A Complete List of Womens Touring Bikes: Step Through & Mixte

Not everyone wants a traditional touring bike. With big panniers over the rear wheel, it’s sometimes hard to swing a leg over and saddle up. Step-through and mixte touring bikes are almost non-existent in the media, and even out and about. People don’t know about them because the market is simply saturated with traditional, horizontal top tube touring bikes. Not to worry, I can help you with an extensive list of 30+ options!

Step-through frames are less desired than traditional touring frames due to the reduced frame triangulation. In order to achieve the same stiffness and strength, step-through frames often use heavier frame tubing; resulting in a heavier bike (or a less-stiff bike). But will a few hundred grams matter to you when you’re carrying a couple of panniers?

Unfortunately, many of the following bikes are not available outside of Europe. That could be a great reason to fly over, go for a ride along one of the Eurovelo routes – then fly home with your new steed. 😉

I also have a resource on the smallest touring bikes available – check it out if you’re on the smaller side.

Here are my criteria for selecting the following step-through touring bikes:
– A wide gear range
– Relaxed geometry
– Provision for front and rear racks
– Provision for fenders

Aarios Spider Mixte (Switzerland)

Aarios make some quality steel touring bikes. The Spider is a mixte version which looks to be quite a capable ride. Touring capability: Light touring.

Avaghon Series 26 Mixte (Netherlands)

Avaghon makes high quality lugged mixtes in the Netherlands. All are spec’d with top-end touring components. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Bottcher Expedition Step-Through (Germany)

Bottcher makes some really nice steel touring step-throughs. All come with bombproof touring components and are ready to tour right off the shop floor. See the Bottcher Evolution, Safari and Trekk Lite for other step-through options. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Cannondale Tesoro Mixte (Europe)

The Tesoro is an aluminium bike with durable touring components. It is built primarily for commuting but would be a pretty ideal light tourer. Touring capability: Light touring.

Cube Travel Step-Through (Germany)

Cube has a nice range of travel bikes which have lots of tyre clearance, wide gear ranges and durable components. There are four bikes in the Travel series, all available in step-through options. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Da Silva ST-80 (Germany)

Da Silva makes quality steel touring step-throughs, complete with racks and fenders. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Dawes Karakum (UK)

Dawes are one of the only British brands making a step-through touring bike. Dawes are built to a price-point, so you can expect really good value for money here. Also, see the Dawes Galaxy for another step-through option. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Diamant Elan Esprit Step-Through (Germany)

Diamant makes a simple trekking bike with mid-range components that should see you enjoying shorter tours. Touring capability: Light touring.

Gudereit SX-R 1.0 Step-Through (Germany)

The SX-R uses an aluminium frame and fork to keep the weight down but employs strong touring components to keep the bike going on long tours. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Intec T07 Step-Through (Germany)

Intec makes decent steel step-through touring bikes with a budget, but quality build kit. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

KOGA WorldTraveller (Netherlands)

KOGA is world-famous when it comes to touring bikes. They build their most popular touring bike, the WorldTraveller, as a mixte with all the great touring components. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

MaxCycles Steel Lite Step-Through (Germany)

MaxCycles build a steel touring step-through called the Steel Lite. It comes with an internally geared hub, dynamo lighting and solid components all round. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Maxx Crossmaxx Comfort Step-Through (Germany)

The Maxx Crossmaxx is built for touring. The aluminium frame and fork are tough, and the components all durable. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

MTB Cycletech Andale Step-Through (Switzerland)

MTB Cycletech makes this nice touring step-through which comes with strong components, dynamo lighting and touring tyres as standard. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Multicycle Summit Step-Through (Netherlands)

The Summit is an aluminium touring rig which is ready to go on long tours. The bike is complete with 48 spoke touring wheels! Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Norwid Oland Step-Through (Germany)

Norwid sells this steel trekking bike complete with balloon tyres. Touring capability: Light touring.

Patria Petite (Germany)

Patria is famous for its touring bikes. The Petite is a lugged steel beauty, ready for long bike trips. Check out the other step-through option by Patria, the Delta. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Poison Atropin Step-Through (Germany)

The Atropin is a nice aluminium trekking bike by Rose, and it has a raft of great components included. Check out the Poison Chinin for the other step-through option. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Rivendell Cheviot Mixte (USA)

The Cheviot is an upright bike capable of carrying modest loads. The frame and fork aren’t particularly cheap (about the same as a Surly LHT complete) but it’s decent quality. Touring capability: Light touring.

Rose Black Lava Step-Through (Germany)

The Black Lava is a decent aluminium trekking bike by Rose. It comes with dynamo lighting, fenders and a rear rack as standard. See also the Multistreet and Black Creek for other step-through bikes. Touring capability: Light touring.

Santos Travel Lite (Netherlands)

Santos is very well known for their tough aluminium touring bikes. The Travel Lite comes spec’d with lots of great touring components. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Simpel Wegwarts Step-Through (Switzerland)

Simpel put together a really solid aluminium touring mixte with a fantastic specification for bike travel. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

SNEL Safari Mixte (Netherlands)

SNEL build a nice custom steel mixte which comes with a raft of quality touring components. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Soma Buena Vista Mixte (USA)

The Buena Vista is a good quality steel mixte that is touring capable. You can get this as a complete bike, or a frame only to build as you desire. Touring capability: Light touring.

Stevens Randonneur Disc Step-Through (Germany)

The Randonneur is built light and is ready to tour on smooth roads and paths. It comes with dynamo lighting, a rear rack and fenders off the shop floor. Touring capability: Light touring.

Thorn Raven Step-Through (UK)

Thorn has built a reputation for making the strongest steel touring bikes around. Their step-through Raven is no exception. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Tout Terrain Metropolitan Shopper (Germany)

The Metropolitan Shopper is a solid steel bike with quality parts. It is also one of the only high-end European bikes to come with disc brakes (my preference). Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Van Nicholas Amazon Mixed (Netherlands)

Van Nicholas makes the only titanium mixte on this list. High-end components match this expensive frame – you could swap out the carbon fork for a touring fork for front bags. Touring capability: Light touring.

Velotraum Cross 7005 EX TD (Germany)

Velotraum specialises in aluminium touring bikes – the Cross 7005 is spec’d with top end gear, and is ready for long tours. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Vittorio Globetrotter Dames (Netherlands)

Vittorio makes their custom steel mixte touring bikes in the Netherlands, often speccing them with high-end components. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

VSF Fahrradmanufaktur TX-400 Step-Through (Germany)

VSF put together some exceptionally well-priced touring mixtes. The TX-400 is made out of steel, and comes with front and rear racks, dynamo lighting, fenders, 2x bidon cages and a wide gear range. Touring capability: Round-the-World.

Step-Through Custom Touring Framebuilders

– Ahearne
– Banjo Cycles
– Bilenky
– Bishop
– Breadwinner
– HiLite
– Igleheart
– Independent Fabrications
– Robin Mather
– Royal H Cycles
– True Fabrications
– True North
– Vanilla

Other Touring Bike List Resources

Complete List of Touring Bicycle Manufacturers with Pricing
Complete List of Off-Road Adventure Touring Bikes with Pricing
Complete List of Tandem Builders and Manufacturers
Complete List of Touring Bikes Available in Australia
List of XS Touring Bikes for Smaller Cyclists: 42, 44, 46cm
List of XXL Touring Bikes for Tall Cyclists: 62, 63, 64cm