The Best hybrid bikes under $300 [Complete Review and Buying Guide

Best hybrid bikes under $300
Table of Contents

When you want to head out and hit the trails or transition from tougher terrain to the streets in your neighborhood, it’s best to have a hybrid bike you can rely on. Depending on your bike, if you don’t want to shell out hundreds of dollars for a hardcore bike it can be hard to find one you like. Our list is here to help! Check out these bikes we found that will come in under budget and help you hit the trails in style!

IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS  rating price
Overall Bestsixthreezero sixthreezero
  • Speeds: 7
  • Tire Size: 26 inches
9.8
Runner UpDiscover Hybrid Discover Hybrid
  • Speeds: 21
  • Tire Size: 28 inches
9.7
PremiumVilano Diverse Vilano Diverse
  • Speeds: 24
  • Tire Size: 700 cm
9.5
Schwinn Cruiser Schwinn Cruiser
  • Speeds: 7
  • Tire Size: 700 cm
9.5
Kent International Kent International
  • Speeds: 21
  • Tire Size: 29 inches
9.3
Vilano Women’s Hybrid Vilano Women’s Hybrid
  • Speeds: 7
  • Tire Size: 700 cm
9.3
Hiland City Commuter Bike Hiland City Commuter Bike
  • Speeds: 1
  • Tire Size: 20/22/26 inch
9.2
Hiland Road City Bike Hiland Road City Bike
  • Speeds: 1
  • Tire Size: 700 cm
9.1

Top 8 hybrid bikes under $300

Let’s hit the products! Our team found these top 8 bikes that came in under budget without losing their performance value as a hybrid bike.

sixthreezero EVRYjourney steel men’s hybrid bike – Overall Best

sixthreezero

This bike looks great and has some awesome features that make it stand out as the best overall choice on our list of hybrid bikes. It seamlessly combines the features of a comfort bike and a commuter bike that transitions easily from leisure rides to long-distance commutes without breaking the bank.

The Shimano 7-speed external derailleur and front and rear handbrakes work overtime to give you a smooth, satisfying ride no matter where you’re heading or what you’ll be doing. For a frame, this bike sports a 19-inch steel frame with an easy step-through that puts you in an upright riding position. With this upright position, the stress and tension on your back, knees, and shoulders are released.

Overall, this bike works great for long or leisure rides and will keep your back, knees, and shoulders from aching after you’re done! This bike gets 4.8 stars out of 5 from us for functionality and price. While the overall cost might come out a little bit over $300, it’s worth the extra money for this excellent product.

Pros

  • 19-inch steel frame
  • Combines comfort and commuter bike features
  • 7-speed external derailleur

Cons

  • Slightly more expensive

Discover Hybrid Bike – Runner Up

Discover Hybrid

While this bike is designed as a women’s bike, it works great for just about anyone and easily goes from long rides to leisurely biking around the neighborhood. With its bigger wheel size, this bike is a great option for anyone wanting to head out and get some exercise.

This bike offers a Schwinn suspension fork, an alloy crank, city rise adjustable stem with back sweep handlebars that give you a more comfortable ride overall. It mixes in a 21-speed SRAM grip shifter and a rear derailleur that makes pedaling up a hill much easier. The alloy twist shifter is compatible with 4 finger brake levers to offer you a safer ride.

The Discover bike comes in runner-up in our contest due to its design and functionality! The frame is a step-through or step-over one that makes it easy to get on and off. The price is right too, coming in just under $300 for the base model. Overall, this bike comes in at a 4.7 star out of 5 ratings!

Pros

  • Comes in under budget
  • Rear derailleur for better biking up hills

Cons

  • 21-speed shifter

Vilano Diverse 3.0 Performance Hybrid Road Bike – Premium

Vilano Diverse

This bike wins out as our premium pick for the countdown with great features but a slightly more expensive price tag. But with a higher price tag comes more bells and whistles that make this a premium choice for hybrid bikes.

The frame is a hydroformed alloy performance frame and fork that makes the bike look sleek and perform well in any condition. It also features disc brakes for great stopping power and an upright handlebar for added comfort on long or short rides.

This bike comes in as a little bit more expensive, but the features on it are worth the extra money! This bike comes in as 4.5 stars out of five on our countdown. The price tag brings it down a little but the performance makes up for the extra money.

Pros

  • Hydroformed alloy performance frame
  • Disc brakes
  • Upright handlebars

Cons

  • More expensive

Schwinn Cruiser

Schwinn Cruiser

Schwinn has been making bikes for a long time and they know the business inside and out! These Cruiser bikes give you a stylish and comfortable ride every time you head out. Schwinn boasts a more upright ride with each of their bikes and the Cruiser is no exception.

The Schwinn Cruiser has a 7-speed twist shifter with a rear derailleur that allows for quick gear changes so you can be responsive in any situation. In addition to the sharp shifting, the front and rear brakes are linear-pull brakes and allow for precise stops every time you head out.

Fenders are also a feature on this bike protecting you from splashes and featuring a classic rear carrier that gives you a large amount of storage. This bike comes in on our list with a 4.4 star out of 5 for overall looks and functionality. The larger wheel size can accommodate riders from 5’4” to 6’2” so no matter who you are or where you’re going, the Schwinn will get you there!

Pros

  • Legacy of quality bike building
  • Comes in under budget
  • Lots of storage

Cons

  • The look may not be for everyone

Kent International Hybrid

Kent International

This is a lightweight bike that looks great while you’re out on the road and the trails. It’s an upright bike that keeps the pressure off your back and knees while you’re riding all around the neighborhood.

This bike features a lightweight aluminum frame and 29-inch wheels that are a bit unusual for hybrid bikes. But the larger wheels and lightweight framework together to create a bike that looks and works great. Included as well are a 21-speed shifter and a Shimano Tourney rear derailleur.

Overall this bike looks great with a few unusual features. There’s a back storage area as well as the seat and handles being different colors from the rest of the bike. This is bound to set you apart in the neighborhood! This bike is awarded 4.3 stars out of 5 from our team!

Pros

  • Comes in under budget
  • Unique design and features
  • 29-inch wheels

Cons

  • Lighter weight bike may not stand up on any trails you head out on

Vilano Women’s Hybrid Bike

Vilano Women’s Hybrid

If you’re looking to go retro with a little throwback to a time when biking was the best way to get around town, this bike has the look and feel that will suit your wallet and your biking sensibilities! Created with a retro and throwback feel the Vilano Women’s bike is ready to head out and do great things for long or short distance rides.

Featuring a steel frame and 7-speed twist grip shifters, this bike has an upright design that helps keep the pressure off your back and knees while you’re biking around town. They also utilize 700 c wheels and linear-pull brakes that give you excellent stopping power at every stop sign on your commute.

This bike gets a 4.3 star out of 5 ratings in our countdown. The overall design is great and a cool throwback to a more relaxed time, but the bike lacks a few over-the-top features that would put it in the top few in our countdown.

Pros

  • Retro design
  • Comes in under budget
  • 7-speed twist grip shifters

Cons

  • Not as many features as other bikes

Hiland 20/22/26 inch City Commuter Bike

Hiland City Commuter Bike

This bike offers a wide range of choices for anyone looking for an excellent commuter! When this bike shows up at your house, it’s already 85% pre-assembled and comes with the basic assembly tools so you can get it all set up at home.

The design of this bike is unique when compared to the rest of the bikes on our list. It has a lot more of a look that resembles heavier bikes used for other recreational activities. It’s still an upright bike, so you’ll save your knees and back and the front and rear wheels are equipped with fenders to protect you from water or mud. They also start with a solid premium steel frame that’s also backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

This bike has a unique design but all of the components work together to create a bike that works as hard as you do. The thicker bars and well-protected pieces give you a bike that’s heavy-duty even for a commuter bike. Overall, we’re giving this bike 4.2 stars out of 5! It drops a little as it’s missing some of the eye-pleasing design pieces that other bikes on our list have.

Pros

  • Pre-assembled
  • Comes in well under budget
  • Equipped with fenders for a clean commute
  • Well protected components

Cons

  • Not as eye-catching as others on the list

Hiland Road City Bike

Hiland Road City Bike

If you’re looking for something racy and lightweight, this bike will do wonders for you!  This bike is a pared-down version of many of the other hybrid or commuter bikes currently on the market and only offers a single-speed for users. But if you’re only going from point A to point B within the city, you shouldn’t need too many speeds!

The frame on this bike is a circular steel tube that gives it an overall retro look. In addition to the single-speed, this bike also has 700c wheels that offer up a high-speed experience in a road bike. When it arrives at your house, this bike is mostly pre-assembled and the rest is easy to finish up.

While this bike looks lighter and less impressive than others on the list, it’s surprisingly substantial. The entire bike can hold 230lbs and the different size wheels allow for a wide range of heights as well. Overall, we give this bike 4.1 stars out of 5. The different choices are great but make it hard to order if you’re unsure what you need.

Pros

  • Comes in under budget
  • Can hold a significant amount of weight
  • Choices available depending on the needs of the rider

Cons

  • Too many choices can be confusing

Buying Guide For Hybrid Bikes

If you’ve never checked out hybrid bikes before, it can be confusing to hear all about frames, forks, and shifters. Before you buy, you’ll want to do research on specific brands as well as general knowledge about the bike style. We’ve cut to the chase and we’ve got some basic information that you can review and use when purchasing your next hybrid bike!

What is a hybrid bike?

Before we get into the details, let’s go through what exactly a hybrid bike is!

Hybrid bikes are a mutt of a bike mixing in elements of mountain, road, and touring designs to come up with a completely new bike that can do it all. Choosing a hybrid bike depends largely on how you want to use it. If you’re looking to head out onto more technical trails, you’ll want to search for a hybrid bike with bigger tires to grip the terrain like the Kent International Hybrid.

While all of the components we’ll talk about below factor in to which bike you’ll choose, the overall deciding factor has to be how your bike fits you personally. One bike may sound great on paper but once you sit on it and take it for a spin, it just may not fit you or your lifestyle.

More: the Best Hybrid Bike Under $500 For Men And Women [Review And Buying Guide]

Bike frame materials

The frame of a bike carries all of the weight of the rider and works to support the forward motion. The differences in bike frames can seem technical, but they’ll significantly impact the way your bike works on the streets and out on the trails.

Aluminum frames

Aluminum is corrosion-resistant, light, and has a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it a popular choice for riders and racers on a budget. The overall costs of aluminum frames are a lot lower than other types of materials and it’s easy to mold and work with for any bike builders.

The stiffness that aluminum offers can mean a harder ride for anyone who uses a bike with an aluminum frame. The aluminum doesn’t absorb the shock as well as other frame materials. For use on the roads and sidewalks on a casual ride around the neighborhood or heading into work, aluminum frames work just fine. If you want to take your hybrid bike out on the trails, however, it might be worthwhile to at least invest in a new seat pad!

Carbon fiber

Carbon fiber is a popular option for anyone who wants a racing or road bike that is still light and durable. This material does a better job absorbing road vibration, which makes it a much more comfortable ride. It’s also more flexible when being worked, allowing for a wider range of design options for buyers.

Carbon fiber can be more expensive though, because it has a composition that makes it desirable for trails or roads. For just a regular commuter or road bike, carbon fiber tends to be more high-end so it might not fit as well into your casual rider budget.

Steel

Weight has been slowing down the use of steel in bike frames for the past few years and while it was once the primary material used for any bike on the market, it’s slowly been pushed into the history books. The main reason it’s faded from use is that steel is heavy and can be hard to work with as well as costly.

For touring and commuter bikes, steel frames offer some excellent benefits. They tend to offer a much smoother ride than any of the other options on the market. It’s denser and stronger than aluminum and allows you to build vertical flex into any bike.

More: Trek Verve 1 Review: Is It A Good Bike To Have?

Gears

Every bike has some gear system, but when you’re commuting or casually riding around the neighborhood, it can be hard to know how many you’ll need. Some of your gear choices will need to be decided based on the type of terrain you’ll be traversing but if you’re not planning to hit the trails, choosing the type of gears on your bike is a breeze!

More gears

If the terrain you’ll be traversing features a lot of hills, you’ll want to choose a hybrid bike that has a lot of gears. This allows you to shift up or down depending on the strength you need to get up and down the hills and valleys, you’ll encounter.

Fewer gears

If you’re super fit or riding on very flat terrain you won’t need nearly as many gears. This lightens up your bike and also cuts down on the overall cost. Many hybrid bikes only have one speed, which allows you to coast like you would if you had a bike with multiple gears.

More: The Best Gravel Bikes Under $1000: the Best Entry-Level Gravel Bikes

Brake type

Being able to pedal and ride is one thing and being able to stop is another! When you’re riding around town or heading from one place to another, you want to be sure you won’t just get there but that you’ll stop when you reach your destination. Choosing the right brake type for you and your hybrid bike can be a mess of complicated terms, but if you take the time to sort through it all, you’ll find one that works for you.

Rim brakes

These are the most common type of brakes featured on hybrid bikes. They have pads that grip onto the wheel rims when pressed or pulled and they stop the bike. They tend to be cheaper than other types of brakes and the worn pads can be easily replaced.

In contrast, rim brakes can gradually wear out the wheel rim of your bike, which might eventually lead to the wheel needing to be replaced. They also offer less effective stopping power overall and especially in wet or muddy conditions. If your hands or fingers aren’t as strong, they may require more effort on your part to brake aggressively.

While they come standard with most hybrid bikes, rim brakes aren’t as precise as other types and can eventually wear out your wheels leading to an expensive replacement.

Disc brakes

These types of brakes have pads that grip onto a brake rotor mounted to the wheel hub and come in two different versions: hydraulic and mechanical.

Hydraulic disc brakes have stronger and more progressive braking with less finger effort from the rider to stop precisely and they self-adust for brake pad wear. Mechanical disc brakes need manual adjusting as the pads wear but they function in the same manner as hydraulic brakes.

These types of brakes offer more consistent braking in all types of conditions. They’re also cheaper to replace when it comes to worn rotors than a whole wheel with rim brakes. Since they require less finger effort, using these brakes results in less finger strain and they still perform well in steep and wet terrain.

It can be difficult to inspect pad wear and replace pads with disc brakes and the hydraulic brake version can be expensive to service. Disc brakes are a step above rim brakes and they tend to be more precise but also more expensive overall.

More: Trek FX2 Review: Is It a Good Entry-Level Hybrid Bike To Buy?

Handlebar shape

You may not think very deeply about your handlebars but they can play a very vital role in the type and style of bike and biking you want to do. When looking at the seat position about the handlebars, the rule of thumb is that the lower the seat is below the handlebars, the more comfortable the ride. Some bikes do this naturally, and others require some adjustment to get the handlebars and seat where they need to be!

Drop bar

These handlebars are typically found on road bikes but can sometimes be offered on hybrid bikes. They tend to be lightweight and aerodynamic, making for a great choice if you want to go fast! Overall, they can be put into several riding and hand positions but still put you in a hunched over position that can put a significant strain on your back.

More: Best Hybrid Bikes Under 200 [Review and Buying Guide]

Flat bar

This tends to be the most common type of handlebar for hybrid bikes. They’re heavier than drop bars so you won’t be able to go quite as fast! But they do allow you to sit in a more relaxed upright position to see the road and any potential hazards in your way more clearly. The upright position reduces the strain on your hands, wrists, and shoulders.

Riser bar

These are also very common on hybrid bikes and extend slightly upward and back toward the rider. They also push you to sit more upright and gives you a great view of the trail ahead while maintaining control over the bike. The upright position puts less strain on your body than if you’d had to be hunched over the handlebars.

Moustache bar

These bars function very similarly to drop bars but offer much less drop in total. They give you the option of a variety of hand positions so you can sit much more upright than with drop bars. These types of handlebars are found equally on road bikes and hybrid bikes. They’re much less common than other types, but some brands offer them as an option.

More: Raleigh Cadent 2 Review: Is It A Good Bicycle To Have?

Takeaway

A hybrid bike is a do it all kind of bike, mixing in elements of mountain, road, and touring bikes into the total package. When you set out to choose your next hybrid bike, consider how you’ll be using your bike most often and choose one that fits your lifestyle accordingly.

Our countdown is nearly complete! The winner of our countdown is the sixthreezero EVRYjourney steel men’s hybrid bike! This bike has a steel frame that works hard to absorb the shock of rougher terrain whether in the city or out on the trails. While steel ends up being more expensive, as we discussed above, it offers a smoother overall ride that sets this bike apart. This sixthreezero bike does come in a bit over budget, but the extra few dollars are worth it for a smoother ride.

The runners up in our countdown are the Discover Hybrid Bike and the Schwinn Cruiser! Both of these bikes offer lower speed shifting options which give you a smoother, less stressful ride. These bikes allow you to sit more upright, taking the pressure off your back and knees.

Be sure to do your research and make your hybrid bike choices based on what you need and what you’ll be doing with your bike. If you’re heading to the office, you’ll want a bike with fewer speed shifting options to keep it simple and strong stopping power. You’ll also want to be sure that you can see and that you’re keeping the strain off your body as best as possible.

Choose your bike, choose your path, and let’s head out and hit the trails!

About The Author

daniel in queenstown with mountain bike

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