For our Hardtail of the Year test we picked the £750 Polygon Xtrada 6 model with the smaller wheels and single chainring drivetrain.
Hardtail
Voodoo Wazoo 275+ (2018) review
Voodoo Wazoo brings two firsts to the sub £500 category: first bike to sport 2.8in Plus tyres and to benefit from the extra stiffness of a bolt-thru fork.
Orange Crush S review
Revised specification and pricing within the Crush range makes the Crush Pro £2K, but the entry-level Crush S has also been upgraded to fill the void.
Forme Ripley 2 (2017) review
The Forme Ripley has impeccable trail manners. A really neutral riding position, it maintains speed incredibly well, and there’s also compliance.
Trek Cali S (2016) review
The Cali’s handling capability and reassuring stability make it a fun bike to ride, with the result being that your skills can develop while you’re having a blast.
Boardman MTB Pro 29 (2016) review
If you want to gallop flat out over big miles the thoroughbred Boardman is first past the post
Ragley Bigwig (2016) review
Great fun, but a little short - £1,549.99
Transition TransAM 29 longterm review
The Transition TransAM 29 is a total blast to ride but it needs to go on a diet
Trek Stache 9 29+ (2016) review
We challenge anyone who loves mountain biking to ride this bike and not come away impressed - £2,700
Bird Zero.3 (2015) Review
The Bird Zero.3 has a top spec that nearly saw it win the £1,000 bracket in our Hardtail of the Year test
Trek Skye SLX (2015) review
The Trek Skye SLX impressed with its tuned fork and wheels size specific approach in the £750 women's category in the Hardtail of the Year test
Cannondale Trail 2 (2015) review
Cannondale's Trail SL 29er 2 is a reworked version of its 26in bike. How well do the big wheels crossover?
Specialized Jett Comp (2015) review
The Specialized Jett Comp scored strongly in the £750 Women's specific category of our Hardtail of the Year test
Cube Aim SL 27.5 (2015) Review
The Cube Aim SL comes in £50 cheaper than most entry level hardtails and still boasts some impressive components
Halfords 13 Incline Alpha (2015) Review
The 13 Incline Alpha is an impressive stride into high end bikes from the Halfords own brand
Bird Zero.1 review
New direct-sales mountain bike brand Bird ruffles some feathers with its killer value 650b hardtail
Genesis High Latitude review
A smooth ride but lacks precision due to poor tyre choice and a long stem
Trek X-Caliber 7 Review
Read the full review of the Trek X-Caliber 7 hardtail
Trek Stache 8 review
First introduced last season, the Stache is billed as a trail-ready 29er hardtail designed to meet all the exacting demands of the modern mountain biker. The frame shares most design…
Scott Contessa Scale 920 review
Read our review of the Scott Contessa Scale 920 in our Hardtail of the Year test