Christmas gifts for mountain bikers – perfect presents for off-roaders

When it comes to Christmas gifts for mountain bikers we aren't talking about a tacky mug or a novelty t-shirt with a cringe quote on it, there are loads of fun and useful products that make for great gifts for mountain bikers. After all, no MTBer has everything, there's always a new gadget or something that has broken and needs replacing. 

If you are also a mountain biker, choosing the best gifts for other riders in your life shouldn't be too tricky – especially if you ride with them. However, if you aren't into mountain biking yourself then it is a seriously daunting proposition to not only decipher what they might want but also where to find the best mountain bike deals.

That's where Bike Perfect comes in, rather than throwing in the towel and getting them Wiggle.com vouchers again, keep reading as we've dug around for some excellent mountain biker gift ideas, everything from stocking fillers to full blown presents.

Gifts for mountain bikers

Up to $100 / £100

Most mountain bikers probably prefer actual MTB stuff rather than MTB-related gifts, Trailmaps is a little different though. They produce these great-looking detailed infographic art prints of trail spots, perfect for commemorating a local trail spot or as a reminder of a great road trip past or future.

Trailmaps cover loads of different worldwide trail spots already but also offer a custom option if you want something special. They do other prints as well, including TrailMaps Road Cycling collection.

From the original pioneers and trailblazers through to modern day icons, Off-Road Heroes tells the tale of them all. This beautifully put together, 254 page tome is a great read for anyone interested in where mountain biking came from and the people who made their mark on MTB over the years. Among the writers involved is our very own Guy Kesteven.

Bike maintenance can be a messy job, this heavy-duty apron from Park Tool is made from durable cotton canvas and keeps all the dirt and grime off your clothes underneath. There are loads of pockets on the front to stash any tools and other bits while working on a bike. 

Want to ditch the backpack but need a little more space for an extra water bottle or an extra layer then the Rapha Trail Hip Pack is not only comfortable and practical, but stylish too.

The Rapha Trail Hip Pack is made from durable ripstop nylon fabric using recycled materials. There are three liters of storage, a valuables pocket, and an external bungee cord to secure a jacket. On each side, there is the capacity to store two water bottles or stuff more layers.

There is nothing wrong with the standard style 'Swiss Army' style multi-tools, however, this tool is next level when it comes to working on your bike in the woods. The ratchet design makes getting into all those tight spots like seat clamp bolts, bottle cages, and brake calipers super easy.

The Ratchet Rocket comes with a range of hex sizes and as it uses standard bits, they are easily replaced or customized for your needs. There do other versions that have fewer or more tools and even torque gauges.

Check out our full five-star review of Topeak's Ratchet Rocket Lite DX+ for more details.

Every mountain biker should already have a dependable multi-tool, however, there are some features that are rarely featured even on the best mountain biking multi-tools.

Wolf Tooth's pliers seek to fill those gaps, featuring master link pliers, Presta valve core remover, valve stem lock nut wrench, tire levers, and a space to store a spare master link. Its thin shape means it can easily be tucked away in a bag or hip pack ready for when it's needed.

Dynaplug's tubeless repair kits are a little more expensive than many other kits but we think the extra cost is well worth it. 

Very easy to use and super effective, all you need to do is stab the Dynaplug tip into the tire and pull the insertion tube out to leave the plug in place. Replace any lost air and you should be back on the trail in no time.

The Racer model comes in a super small allow or carbon tube, Dynaplug also does a cheaper version as well as kits that store more plugs or can be stashed into the handlebars.

It's amazing the difference having the best cycling socks makes to a mountain bike ride but, if you are anything like me, they often get ruined pretty quickly. Socks might be a cliched Christmas gift but snagging branches, slipped pedals, and general wear and tear mean you can never have too many pairs. 

We are big fans of Endura's Jagged socks for both moisture-wicking and comfort. Different areas of the sock use specific materials, elastication on the leg, venting mesh on the foot, and terry toweling on the footbed for comfort. Subtle logos and plenty of color options mean they can be matched to any riding gear too.

Strava has lots of great features that are included in the free account, however gifting a year's subscription to Strava premium unlocks loads of really useful tools, whether they are into training or exploring. 

Features like route planning and user heatmaps help riders plan and explore new trails while live segments and full leaderboards let you compare yourself to other riders. There are loads of fitness and training features too from workout analysis, Fitness & Freshness ratings, and training plans.

$100 / £100 to $200 / £200

If your loved one rides flat pedals (pedals that don't have a clip mechanism) but is always complaining about their feet slipping off, buying them a new set of pedals for Christmas is going to properly transform their riding for the better. 

The best MTB flat pedals are available in a wide range of price points, but we recommend going for DMR's Vault V2 pedals. DMR offers a range of different price points from the entry-level Alloy/CrMo to super fancy magnesium DMR Vault Mag SL pedals, as well as a bunch of different colors. No matter which model you go for, all the Vaults feature the same super grippy platform and durable build. With the odd service here and there DMR Vaults will be a gift that will last for years to come.

The best thing about pedals is that any set of mountain bike pedals will fit any mountain bike so you don't need to worry about finding the right size.

A set of hex keys might sound like a particularly lust worth present, but Silca has gone all out with their HX-One Home and Travel Essential Kit. Not only is having a high-quality set of hex keys important for maintaining a bike but the super-premium finish will make it feel like a really special gift.

Want the quality without the pizzazz? Silca's HX-Two Travel Kit has the same hex and Torxs tools but ditches the bit drivers and fancy wooden box. Silca's HX-Two Travel Kit retails for $99 / £88.

Fed up with your loved one cursing while trying to set up their tubeless tires and finding puddles of sealant on the floor, do them a solid and gift them a tubeless floor pump like the Topeak JoeBlow Booster reservoir floor pump.

JoeBlow Booster reservoir floor pump features a chamber that can be pressurized. When this pressure is released it blasts air into the tire and pops it into place on the rim. Quick, easy, and considerably less frustrating than trying to seat your tires with a standard pump.

Want to find out why this booster pump is one of our favorites, check out our Topeak JoeBlow Booster reservoir floor pump review.

Loads of riders like listening to music while they hit the trails, but riding with earbuds is not a great experience as they block out the surrounding noise and can fall out or be uncomfortable.

Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones use bone conduction technology, leaving the ear open so a rider can hear the sound of the trail or road alongside their favorite song. The sound quality is great plus they are super comfortable, waterproof, and have a battery life that should easily last even the longest MTB epic. The over-the-ear one-piece design also means there is no way these are coming off and ours have stayed on our heads even when we couldn't stay on our bikes.

$200 / £200 and above

Park Tool are synonymous with high-quality tools and bike maintenance products and this complete kit has all the tools you need to keep a mountain bike (or any other bike) running smoothly.

Not only are all the tools good quality but you also get a handy guidebook covering all the basics, which makes this kit especially good for those that are new to cycling or working on bikes. All the tools come in a toolbox, not only keeping it all together but making it easy to pop in the back of the car in case of any trailhead maintenance or adjustments.

Night riding adds a new dimension to mountain biking, but good lights are needed to have fun in the dark. Exposure's Zenith MK2 is a powerful 2,100 lumen light that can be mounted on either the handlebars or a helmet to illuminate the trail or road ahead.

One particularly useful feature is Exposures TAP technology which allows the light modes to be changed by simply touching the light's aluminum body. That means you can have full power on the descents and then easily switch to a lower output on a climb to save battery.

For more info, check out our full Exposure Zenith Mk2 review.

Bigger is often better and they don't get much bigger than POC's Devour glasses. The huge lenses should keep all manner of dirt, rocks, and sticks out of your eyes whilst giving an unparalleled field of view. The lenses are super easy to swap if conditions demand a different tint.

The fit is superb, the arms are adjustable and have a really narrow shape meaning they slip under deeper-fitting helmets. Out of the trail, the adjustable nose piece and hooked legs keep them locked in place.

For more, have a look at our full POC Devour review.

Garmin's 530 is one of the best MTB GPS computers as it manages to pack full mapping and loads of great MTB features into a compact form. Routing can be easily loaded onto the 530 using Garmin Connect or by linking websites like Strava or Komoot, it has MTB metrics and climbing features, Trailforks integration, and can connect to any device or sensor from a heart rate monitor to a turbo trainer. 

Its also particularly good value as well considering the number of features Garmin has squeezed in. 

If you want more details, be sure to read our Garmin Edge 530 review.