in your honest opinion, what is the best make of hybrid mountain bike for your money?

This is why there are many bike shops, and since no matter what you'll be spending a hunk of change you should visit them all.

If it were ME shopping for a hybrid OR an MTB I would first consider Raleigh, then KHS, then Diamondback, then Schwinn (not department store stuff), then Fuji.

There is NO such thing as a hybrid / mountain bike. Which one do you need - a hybrid or a MTB? Two COMPLETELY different types of bikes designed for two different purposes.

A hybrid (or now called fitness bikes by some) is for the streets & maybe a light (man made) trail of finely crushed stone. A MTB is designed to go off road. They suck on city streets & paved bike paths.

"For the money" (IMHO) the best bang for the buck in a hybrid is a Giant Escape 2.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/es...

They lightened the bike by nearly a full pound (16 oz.) for 2015. However, I think the "best" hybrid is a Raleigh. http://www.raleighusa.com/2014-bikes-road-fitness-...

probably fuji, they usually try to hit a little higher on the value/price curve

or giant

actually

the best you can do is find a closeout or clearance, then you can move up the chain a bit, but you may have to wait

wle

I would say Giant, Fuji, and Raleigh are great for the money.