Mountain Bike Clothing Brands: The recommended ones
There is a whole host of mountain bike clothing brands out there. They all have their own take on what mountain bikers want and need from their clothing.
A big part of mountain biking is the lifestyle. This may seem a bit superficial, but it is true. Throughout the summer months the little ski resort I live in turns into mountain bike heaven. All sorts of riders come here and their passion for the sport is very obvious. It is displayed by the amount of money they have spent on their bikes, their tattoos and ultimately their clothing. You can go to pretty much any bar in the evening and you will witness a sea of Fox t-shirts and flannel shirts.
Living in this environment gives me quite an insight in to what is good, cool and popular. So here is a list of the mountain bike clothing brands I would recommend and why.
Fox
As I said above, Fox t-shirts are pretty popular, and for good reason. Arguably they make the best suspension systems for mountain bikes, but their clothing is pretty damn good too. They have a full range of clothing for all types of rider and riding conditions. Their style is a little bolder than other brands, with big logos and bright colors with a cross over from their motocross range.
Sponsored riders: Brett Rheeder, Loic Bruni, Tahnee Seagrave, Loris Vergier
Troy Lee Designs
Another brand born from motocross, Troy Lee Designs is also very popular with mountain bikers. Their clothing tends to be quite bold too. In the mountain bike world, the brand concentrates on freestyle, all mountain, downhill and BMX riders. There are lots of clothing products to choose from with different cuts and sleeve lengths, all made from technical breathable fabrics. With the motocross heritage, you can be sure TLD products are hard wearing and high quality.
Sponsored riders: Brendan Fairclough, Steve Peat, Luca Shaw, Jack Moir, Branden Semenuk
Race Face
Race Face make some great mountain bike clothing designed by pro riders. Their testing ground is the Northern ‘shore’ on Vancouver Island, meaning their products are tested in a pretty abusive environment. Their style is very cool, with some nice contrasting colors.
Sponsored riders: Remy Matallier, Wade Simmons
Royal Racing
Royal Racing’s style is a little more understated than the brands I have already discussed, but that doesn’t mean they are boring. Their cool style and color combos look really nice. Their latest graphics are sublimated in to the clothing, this gives a lightweight and neutral feel. The fabrics are breathable and have a polygiene odor control treatment, ideal for when you are shredding hard.
Sponsored riders: Josh “Rat Boy” Bryceland, Josh “Loose Dog”Lewis
Alpinestars
Originally Alpinestars just made hiking and ski boots, but quickly moved in to protective clothing for motocross. Now they make a whole range of products for most two and four wheeled sports. Their experience and innovation means their products are designed to withstand serious punishment while protecting the rider. With lots of different styles, color combinations and features, such as phone pouches and mesh inserts for ventilation a lot of thought has gone in to their products.
Sponsored riders: Aaron Gwin, Tracey Hannah
iXS
IXS started out as a family run bike repair shop in Switzerland in 1906. Their subtle and understated designs are cool and not as in your face as some other brands. All their riding gear has the essential moisture wicking materials (made from recycled PET polyester) and a choice of cuts.
Sponsored riders: Myriam Nichole, Brett Tippie
Nukeproof
Nukeproof is another really cool brand. They make some excellent mountain bikes, but they have a superb range of clothing. Their collections are designed for different types of rider and the conditions they ride in. Personally I really like the material the clothing is made from. It is made from recycled coffee and is antibacterial. Also, it is really comfortable and looks great.
Sponsored riders: Sam Hill, Elliot Heap, Adam Brayton, Meg White
Endura
Endura maw some fantastic mountain bike clothing. It is well made and great value for money. I have had a pair of Endura shorts for years and wear them pretty much every time I ride. Their modern fabrics are very technical, breathable, water resistance and comfortable against the skin.
Sponsored riders: Rachel Atherton, Gee Atherton
Which is your favorite out of these mountain bike clothing brands?
This is by no means an exhaustive list. I will probably add to it in the near future, but it gives you an idea of what to look out for when buying mountain bike clothing. You want clothing that will perform while looking good and these brands will do that.
If you know of any other mountain bike clothing brands you would like to see featured here, let me know in the comments below.
Very informative post. Great reviews on the different brands as well.
Thanks Curtis. I hope this has been of use to you.
Tom