If you have been mountain biking especially with a group of experienced riders, you would have noticed that a lot of people have some serious apparel. Well, the reason why apparel is important is that it not only makes your sessions more comfortable but it also offers protection against some of the elements. What apparel do you need for mountain biking?For Mountain biking, you need a helmet, biking shoes, bike shorts, mountain bike gloves, knee pads, a backpack, and some protective sunglasses. All of this apparel should be made with mountain biking in mind.The apparel that you choose to wear when mountain biking is so important. I don't blame you if you overlooked a lot of this when buying your first mountain bike, however, now that you’ve done some riding or plan on doing some for the first time, this article is perfect for you. So, keep reading.
Here’s What You Need To Wear While Mountain Biking
Right, so in this section, we are going to draw up a list of things that you need when you go mountain biking. Further down in the article we are going to discuss each of these items.If you are just starting out, I recommend either printing this list or bookmarking this page as a reference. This is so that you can mark off what you have and what you still need to get. So, here is a list of everything you need when you go mountain biking.● A mountain biking helmet.● mountain biking shoes.● Mountain bike shorts.● Mountain bike gloves.● Knee pads.● A backpack.● Mountain biking glasses.
Best Mountain Biking Helmet
A helmet is probably one of your most important pieces of equipment. When you go mountain biking, you aren't just riding on flat ground or riding on smooth ground. There are going to be times when you fall. You always want to protect your head in these situations. A mountain biking helmet is also something that you should not try and cut corners with. You should always try and get a good quality helmet and we are going to list a few that we think are great.
Giro Fixture MIPS Adult Dirt Cycling Helmet: $65.00 – $73.00
It is no secret that we are huge fans of GIRO. The quality of their products is one of the best we have seen when it comes to mountain bike equipment.Their MIPS technology redirects impact away from vital parts of your head. MIPS is a relatively new technology and it is changing the way we think about cycling helmets.The Ventilation is one of the best I have felt and you can be sure that the helmet isn’ t going to give you that uncomfortable sweaty feel while cycling.With 10 different colors to choose from you, your friends, and your family can each get a different-looking helmet that is unique to you, your style, and your personality.
OUWOR Mountain Bike MTB Helmet: $38.00
This helmet is Unisex and can be used by male or female adults, and male or female kids. With all of that said, this helmet is targeted towards women.The helmet is designed for dirt and road so whether you plan on using your mountain bike in urban areas or if you are going to only use it for trail riding, this helmet is perfect for you.The helmet has an EPS foam construction. This means that it is not only lightweight but it is also durable. When you are cycling on long trails, you want something that isn’t going to weigh down on your head.This helmet also comes in a variety of different styles and colors. What I think is a great touch is you can remove the visor because not everybody likes to use it. You can keep it aside and put it back on for days where you will need it.
Best Mountain Biking Shoes
When it comes to mountain biking shoes, they serve a few purposes. While you can just use your sneakers when you are starting out, there will come a time where you decide that you need proper mountain biking shoes.You get clipless and clip-in mountain biking shoes. We are going to mention clipless shoes that don’t have cleats that you clip in. There is a reason for this. You should only use clip-in mountain bike shoes when you have experience but even then, I find clipless shoes are better because a lot of the time you use your legs to control your body and your body weight.
Giro Ranger Men’s Mountain Cycling Shoes: $91.00 – $133.00
These shoes have strap lacing that offers comfort and makes the shoes easy to put on and take off. They are made with breathable and durable materials which make them perfect for long and technical trails.The nylon plate gives you excellent power transfer which means you spend less energy and get more efficiency while pedaling. This efficiency also makes climbing hills a lot easier which is great.If you want to use cleats, you can with these shoes. However, they are not necessary. As I always say, you should not use cleats when you are starting out. Yes, they make pedaling a lot more efficient but they could get in your way if you need to react quickly to prevent a fall.The shoes come in 3 different styles. You can choose from lime/black, red/black, or grey/black. So, they should have something that suits your personality and style.
Santic Lock-Free Cycling Shoes: $72.00
These shoes made it onto this list because they tick all the boxes. Their ergonomic design makes them comfortable for almost everyone. The sole offers extra grip which is great especially for muddy trails or wet weather conditions. In terms of durability, these shoes should last a long time.The shoes come in 3 different styles. You can choose from lime/black, red/black, or grey/black. So, they should have something that suits your personality and style.
Mountain Bike Shorts
Again, this is something that you can get away with just by using normal shorts in the beginning. However, if you are riding on technical trails you really want to get padded mountain biking shorts.The main reason why you would want shorts that are specifically for mountain biking is that you want the protection that they offer. So, here are our favorite mountain biking shorts
Santic Men’s Mountain Bike Shorts: $28.00 – $32.00
Looks like we have another Santic product over here. These shorts are stylish and they come in a choice of 4 colors. They are made from lycra and polyester which makes them lightweight and durable. Most importantly, the shorts are breathable.The 4D COOLMAX padding on the shorts is not only comfortable, but they also offer protection just in case you fall.
NOOYME Women’s Bike Shorts: $22.00
Bike shorts are not really unisex, therefore, I wanted to include an option for women. These NOOYME shorts are made from 80$ polyamide and 20% spandex. This makes them durable, comfortable, lightweight. The non-slip silicone leg grippers keep the shorts in place and prevent friction which reduces chafing.In terms of style, you have 22 options to choose from. So, you should be able to find a pair that suits your style. Finally, if you run into any issues, the company has a great customer support structure and they are always happy to assist their customers.
Mountain Bike Gloves
So, normally the first thing that people think of when they think of why they would need mountain biking gloves is to protect themselves and their hands when they fall. This is correct however, there are a few more reasons why you need mountain bike gloves.● Protect your hands from flying debris● Protect your hands while falling● Added grip● Comfort.So, as you can see, protecting your hands while falling is only one job that a mountain biking glove will do. You really want gloves that give you added grip and also added comfort. Think about going on a trail that takes you an hour and 30 minutes to finish. You really want your hands to be comfortable and if you don’t have proper gloves on, your hands will become stiff, tired, bruised, and blistered.
Seibertron Dirtpaw Unisex: $20.00
These unisex gloves are made from 30% synthetic leather, 30% polyamide,15% neoprene, 15% polyvinyl, and 10% polyurethane. This makes these comfortable as well as durable.For protection, they are designed to protect vital parts of your hands in case you fall. On top of this, they protect your hands from damage that can be caused by gripping your handlebars too tightly.The gloves are also multipurpose. They can be used for almost any type of cycling activity from mountain biking, BMXing, and even road cycling. If you are not satisfied with the gloves they have a 30-day refund policy. They also have a 1-year full warranty.
Best Mountain Bike Knee Pads
Knee pads are also extremely important. They can protect your knees from flying stones and debris. Also, they will protect your knees in case you fall. If you fall over sideways, there is a high chance that you will use your knees to cushion your fall. This is an instant reaction from most people.Having knee pads on means that you do not have to worry about doing unnecessary damage to your knee or even your knee joints. Your knees take enough damage from your normal day-to-day activities. So, we think everyone should have them. Finally, much like helmets, you should not try to cut corners with knee pads.
G-Form Pro X2 Knee Pads: $60.00
These pads may seem like overkill at 1st. They do seem heavy duty but I cannot stress how important it is to take care of your knees. Smartflex technology makes these easy to put on and easy to take off. It also makes them fit almost anyone. Finally, Smartflex makes riding with them comfortable and makes them not feel restrictive.For protection, these knee pads are one of the best on the market. The Smartflex technology is designed to harden on impact which protects your knees and also the surrounding areas.
Best Mountain Bike Backpacks
So, if you have ever been mountain biking, you will know that you can never be prepared for everything that might go wrong. However, with a backpack, you can be prepared for as much as possible.Not only can you carry equipment for your bike in case something malfunctions, but you can also carry stuff for you such as food and water. Here is a small list of things that you can take in your backpack when you go mountain biking.● Tire pump● Multitool● Patch kit● Chain lube● Spare tubes● First aid kit● Powerbank for your phone● Small extra parts such as nuts, bolts, links, and more.● Torch● Shock pump● Raincoat● sunscreenI’m sure as you are reading over that list, you immediately understood exactly what everything was used for. I am also sure that now you have a better understanding of why everyone should take a backpack with them. Now, let’s take a look at one of our favorite backpacks for mountain biking.
TETON Sports Oasis 1100 Hydration Pack: $40.00
This is a backpack that comes with a free 2L hydration bladder. If you go for the 3L bladder, the price increases significantly. However, this is a phenomenal feature. All you have to do is fill the bladder with your choice of juice or water and you can be sure that you will stay hydrated while on the trail.The backpack is unisex and is adjustable so it will feel comfortable on you regardless of your body shape. You can use this for any outdoor activity but for mountain biking, this backpack is excellent. The main pocket can house all of your essentials including equipment, gear, clothes, and food.
Best Mountain Bike Glasses
When you go mountain biking, there are various reasons why you need glasses. Let’s say you are mountain biking in a group and there are multiple people on the track. If they are in front of you, there could be dirt, debris, and dust flying at you. When this happens, you really want to protect your eyes against this.You also need to consider that on most trails there will be flying insects and you really don’t want one flying in your eyes especially when moving at speed. So, glasses will protect you against this as well. Now, let’s take a look at some of our favorite mountain biking glasses.
Torege Polarized Sports Sunglasses: $26.00
These sports sunglasses come in a variety of different styles and colors. However, the main feature of these glasses is not only to protect your eyes from the sun with uv400 protection but on a mountain bike, it also protects your eyes from flying debris and insects. These glasses are durable and lightweight. It is the nose padding that is made from rubber that makes them comfortable. So, if you normally do long trails, these will be able to sit on your face for a long time.Finally, the glasses come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and they also have a lifetime warranty on the frame and lens which is a nice little touch that I appreciate.
Conclusion
That brings us to the end of this article. Hopefully, after reading it, you now know what you need to get in order to make your riding sessions as comfortable as possible while also following some good safety precautions.One of the best things about mountain biking is that, apart from maybe a helmet which you should get before you go on your first ride, the rest of these things you can get over time. So, don’t feel rushed into buying any of the things we listed in this article. Take your time and get everything when you can.
