Looking for a round up of the very best this year?

Check out our shiny guide to the best hardtail mountain bikes of 2018. 

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Showing reviews 1–20 of 217

Calibre Line T3-27

The Line T3-27 marks a welcome return for the Calibre brand to one of its most successful old stomping grounds. With its sloping top tube, progressive trail geometry and large…

£1,000.00
Score 10

Specialized Epic Hardtail Comp

Who is the Epic hardtail for? That’s the question I posed to the product manager responsible for Specialized’s XC race bikes. His response was both honest and telling. “It’s for…

£4,100.00
Vitus Sentier 29

There are a ton of parallels between the Vitus Sentier 29 and the cheaper Nucleus 29 VR in the sub £700 category. Both are the entry-level models in their respective…

£949.99
Score 9

Voodoo Bizango Pro

Since winning our 2022 Hardtail of the Year award, life has been good for the Voodoo Bizango Pro. So good, that the only thing that’s changed is the price has…

£950.00
Score 10

Canyon Stoic 2

If you’ve been following our Hardtail of the Year test, you’re probably wondering why the Canyon Stoic 2 wasn’t in the mix. And the answer is simple. It didn’t arrive…

£899.00
Score 9

Polygon Xtrada 5

Xtrada literally translates to crossroads. And that can be interpreted a couple of different ways. Did Polygon intend the Xtrada 5 to meet at the intersection between on and off…

£600.00
Score 9

On One Scandal SX

Right now, On One offers several complete hardtail options at under £1,000, including the steel-framed Big Dog and Huntsman, but this is On One’s only offering made from aluminium. Before…

£999.99
Score 8

Carrera Fury

When unboxing the Carrera Fury our first thought was that Halfords must have made a blunder. How could the Fury possibly have an air-sprung fork, wide-range Shimano Deore 1×10 drivetrain,…

£680.00
Score 8

Jamis Highpoint A2

Jamis bills the Highpoint A2 as a true all rounder and it’s easy to see why. With big 29in wheels to roll over bumps better and a 120mm travel coil-sprung…

£650.00
Score 7

Vitus Nucleus 29 VR

Head over to the Vitus website and you could be forgiven for thinking that you’re seeing double. You’re not, it’s simply that Vitus offers the Nucleus VR with either 27.5in…

£649.99
Score 7

Ragley Big Wig Race

For 2023, Ragley has made some minor modifications to the Big Wig platform. It’s still a hard-hitting 29er trail bike with a robust 4130 steel frame, but the angles and…

£549.99
Identiti AKA hardtail

Now that the Mettle full suspension bike has disappeared from the range, Identiti has become a small but dedicated hardtail brand. So small in fact, that there are currently only…

£3,250.00
Score 8

Whyte 909 X Enduro hardtail mountain bike

Now, you are probably thinking, £3.5k for a hardtail and the frame isn’t steel or carbon? Well, we thought the exact same thing when the 909 X arrived and even…

£3,500.00
Score 9

Nukeproof Scout 290 Elite

The Nukeproof Scout started life as a burly, dirt jump/4-cross bike. But over the years the Scout has broadened its horizons, maturing into a capable trail bike, without ever losing…

£2,499.99
Score 9

Log onto Scott’s website, search for hardtails, and you’ll see the XC focused Scale dominates the options. With no long, low and slack hardcore hardtail in sight, it’s apparent that…

£1,399.00
Score 9

The Trek X-Caliber 8 is a sure-footed 29er hardtail mountain bike, with plenty of reliable elements that boost its score to impressive levels, but a few missteps that hold it…

£1,390.00
Score 8

Cube Reaction Pro

Cube has just two models in its Reaction HPA range of hardtails. The longer travel TM with a 130mm travel fork and this, the Pro, with a more XC-orientated 100mm…

£1,499.00
Score 7