What To Wear Mountain Biking: How To Look Like A Badass Shredder

When you’re first getting started with mountain biking, you don’t need any specific mountain bike clothes. The most important thing is to just get out there and have fun! If you have a synthetic t-shirt, some athletic shorts, and some running shoes, you’re good to go. For a while. But if you want to progress to longer rides and more challenging terrain, it’s a good idea to get a better sense of what to wear mountain biking. Being dressed in the right gear and clothes can make or break a mountain bike ride and even help prevent a trip to the hospital.

When I first started out, I did not ‘look’ like a mountain biker. I wore soccer shorts, ankle socks, and tennis shoes. But did that stop me from having fun? Absolutely not. Over the years, though, I have dialed in my mountain bike wardrobe to include my favorite pieces of gear and clothing and I wanted to share the specifics of my gear closet with you. It changes frequently, but here’s what I’m loving in 2021!

Wondering what to wear mountain biking? In this post, I share everything you need to know about gearing up for your first mountain bike ride from the best mountain bike jerseys, shorts, shammies, socks, gloves, and more!

Quick Tips on What to Wear Mountain Biking

Choose quick-drying materials

Ideally, mountain bike clothes should be made from quick-drying and moisture-wicking materials like nylon, polyester, and Merino wool. Cotton isn’t a great choice because it doesn’t dry quickly and can leave you feeling damp and cold out on the trail. You’ll most likely be sweating at least a little on your rides, so be sure to wear clothes that keep you dry and comfortable.

Dress differently for different rides

Not every ride is going to cover the same terrain or have the same weather, so before you get dressed for your ride, take a minute to think about what lays ahead of you. Are you headed to the mountains and might need a warmer layer? Will you be doing mostly bike park descents in which case you’ll want some body armor protection? Will it be super hot and humid or cool with a chance of rain? Dressing differently for different rides will ensure you have the best time out on the trail and stay as safe as possible.

Don’t skimp on the helmet

Investing in a good helmet could literally save your life. Don’t convince yourself that your 10-year-old helmet is ‘fine’ and don’t buy the cheapest one at your local big box retailer. At the minimum, buy a helmet that is MIPS certified or has another high-quality safety certification. And never ride without wearing a helmet, ok?

Best Mountain Biking Clothes

Moisture-Wicking Jersey

For mountain biking, you’re going to want a jersey that is quick-drying and breathable. There are a lot of mountain bike jersey options out there, but one of my favorites is the Dakine Xena Jersey. It’s super soft and comfortable and it breathes well and dries fast. I also like the flattering women’s cut. It comes in a long-sleeved version as well.

For men, the Dakine Vectra Short Sleeve is a great choice.

Check price: Jenson / evo / REI

A second favorite mountain bike jersey is the SHREDLY Raglan. SHREDLY always has fun patterns and prints and their jerseys are made from a breathable recycled material blend. They’re also specifically designed for all women’s body types, which I often don’t find with other brands.

Check price: Backcountry / Competitive Cyclist / evo

Quick-Drying Shorts

For mountain bike shorts, you want to look for a few things: quick-drying material, stretchiness, pockets, and an adjustable waist (or elastic waistband). My all-time favorite mountain bike shorts are the POC Essential Mountain Bike Shorts. I’m sort of tall (5’8) and a lot of shorts don’t cover my knee pads or fit my wider hips. The POC shorts fit me so well and are flattering and still have all the other important features like stretchiness, velcro waist tabs, and they’re made from quick-drying nylon fabric.

They also come in a men’s version.

Check price: Backcountry / Competitive Cyclist / Jenson

Padded liners or Chamois (Shammies)

Padded liners, chamois, or shammies, whatever you call them, they are important when deciding what to wear mountain biking. Perhaps the most important piece of mountain bike clothes you can wear aside from a helmet! You gotta keep your tush and nether regions comfortable and cool, right? My favorite pair of padded liners are the DHaRCO Party Pants. Not only are they super fun, but they’re also very comfortable and fit like a glove, which is what you want for liners.

Check out the Men’s Party Pants here.

Check price: REI

Water-repelling windbreaker

For days when the weather looks a little iffy, I recommend stuffing a lightweight water-repelling windbreaker into your pack. Since you’ll be pedaling and working up a sweat, it’s important that the jacket also be breathable. The Patagonia Dirt Roamer Jacket is designed for just that.

The recycled Nylon shell repels light rain, the adjustable hood is helmet-compatible, and it packs down small into its own pocket. I do find that Patagonia mountain bike clothing runs small, so you might want to order a size up. Here is the Men’s Dirt Roamer Jacket.

Check price: Patagonia / Backcountry / Competitive Cyclist

Mountain Bike Socks

I like fun socks, so naturally, I love SockGuy. All SockGuy socks are made in the US from moisture-wicking acrylic material. Their original designs can be as mainstream or offbeat as you want. Choose from pineapples, unicorns, aliens, hotdogs, and so many more!

If you’re not into crazy designs, I also love Darn Tough socks, in part because they’re from Vermont and I’m from Vermont, so… Darn Tough makes high-quality moisture-wicking Merino socks. When choosing mountain biking socks, opt for a mid-calf length or higher to help protect your shins from trailside brush.

Check price: Backcountry / Competitive Cyclist / Jenson

Mountain Bike Gloves

Gloves help keep prevent your hands from getting sweaty and slipping off your grips. Some riders prefer to ride without gloves, but I personally always wear them. There is a range of mountain bike-specific gloves out there from basic and simple gloves to ones that have padded protection in case you become friendly with a tree.

If you’re just starting out, a simple glove will do. I really love the HandUp Most Day Gloves because they’re made in the USA and they have some really fun patterns. I’ve also found that HandUp gloves last a lot longer than most other mountain bike gloves that I’ve tried. I biked 630 miles across the state of Washington with one pair of HandUp gloves and they didn’t get one hole or rip.

Check price: HandUp

Mountain Biking Footwear

Shoes are an important consideration for what to wear mountain biking. You can get away with sneakers at first, but you’ll quickly want to invest in some real mountain bike shoes as you ride more.

There are two types of mountain bike shoes: flats and clipless. Flat shoes have rubber soles that grip to the pins on your pedals while clipless shoes actually clip into your pedals so that you’re attached to your bike.

Both have their pros and cons and you can read more about flats vs clipless in this post. If you’re just starting out as a mountain biker, I recommend flat mountain bike shoes.

Flat Shoes

One of the best and more affordable options for flat mountain bike shoes are the Five Ten Freerider’s. The soles on these puppies are super grippy so your feet don’t slide off your pedals and I find them to be incredibly comfortable. They come in men’s as well.

Check price: Backcountry / Competitive Cyclist / Jenson

Clipless Shoes

If you know that you want to ride with clipless pedals, the unisex Bontrager Evoke Mountain Bike Shoe is a great entry-level SPD shoe. You’ll need to make sure you get a 2-hole SPD-compatible pedal and cleats like the Bontrager Comp MTB Pedals.

Check price: REI / Trek

Body Armor & Protection

A Helmet

A helmet is the most vital piece when it comes to what to wear mountain biking. Promise me that you will never ride without a helmet, mkay? You may already own a helmet, but if it’s old, cracked, or dented it’s definitely time for a new one. The material can break down over time and helmet technology has advanced significantly over the past decade. The current MIPS technology (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) is designed as a slip-panel system that reduces rotational forces during impact. If you’re buying a new helmet, make sure it has a little MIPS sticker on it or is certified in some other way.

One of my favorite mountain bike helmets is the POC Tectal Helmet. It has great coverage on the sides and rear as well as 15 vents for optimal airflow. It can be adjusted with a dial in the back to get the perfect and most comfortable fit. Most importantly, though, POC’s safety standards are very high. Plus, I think it looks super stylish!

Check price: Backcountry / Competitive Cyclist

Another option for a helmet, which is my personal choice, is a breakaway helmet. These helmets have a removable chin bar that you can either leave off for cross-country rides or strap on for more technical descents. This eliminates the need to buy a second full-face helmet if you plan on spending time at the bike park.

One of the best breakaway helmets is the Giro Switchblade. It can easily be converted from half-lid to full face and the ample vents provide great airflow. It’s also MIPS certified to help protect your noggin should you go over the bars.

Check price: Backcountry / Competitive Cyclist / Jenson

Knee pads

I almost never ride my mountain bike without wearing knee pads. I’ve had my brother (an ER Doctor) stitch me up too many times to risk it. Knee pads can be tricky, though, because oftentimes they slip down while you’re pedaling or they’re just so darn uncomfortable that you don’t even want to wear them in the first place. So you better believe that I was super excited to find the Fox Enduro Sleeves because they stay right where they’re supposed to and they’re long enough so they don’t leave a gaper gap between your shorts (major mtb faux pax). The only downside is that the back mesh tends to tear easily, leaving big holes behind your knees.

If you’re planning on doing more high-stakes mountain biking and want some extra protection, I also have the Fox Launch Pro knee pads, which I use for the bike park.

Check price: Backcountry / Competitive Cyclist / Jenson

Mountain Biking Accessories

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are definitely a must when it comes to what to wear mountain biking. Not only do they shade your eyes from the sun, but they also keep dirt and dust from flying into your eyeballs which could send you tumbling off the trail. Many new riders ride with their normal everyday sunglasses, which work just fine at first. But once you progress to longer rides and more technical trails, you’ll want some mountain bike-specific shades because they’re designed to be used on the trail.

There are tons of options out there for mountain bike sunglasses. Some come with interchangeable lenses to help you see better in different light conditions like dark forested trails or high UV terrain. Others, like POC, are helmet-compatible, which ensures a comfortable fit. And others have transition lenses, or photochromic lenses, which darken in high-light terrain and lighten up during low-light situations.

I really like the POC Do Half Blades because they cover all of the above. You can get interchangeable lenses for different light settings, they fit seamlessly to POC helmets, and the lenses are tinted to help enhance contrast on the trail. They’re not cheap, but they’re worth it!

Check price: Backcountry / Competitive Cyclist / Jenson

Mountain bike googles

Some mountain bikers choose to wear goggles instead of sunglasses, particularly at bike parks or when wearing a full-face helmet. Goggles provide a little more protection from sand and dirt and they’re strapped snug to your face, so there’s less worry of them shifting or falling down on particularly technical and rowdy sections. The drawback of goggles is that they can get foggy and they can be hot. But they do make you look badass 🦸‍♀️.

Continuing on with my love for POC (seriously, they’re the best), the POC Ora Goggles are affordable and provide great clarity on the trail with tinted lenses designed for both full sun to dark forests. They also have good airflow thanks to the 3-layer foam lining.

Check price: Backcountry / Competitive Cyclist / Jenson

A Hydration pack

Not exactly mountain bike clothes or apparel, a hydration pack is nonetheless an important piece of gear for mountain biking. I always ride with a pack, even if it’s just a short spin around my local trails. I use my pack to carry water, my mountain bike ride essentials, snacks, and often an extra layer for just in case.

There are a few options for hydration packs:

• Backpack-style hydration packs with a reservoir and hose. These are my personal favorites because I can store lots of snacks. More snacks = better. You can also easily sip water while pedaling from the reservoir hose. My hydration pack of choice is the Dakine Syncline 12L because it’s comfortable and has plenty of easily accessible pockets for all your tools and bits. You can also strap your knee pads and helmet to the outside. The Syncline comes in a men’s version as well.

Check price: Backcountry / evo

• Lumbar packs. I’ve honestly tried lumbar packs and don’t love them because the waist strap digs into my stomach (probably because I’m carrying too many snacks). But other people – like my brother and boyfriend – swear by them. The Dakine Hot Laps 5L is a popular choice with its included hydration reservoir and hose as well as two pockets for tools and snacks. This pack also comes in 2 Liter or 1 Liter models if you want something smaller although these sizes come with water bottle pockets instead of a hydration bladder.

Check price: Backcountry / evo / REI

I hope this blog post helps you get a better idea of what to wear mountain biking! Do you have questions about mountain biking clothes, footwear, body protection, or accessories? Leave a comment below!