40 Best Mountain Bike Accessories Every Rider Should Have

Although today’s mountain bikes are designed to fulfil demands of challenging mountain trails, but even the best mountain bike manufacturer can’t anticipate every rider’s needs. The right mountain bike accessories make all the difference when one comes up with unexpected trail-side problems, need better control, get in an accident or want to make riding a long-term thing. The real challenge is to know where to start. What is worth spending money on, and what would only make the ride just a bit flashy. 

Here, I am providing you with a realistic guideline for your mountain bike accessories hunting challenge. The goal is to start with buying stuff that genuinely adds value and do so in a budget-friendly manner. For this purpose, I have divided the accessories into five categories, starting with rider’s safety and wrapping up the list with long-term maintenance items.

Mountain Bike Gear to Protect Yourself

If there is one accessory that I would never skip for my mountain bike, it is the helmet. Trails are tricky and unpredictable and falls are inevitable, even for the experienced riders. When buying a helmet, I always look for proper size, recognized certifications (MIPS, ASTM F1952 etc.), ventilation, weight, padding material and overall comfort. BUCKLOS helmet for mountain bikers checks all these features along with several safety certifications and additional features like removable sun visor and pad.

Mountain trails are rough; flying rocks, branches and pedal slips can result in painful shin injuries. I would tag shin guards as a not-to-be-skipped mountain bike accessory, because they protect me from getting disabled from riding altogether. I found myself these lightweight, stretchy neoprene, airy and comfortable shin guards that can take the impact and not restrict movement.

These body parts are very much prone to damage in the case of falls or accidents. A serious injury to knees or elbows, if damaged, can have debilitating consequences. I purchased knee and elbow pads from Amazon and made sure to go through the size chart provided by manufacturers. These are ergonomic, lightweight but impact resistant pads.

I commonly experience little trail mishaps, small crashes or scratches from branches which result in minor cuts and scrapes, which don’t disable me from the ride but can become very uncomfortable. Having a first aid kit at hand saves me a lot of frustration and unnecessary pain. I have got this waterproof kit that fits easily in my mountain bike. 

I do not use these very often, but they have saved me in critical situations like a dark region covered by trees in a trail, an unplanned and prolonged ride in the evening or a ride back home at night. I bought this bike lights kit, which contains head light and rear lights in one pack.

The problem with bicycle mirrors in mountain biking is that they are anti-aerodynamic, might shatter from intense vibrations or hit with trailside obstacles. Manufacturers have solutions, but I won’t suggest eye-glass mirrors, and I find helmet mirrors weird. Check out this Mirrycle handlebar mirror especially designed for mountain bikes. It is tightly secured to and expands inside the handlebar. It doesn’t stick out too much, is easily adjustable and shatter resistant.

Mountain biking means the body is absorbing lots of vibrations, and the hands and wrists are prone to vibration injuries. Gloves provide an extra layer of protection, reduce impact of vibrations and improve grip on handlebar. I bought INBIKE cycling gloves as they provide breathable padded protection, good grips, adjustable wrist fit and sensitive fingertips that work on touch screens.

Mountain bike glasses protect me from damage to the eye in short term from dirt, spores, insects etc., and in the long run from UV light. I got an amazing Amazon find here. Check out these photochromic cycling glasses which automatically adjust brightness according to UV intensity. Also, they have a breathable, ergonomic and adjustable design.

MTB Upgrades to Protect Your Energy

In my early days, long rides, full of vibrations and impact left my hands feeling sore and fatigued. Ergonomic handlebar grips are designed to support the anatomical design of the palms and fingers. SOLODRIVE handlebar grips are my recommendation for mountain bikes. They are durable, non-slip, ergonomic and easy to install.

Mountain trails are tricky and I need to keep track of my location. Knowing the distance covered, speed and route help me monitor my performance. A GPS bike computer lays all this information right in front of me. I suggest this bike computer because it has a sleek design and very bright outdoor-friendly screen. There are amazing navigation features like setting cycling routes, turn reminders, off-course re-routing and even route preview for hill climbing.

Earlier, I could not afford a GPS bike computer and needed the phone for navigation. Still, I need my phone at hand for emergency calls, quickly checking a notification, engaging a fitness app or shooting a video of my ride. I purchased this small and mighty phone mount that attaches to stem bolt with a perfect elevation angle.

Pedal grip is very important as mountain biking requires dealing with rough trails, uneven terrain and unpredictable bumps. Wider and high-grip pedals provide foot stability and better control in challenging sections of the trail. For a reliable upgrade, try the ROCKBROS mountain bike pedals. They have spike screws for grip, a lubricated and sealed bearing and easy installation method.

Having a fixed-height saddle was uncomfortable when navigating technical trails or riding down steep parts of the trail. Dropper seatposts allowed me to raise or lower my saddle during the ride. I recommend suspension seatposts by REDSHIFT. They dampen shocks by 60%, reducing fatigue and increasing efficiency. The easy-to-install and maintenance-free designs add to the benefits.

Mountain bike suspension is air pressure sensitive. A regular bike pump does not work with that much precision, so I bought a dedicated shock pump for my mountain bike. It allows me to fine-tune bike suspension according to my weight, trail conditions and riding style. The GIYO high pressure shock pump has a unique nozzle that does not lose air when disconnected.

Bicycle chains have been a trouble since the invention of bikes. On my mountain bike, I ride over rough trails, jumps and sudden impacts but cannot afford a bounce or slip of the chain from the chainring as this would interrupt my ride and can damage the drivetrain. This chain guide from Funn Zippa keeps the chain secure in place and correctly aligned. It is lightweight, durable and has weather-resistant structure and easy installation.

After a long ride, my limbs got tired inevitably, but my backside felt like it had survived a boxing match! So, I got myself some padded shorts to ease the pressure and reduce friction with the saddle. The fabric is breathable and the pad has an ergonomic design.

Mountain Bike Accessories to Carry Essentials

Mountain biking without an efficient water-supply system can cause severe dehydration but stopping every few minutes to drink water is difficult, and that is why a hydration pack is a must-have mountain bike accessory. I bought this good-quality hydration pack from Amazon. This one comes with a leak-resistant and spacious system. It has a wide mouth-opening and the pack does not bounce off as I ride.

Up on the mountain, I have to carry my keys, snacks, tools and little but essential items. Instead of inconveniently filling my pockets, I have attached a frame bag to my bike to store those items. This frame bag is water-resistant, durable and compatible with my bike. Make sure to check the size and structure as per your needs.

While a bike frame bag is for storing bigger items that I need when I stop, a top-tube bag allows me to store items I need as I ride, like energy gels, granola bars and my phone in some cases. The fabric of this top-tube bag is water-resistant and the zippers are sealed. It also has reflective strips to improve visibility in low-light conditions.