Posted in Cycle
Wiggle staff member jumping confidently on his mountain bike facing camera

What essential items should you bring?

As a beginner you're at the very start of your exciting mountain biking journey; we have created this guide to help educate you about products that you should always have in your backpack before you hit the trails.

Experienced mountain bikers always store some essential items whenever they embark on a ride; the choice of products is often the result of lessons learned on the trail over many interesting adventures. By reading this guide we hope that you can start your mountain biking adventure full of confidence knowing that you're fully prepared.

Hydration packs

Letting yourself get dehydrated is the quickest way to compromise your performance and ruin your fun. A hydration system lets you carry a good amount (usually 2 or 3 litres) of water without interfering with your hands and with a convenient valve to drink from whenever you like. Camelbak Octane

Top selling hydration packs Top reviewed hydration packs

Tyre levers

Tyre levers are essential if you want to fix a puncture quickly and not keep your riding buddies waiting too long.  Wiggle stocks a wide a range of tyre levers to ensure you can choose a design that provides you with the necessary comfort and durability to help you out on the trails. Lifeline

Top selling tyre levers Top reviewed tyre levers

Inner tube

Having a puncture out on the trail and forgetting to bring a spare inner tube is one of the worst case scenarios that can happen to any rider. If a member of your riding group can't loan you a tube, your ride will almost certainly come to an abrupt end! Lifeline Essential

Top selling inner tubes Top reviewed inner tubes 

Mini pumps

Mini pumps are lightweight, compact and fit neatly into your hydration pack or backpack. Most mini pumps pack quite a punch for their size and will quickly inflate a mountain bike tyre with minimal effort. Mountain bike mini pumps tend to have a slightly larger volume than road bike mini pumps, as they only need to reach a maximum pressure of around 65psi. Look for a mini pump with a good sized volume and that is lightweight and easy to use. Lezyne Pressure Drive

Top selling mini pumps Top reviewed mini pumps  Pump buying guide

Multi-tools

Having a mechanical issue out on the roads or trails can bring an end to your ride. Multi Tools are crammed with fantastic features and come equipped with a wide range of allen keys that will enable you to repair or adjust components on your bike. Crank Bros

Top selling multi-tools Top reviewed multi-tools

First aid kits

Regardless of your ability level on the bike, there is always the possibility of a minor scrape or injury when you ride your bike off road. It's the element of risk that makes mountain biking such a highly enjoyable but challenging sport. We recommend you always carry a lightweight first aid kit with you at all times. Ortlieb first aid medium

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ID and wallet

The worst case scenario on the trails is that you suffer a serious injury. If this happens it’s essential that you carry some form of ID with you so people know who you are and where you live, this information is also vital for hospitals and the emergency services. Chrome Rook

Top selling wallets Top reviewed wallets

Nutrition products

Not only is riding fun, but it's also a fantastic way to burn a load of calories. Packing some nutrition products such as Shot Bloks, gels and energy bars is a simple way of replenishing your calories and nutrients as you ride. High 5

Top selling nutrition  Top reviewed nutrition Nutrition buying guide

Now you're ready to ride!

The start of your mountain biking journey is incredibly exciting and rewarding. We hope you find the above list of essential items useful for future rides. Happy trails!