While hiking and backpacking may be our first love here at Terradrift, we love mountain biking, too. From our first real ride on our first real (crappy used) hardtail mountain bikes, we were smitten. And the more we ride and the better we get the more we adore it. And while you don’t need specialty apparel to get out there and ride (we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again), the right clothing and accessories can boost your confidence, encourage you to ride more often, and make every ride not only more enjoyable, but less distracting if you’re often too focused on poor fit or uncomfortable clothing.
But finding mountain bike clothing for women can be tricky. Our bodies are all different, some of us don’t want the basic black or racing aesthetic male-centric brands often offer, and we crave different functionality. Fortunately, a number of women-owned, women-centric bike apparel brands are making superb clothing for femmes who shred (whether shred means riding easy, flat gravel ATV trails with your family or bombing downhill on double black diamonds). So here are some brands we’ve tested and love that are designed by women, for women. Don’t forget the chamois!
Don’t forget to check out our other favorite mountain bike gear! Want to ride when it’s cold? Check out our tips for winter mountain biking here!
Mountain Bike Apparel for Femmes Who Shred
Shredly: Fun, Functional and Size Inclusive
We’ve tested plenty of Shredly apparel over the years, including the Biker Cham and the All Time Short, and have always been big fans. In fact, their shorts are some of our faves, especially since they’re more fitted than baggy, even on thin legs! Shorts material is stretchy, apparel is available in tons of fun colors and patterns, and just about everything is comfy and fits well.
We love the yoga-style waistband on the Limitless Shorts, which feels like wearing nothing but always stays put. Bonus: shorts come in multiple lengths. The All Time Pant is one of our favorite MTB pants for women thanks to how comfy, stretchy and breathable they are (plus they look rad). But the most recent Shredly release might be the most unique: the Drop Tail Trail Romper and Drop Tail Bib that both allow you to go to the bathroom with ease inside or out. Win! Do take note, though: the Romper fits better on curvy figures.
There are more apparel and accessories, including shirts and gloves that aren’t made of more responsible materials, so we haven’t tried those, but Shredly offers seriously extended sizing for plus-size riders, including line in collaboration with our friend Marley Blonsky, AND most apparel fits smaller riders well, too.
How it’s sustainable: Many products (almost all pants and shorts) use more sustainable materials. Shredly also encourages repairs (they’ll even send you fabric scraps to patch holes and tears) and offers a warranty on apparel.
Pros
- Size inclusive (up to size 24)
- Comfortable waistbands
- Ultra stretchy fabric
- Fun colors and patterns plus neutrals
- Lightweight and stretchy
Cons
- Few neutrals or solids available
Wild Rye: Coordinated Combos
Wild Rye is known for their quality, colorful mountain bike apparel for women, by women. And we’re big fans. Shorts are often bright, patterned and fun and they’re even easy to pair thanks to matching colors and patterns across most of their line.
We’ve ridden plenty in their shorter inseam Eleanor Chammy, which is light, stretchy, and comfortable and the padding not overly dense. We dig their 10″ Riley Short for it’s super light and breathable fabric, which makes riding on hot days less miserable, but also for the perfect in-between length: not too short or too long. A zipper and snap fly on the front make them more wearable around town after riding, but a stretchy panel in the back of the waistband means they’re never too restrictive. Shirts like the Lola, Mackay and Keller are super soft and breathable thanks to Lyocell fabric, but may not be as durable if you’re prone to wipeouts.
The brand also offers a matching Lucille sports bra, but smaller riders (like me) may want to steer clear as they run extra large.
How it’s sustainable: Shorts typically use a large or majority percentage of recycled nylon (plus spandex for stretch). The brand is also a B Corp and Climate Neutral Certified.
Pros
- Matching colors and patterns available
- Full line of apparel for every riding style
- Durable and lightweight options available
- Full line of apparel from bras to outerwear
Cons
- Not as size inclusive as other brands (up to size 18)
Curious Creatures: Durability + A Touch of Whimsy
This woman-owned brand doesn’t *just* make apparel for women, but they mostly do, so we can forgive them for also making clothing for men (lol). Especially since the brand was founded and owned by a woman: Natasha Woodworth, who used to design for Lada Gaga and Patagonia. Their men’s/unisex line is limited, but there are enough options for femme riders without being overwhelming, which we love. Among other styles there’s a Bitterroot Bloom short with 12.5″ inseam for you folks who crave coverage and protection, a smokin’ Sun Dog Pant, and the Ramble Scramble 7″ short that’s the perfect length for hot rides (pictured above).
The fabric on the latter is stretchy, thick, and feels ultra durable, but also supremely comfy. Even with a traditional button and zipper fly and waistband with belt loops we didn’t have any discomfort during hours-long rides. And the pockets! There are two back pockets, two front hand pockets, and two side drop-in pockets (one with a zipper) on the right side. That, coupled with Curious Creatures’ simple but striking color styling made them just as well suited for hiking or wearing around town as on the trail. The shorts are even roomy enough for riders with muscular thighs (though thinner legged riders may find them a touch roomy).
We also tested out the high rise Vulvarine Chamois (which may be the BEST product name in the history of women’s apparel) and loved how light and breathable the pad was. The non-restrictive fabric was breathable and didn’t creep up our legs during rides. Bonus: it all appeals to our curious and ever-delighted-with-exploration side (and we love the cute little eyeball-looking logo on the back pocket). Pro tip: check the size chart for the shorts before you buy as some styles run small and you may want to size up.
How it’s sustainable: Most materials Curious Creatures uses are ultra durable and/or made of OEKO-TEX, recycled, or Bluesign fabric. Bio-based stretch yarn is also used to promote ease of recyclability at product end of life and repairs are available.
Pros
- Ultra durable materials
- Suitable for rough riding and easy rides
- Inclusive sizing (up to size 20)
- More sustainable materials used for most items
- Lots of bright colors and neutrals available
Cons
- Expensive
Bottom Line
The best mountain bike clothing for women and femmes is often designed by women. Because let’s be honest, we know what we like, what we need, and how we want clothing to not only fit, but perform. So if you’re looking for some new mountain bike threads, these brands are hard to beat in our humble opinion. Just remember: you don’t need to wear anything fancy to get out there and ride. Shred as you are, whether that means hitting the downhill park hard or enjoying some chill laps with the family at the local park. Wander on.
