Ditch the car, save money and get fit; there are plenty of reasons to buy a bike – and choosing a hybrid design opens up the widest range of possibilities. With flat handlebars, a good spread of gears and slightly chunkier tyres than you’ll find on a road racer, they’re versatile enough to both commute through the city during the week, and escape it at weekends.
Yet while all hybrids have certain key features in common, there’s a diverse range of models out there – at a wide spread of prices. Here’s our guide to choosing the perfect hybrid bike.
How to buy the best hybrid bike for you
The beauty of a hybrid is its versatility, but it’s worth thinking about how you’ll mostly be using it. Long rides or short? On-road, off-road, or a mix of both? The answers should inform your purchasing decision. Don’t go for something light and racy if you mostly want to pootle down bumpy countryside tracks. And while upright riding positions are great for weaving through traffic, they’re slower than more aggressive head-down styles. Ideally, take a few different types of bike for a test ride and see what feels right.
Which features should I look out for?
Frame material makes a big difference to a bike’s weight and handling. Aluminium is most common, as it’s cheap and quite lightweight; carbon fibre is lighter, and can be engineered to give the frame stiffness where it’s needed, while allowing a little more flexibility elsewhere. Steel frames are heaviest, but ensure a rock-solid ride.
Think about the tyres too. Skinny and slick tyres are fast on smooth tarmac, but slippery and bumpy on gravel or cobbles; unless you’re a real race-head we suggest you go no slimmer than 32c, for a decent degree of grip and cushioning.
Brakes are another consideration: disc brakes are increasingly common, and are worth looking out for as they’re more powerful and reliable than standard calipers, especially in the rain. And extras like racks and mudguards are useful if you want to carry stuff around with you and don’t want a soggy bottom.
How much do I need to spend?
There’s no need to spend a fortune on a hybrid bike. £500 will get you a high-quality bike that you can ride every day, and with regular servicing it should last indefinitely. If you want to spend more, you’ll mostly be paying for comfort features such as lower weight.
If you’re planning to go north of £1,000, you can expect to find technology pinched from specialist racing machines, or more practical touches like integrated lighting and ultra-durable hub gears. At this price point though you’re getting away from the all-rounder market and into more specialist territory – consider whether a dedicated touring bike or racer might suit you better.
The best hybrid bikes to buy
1. Trek FX 2 Disc: The best hybrid bike for ergonomics and a nippy ride
Price:£450 | Buy now from Trek Bikes
Not too aggressive and not too slouchy, the Trek FX 2 perfectly pulls off the hybrid balancing act. Reliable disc brakes keep you safe, while wider than average tyres roll smoothly across mixed terrains with plenty of traction. The bike’s contact points (like the saddle and grips) meanwhile have all been custom-designed with support and comfort in mind.
Pitched at a good entry-level price-point, the Trek uses solid components that won’t let you down even with daily use. And it comes with standard fixings for attaching racks and mudguards, along with subtly integrated mounts for lights and a ride computer. Best of all, since Trek is one of the most popular brands on the market, you should have no difficulty finding one to take for a test ride.
Key specs – Wheel size: 700x35c; Weight: 12.01kg; Frame material: Aluminium; Gears: 3x8; Extras: None
2. Marin Muirwoods: Best hybrid bike for everyday use
Price when reviewed:£550 | Buy now from Marin
The Muirwoods’ steel frame is slightly heavier than most hybrids’, but it more than makes up for that in comfort and durability. With broad handlebars, relaxed geometry and space for wide tyres, it’s practical for commuting yet fun enough to play about on at the weekend.
Plus points include the Schwalbe Citizen tyres; their kevlar inner belt and multi-terrain tread mean you don’t need to worry about punctures, and reflective sidewalls boost side-on visibility. Then there’s Shimano’s excellent hydraulic disc brakes, which require very little maintenance and deliver plenty of stopping power regardless of the weather. With three chainrings at the front and nine cogs at the back, the Muirwoods also has a huge range of gears, so it’s a practical ride whether you’re hauling yourself up hills or lugging your stuff to work.
Key specs – Wheel size: 700x38c; Weight: 13.14kg; Frame material: Steel; Gears: 3x9; Extras: None
3. Boardman Urb 8.8: The best hybrid bike for racing around town
Price when reviewed:£700 | Buy now from Boardman Bikes
The Urb 8.8 is one of the nippier hybrids on the market. Its single-ring, wide-ratio groupset cuts down on weight and maintenance, and the aluminium frame and fork are extensively hydroformed to improve stiffness and aesthetics.
Although it has the wide, straight handlebars of a hybrid, the Urb 8.8’s front-end is low and purposeful; it’s best suited to riders who are used to riding in a head-down position. Similarly, the slick 32c wide Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tyres are best for speedy city commuting, though their large volume is still capable of soaking up bumps from broken paving, or detouring down the odd canal path. And while the hydraulic Tektro disc brakes aren’t quite up to the standard of the Shimano rivals found elsewhere, they’re streets ahead of most cable-operated models. It might not be the most versatile hybrid, but the Urb 8.8 is a simple, speedy bike that requires a minimum of maintenance.
Key specs – Wheel size: 700x32c; Weight: 10.6kg; Frame material: Aluminium; Gears: 11; Extras: None
4. Ridgeback Tensor: The most full-featured hybrid bike
Price when reviewed:£750 | Buy now from Ridgeback
The Ridgeback Tensor comes with all the extras you could ask for – including full-length mudguards to keep you dry and comfy in wet weather, a chaincase to keep your clothes neat, ever-ready dynamo lights to illuminate your way and a kickstand for easy parking. It’s comfortable too, with an adjustable stem allowing you to easily tweak your riding position. And thanks to the aluminium frame, it’s not too heavy to to ride or carry.
The core components are just as respectable. A quality 9x3-speed Shimano drivetrain propels the Tensor along on tough, puncture-resistant Schwalbe Citizen K-Guard tyres, until the hydraulic disc brakes bring it to a clean, controlled stop. Even the more easily overlooked parts, like the hubs and bottom bracket, are top quality, so they should carry you happily for thousands of miles before giving out.
Key specs – Wheel size: 700x35c; Weight: 14.80kg; Frame material: Aluminium; Gears: 3x9; Extras: Rack, mudguards, dynamo lighting, kickstand
5. Kona Dr Dew: Best hybrid bike for beach bums
Price when reviewed:£999 | Buy now from Kona World
The Kona Dr Dew is a bike that’ll happily take you to work – but it would rather bunk off and go play. Its smaller than average 650b wheels are strong and manoeuvrable, yet come with voluminous tyres capable of barreling quickly over any surface. And they’re backed up by capable ultra-wide 11-speed Sram gearing and pin-sharp hydraulic disc brakes.
Moderately upright at the front and employing a short stem, the Dr Dew’s design owes a definite debt to modern mountain bike geometry, but that’s no bad thing. The colour-matched fenders look great, and nicely complement the tan-wall tyres; a light aluminium frame rounds off a practical bike that’s also a whole load of fun.
Key specs – Wheel size: 650bx47c; Weight: 14.80kg; Frame material: Aluminium; Gears: 3x9; Extras: Mudguards
6. Canyon Commuter 8.0. Best hybrid bike when money is no object
Price when reviewed:£2,199 | Buy now from Canyon
This top-of-the-line Canyon is expensive by hybrid standards – but it could well be the shape of commuter bikes to come. Its radical design integrates lights, mudguards and rack, with a Shimano Alfine hub system providing 11 gears with no noise or mess from oily exposed components. The front hub meanwhile houses a high-spec dynamo which powers the integrated front and back lights, to ensure you’re visible whenever you’re rolling.
Also striking is the one-piece bar and stem: snuggled into the front of the bike, this saves weight and looks great, although it limits the adjustment available. A beautiful Brooks saddle sits on top of a flexible carbon post to insulate your posterior from bumps in the road, and it all rolls along on speedy Schwalbe Kojak tyres. As the name suggests, the Commuter 8.0 is more at home on paved roads than muddy trails, but it’s a fantastic, futuristic ride.
Key specs – Wheel size: 700c; Weight: 12kg; Frame material: Aluminium; Gears: Internal 11-speed; Extras: Mudguards, rack, lighting