Gear of the Year - our favourite tech from 2023

Off.road.cc’s top choices from the year as selected by our experienced team of testers

Aaron Borrill

Dec 12 2023

As another challenging year draws to a close, I’m happy to report that off.road.cc has grown from strength to strength and cemented its reputation as a major player in the cycling media landscape. New users and website traffic are up year-on-year and we’ve worked tirelessly to make our site the go-to destination for everything off-road cycling-related. To ensure we stay ahead of the curve, there’s one thing we do more than our competitors and that’s ride our bikes – Strava doesn’t lie, and we believe that by riding more we have a better understanding when it comes to objectively assessing bikes, components, clothing and kit.

Looking at our coverage, I like to think we created a more inclusive mix of stories and we’ve adjusted our content to cater for the tough times we find ourselves in – most notably, you would have seen these efforts in our reviews, buyer’s guides, gravel and mountain bike race coverage, not to mention the many features that have addressed the cost of living crisis from a cyclist's perspective. This has all been geared towards providing our readers with solutions to saving money and becoming better, more knowledgeable cyclists.

Unfortunately, not everyone has made it through 2023 in one piece. Our thoughts are with the many industry retail stalwarts and bike shops that have had to close their doors owing to increasing debt and lack of demand. And while myriad bike and equipment manufacturers such as Shimano, Giant, Merida and Rapha have suffered their worst financial losses in years, not to mention the news of GCN+ shutting down, industry analysts believe the cycling sector will recover in 2024 and beyond at a more sustainable level than the heights of the COVID-19 bike-buying boom. We can only hope that is the case.

This year, we managed to get our hands on even more items than last year and the selection covered both mountain biking and gravel sectors. Our newly promoted tech editor Liam Mercer and his expert testing panel comprising Matt Page, Pat Joscelyne, Ty Rutherford and Suvi Loponen have knocked it out of the park but we also can’t forget our prolific features team of Lance Branquinho and Steve Thomas either – everyone plays an integral role here at off.road.cc.

Below is a list of our favourite products that stood out in their respective segments. Not only are these products we’d recommend to our readers and friends but they also represent items we’d buy with our own money – and that says a lot. We hope you enjoy the read and be sure to let us know what you think below in the comments.

Aaron Borrill, Editor

Best bike mountain bike of the year - Merida One-Sixty 600

We believe that the absolute best bikes shouldn't cost the earth whilst offering a ride that exceeds expectations and that's exactly how the Merida One-Sixty 500 has earned its place in this year's round-up. It's one of the least expensive enduro bikes on the market but despite that, it offers fantastic trail manners through its clever geometry and incredibly well-sorted suspension kinematic.

The One-Sixty 500 is an enduro bike that truly ascends as proficiently as it descends while offering a character that remains lively and fun even when the trails are 100 per cent gnar. Whether you're new to riding or want a friendly entry-level enduro rig on the wallet, this bike will please many.

To learn more about why this bike is our mountain bike of the year, read the Merida One-Sixty 500 mountain bike review. - Liam Mercer

Best gravel bike of the year - Merida Silex

Merida is hands down the most underrated bike manufacturer on the planet and it makes no sense as the brand's bike portfolio is brimming with rock-solid, top-rated options for all disciplines. The brand-new Merida Silex is a case in point – it was the bike Matej Mohorič rode to UCI Gravel World Championship glory, after all. I got the opportunity to test ride it in Scandiano in Italy’s Reggio Emilia province and came away mighty impressed by what it offers as an all-around package. While I sampled the range-topping Silex 10k, there are six other models available spanning carbon and alloy frames. The carbon models include the Silex 10k, 8000, 7000 and 4000 while the alloy Silex comes in 700, 400 and 200 derivatives.

The Merida Silex 10K gets a mix of SRAM’s Red AXS and X01 componentry set up in a mullet configuration. As a result, the components comprise a 42T front chainring that drives a 10-52T Eagle X01 cassette via 170mm cranks. There's also a Quarq power meter. The shifters and brakes are SRAM Red AXS, complete with Centerline X 180mm rotors front and rear.

In terms of geometry, the head angle has been slackened by 1.5 degrees to 69.5 degrees (XS). Reach and stack are rated at 392mm and 570mm respectively while the chainstays and wheelbase come in at figures of 430mm and 1,048mm. This means the Silex is well-equipped to excel on both technical terrain and smoother pavement. The Silex manages to combine the racy and rowdy qualities of its rivals and the result is one of the best gravel bikes on the market.

For more details, be sure to read our Merida Silex 10k first ride review - Aaron Borrill

Best e-MTB of the year - YT Industries Decoy 29 Core 3

Electric mountain bikes have been a focus of testing this year with a range of reviews on the best e-MTBs making their way onto the site. Though the one that tops them all, actually came as a bit of a surprise. The YT Industries Decoy Core 29 3 does things a little differently in terms of geometry. Granted, not wildly so but the Decoy is built with a shorter reach and a longer chainstay than many regular mountain bikes and e-MTBs. Because it's that bit different, it stands out from the crowd.

The Decoy 29 is YT's all-mountain trail-friendly e-MTB that uses its weight to achieve stability at speed, rather than a lengthy geometry. As a result, it handles beautifully in almost any situation, cornering as if it's on rails while remaining efficient and welcoming. It's competitive in terms of value too This bike is one that we didn't want to give back.

To find out more about why this bike is our e-MTB of the year, take a look at the YT Industries Decoy 29 Core 3 e-MTB review. - Liam Mercer

Best clothing of the year - GRVL 3 Season jacket

GRVL’s 3 Season Jacket is not waterproof and doesn’t claim to be. Instead, it’s windproof and has a strong water and dirt-repellant coating and excellent breathability allowing you to put maximum effort in and not get saturated inside. Its softshell slim cut design has a smooth peach-like feel to the stretchy fabric which is made from bamboo and recycled ocean plastic.

Every part of the jacket is beautifully thought out and manufactured to a very high level with tight stitching lines and clever touches throughout. From the off-white zip garage on the front to the contrasting orange taping, to the thumb loops in the wrist gaiters and the clever hood which can either be rolled away or left snuggled behind your helmet when not in use, the 3 Season Jacket oozes quality. The rear pockets especially are as close to perfection in their location as I have come across. For UK gravel riding this is a fantastic addition to your wardrobe.

Here's the review of the GRVL 3 Season Jacket for more - Patrick Joscelyne

Best helmet of the year - Endura MT500 helmet

The MT500 MIPS helmet from Endura is an exceptionally well-made, fantastically comfortable and tough helmet for anybody looking for a modern mountain bike trail helmet. Unusually, this one is manufactured from a mixture of EPS and Koroyd with a hard outer shell and moulded underside.

The Koroyd technology helps absorb impact forces, and a Mips cradle provides extra reassurance in the case of an accident. That same Koroyd structure helps evacuate hot air from the top of your head when riding slowly and the straws alignment allows fresh cooling air in the front of the helmet when your speed picks up.

Add in a strong feature list of a removable camera/light mount, a multi-position visor with a goggle gripper, straps that stay still and a range of loud or quiet colourful designs and you have a winner.

To find out why this helmet made it into the best gear of the year, head over to the Endura MT500 Mips helmet review - Patrick Joscelyne

Best shoes of the year - Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon

Fizik's Ferox Vento Carbons are unquestionably one of the best mountain bike shoes on the market today and certainly one of the most comfortable. From the moment I put the mad lilac coloured shoes on I could tell that we were going to be friends and not just for mountain biking – they are also perfect for smashing out 100km gravel rides or multiday road routes too for that matter.

The stiff sole and moulded mesh uppers provide the perfect balance between power transfer and long-distance comfort. They are as happy riding your local gravel routes and stopping for a chat and the odd coffee as they are having their wide Powerstrap cranked down tight for those maximum-effort moments.

They breathe exceptionally well making them ideal for drier warmer days and are available in four colourways including black if these lilac versions are a little too much for you.

Check out the review of the Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon shoes- Patrick Joscelyne

Best groupset of the year - SRAM GX Transmission

SRAM's Eagle Transmission drivetrains shook the shifting market up a bit this year for several reasons, one being the exclusion of the mech hanger in favour of a direct mount fitting. This provides some strength benefits and the whole drivetrain offers slick shifting under power. Another reason why Transmission made such a mark was its price with the XX SL costing £2,500, and the fact that Transmission sets can only use components within the T-Type eco-system, which aren't exactly cheap.

And then SRAM brought all of that tech to the GX range within just two months of Transmission's launch, making the cost of entry to the brand's latest technologies more accessible. While we're still in the throes of an extended test period of GX T-Type (to see just how durable and consistent it is throughout all conditions), it's impressive due to its non-existent need for maintenance and its shifting consistency.

While you'll have to keep an eye out for the full review coming next year, here's our SRAM GX Eagle Transmission first ride review. - Liam Mercer

Best wheelset of the year - Hunt Trail Wide V2

Like the Merida bikes listed above, Hunt's Trail Wide V2 wheelset is proof that stellar performance shouldn't come with a massive price tag. At £450, these wheels pose a budget-conscious upgrade that punches well above its weight thanks to a solid build and an impressive freehub.

Available in 29-inch and 650b sizes, the 30mm internal width is spot on for providing support to a range of trail and enduro-width tyres, and generally, their ride is faultless, setting a new benchmark for what all trail wheels should aim to meet.

To learn a little more, here's the Hunt Trail Wide V2 wheelset review. - Liam Mercer

Accessory of the year - Tailfin Top Fork Pack

Tailfin has designed another market-leading product, with a Fork Pack that offers a minimal size mount, while also being strong enough to carry reasonably heavy loads, and it was completely silent during testing. The material is fully waterproof and feels strong with compression straps that are included allowing contents to reduce the volume within the back.

The small mount and attachment clamp are quick to use and when the bag is not attached it doesn't impact the looks dramatically, allowing riders to simply leave it on, even when not in use.

To get the full details of these bikepacking bags, read the full Tailfin Fork Pack review here. - Matt Page

Eye protection of the year - Melon Optics Parker goggles

We've tested a range of the best mountain bike sunglasses but when it comes to stability and resistance against wind, there's nothing like a decent set of goggles. The Melon Optics Parker goggles impressed for a host of reasons. They perform excellently, offering a wide unobstructed view while fending off fog and accommodating for quick and easy lens swaps.

And as expected of Melon optics, every aspect of this goggle is customisable, so if the radical colourway we tested isn't for you, there's something for everyone. But the best bit is that with the clear lens, these goggles cost £45 making them a no-brainer for anyone in the market for some fresh eye-pro.

Make sure you give our Melon Optics Parker goggles review a read for more details. - Liam Mercer

Best tyre of the year - Vittoria Mezcal XC race

The Vittoria Mezcal XC Race G2.0 TLR tyre surpassed expectations, delivering more grip than I expected given the speed it also provided. The quick and quiet rolling tyre is a great choice for most conditions and on a range of surfaces. It comes with both dry and wet weather and suits year-round use on the rear.

For more details, here's the Vittoria Mezcal XC Race review - Matt Page

Best light of the year - Magicshine Monteer 8000S Galaxy V2

The best mountain bike lights need to be two things above anything else; powerful and simple in operation. Confidently ticking those two boxes is Magicshine's Monteer 8000S Galaxy V2 with its impressed 8000 lumens and its Bluetooth remote.

This bit of kit illuminates the trail thanks to its wide and penetrative beam but it's mega adjustable thanks to its remote, which offers a quick and easy way to scroll through its modes. Battery life is great and its price is rather competitive given its power.

Keen to learn why it impressed us? Have a look at Liam's Magicshine Monteer 8000S Galaxy V2 review. - Liam Mercer

Object of desire - Moots 750d gravel bike

2023 has been a big year of off-road cycling tech with SRAM making waves in the drivetrain and e-MTB motor market amongst a range of other very cool releases. This meant picking the off.road.cc team's object of desire, the one thing that everyone wants to have a play with was set to be especially difficult this year.

However, we very quickly agreed that Moots' 750d bike is something we all want a quick pedal on. Amongst our team, we like things that are a little bit weird, different, and dare I say it, products that strive to tread new grounds. Moots' 750d bike is one of those things, despite the backlash it received upon its unveiling. The big question that was raised was 'Is 750d gravel biking's 29er moment?'

At this point, it's probably not but each of us at off.road.cc would love to find out whether or not the bigger wheel poses benefits to gravel riding. - Liam Mercer

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Aaron Borrill

Aaron is the editor of off-road.cc. Born and raised in South Africa he completed his BA honours at the University of Cape Town before embarking on a career in journalism. As the former tech editor of Cyclingnews and Bike Perfect, digital editor of Bicycling magazine and associate editor of TopCar, he's travelled the world writing about bikes and anything with wheels for 19 years. A competitive racer and Stravaholic, he’s twice ridden the Cape Epic, raced nearly every mountain bike stage race in South Africa and completed the Haute Route Alps. He's also a national-level time triallist and eSports racer, too – having captained South Africa at the 2022, 2023 and 2024 UCI Cycling eSports World Championships.