If you’re on a budget, you can get a high-quality touring bike for $1000 or less. There are plenty of options available, and we’ve put together the best selection of budget touring bikes for you.
The best touring bikes under 1000 dollars will feature a sturdy steel frame, slack head tube angle, long wheelbase, long chain stays, low bottom bracket, and incredible ride quality with good handling.
Touring bikes are great for multi-day trips on the trail and bike-packing to explore the countryside. It’s an exciting adventure, but you need to carry a lot of gear, which is why it’s very crucial to get a bike that’s specially built to withstand the strain of touring.
What makes a good touring bike?
Bikes made especially for touring are built to be stable and comfortable on a variety of terrain, while hauling a lot of luggage.
When you’re carrying a considerable load and riding on different terrains, the frame material, bike’s geometry and the components will all have a significant impact on how the bike rides and feels.
Generally, most touring bikes are made of steel and feature a frame with a long wheelbase, slack frame angles and long chainrings. These features contribute to easier steering, stability and balance of the bike, even with a heavy load.
Lastly, touring bikes tend to be more comfortable to ride for long hours, and they have features like a comfortable saddle, ergonomic grips, and a suspension fork that can absorb shock and vibrations. These bikes also include extra features like fenders and panniers, or provide space to mount them.
10 Best Touring Bikes under $1000
- Tommaso La Forma: See at Amazon
- Mongoose Elroy: See at Amazon
- Sixthreezero EvryJourney Steel Men: See at Amazon
- Sixthreezero EvryJourney Steel Women: See at Amazon
- Schwinn Discover: See at Amazon
- Zizzo Forte folding bike: See at Amazon
- Schwinn Loop Folding Bike: See at Amazon
- Schwinn Wayfarer: See at Amazon
- Tommaso Sentiero: See at Amazon
- Huffy Panama Jack: See at Amazon
- Schwinn Sporterra: See at Amazon
Tommaso La Forma
Key Features
- Frame material: Aluminum
- Brake type: Cantilever Rim Brakes
- Bike weight: 25 lbs
- Warranty: Lifetime frame and fork warranty
- See more on Amazon
The elegant and expertly-made Tommaso La Forma bike delivers top-notch performance for the cost. It’s a robust and versatile bike perfect for long commutes and road trips. The core is a lightweight and compact aluminum frame with a HCT Carbon fork for dampening road vibrations and ensuring smoother rides.
The La Forma is ideal for daily commuting or city tours, it feels and rides great as a hybrid or touring bike. The extra-wide tires that provide stability and traction, the compact frame and upright geometry put riders in a comfortable riding position, while the flat handlebars provide amazing comfort, making riding pleasant and exciting.
This bike may not have the complete touring bike setup, but its frame is drilled for all varieties of racks and fenders, so you can easily complete the setup to suit your style.
Price at time of publication: $637
Mongoose Elroy
Key Features
- Frame material: Aluminum
- Brake type: Mechanical disc brakes
- Bike weight: 30 lbs
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
- See more on Amazon
Mongoose Elroy is built for bikepacking, touring, camping and exploring nature with tons of features, so you can carry everything you need on your trips. It has an elegant alloy frame, a trail-taming steel fork, and adaptable bike geometry.
As a versatile touring bike, it has a huge pannier-friendly front rack, and the potential to carry even more weight thanks to a handy rear rack mount. You also get 3 unique water bottle cage mounts to keep you hydrated as you tour the countryside.
The Elroy will easily handle hills and not-so-friendly trails thanks to the wide 700c alloy rims and large 40c tires, reliable Tourney derailleurs, 14-speed shifters and mechanical disc brakes that stop on a dime.
Mongoose may have left out fenders, but they didn’t neglect to include fender mounts, so you can mount them if you absolutely need to.
Price at time of publication: $581
Sixthreezero Evry Journey Steel
Key Features
- Frame material: Aluminum frame
- Brake type: front and rear rim brakes
- Bike weight: 38 lbs
- Warranty: 1 year
- See more on Amazon
The Sixthreezero Evryjourney is a multipurpose bike model suitable for riders between 5’ and 6′ 4″ tall. This bike can support a maximum weight of 300 pounds, with a lightweight step-through aluminum. It’s a very comfortable bike, thanks to the comfy saddle and swept-back handlebars.
It’s a hybrid bike with features that make it a great choice for touring, commuting or recreational riding. And it has a 7-speed derailleur with smooth shifting, a rear rack for pannier bags, and fenders that keep mud and dirt off your clothes.
The upright riding position of this bike lets you keep your back straight while riding, which allows for a more natural riding experience that prevents body pains on long rides.
This bike model weighs 38.1lbs and is 80% assembled when it is delivered, making it very easy to put together.
This is a gender-specific bike, and you can check out the Evry Journey Steel Women
Price at time of publication: $599-$946
Schwinn Discover
Key features
- Frame material: Aluminum
- Brake type: Linear pull
- Bike weight: 36.6 lbs
- Warranty: Lifetime
- See more on Amazon
The Schwinn Discover Hybrid Bike is the perfect partner for those looking to traverse both inclined and flat terrains with comfort and ease. The lightweight frame is composed of aluminum alloy with a fit geometry design and fitted for most adults up to 67–70 inches tall.
With a total weight of 36.6 lbs, this hybrid bike offers a safe and stable ride with its 28-inch aluminum alloy rims and non-slip rubber tires.
A front suspension fork absorbs road bumps in even rough terrains, while the well-padded seat atop a city rise adjustable stem with back-swept handlebars ensures a comfortable and ergonomic posture while riding.
The front and rear linear pull brakes offer precise, reliable stopping power and speed control in all conditions, while the 21-speed twist shifters allow for smooth gear changes to adjust to incline, decline or meandering terrain. Enjoy a lifetime warranty with the Schwinn Discover Hybrid Bike!
Price at time of publication: $349-$779
Schwinn Loop Folding Bike
Key Features
- Frame material: Aluminum
- Brake type: Linear Pull Brakes
- Bike weight: 34 lbs
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
- See more on Amazon
The Schwinn Loop folding bike is a portable and easy-to-ride bike with a premium build-quality and budget-friendly price tag. The bike is relatively lightweight and compact, taking only 10 seconds to fold, and it folds small for easy storage.
The 20″ alloy wheels, with 30 spokes, contribute to its stability and balance, while the seat can be adjusted for comfort and convenience. It also has reliable linear-pull brakes for safe stops and 7-speed twist shifter that provide smooth gear changes.
The Schwinn Loop is ideal for a work commute, camping trips or a casual weekend ride around town. Plus, the integrated rear rack makes it super easy to carry a backpack, groceries, or whatever else you need to take on your ride.
This bike delivers a degree of performance that is astounding and easily competitive with many bikes that cost hundreds more.
Price at time of publication: $465
Schwinn Wayfarer
Key Features
- Frame material: Steel
- Brake type: Linear pull
- Bike weight: 35.9 lbs
- Warranty: Limited lifetime
- See more on Amazon
The Schwinn Wayfarer Hybrid Bike is the perfect choice for a leisure and comfortable ride. Its steel frame and steel fork are robust yet responsive to your pedaling, with 18-inch step-over and 16-inch step-through frames available.
The bike weighs 35.9lbs, and its 28-inch wheels provide a smooth and stable ride. The full wrap fenders provide protection from both rain and dirt, keeping you clean and dry no matter the weather.
The swept-back handlebars make for an upright, comfortable position that’s also easier on your back. The 7-speed twist shifters and rear derailleur are easy to use and allow for precise gear changes.
Additionally, its alloy linear pull brakes offer a quick and efficient stopping power on different surfaces and in all types of weather. The Schwinn Wayfarer Hybrid Bike is the ideal ride for easygoing, flat terrain.
Price at time of publication: $364-$480
Zizzo Forte Heavy-duty folding bike
Key Features
- Frame material: Aluminum
- Brake type: V-style brakes
- Bike weight: 28 lbs
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime Frame warranty
- See more on Amazon
The ZiZZO Forte is a heavy-duty folding bike with sturdy rims and excellent tires. It is made of a lightweight aluminum frame and has durable Shimano components. It has an adjustable handlebar stem and seat post height, providing maximum comfort for paved road and trail riding.
A water bottle mount, front fender, back storage rack, rear fender, kickstand, and V brake system are all included in the setup. The Forte is a 20″ foldable bike with a 300 lb weight capability and has an adjustable stem to fit riders from under 5 ft to over 6 ft 3.
The bike comes completely assembled. The folding mechanism takes some time to figure out, but is ultimately quite easy. The bike is designed for heavier riders or those who want to haul an extra load, and it’s a perfect bike for RV camping.
Price at time of publication: $446 – $560
Tommaso Sentiero
Key Features
- Frame material: Aluminum
- Brake type: Disc Brakes
- Bike weight: 25.9 lbs
- Warranty: Lifetime Frame & Fork Warranty
- See more on Amazon
The Tommaso Sentiero is a gravel bike with an aluminum frame, high-quality components, and built for difficult terrain, including flat, steep, and rocky climbs.
It has a wide variety of gears for all levels of cyclists, with 28-spoke rims and extra-wide tires that are ideal for dirt trail touring. It sports a 3×8 Shimano Claris Groupset and mechanical disc brakes for added stopping power in all weather conditions.
The Sentiero has a fully customizable frame, so you can add rack, fenders and any other accessories you desire. The compact frame geometry and drop bars deliver more power and comfort in an elegant package.
It’s an adventure bike made for cyclists who desire to discover all that a bicycle is capable of.
Price at time of publication: $807
Huffy Panama Jack
Key Features
- Frame material: Aluminum
- Brake type: Linear Pull
- Bike weight: 48.62 lbs
- Warranty: Limited 10-Year Frame Warranty
- See more on Amazon
The Huffy Panama Jack is a cruiser bike with loads of fantastic features, and can also double as a touring bike with a sturdy frame and rear rack for extra load. It has a retro-style design with an upright frame geometry and wide flat bars that ensure comfort and makes long rides enjoyable.
The design of the frame provides more comfort for better rides; it positions the seat farther back with a lower center of gravity; and the swept-back handlebars allow for a more upright, comfortable riding position with full leg extension.
And it has a 6-speed derailleur with smooth shifting, and lightweight alloy linear pull brakes with alloy wheel rims to deliver smooth stopping power.
Panama Jack has a ton of extra features and accessories that only add to the fun; a roomy cooler bag, cupholder, bottle opener, even front and rear fenders to serve as splash guards.
Price at time of publication: $460
Schwinn Sporterra
Key Features
- Frame material: Aluminum
- Brake type: Disc Brakes
- Bike weight: 30 lbs
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
- See more on Amazon
The Schwinn Sporterra is another excellent gravel-adventure bike that’s great for touring. It has an aluminum frame with a rigid fork, and 14 speeds with Shimano shifter/derailleur that provide quick gear changes to easily adapt to varied terrain.
This bike also comes with double-wall aluminum wheels and multi-terrain tires that smoothly roll over gravel and dirt, plus mechanical disc brakes that ensure precise and accurate braking.
Another thoughtful feature of the Sporterra is the quick release seat post for simple saddle height adjustment for a customized fit without the need for tools. This bike is one of the better possibilities for its price range.
Although the touring bike setup is not complete without rear racks, you can buy and mount a rear rack.
Price at time of publication: $585 – $837
Touring Bike Buying Guide: How to choose a touring bike
Below are some of the most important things to keep in mind when choosing a good touring bike for your travels.
Frame material
The frame is the bike’s backbone, so it’s crucial to choose a frame that is sturdy, comfortable, and correctly sized for your body. Look for a frame made of durable materials that can withstand the demands of touring, such as steel or aluminum.
Generally speaking, touring bikes can be made of any frame material, but steel tends to be the best choice because of its durability and resilience.
Steel is very strong and has no problem with carrying loads of weight. It’s also easy to repair damages, and you can fix a steel bike just about anywhere. This is not to say that touring bikes made of Aluminum are less appealing, of course not!
Aluminum frames are known to be lighter than steel and just as durable, and they are great for budget bikes.
Geometry
The geometry of a touring bike should provide stability, balance and good handling on the road, even while carrying a heavy load.
It should also promote an upright riding position for more comfort in the saddle during long distance rides. Bikes with a shorter reach and riser stem helps put the rider in a comfy upright position.
Often, the frame geometry of touring bikes will include a longer wheelbase, as this allows for more stability and better steering. Also, because of the longer wheelbase, it is less likely that your pedal stroke will be impeded by fenders or your load.
You also need to think of the handlebars, touring bikes can have flat handlebars or drop handlebars, anyone is okay, but think of your preference. Flat handlebars tend to be wider, which is great for stability and better handling.
But, drop handlebars allow riders to shift their body posture while riding, so they can use different muscles and minimize exhaustion during lengthy rides.
Also, the bike is more stable and more comfortable to ride when the frame is long, since longer frames are better at absorbing vibration.
Wheels & tires
Wheels are generally very important in bikes, but even more so in touring bikes because of the amount of weight you will probably carry with you on your tours. Therefore, the wheels have to be very sturdy with high-quality rims and a minimum of 32 spokes, since the number of spokes contribute to the strength of the wheel. 36-spoke wheels will be much better if you tend to carry a lot of load.
You also have to consider the wheel size. The best wheel size for touring bikes are 700c or 650b, which are also known as 29-inches and 26-inches, respectively. The tires you fit to the wheels are of equal importance.
650b wheels are usually wider, stronger and high-volume tires, which are great for off-road riding. They provide better grip, maintain maximum traction on rough trails, and help with shock absorption. While 700c wheels fit skinnier tires, they have the advantage of picking up speed much faster, which results in faster rides.
Also, the tires on your touring bike should be wide, puncture-resistant and have tread patterns to provide better traction on a variety of roads. Wider tires are better for touring because they are stronger and provide cushioning for more comfort in the saddle.
Not finding the exact wheel size or type you want in a budget touring is not a dealbreaker because you can very easily upgrade them to your preferred wheels.
Gearing
Touring bikes should have a range of gears to handle a variety of terrains and inclines. Look for a bike with at least 7-speeds, since it will be good for rolling hills that are not too steep and long.
If your route has very steep inclines, then you may consider getting a bike with 21 or 27 gears, a triple chainring in the front, and a large cassette in the rear.
Brakes
You’ll need reliable and strong brakes for touring to let you stop safely on steep climbs or in poor weather. Disc brakes provide significantly greater all-weather consistency and much stronger braking on a loaded bicycle.
Although disc brakes are becoming more popular for touring bikes, classic rim brakes may also be efficient.
Quality components
When making a new purchase, you want to get your money’s worth, which is why getting a durable bike with high-quality components is a must. Every part of the bike you choose should be built to serve you well and last for many years. Nobody wants a bike that will fall apart after the first few rides.
The frame, wheels, fork, brakes, gears, handlebars and every major component should be high-quality and durable. Also check for the warranty information (and how good the customer service is) before you make the final decision on a bike.
Additional features: racks and fenders
Touring bikes should have front or rear racks, or at least include rack mounts so that you may connect panniers or other equipment. This will make it easier to transport your gear while you journey through the countryside.
You will also need fenders (or mudguards) in case you find yourself travelling through dirt roads in rainy weather. And finally, a bottle cage will make it easier to stay hydrated on your trip.
Can you use any bike for touring?
Although there are bikes specially designed for touring, almost any type of bike can be used for touring. Except for road bikes, gravel bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes can all be used for touring.
A good bike for touring should be durable, have multiple gears, sturdy wheels and wide tires, and allow for a comfortable riding position. It should also have racks and fenders, or at least you should be able to install them on the bike.
What is the difference between a touring bike and a road bike?
The major difference between a touring bike and a road bike is that a touring bike is built to carry loads well, withstand the rigors of touring, and allow the rider to remain comfortable in an upright riding position for extended rides.
While road bikes, on the other hand, prioritize lightweight and speed, good handling and pedaling efficiency, and longer reach for more aggressive and aerodynamic riding position.
Can you use a road bike for touring?
It’s possible to use any bike for touring, even road bikes. However, there are reasons why touring bikes exist. Touring bikes are designed to remain stable and comfortable even with a lot of load, and you can’t say the same for road bikes.
Touring bikes can also handle a broad range of roads and terrain, while road bikes are best suited for paved roads.
If you intend to spend days or weeks on the road with a bike while carrying all the supplies you need, a touring bike will be the best option for you.
Do touring bikes have gears?
Yes, touring bikes will always have gears, often from 7 to 21 gears, so you can change your speed to better adjust your riding efficiency for flat roads or sloped terrain.
