six bikes. However, it only fits mountain bikes with suspension forks and it's quite expensive, limiting its versatility and value. The rack is robust and durable, but has a surprisingly low weight limit of 37.5 lbs per bike.

The Yakima HoldUp is a sturdy and versatile rack, however, it lacks in user-friendly features and tire size limitations. Despite these shortcomings, it's more affordable compared to other similar products, thus can be considered as a good value for the price.

The Yakima HoldUp is a sturdy but basic hitch mount rack that carries a wide range of bicycles. However, it has some tire width limitations and is less user-friendly. Despite its shortcomings, it's considered a good value due to its affordable price.

The Yakima FrontLoader is appreciated for its easy installation, flexibility with various axle types and no need for front wheel removal despite a daunting height for loading bikes and incompatibility with fat bikes. It's sturdy with a reliable hold, although not quite suitable for high-roofed vehicles like SUVs. It is recommended buying Yakima lock cores for added security.

The Yakima ForkLift is a versatile and high-quality fork mount roof rack with easy assembly and adjustability, making it perfect for transporting bikes with standard quick release forks. Despite its incompatibility with 12, 15, and 20mm thru-axle forks without an adapter, it offers great value due to functionality with practically any crossbar type.

The Yakima HighRoad bike rack is a quality roof-mount rack that is particularly easy to install and remove. The rack works best with lower vehicles and lighter bikes. It securely holds the bike, avoiding any frame or fork contact, making it ideal for those who want to prevent any scratch or scuff on their bikes. The rack's build quality, ride quality and design make it great value for money.

The Yakima FullBack 2 is a quality trunk-mount rack. It fits a wide range of vehicles, is relatively lightweight, and folds down conveniently for transport or storage. Though it has certain bike fit limitations and is best used with bikes with traditional frame shapes, it remains one of the best trunk mount models on the market.

The Yakima FullBack 2 is a quality trunk-mount rack with ease of use and versatility for various styles of vehicles. It is light and folds conveniently, easily carrying two bikes up to 35 lbs each, though there are some limitations due to its support arm design. It securely attaches to the vehicle but the tension of the nylon webbing straps should be checked regularly. Despite its quirks, it is one of the best trunk mount models on the market.

The Yakima HangOver 6 bike rack is a quality and durable product for mountain bikes with suspension forks. It effectively supports six bikes and avoids bike-on-bike contact, yet lacks versatility due to its large size and weight. It has a weight limit of 37.5 lbs per bike, which excludes heavy downhill or electric bikes. The rack is expensive and difficult to assemble and store, but could provide value to some users.

The Arkel Signature H Urban Pannier is a durable, waterproof and versatile pannier designed for everyday use. It is well recognized for its impressive storage capacity and easy-to-use mounting system. Although it's a bit pricey, it's of high-quality materials and construction with stylish design.

The Arkel Signature H Urban Pannier made its mark with its all-around performance, versatile storage and carrying capabilities, and stylish design. The pannier is suitable for commuting, grocery shopping, or picnic packing. It is made of high-quality, durable materials, with a large storage compartment and convenient carrying options. However, its price is a bit higher than some of the other options.

The Arkel Signature H Urban Pannier is a durable, waterproof, and versatile biking pannier, suitable for urban or suburban use. The pannier features a large storage volume and easily accessible storage compartment, a simple and effective mounting system, and multiple carrying options. However, it is somewhat expensive and has limited organizational pockets.

The Arkel Signature H Urban Pannier review highlights the unit's excellent build quality, citing its combination of high-quality materials, durability, and handy storage features. Despite being somewhat expensive, the pannier provides confident weatherproofing and is versatile for various uses like commuting, grocery shopping, and picnics.

Thirteen bike panniers were tested for performance, durability, and value with standout performers being the Ortlieb Back Roller Classic for its excellent weatherproofing and large storage capacity, and the Burley Pannier Set for its value for money, durable material, and sleek design. The Thule Shield, Arkel Signature H Urban, and Arkel Bug Pannier Backpack were also rated highly for their respective categories while the Green Guru Dutchy scored the lowest for weatherproofing.

The Banjo Brothers Waterproof Pannier is a simply designed, durable, waterproof, and affordable bike pack, although it lacks adjustability and some high-end features. It offers great value for its price.

While the Banjo Brothers Waterproof Pannier lacks certain higher-end features and an adjustable mounting system, it offers a durable, waterproof design that's easy to use and affordable, making it a solid companion for daily use.

The Banjo Brothers Market Pannier is a large, sturdy bike bag perfect for hauling bulky items and groceries. Though not fully waterproof, it's easy to install and its strong construction, exceptional quality and low cost make it great value for money.

The Banjo Brothers Waterproof Pannier is an affordable, durable, and waterproof bike pannier with a simple design. The pannier lacks some high-end features and adjustability, but provides great value for its price and utility.

The Arkel Signature H Urban Pannier is a durable, waterproof, versatile and easy-to-use bag that offers impressive storage capacity and diverse carrying options. It features a stylish design, high-quality materials and comes with a large laptop sleeve, a zippered storage pocket and a huge main storage compartment. Its slight weaknesses include a relatively high price, limited organizational pockets and a slight lack in weatherproofing due to the roll-top closure design.

The Bell Full-9 is a great value full-face helmet with high protection levels, comfortable fabric and excellent ventilation, although it lacks refinement in its visor design.

The Catlike Kompact'o Urban bike helmet is well-ventilated, affordable, and drop-dead striking with its unique design. Despite being a bit on the heavier side, its comfort and adjustability are noteworthy. Durability is high and simple parts can be easily replaced, further extending the longevity. This stylish helmet also offers customization options, and its great ventilation makes it suitable for warm weather rides.

The review discusses various bike racks, highlighting their versatile, user-friendly, and durable properties. Major points of praise include their secure holds, weight capacities, and the quality of their assembly and construction. The review includes a discussion of a variety of different types, from hitch to roof to trunk racks, with each type having its strengths and weaknesses.

The Ecotric Vortex Electric City Bike is a relatively quick and sporty Class 2 budget electric bike suitable for city riding and commuting. The bike comes with a 350W rear hub motor and a maximum speed of 20 mph. Although the display and controls are somewhat underwhelming and the bike's size may not accommodate taller riders, the bike handles well and offers efficient and solid performance.

The Tifosi Rail sunglasses offer great coverage and protection at a reasonable price, making them a solid option for high-speed road cycling. However, the fit is too large and insecure for those with smaller heads, and the lens tint tested does not provide the best contrast.

The Jackal MIPS helmet from Lazer, known for high-end road and recreational bike helmets, is a versatile trail helmet ideal for round-headed riders. It has unique features but the weight and limited fit may not suit all riders.

The Propella Mini is an affordable, lightweight, single-speed e-bike offering quick handling and a comfortable ride for urban commuting, though it may lack stability and performance of larger models.

This contender is hands down one of the toughest bike locks we tested.

The Specialized S-Works Prevail 3 MIPS helmet is praised for exceptional ventilation and comfort but is costly and may not suit all head shapes.

The Ride1Up Turris XR is a budget-priced, Class 3 hybrid-style bike that provides a comfortable and user-friendly ride. Its 750W motor provides a top pedal-assisted speed of 28 mph and its integrated 614 Wh battery gives it a solid range. The bike handles predictably while its comfort features offer an isolation from road vibrations, providing an exceptional value.

The Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser is a stylish, comfortable electric cruiser bike that provides quality ride experience. It possesses a 750W motor and a reliable 720Wh battery providing it solid range, thus making it perfect for regular commuting or beach trips. The cruiser style, 80mm suspension fork and 3-inch wide tires offer smooth ride quality. Despite its heavy build and slightly sluggish handling at low speeds, it includes additional features like fenders, lights and rear rack, and its reasonable price offers excellent value for riders.

Our comprehensive review of bike seats covers comfort, performance, and durability, offering top choices for overall, road, mountain biking, commuting, and budget-friendly options.

The Ride1Up 700-Series is a top-ranked electric bike with a powerful motor, durable battery, and high-quality features like a suspension fork and hydraulic disc brakes, despite a more involved assembly process, it provides impressive value with its performance and long-range capability, surpassing more expensive competitors.

The Trek Rail 9.7 electric mountain bike offers well-rounded performance with an impressive distance range, owing to its powerful Bosch motor and a solid 625Wh battery capacity. While it delivers a powerful uphill momentum and confident and planted descent, there are minor drawbacks such as a disconcerting rattle potentially coming from the battery or motor, and slightly quirky display and controls. On componentry, while functional, it's somewhat budget-oriented and lacks in enhancing the bike's performance

The review highlights the versatility, climbing prowess and downhill performance of the new Trek Fuel EX 9.8 GX AXS Gen 6 mountain bike. Its adjustability is a key feature, and it performs well on different terrains, making it a great option for both park rides and long trail rides. The bike's build quality is impressive and the sleek design is efficient, providing a smooth ride. However, the bike is somewhat expensive compared to some competitors.

The Giro Fixture II MIPS is highly rated for its budget-friendly price, sleek design, and good ventilation, while the Giro Manifest Spherical excels in protection with MIPS Spherical technology.

The Trek Fuel EX 9.8 GX AXS Gen 6 mountain bike offers a versatile and adjustable ride with a redesigned body and superior quality. Despite being somewhat heavy, it provides excellent climbing performance owing to a stable pedal platform and dramatically transfer of power. The downhill performance is equally impressive, featuring a suspension design that handles rough terrains efficiently. The geometry of the bike can be adjusted to suit different terrains or riding styles.

Overall, the Turbo Levo Comp is a high-end electric mountain bike with versatile and adaptable features such as a strong motor, a comfortable geometry, and a high capacity battery, however, it falls short in terms of display and controls.

An affordable, lightweight, and compact electric bike, the Propella Mini, lends itself well to short journeys and flat terrain. It features a low maintenance, single-speed drivetrain system and mechanical disc brakes, whilst its stylish, compact design accommodates easy storage. Despite a slightly shakier performance at higher speeds and a restricted distance range, the Mini stands as a commendable choice for an economical, lightweight urban riding option.

The Hiplok Original: Superbright is a wearable chain lock with a unique design that increases portability, making it an ideal choice for regular bike commuters. Despite being heavy, it proves to be comfortable when worn around the waist. Its innovative design also includes a nylon sheath with reflective material for added safety. Although on the pricey side, it's noted for being easy to transport and use, with the ability to lock up to oddly-shaped structures. Overall, it's a user-friendly, mid to high-level security lock, beneficial for all biking needs.

The Eahora AM200 is a mountain-style e-bike that provides a smooth ride on a range of terrains, thanks to its suspension and wide tires. Despite its less impressive power delivery during pedal assist, it excels in ride quality and range. Additionally, it has a modern design accompanied by a user-friendly interface. However, the build quality raises concerns about its durability.

The Fox Rampage Pro Carbon MIPS helmet offers high levels of protection and design quality for downhill racing, bike park laps, and freeride riding. Despite its high price tag, it is built to last and offers excellent protection levels, a well-planned visor, and adequate ventilation for its intended usage. This product offers value for money due to its top-notch performance and protection.

“An affordable, compact, and lightweight Class 1 model best suited to flat terrain and shorter trips.”

The Cannondale Quick Neo SL 2 is a lightweight, responsive, and stealthily designed electric bike that is great for commuters or those looking to add some electric assistance to their exercise routine. Despite its high price and some gripes with user interface, it makes for an excellent option for riders who prioritize light weight and quick handling.

Commencal Meta Power TR Ride is a high-performing yet affordable eMTB that performs well in various terrains, provides impressive performance and range with its Shimano EP8 motor and 630Wh battery. Although its suspension and drivetrain components could be better, the bike offers good value compared to other eMTBs.

The Hiplok Original: Superbright is a user-friendly, mid to high-level security bike lock with a unique waist-wearable design, making it highly portable and convenient for regular commuters. The nylon sheath is also reflective for added visibility on the road, and the lock's flexibility makes it versatile for locking onto various structures.

The Hiplok DX Wearable U-Lock is a small, relatively lightweight, and secure bike lock. It is easy to carry due to a plastic clip that attaches to your belt or back pocket, but its small size might limit the versatility of the lock. Despite its size, it provides effective security.

The Nakto Camel 250 is a reasonably priced, comfortable electric bike with a commendable distance range and carrying capacity. While it lacks in advanced user interface or pedal-assist system, it makes up for it with a top speed of 20 mph and various useful features making it an excellent choice for running errands or commuting.

The Nakto Camel 250 is a reasonably priced, comfortable, and feature-packed electric bike suitable for urban commuting or running errands. With a distance range impressing in tests, and a 250W motor able to achieve speeds of 20 mph, it's seen as a reliable choice for those wanting utility without overly sophisticated systems.

The TiGr mini is a stylish, lightweight, and portable bike lock that lacks the security features necessary for high-value bikes, proving not as durable as it looks.

The Hiplok D1000 bike lock offers incredible security with its hard-to-cut design but falls short in transport ease and versatility due to its weight and smaller size. It might be a good fit for those willing to compromise convenience for enhanced security.

The Bell 4Forty MIPS is an affordable, high-quality helmet with excellent safety features and decent ventilation. It is durable, leading to its high score in the 'build quality' domain, though it is moderately heavy. Despite some reports of buckle failure, its comfort, protection, and price make it excellent value overall.

“A basic but convenient folding Class 2 electric bike that collapses small for transport or storage.”

"It was bested by the competition in our testing, but we feel it's a compelling option for those who don't need or want the most powerful bike and can benefit from its unique storability."

The Smith Wildcat sunglasses are praised for their comfort, lens quality, and versatile performance, with a high-quality, durable frame ideal for outdoor activities.

The Aventon Level Step-Thru is an eye-catching e-bike with great lines and excellent battery integration. Beyond its good looks, this bike has an excellent ride quality with responsive handling along with a suspension fork and high volume tires to smooth over the rough stuff.

The Ride1Up Core-5 impressed our testers and easily beat out the competition in our test of the best budget electric bikes.

The Smith Attack Max sunglasses offer exceptional lens quality, comfort, and wind protection, making them a versatile choice for high-speed activities, although they are on the expensive side.

"While it excels in trail finding, again, we do not recommend it for commuting due to its low ranking in portability unless you are using it under rather specific circumstances."

“This board packs power and longevity, making it a great commuting vehicle.”

_"Lectric hit a home run with the original XP models, and the updated XP 2.0 is even better. The addition of an 80mm suspension fork, a wider handlebar, and slightly narrower 3-inch wide knobby tires has improved its handling, ride quality, and versatility…"_

A sturdy, stable, and powerful Class 2 electric cargo bike with a great distance range and high weight capacity.

"Excelling on off-pavement adventures, this board is almost as capable as the full-sized Onewheel but retails for significantly less "

“A near-perfect match of performance and price, this model will appeal to most riders seeking a quality folding e-bike.”

“If you prefer top-shelf quality, this German-made lock delivers a great product.”

"Great budget scooter with unique upgrades rivaling higher-end models."

Honestly, this lock is pretty darn secure. It surprised us, especially as it's portable and relatively lightweight.

...we feel this is an excellent value and a great ebike for anywhere that isn't too hilly.

The Specialized Ambush 2 is a solid, high-quality mountain bike helmet with great ventilation and safety features. Its lightweight, durable build, and relative affordability make it a recommended choice especially for riders who wear sunglasses and don't require an adjustable visor.

The Juiced CrossCurrent S2 is one of the fastest and most powerful models we tested.

"If you are shopping for a new electric skateboard on the slimmest of budgets, then we think you might want to check out the Hiboy S22. This skateboard costs considerably less than most models and delivered acceptable results"

The Troy Lee Designs A2 MIPS offers a high degree of protection through its combination of good coverage, a MIPS liner, and a unique dual-density EPS and EPP foam liner.

The Hiplok DX Wearable U-Lock offers good security and lightweight portability that fits in your pocket, though it limits structure options you can lock your bike to due to its smaller size.

The Santa Cruz Heckler MX XO1 AXS RSV e-bike performs well on trails with its 720 Wh battery, versatile gear shifting, quality suspension, and robust carbon frame. However, its top-tier build comes with a hefty price tag.

The Aventon Soltera is praised for its sleek design, quick handling, good battery integration, and solid range at a reasonable price. Despite not being the most powerful bike, it offers a great riding experience with a top speed of 20 mph. It comes with integrated lights, available in step-through and step-over frames, two frame sizes, and three color choices. However, it requires a slightly more athletic body position and isn't the most powerful bike.