The Trek Marlin 6 Gen 3 is a 2026 entry-level cross-country hardtail, and it is the cheapest bike we rent at $30 a day. Trek redesigned the Marlin range for Gen 3, and the change that matters most for a rental customer is the geometry. The head angle is slacker, and the reach is longer than the old Marlin, which means the bike feels calmer pointing downhill and less likely to tip you forward on a steep, loose section. It is built on an Alpha Silver Aluminium frame with internal routing for both the derailleur and a dropper post, and it runs a RockShox Judy Silver fork with 100 mm of travel and a TurnKey lockout.
