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5 Best Hybrid Bikes of 2022 and Buying Guide

5 Best Hybrid Bikes of 2022 and Buying Guide

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Because you’ll count on a hybrid bike to comfortably take you over various types of terrain, you need to make a smart purchasing decision. Choose the wrong bike, and you’ll pay for it in discomfort and possibly injury.

But who has the time or money to test ride dozens of bikes to find the right one? We’ve taken on the chore for you and developed this list of the best hybrid bikes.

After extensive testing, we found that the Schwinn Discover Hybrid Bike is best for general use — whether you need a commuter bike, fitness bike, or mountain bike, this model is a solid choice. Learn more about this option and the others on our list to find the best hybrid bike for your specific needs.

1. Schwinn Discover Hybrid Bike – Best Hybrid Bike for General Use

It’s one bike that can do it all and do it well

Schwinn Discover Hybrid Bike for Men and Women, 21-Speed, 28-inch Wheels, 18-inch/Medium Frame, Black

This Discover series hybrid bike from Schwinn is a smart choice for commuting, fitness, and fun. It handles trails and grass just as well as asphalt and sidewalks, so it will go wherever you’re heading.

The hybrid bike features an alloy frame that feels quite sturdy, but it is also a bit heavy at 40 pounds. The step-over frame measures 18 inches, so it’s ideal for men and women standing 5’8″ to 6’3″, but it will also work for riders just outside these parameters. However, if you’re shorter than 5’3″, you may be able to climb up on the bike, but balancing reach isn’t great.

As far as the ride, we found it to be nice and smooth. The hybrid bike has a suspension seat post that does a great job of minimizing the effects of bumpy travel. A large, saddle-style seat is sufficiently comfortable, even on longer rides.

The Schwinn Discover has 21 speed shifters that make it easy to tackle any terrain. I would have liked to see disc brakes on this bike, but its rim brakes functioned very well and are easy to maintain. The bike’s four-finger brake levers allow for ultimate control, while ergonomic handle grips help the stave off fatigue.

I really like how versatile this hybrid bike is — you really can take it nearly anywhere. For trips to the store, you have a rear rack for transporting grocery bags or small packages. For wet surfaces, splash guards above the tires keep you dry and clean.

If I had to name a negative about this bike, it would be the assembly process. The instructions are lacking, so if you’re not the handy type, you could easily spend a few hours putting it together. It took me about an hour, and I consider myself pretty handy.

What I Liked

  • 21 speeds to handle all types of terrain with no issues
  • Suspension seat post minimizes the jarring of bumps
  • Rim brakes with four-finger levers often lots of stopping power

What I Didn’t Like

  • Not suited for riders who are 5’7″ or shorter
  • Assembly is a bit complicated due to poor instructions

2. sixthreezero EVRYjourney Hybrid Cruiser Bicycle – Best Hybrid Bike for Shorter Riders

Smaller aluminium frame for a more comfortable ride

sixthreezero EVRYjourney Women's 3-Speed

If you’re shorter in height, it can sometimes be tricky to find a hybrid bicycle that’s comfortable. The EVRYjourney from sixthreezero solves that problem.

Designed for women who measure 5′ to 6′ in height, this hybrid bike features a 14-inch, aluminum, step-through frame. It’s easy to climb on and ergonomically styled for an upright riding position. There’s no hunching here, so your back and shoulders won’t suffer.

We tested this bike on several kinds of terrain. We took rides on the local park’s trails, on the asphalt around the neighborhood, and on the packed sand by the beach. The bike handled each nicely thanks to its Shimano hub and three speeds.

One thing we couldn’t ignore is that three speeds is lacking when compared to other options on this list of the best hybrid bikes, with most bikes offering 20+. This means this bike is great for relatively flat terrain, but it does make you work for climbing, and we didn’t even try uneven, off-road terrain that would normally require a mountain bike.

This said, we can’t complain about comfort when riding this hybrid bike. Its semi-slick tires offered excellent traction, and the dual-spring seat cushioned us from bumps and drops. We also liked that the seat was made from a high-density, supportive foam that kept longer treks pleasant.

In terms of looks, this bike has a beach-cruiser style and comes in several attractive colors. It has fenders to keep dirt and water off of you, and while it doesn’t come with a basket, it does have space for one. It also has a pannier rack mounts in the rear.

What I Liked

  • Rear rack has room for carrying cargo
  • Ergonomically styled for an upright riding position with no hunching over
  • Dual-spring seat with foam cushioning for comfortable ride quality

What I Didn’t Like

  • Only offers three speeds, so rough surfaces are difficult to navigate
  • May require some adjustment of pre-assembled parts

3. Vilano Diverse 3.0 Performance Hybrid Road Bike – Best Hybrid Bike for Pavement Riding

Easy handling makes it a great road or commuter bike

Vilano Diverse 3.0 Performance Hybrid Road Bike

This hybrid road bike from Vilano is for riders who prefer to stick with pavement and trails. It handles these surfaces with incredible ease, making it a great commuter bike or fitness bike. Mountain bike is definitely not a good descriptor as taking it off-road will probably leave you sore.

Speaking of soreness, do yourself a favor and change out the seat before going for a ride. The adjustable seat post will help with clearance, but the factory seat itself is hard and uncomfortable.

The bike has a 22.5-inch step-over frame; it’s larger than the other options on this list of the best hybrid bikes, so take care to measure your inseam before making your purchase. If you are shorter than 5’7″, you will likely not be able to comfortably extend your legs, much less stand with your feet on the ground.

This hybrid road bike offers an aluminum frame that weigh about 25 pounds assembled. The lightweight frame definitely contributes to its speediness and responsiveness.

You’ll find this bike has flat handlebars for riding in a more upright position. Again, so long as you’re sticking to trails and pavement (and not aiming for lots of speed), you’ll find this incredibly comfortable.

This is not to say that this bike isn’t zippy, because it is, and it’s got powerful, all-weather disc brakes to keep you in control. We’ve tested this bike in dry and wet weather, and the brakes handled both very nicely.

Our only major annoyance with this bike is that it requires a trip to a local bike shop for professional tuning after assembly. This in an inconvenience, but it’s one that we urge you to undertake because the increased performance after a tune-up is like night and day.

What I Liked

  • Fast assembly takes an hour or less
  • Incredible stopping power thanks to disc brakes
  • Lightweight frame is perfect for commuting or leisure riding

What I Didn’t Like

  • Needs to be professionally tuned for best performance
  • Many may find the included seat to be uncomfortable

4. Royce Union 700c RMY 21-Speed Hybrid Comfort Bike – Best Hybrid Bike for Faster Assembly

Pre-assembled hybrid bike gets you on the road quickly

Royce Union 700c RMY Womens 21-Speed Hybrid Bike

Royce Union is a bicycle company that has been around for over 115 years. Today, it’s owned by Huffy and offers a range of road and mountain bikes, as well as its RMY hybrid.

With a 17-inch step-through frame, this hybrid bike is marketed as a women’s model, but it’s appropriate for either gender so long as you take note of the your height. For those too tall for this bike, a common complaint is that the handlebar and pedal positions are awkward.

This bike is constructed with an aluminum frame, but it weighs a lot more than you’d probably expected. Pushing 40 pounds, it can be cumbersome to handle if you need to strap it to bike racks or carry it for transport or storage.

But once you get it out on the road, this bike is actually quite nice. Its seat and handle pads are just okay, and you’ll probably want to upgrade them eventually, but the front suspension fork, 21-gear drivetrain, and Shimano Tourney rear derailleur make easy work of most smooth terrain, including hills.

To save time, the bike come pre-assembled. However, getting the job done will take a bit of bike-building experience because the included instructions are very bad. Also note that you may have to do some slight adjustment to the already-assembled parts because they may be loose or off-center.

What I Liked

  • Arrives 90% assembled to get you on the road sooner
  • 15-inch frame can accommodate riders of varying sizes
  • Easy shifting with a 21-speed Shimano drivetrain and Shimano Tourney rear derailleur

What I Didn’t Like

  • You’ll have to buy a kickstand separately
  • Bike’s heavy weight might be cumbersome

5. Hiland Road Bike Hybrid Bike – Best Hybrid Bike for Commuting

Affordable bike with 24 gears and mechanical disc brakes

Hiland Road Bike Hybrid

We like the affordability of this Hiland hybrid road bike. It’s not as pricey as other options in this category, but it still offers excellent quality and workmanship.

If you’ve built a bike before, you won’t have any trouble with this one. It comes mostly assembled out of the box, and it could take as little as 15 minutes to get on the road.

While testing this bike, we noticed that the front brakes were rubbing. It was easy enough to make adjustments to fix the problem, but we would have preferred better quality control to avoid the issue in the first place.

Aside from that, we were pleased with the ride quality. It was very smooth as we took it for several 10-mile treks over asphalt, grass, and sandy gravel. For this reason, we think it’s one of the best hybrid bikes for commuting, running errands, and general city riding.

We were especially impressed with the 24-gear drivetrain. It got us up and down hills with no issues, and the mechanical disc brakes were very reliable after our previous adjustments.

What I Liked

  • Offers a fair compromise on affordability and craftsmanship
  • Pre-assembled hybrid bike only needs about 30 minutes to finish
  • 24 gears lets you take the bike over all kinds of terrain

What I Didn’t Like

  • Brakes needed immediately adjustment to correct rubbing
  • Factory seat isn’t comfortable and should be replaced

What We Looked For in the Best Hybrid Bikes

Seeing as it’s an increasing popular product category, new hybrid bikes are constantly popping up. It can be difficult to distinguish a quality product from one that offers a miserable ride.

Beyond quality and features, we looked for hybrid bikes that also fit the following criteria to ensure you end up with a bike that will keep you happy:

  • Ease of use – Hybrid bikes are meant to pull double or triple duty: The best hybrid bikes can easily tackle pavement, dirt, grass, and rough surfaces so that you can get from one place to the other, no matter what lies in between.
  • Comfort – We looked for hybrid bikes in a wide range of sizes to accommodate riders of differing heights. Whether you’re petite, tall, or right in the middle, we’ve found bikes that will keep you safe and comfortable as you pedal.
  • Customer support – A hybrid bike is a considerable investment, so we looked for reliable brands that you can trust. All of our recommended bikes have easily accessible customer service departments so you can get quick help if you need it.

How to Choose the Right Hybrid Bike

Of all the hybrid bikes we reviewed, we liked the Schwinn Discover Hybrid Bike the best. It’s a quality product that’s suitable for all kinds of riders and riding circumstances.

Is the Schwinn right for you? Consider the following factors to make sure this bike (or one of our other suggestions) will fit your needs.

Budget

Hybrid bikes are more expensive that the general-use bikes you may find at a big-box store. That’s because these bikes are designed to withstand the rigors of various kinds of terrain.

Mountain bikes aren’t great for riding on pavement, and road bikes will be painful to ride over rocks and roots, but the best hybrid bikes can handle both and more.

Considering how you’ll use your hybrid bike and how often can help you set an appropriate budget. For example, if your bike is meant to replace a car for commuting to work or shopping, you may want to spend more to ensure you purchase a reliable bike that won’t let you down.

Size

Hybrid bikes are available in many different sizes to accommodate riders of varying heights. If you choose a bike that’s too small, you’ll have to deal with awkward limbs and not being able to fully extend your legs while pedaling. Purchasing a bike that’s too big could lead to fatigue and injury as you strain to grasp the handlebars or pedal.

The best way to determine the right size hybrid bike is to use a bike manufacturer’s sizing guide. Not all sizing is standard, so don’t assume you’ll need an XXL bike just because you’re tall.

Assembly

As you read our best hybrid bike reviews, you may notice a common theme: Assembly isn’t always easy. If you don’t have experience assembling a bike, you might really struggle with getting yours put together. This could result in many hours of frustration or a bill from your local bike shop when you take it to them to put together instead.

Spending more for professional assembly may be unavoidable, but it is something you should be aware of as you navigate the purchasing process.

Features

Hybrid bikes offer many of the same features that you’ll find with fitness bikes, road bikes, and other options. Carefully considering how you’ll use your bike will help you decide which features are most important to you.

A common choice you’ll need to make when choosing a hybrid bike is whether to go with rim brakes or disc brakes. The former are common on many bike styles and offer good performance, but you may feel more comfortable with the increased power and reliability of disc brakes.

Bike construction is another feature you may need to consider. Hybrid bikes with aluminum frames are sturdy and lightweight. Those with a steel frame will be even stronger and will last longer, but they do come at the cost of increased weight.

Wrapping Up

Making the jump from commuter bikes or mountain bikes to hybrid bikes can be an exciting proposition — now you can tackle all kinds of terrain with a single piece of equipment!

Of all the bikes we’ve reviewed, we consider the Schwinn Discover Hybrid Bike to be among the best hybrid bikes. Finding a bike that can truly tackle rough, bumpy terrain as easily as hard asphalt can be tricky, but this Schwinn model does it and does it quite affordably.

Even though most hybrid bikes can tackle wet conditions with ease, we understand that you might not always want to ride in the rain. Keep up your exercise routine from the comfort of your living room with the best exercise bikes for losing weight — our guide will help you pick the right one.