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Outdoor Adventure
The Best Mountain Biking Clothes for Women (2024)
22
Jun
Jun
With an explosion of brands that are designing quality mountain bike clothes, there is no shortage of well designed, women-specific options. Below you will find a select list of some of our favorites after rigorously testing as many brands as we could get our hands on.
Also be sure to check out our guides to the best men’s mountain bike apparel and our many other bike guides.
At a Glance
All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.
Best Durability
Velocio Ultralight Trail Short
Sizes: XXS-3XL
Inseam: 13” (M)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Company ethics on manufacturing and renewal program
⊕ Excellent pocket placement
⊗ Expensive
The Velocio Ultralight Trail shorts are crafted from an ultralight, DWR coated, stretch-woven fabric that offers a modern, streamlined silhouette that testers loved. The shorts fit to size with an expansive size range all the way from XXS to triple XL. The two zippered side pockets were able to fit a phone, wallet, or snacks, and we loved how they were placed in the middle of the thigh so they didn’t bother us when they were filled with items while we were pedaling.
Testers found that the Ultralight Trail shorts readily resisted any wear and tear after hours of pedaling, multiple wash cycles, and a of couple crashes. While the price is steep, we found that you’re paying for quality fabrics from a company that has solid ethics and the added bonus of a renewal program. So yes, you pay a little extra, but the return is a durable, well-designed, ethically-crafted riding short.
Best Durability
7mesh Flightpath Pant
Sizes: XS-XXL
Inseam: 32” (medium)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Fabric holds up well to snags and precipitation
⊕ Hook and ladder adjustable waist is a solid design
⊗ Expensive
⊗ Narrow, non-adjustable ankle cuff
According to 7mesh, The Flightpath Pant is “built to resist the wear and tear of the most challenging trail day,” and testers found this statement to be exactly on point. It’s a top-of-the-line rugged riding pant that handled everything we threw at it, and kept us comfortable and dry on our alpine testing adventures.
The pants feature hand pockets, two zippered side pockets, hook and ladder waist adjuster, zippered fly with snap closure and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified fabric with DWR finish. The fabric, a nylon and elastane blend, is light, durable, breathes well on climbs, and easily repels water. They offer a fitted but stretchy cut, while still accommodating knee guards. 7mesh has hit all the marks with the Flightpath pant.
Best Comfort
Shredly All Time Zipper Snap Mid-Rise Shorts -14”
Sizes: 00-16
Inseam: 5”, 11”, 14”
Pros and Cons
⊕ Wide range of sizes and inseam lengths
⊕ Stylish colors and patterns
⊗ Might replace all your other bike shorts
The All Time 14” shorts are the updated version of Shredly’s popular MTB long shorts from previous years. They feature a hybrid zipper/snap waistband with a stretch knit back, two front hand pockets, zippered hip and side pockets, and come in two other inseam length options. The fabric is a lightweight 4-way stretch fabric crafted from recycled polyester and spandex.
The first thing testers noticed was how comfortable and secure the hybrid waistband is. Second, they loved how the clever design ensures a proper fit on testers with a variety of sizes and shapes while still looking clean and stylish. For a little more style and a lot more comfort than your typical mountain bike shorts, the All Time 14” shorts will not disappoint.
Best Style Shorts
Wild Rye Rita Shorts
Sizes: 0-14
Inseam: 6”
Pros and Cons
⊕ Fun and stylish design patterns
⊗ Small gap between some knee guards and short hem
The Rita Shorts are Wild Rye’s new, no-frills, lightweight, mid-length riding shorts. It features a DWR coated 4-way stretch fabric, gusseted crotch, front pockets, a side zipper pocket, and a UPF 50 sun protection rating. The Rita is on point with the current trend towards shorter inseam shorts while still checking all the performance boxes we look for.
Testers found that the hybrid waistband in particular was super comfortable during longer rides. As usual, testers also loved how it comes in all of Wild Rye’s trademark fun-loving designs. These are shorts you will most definitely want to add to your 2024 wishlist.
Best Style Jersey
Wild Rye Holly Jersey
$99 at Wild Rye $57 at REI (SALE)
Sizes: 0-24
Pros and Cons
⊕ Fabric blend is perfection
⊗ Might replace all your other bike jerseys
The Holly jersey is a loose fitting, versatile riding jersey that features long Raglan sleeves, a UPF 50 rating, mesh side panels, and a merino/poly blended fabric for odor resistance and durability. Testers found the style of the Holly jersey to be pleasantly straightforward, with three solid color options and minimal branding. That said, it comes in a very inclusive size range compared to the standard small, medium, and large options for women’s bike jerseys.
Rain or shine, long sleeves are my go to style for added protection from the elements, and the soft material on the Holly jersey did not disappoint. Add in the ventilation panels and fabric, and the Holly is the jersey you never knew you needed for year-round riding.
Best Waistband
Curious Creatures Sun Dog Shorts
Sizes: 0-14
Inseam: 8.5”
Pros and Cons
⊕ Elastic knit waistband is super comfortable
⊗ Small gap between some knee guards and short hem
Curious Creatures has entered the mountain bike apparel scene hot this year, debuting their first collection in August of 2023. The Sun Dog Shorts are light-weight, medium length riding shorts that feature an elastic mid-rise knit waistband, two zippered pockets, and a 4-way stretch soft polyester fabric with a PFC-free DWR finish. The design is focused on comfort, and the elastic knit waistband is sublimely on point. They come in three colors and a standard size range.
The Sun Dogs fall to just above the knee, making them versatile for both on and off trail activities. One ding: they leave a gap between most knee guards and the hem. Want more coverage? Try their Marilyn shorts instead. But for warm weather rides, the Sun Dogs are your best bet.
Best Jersey for Warm Rides
Ion Women’s Traze SS Jersey
Sizes: 34/XS-42/XL
Pros and Cons
⊕ Excellent breathability
⊗ Fitted cut might be tight on certain frames
The Traze is a lightweight, short-sleeve, breathable polyester riding jersey that testers loved on warmer days in Hood River. The jersey includes vent fabric side inserts and a soft-to-the-touch stretch fabric made with recycled polyester, lyocell, and elastane that kept us cool. The jersey has a pleasantly snug, tee-shirt style fit, so if you prefer a looser fit, you may want to consider sizing up.
Overall, the Traze is a good looking jersey that offers extra breathability with the vented side fabric panels. It falls in the middle in terms of fabric weight but wins points with style. Testers would recommend this as your go-to jersey for warm weather rides.
Best Pants for Warm Rides
Pearl Izumi Summit Pant
$145 at Backcountry $145 at Amazon
Sizes: 2-14
Inseam: 31.25”
Fabric: Main: 86% recycled polyester, 14% spandex
Pros and Cons
⊕ Excellent ventilation and lightweight fabric
⊕ Long inseam
⊕ Flattering cut
⊗ Non-adjustable ankle cuff
⊗ Sizing runs a bit on the small and slim side
The Summit Pant is a summer-weight riding pant that features an adjustable G-hook waist closure, two zippered pockets, perforated ventilation panels, and a PFC-free DWR coated recycled polyester/spandex fabric. The women’s sizing was on the smaller, more fitted side, so consider sizing up. The cut was flattering, offering a slim silhouette while still being roomy enough to accommodate lighter weight knee guards. The ankle openings have a bit of elastic, which made them easy to slip on and off, but are otherwise non-adjustable. All in all, Pearl Izumi has done a good job designing these warm weather favorites.
Best Cross-Country Shorts
Fox Wmns Flexair Ascent Lined Shorts
Sizes: XS-XL
Pros and Cons
⊕ A stretchy lightweight fabric that equals pure comfort
⊗ Not compatible with knee guards
⊗ Super tight fit is not compatible with all body shapes
The Flexair Ascent shorts are a visual throwback to the short and tight love affair that followed the lycra explosion 30 years ago. Looks aside, these are a high-tech, low bulk option that come with a chamois liner and features a highly breathable, moisture-wicking fabric, zippered side pocket, ratchet waist closure, and stretchy rear yoke for superb comfort. The tight cut and mid-length inseam feel aimed more at cross country and gravel riding than all-mountain/enduro adventures. While the Fox chamois isn’t our favorite, the shorts shined on longer XC rides where knee guards weren’t part of the program.
Best Cross-Country Jersey
Fox Flexair Ascent SS Jersey
$70 at Backcountry $70 at Amazon
Sizes: XS-XL
Pros and Cons
⊕ Moisture wicking, breathable design
⊗ Tight fit was doesn’t work for all bodies
Fox has done something right with this simple, yet functional, short sleeve jersey designed for your mountain, road, or gravel adventure. It has the sweat wicking and breathability testers crave on summer hot laps, but without the old school pockets and heavy branding that screams “bike nerd!” Overall, it’s a simple design with a more fitted cut that is curated to the gravel/cross-country aficionado who isn’t a fan of the lycra look. It’s ideal for two wheeled summer adventures without a chairlift. Plus, it’s more affordable than the majority of the other jerseys we tested.
How to Choose a Mountain-Bike Kit
When shopping for mountain-bike apparel, consider where and how you ride. If, for example, you spend most of your time in a bike park, focus on durability and protection first and breathability second. On the other hand, if you’re committed to logging big miles in the backcountry, lightweight, wicking fabrics are critical to comfort.
Your local bike shop should have plenty of options to choose from, and the pros can help you determine which pieces are best for your local climate. Also consider buying from a used gear shop—with apparel, you don’t need to worry as much about safety, and you can easily save money from pre-loved garments.
How We Tested
- Number of testers: 4
- Number of products tested: 20
- Longest ride: 3 hours
The items tested for the best women’s mountain bike apparel were selected with input from Pinkbike staff and the four testers. The majority of the testing was done in Hood River, Oregon in the fall of 2023, with some products previously reviewed as part of Pinkbike projects earlier in the year. The female testers not part of the Pinkbike team are all avid mountain bikers who spend a lot of time in the saddle riding, coaching, or racing.
The main trails in Hood River include the iconic Post Canyon system, just on the outskirts of town, which offers a vast network of forested trails dropping 3,000 vertical feet from the top point, with a mix of jumps, drops, berms, and rocks; to the 44 Trails, about an hour south of town on the flanks of Mount Hood. The infamous Gifford Pinchot National Forest is just across the Columbia River on the Washington side, with an abundance of riding opportunities. Fall is the perfect time for testing in the PNW, as the dry summer heat fades away and the moisture makes for some epic trail conditions and a variety of temperatures, from below-freezing to the mid-eighties.
Meet Our Testers
Nikki Rohan has been mountain biking for close to 20 years, and testing mountain biking gear for Pinkbike for almost a decade. She resides in Hood River OR with her husband, two teenagers, a 1-year old late family edition, two dogs and a grumpy cat. When she is not working, cooking or parenting, you will find her on the local trails.
Megan Barton started riding mountain bikes in 2017 after spending many years running silly long distances on trails. She has years of coaching for both Dirt Series and Brave Endeavours, a Hood River based program. When she’s not on two wheels, you can find her running, rafting, hiking, or working her day job as a nurse practitioner.
Bekah Rottenberg is the founder and head coach of Brave Endeavors: MTB Skills and Strength Training. She lives and works in Hood River, OR and can most commonly be found on her bike coaching kids or adults.
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