A fashion faux pas anywhere else, bum bags are here to stay in the world of biking. Waist packs are great for carrying water and essentials on short rides while keeping a low centre of gravity and minimising sweaty backs. Love them or hate them, here's our pick of the best hip packs you can buy in 2021.

After the success of the Singal Ti, Sonder has launched the Signal Steel (ST for short). It follows the exact same philosophies as its spendier sibling but it brings the price down to a friendlier point.

For 2021, Giant has updated the Talon. It's an entry-level bike that's designed for XC and trail use but for this year it gets a tonne of options from wheel size to gear choices. It promises to be a solid choice for those dipping their toes into mountain biking.

The Dakine Thrillium Bike Shorts are summer-specific and designed with the downhills in mind. They’re well built, comfortable and super cool, but try them on before buying – they size up pretty small.

Dakine's Thrillium Short Sleeve jersey is designed with the downhill rider in mind, although it lends itself to all styles of riding. It’s comfortable and stylish, but some won't get on with the snug fit – or the slightly fragile seams.

The Maxxis Minion SS TR/DD is a rear specific, semi-slick tyre that’s ideal for dry trails, and the DoubleDown puncture protection adds some well-damped support for aggressive riding. It’s grippy and brakes better than others, but this DoubleDown carcass is much heavier than the EXO or Silkworm versions, the tread is slightly draggy, and the 29er only comes in 2.3” width.

The Maxxis Minion DHF is a household name in the world of mountain biking. It’s been seen on many a podium yet it’s brilliantly versatile for all kinds of trail and descending use. At its greatest in the dry, it's still excellent in the wet and a predictable, capable performer right up until you're axle deep in mud. This 2.6" does blow up a little narrow, though.

As Canyon launch updates to many of the bikes in the brands line up, the Exceed isn't left untouched. For 2021, the Exceed sees in extra fancy frame materials that could make it one of the lightest frames in production. It also gets a sleeker look thanks to refinements to its frame protection and a few other neat bits.

Trek's long-travel enduro bike gets a fresh update for 2021. The travel gets even longer, the geometry sees a few tweaks and there's a host of changes to make it an even more capable machine.

The Dakine Anthem Knee Pads offer a good level of protection and great coverage in a midweight package. They’re comfortable and super convenient thanks to a wraparound design, but they’re also warm on the bike and bulky off it.