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Want to get into mountain biking? Logically, you're wondering what are the must-have mountain bike clothes for men. After discovering how to choose your mountain bike clothing, check out our guide to essential mountain bike clothing for men.
The Head
First, to ride safely, remember to protect your head with a Mountain Bike Helmet (classic, all mountain or full face), adapted to the discipline you practice.
Your eyes should also be protected from splashes, dust and branches by Mountain Bike Goggles, which can be adapted to your eyesight.
The upper body
On the upper body, the main element of your mountain biker outfit will be the bike jersey. Depending on your practice (cross-country, enduro, DH), this will not have the same characteristics. If, for XC, we prefer a jersey close to the body (as for road cycling), in enduro or DH, we can opt for a jersey with a looser fit.
In all cases, the jersey will be to choose light and breathable so as not to be too hot and allow the evacuation of sweat during your ride. If it is equipped with pockets in the back, it will allow you to store your personal belongings.
The jerseys are available in short-sleeved, sleeveless (for summer) or long-sleeved (for winter) versions.
Summer or winter, it is recommended that you wear a technical undergarment under your jersey to improve sweat wicking and regulate your temperature. For summer, it will be sleeveless or short-sleeved, while in winter it will be long-sleeved and designed in a thermal material to insulate your body from cold.
In winter, to ride warm, you'll need to don a thermal jacket.
To combat the coldest temperatures, it's even recommended to don three layers of clothing:
- A technical undergarment;
- A long-sleeved jersey;
- A thermal jacket;
In the mid-season when the weather is unstable or changeable, investing in a windbreaker and a rain jacket will allow you to ride wind-free or dry no matter what the weather conditions.
Hands
When mountain biking, it is necessary to also protect your hands because, in addition to the risk of falls, they can be subjected to external aggression (branches, etc.).
While the theory is that you should wear short gloves (or mittens) in the summer and long gloves in the winter, when mountain biking it can sometimes be better to wear long gloves all year round in order to protect your hands effectively. Obviously, summer long gloves will be light and ventilated, while winter long gloves will be lined to protect your hands from the cold.
The lower body
One of the key pieces of a mountain biker's outfit is the shorts or bike shorts. The choice between one or the other will be made - as with the jersey - according to the discipline being practiced.
For cross-country, we will prefer a fitted shorts (as for the road bike) while for enduro or DH we will rather opt for a mountain bike short, with a looser fit.
But in all cases, wearing shorts or shorts with a chamois (foam or gel) will save you a lot of pain due in particular to shaking and rubbing on the saddle during your ride.
Depending on the season, the cycling shorts come in three versions: short, long (lined with a thermal fabric) or corsair (for the half-season). The choice of a model with or without straps will be at your convenience.
The feet
When mountain biking, the feet also need to be protected and this involves choosing a pair of shoes. Whether you opt for flat pedals or automatic pedals, the pair of shoes will not be the same.
To fit pedals with automatic cleats, mountain bike shoes must be compatible with the chosen pedals (SPD or MTB system).
Mountain bike shoes have the advantage of being reinforced, especially in the front with a stone guard. And, since mountain bikers often have to put their foot down to get over obstacles, these shoes are suitable for walking (unlike road bike shoes).
They're a great way to keep your feet on the ground
To complete your outfit, also consider bike socks, which will wick away sweat and keep your feet dry during your workout. In the winter, a pair of thermal socks tucked into your shoes will keep your feet warm.
With our guide, you're now ready to start mountain biking with the perfect mountain biker look. Now how about finding out what must-have mountain bike clothing for women, how to properly choose mountain bike clothing for kids and how to properly choose mountain bike clothing in the winter?
