Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Hightower 70
$5149
Released 2026
Best Mountain Bikes · head-to-head
Santa Cruz Hightower 70 vs Cannondale Habit 3
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Cannondale Habit 3 is cheaper at $3325. Every spec and price links to its source.
Cannondale
Cannondale Habit 3
$3325Cheaper
Released 2023
Which is better: the Santa Cruz Hightower 70 or Cannondale Habit 3?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Cannondale Habit 3 is the cheaper at $3325.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Santa Cruz Hightower 70 | Cannondale Habit 3 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $5149 | $3325 |
| Brand | Santa Cruz | Cannondale |
| Released | 2026 | 2023 |
| Frame material | Carbon C | SmartForm C1 Alloy |
| Wheel size | 29" | 29" (27.5" for size XS) |
| Fork travel (mm) | 160 | 140 |
| Rear travel (mm) | 150 | 130 |
| Suspension type | VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) | Proportional Response |
| Drivetrain speeds | 12 | 12 |
| Groupset | SRAM Eagle 70 T-Type | SRAM NX Eagle |
| Brake type | SRAM DB8, 200mm Centerline rotors | SRAM G2 R hydraulic disc, 180/180mm rotors |
| Weight (lb) | — | — |
Sources — Santa Cruz Hightower 70: wheatridgecyclery.com (verified 2026-08-01). Cannondale Habit 3: bikeexchange.com (verified 2026-08-01).
What's the difference between the Santa Cruz Hightower 70 and Cannondale Habit 3?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (7 of 9). Matching specs are omitted.
- Frame material: Santa Cruz Hightower 70 Carbon C vs Cannondale Habit 3 SmartForm C1 Alloy
- Wheel size: Santa Cruz Hightower 70 29" vs Cannondale Habit 3 29" (27.5" for size XS)
- Fork travel (mm): Santa Cruz Hightower 70 160 vs Cannondale Habit 3 140
- Rear travel (mm): Santa Cruz Hightower 70 150 vs Cannondale Habit 3 130
- Suspension type: Santa Cruz Hightower 70 VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) vs Cannondale Habit 3 Proportional Response
- Groupset: Santa Cruz Hightower 70 SRAM Eagle 70 T-Type vs Cannondale Habit 3 SRAM NX Eagle
- Brake type: Santa Cruz Hightower 70 SRAM DB8, 200mm Centerline rotors vs Cannondale Habit 3 SRAM G2 R hydraulic disc, 180/180mm rotors