Fall has fallen. Or something like that. We say it every year, but having the right clothing makes riding through shifty fall weather more much enjoyable. And once the truly cold winter weather hits, warm MTB apparel will have you looking forward to shredding rather than dreading.
Mountain bike jerseys and jackets
Is it a jersey, a shirt, or a jacket? Who cares, as long as it feels good on the trail! This season we’ve been testing all kinds of shackets, shirseys, and jackseys from light and breezy to warm and insulated.
Club Ride Men’s Griffin Flannel Jacket
- Price: $99.95
- Buy from Club Ride Apparel
Tester: Daniel P. Height/weight: 5’8”/215lb
The Club Ride Griffin Flannel Jacket is very unique. At first glance it may look like a nice going-out flannel, which it can be! But under the looks, it is a rugged performance cycling jacket. This shirt plus jacket shacket is tailored to be ridden out on the trails. It sits nicely on the shoulders while not being bulky or cumbersome.
This flannel is made up of well thought-out and thoughtfully placed materials. The front is lined with wind-resistant fabric while the back side has a breathable panel. It is double layered to keep you warm during those chilly night rides and the snap buttons unbutton quickly in the event you need to dump heat after a leg-warming climb. A quick-to-access external zipped pocket on the left chest area and internal mesh stow pocket can accommodate a wallet, keys, snacks, or glasses. I found the sizing guide and fit to be pretty accurate and you can snag one in Shady Grey Pond (shown here) or Spiced Auburn.
Club Ride Men’s Payette Long Sleeve Jersey
- Price: $59.95
- Buy from Club Ride Apparel
Tester: Daniel P. Height/weight: 5’8”/215lb
The Club Ride Payette Henley Long Sleeve makes for a stylish layer during the cooler months of the year. A clean and relaxed tailored look makes it an all-day wearable. And the Poly/Wool fabrics give it soft, breathable, and anti-wrinkle characteristics in a lightweight package.
The Payette sits nicely over the shoulders with room to move for pre- and post-ride stretching. Sizing seems to be pretty accurate. I very much like the soft, buttoned back pocket that can fit a pair of glasses, keys, or wallet. Plus I can’t forget to mention the little Club Ride logo on the side is reflective. Available in three fall friendly colors: Spiced Auburn (shown here), Imperial Purple, and Auburn.
Pearl Izumi Women’s Expedition Alpha Jacket
- Price: $175
- Buy from Pearl Izumi
Tester: Jamiee P. Height/weight: 5’7”/165 lb
The Expedition Alpha Jacket has a unique combination of both warmth and lightness with airflow in just the right places. It has inner insulation placed in the front upper chest, arms and shoulders, while the back and side panels are ventilated to let out body heat.
The outer quilted panels offer weather protection and the PFC-free Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment will keep you dry if you’re caught in the middle of some rain showers. The back of the jacket features a silicone grip to keep the back hem in place during your ride. There are two front zip pockets to stash snacks or keep your hands warm in between riding, and the front zipper is easy to grab and pull down should you want some extra ventilation while riding.
This jacket fits true to size and is snug, getting it out of the way while riding. I like that the Expedition Alpha Jacket does have some stretch for comfort and easy movement. It’s great for long chilly rides and stylish to wear off the trails too.
Available in one snazzy color, Pine.
Pearl Izumi Women’s Attack AmFIB® Lite Jacket
- Price: $150
- Buy from Pearl Izumi
Tester: Jamiee P. Height/weight: 5’7”/165lb
With winter bringing in cooler temperatures, the Pearl Izumi Attack AmFIB Lite Jacket will be a staple for me this season thanks to its warmth, breathability, and comfort.
The outer layer of the entire jacket has DWR protection to repel water while the inner layer is lined with thin fleece to keep body heat inside. The front of the jacket is thicker and made of a windproof, softshell material while the back features a stretchier thermal fleece material that’s also breathable to reduce back sweat. The back hem has a grippy pattern to keep it in place while riding.
There is a front zippered pocket that is large enough to fit an iPhone 13 Pro Max. The three back pockets are deep and stretchy, and work great for stashing essentials for the ride like bottles, extra gloves, or snacks. There are two reflective Pearl Izumi logos, one on the chest pocket and one at the bottom back hem.
The overall fit of the Attack AmFIB Lite Jacket is snug so it contours to your body while riding, yet it has wiggle room so you can easily wear a thin base layer underneath. The thoughtful details and design of this jacket make it versatile to wear while cycling and it can also be used for hiking or other outdoor activities where you need both warmth and breathability.
Available in two colors: Wild Violet and Sunfire (shown here).
Pearl Izumi Women’s Summit Hooded Thermal Jersey
- Price: $120
- Buy from Pearl Izumi
Tester: Jamiee P. Height/weight: 5’7”/165 lb
The Pearl Izumi Women’s Summit Hooded Thermal Jersey looks very casual but it is a nice flexible piece in your mountain bike closet that can be worn as an outer layer on cool morning rides and mid layer for those even colder rides.
This jersey is an upgrade of your favorite classic zip up hoodie, tailored for cycling and super breathable thanks to the inner technical fleece grid fabric which lets moisture out while keeping comfortable amounts of body heat in. The hood is designed to be thin enough that it can be worn underneath your helmet, and I found that it also fits over your helmet so you can decide how (or if) you’d like to keep your head warm! Two sizable side pockets are angled toward the back with plenty of space to stash your phone, snacks, or water bottle even at arms reach.
This jersey has a snug fit, so you may want to size up if you’d like to have more room for layering with a shirt or a long sleeve underneath.
Available in 2 colors: Dark Ink and Adobe.
7Mesh Women’s Cache Jacket
- Price: $330
- Buy from 7mesh
Tester: Jamiee P. Height/weight: 5’7”/165 lb
The 7Mesh Cache Jacket is there for you when you need technical top tier performance to protect you from the harsh elements. Offering water proofing with proper ventilation, the Cache Jacket is part of the brand’s Airmap collection, which “uses a combination of two, and three-layer fabrics to be water resistant where it needs to be while maximizing air permeability and breathability.” What makes this fascinating is that the outer shell looks like one singular material, but in reality the inside of the jacket is made up of the different fabrics that are placed strategically and have their unique properties.
The Cache Jacket has a relaxed fit and you can comfortably fit a layer or two underneath if you so desire. The full zipper front has a neat detail on the inner collar and neck area which is made of a soft brushed tricot material making it feel luxuriously soft while providing warmth. There is a discrete elastic pull string on the hem to help create a better fit. With two large zippered pockets, you can stash electronics to keep them safe from any unruly atmospheric conditions.
It is important to note the efforts that 7Mesh has put in to create an amazing apparel. The Cache Jacket is made of recycled fabric, it is PFC & PFAS-free (also known as forever chemicals), Bluesign® approved fabric (the gold standard for more sustainable textiles), and Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certified fabric. If the quality of this jacket isn’t enough to intrigue you, surely the environmental standards they’re setting out to accomplish will make you enjoy this jacket even more.
7Mesh also offers to repair or replace your items over the course of their practical lifetime.
Smartwool Men’s Mountain Bike Long Sleeve Jersey
- Price: $95
- Buy from Smartwool
Tester: Daniel P. Height/weight: 5’8”/215lb
The Smartwool Mountain Bike Long Sleeve Jersey offers comfort and performance through the combination of Merino Wool and Recycled Polyester fabrics — 69% Polyester and 31% Merino Wool to be exact. The Merino Wool helps with moisture control, temperature regulation, and odor control while the Polyester fibers give the fabric durability and quick drying characteristics.
The Jersey sits on the shoulders perfectly and has a relaxed fit throughout. Movement is not hindered and the long back gives some extra coverage on bike rides. The back neck area has two small vents for breathability, something I haven’t seen on a jersey before. Plus the left arm has a large but subtle reflective Smartwool logo and a small logo on the bottom left side of the back to help keep you visible at night. This colorway goes with almost any other apparel, and there are three other colors to choose from. Merino can be delicate to care for but Smartwool was smart to reinforce the fibers with Polyester.
Stio Men’s Wilcox Fleece Hoodie
- Price: $175
- Buy from Stio
Tester: Daniel P. Height/weight: 5’8”/215lb
When off the saddle and ready to cozy up on those cooler days, the Stio Wilcox Fleece Hoodie is a great companion. This zippered sweatshirt is made from 100% Recycled Lofton (polyester) fleece. It has this sweater knit face exterior that resembles wool while the interior has the cozy soft brushed fleece. I noticed it breathes well, helping to keep a comfortable temperature while out walking, hiking, shopping, or napping. The jacket has a snug but stretchy relaxed fit. The hoodie delivers excellent range of motion and doesn’t feel bulky at all. I found their sizing guide to be pretty accurate.
The zippered mesh-lined hand pockets are plenty large for stashing away essentials but also good for keeping hands nice and warm. There is a third chest pocket that is also large enough for a full-sized wallet or a large smartphone. The YKK zippers are a nice touch along with the embroidered Stio and Pinecone Logos.
I received the Mountain Shadow Heather color but there are seven other colors to choose from: Tender Shoot Heather, Vintage Ivy Heather, Summit Fever Heather, Fiery Agate Heather, Larkspur Blue Heather, Abyss Heather, and Faded Oak Heather.
Mountain bike pants
Mountain bike pants are becoming a popular option for winter and fall riding, especially since many can pull double duty for summer bike park shredding. A good pair of mountain bike pants will have a drivetrain-friendly, tapered ankle cuff, ventilation to keep you from overheating, and ideally a pocket or two for warming hands and carrying small items.
Club Ride Men’s Rider Pant
- Price: $109.95
- Buy from Club Ride Apparel
Tester: Daniel P. Height/weight: 5’8”/215lb
I used to prefer riding with shorts even during the winter months since pants can get too hot on the climbs. Lightweight pants, like these from Club Ride, seem to have solved that issue for me. The Club Ride Rider Pant offers extra protection from the elements in a relaxed lightweight, water-resistant package.
The pants sit comfortably at the waist thanks to the elastic waistline. The pants feel fitted at the rear meaning the material won’t get snagged on the saddle. The relaxed fit runs through the thigh, knee, and ankle area. I like the roomy knee area that allows me to wear bulky padded knee pads.
Zippered ankle openings feature a mesh material that allows for more ventilation. The two front pockets and the zippered leg pocket can easily fit an iPhone and aren’t too deep so you don’t have to dig for things. As most cycling pants are for me, these are a bit on the longer side, but a quick fold solved that problem. Other than that, I did find their sizing guide to be accurate. You can get these in Black or Cypress Green.
Patagonia Men’s Dirt Craft pants
- Price: $149
- Men’s and women’s versions available
- Buy from Patagonia
Tester: Jeff B. Height/weight: 6’3″/165lb
Patagonia Dirt Craft pants are lightweight and vented enough for summer bike park shredding, but we’ve found they’re great for cool fall rides as well. Laser-cut holes in the inner thigh and in the knee pits ensure you won’t overheat, even after your biggest efforts.
The tapered leg cuffs are drivetrain friendly while the stretchy material makes pedaling a breeze. And there aren’t any waist adjusters or cinchers to dig in under a hip pack belt. Two zippered front pockets offer convenient storage while the lack of rear pockets provides a smooth saddle interface. The Patagonia Dirt Craft pants fit true to size and have seen a lot of use already this fall. I’m sure I’ll be hanging onto these for seasons to come.
Rapha Trail Gore-Tex Pants
Winter is usually the sign for us to slow down, take it easy, get some bike maintenance done, or grab the skis. Everyone knows a die-hard though and some riders just aren’t interested in slowing down. That’s where Rapha’s trail Gore-Tex pants come into play.
Rapha’s Trail Gore-Tex pants have a similar look and feel to their trail lightweight pants, they just add heavy wet weather protection with the Gore-Tex fabric and name. They have fully taped seams and mud resistance, two pockets up front and can be worn with knee pads.
The Trail Gore-Tex pants fit well for my average, 5’8″, extra medium build. They are just the right amount of baggy and not too tight either. There is room for knee pads. The one thing that makes them feel quite different is that the Gore-Tex material doesn’t like to flex a lot. It’s a pretty rigid material, however it is comfortable and they have a reasonable amount of breathability considering their strength against moisture. This isn’t the cheapest rain pant out there, but if you need something that fits and feels great and doesn’t get steamy during rainy rides, the Rapha Trail Gore-Tex pants check the box.
- Price: $325
- Buy from Rapha. A women’s version is also available.
Tester: Matt M. Height/weight: 5’8”/165lb
Pearl Izumi Women’s Summit Pants
- Price: $145
- Buy from Pearl Izumi
Tester: Jamiee P. Height/weight: 5’7”/165 lb
The Pearl Izumi Women’s Summit Pants are lightweight mountain biking pants. These particular ones are more summer-oriented but can still be easily rocked during fall.
The Summit Pants are true to size and deliver a slim fit throughout. The material has just the right amount of stretch, making it super comfortable for all-day riding. The legs are tapered and scrunched at the end which is perfect to keep the ankle hems away from moving bike parts. The knee area has room for a set of slim knee pads.
These pants are coated with a DWR treatment to help keep the legs dry when smashing through puddles. The adjustable waist belt closure is very convenient and the triangle laser-cut panels on the inner thighs for ventilation are a nice touch.
The super soft, next-to-nothing feel makes the Summit Pants a favorite in my book. Available in Nightshade Trail (shown here), Phantom, and Clay colorways.
Stio Women’s Fremont Stretch Fleece Jogger
- Price: $169
- Buy from Stio
Tester: Jamiee P. Height/weight: 5’7”/165 lb
The Stio Fremont Stretch Fleece Jogger is not only lightweight and buttery soft, it also is made from technical fleece materials that are breathable and abrasion-resistant to keep warmth in but sweat out. This is the perfect pair of pants to throw on before or after hitting the trails, on rest days to lounge in, or anytime in between.
The wide elastic waistband is soft and stretchy for comfort, and the overall fit is fitted slim, with enough bagginess for optimum comfort. The Fremont Stretch Fleece Jogger has three pockets (woohoo!), two deep drop-in pockets in the front (my iPhone 13 Pro Max fit easily with ample room) and one smaller zippered pocket in the back to throw in some SPF chapstick. The pants were designed with abrasion-resistant and anti-pilling fabric. I know I will be living in these on my relaxing/recovery days or while out on errands. The brand offers Stio Second Turn, which is their gear renewal program that lets customers shop for and trade in used garments.
Available in a variety of colors: Magnet, Gray Fox, Midnight Hour (shown here), Larkspur Blue, Bright Lupine, and Abyss.
MTB socks and gloves for fall/winter
Pants and jerseys get all the attention, but having the right gloves and socks is the key to comfortable fall and winter riding.
Craft Siberian 2.0 Glove
- Price: $65
- Buy from Craft Sports
Tester: Daniel P. Height/weight: 5’8”/215lb
The Craft Siberian 2.0 Glove offers exceptional wind and water proofing in a soft, fleece-lined package. These are for those early morning and late night rides where the wind is just turning your hands into icicles and wished you weren’t wearing your thin summer gloves.
The large adjustable velcro strap keeps the gloves fitted while the silicone prints on the palm keep you from sliding off the bar grips. You can operate your smartphone with the glove thumbs and pointing finger. There is reflective material that runs through the glove to help stay visible at night and you can also opt in for a highlighter Flumino colorway for even more visibility. Also my size medium fit like a glove!
Pearl Izumi Cyclone Gel Glove
- Price: $45
- Men’s and women’s versions available
- Buy from Pearl Izumi.
Tester: Jeff B. Height/weight: 6’3″/165lb
The Pearl Izumi Cyclone Gel Glove is a good shoulder season glove for fall rides above the freezing mark. The synthetic leather palms deliver comfortable grip and feature gel pads to damp trail and gravel road vibrations.
On top, the Cyclone Gel gloves offer protection from rain and wind, yet they aren’t too stuffy or clammy. An elongated cuff closes the gap between sleeve and glove. I found these are just right for temperatures in the 40s and 50s.
Pearl Izumi Merino Trail Socks
- Price: $24
- Buy from Pearl Izumi
Tester: Jeff B. Height/weight: 6’3″/1650lb
These Merino wool blend socks are great for fall riding thanks to lightly padded toes for a little extra insulation without a ton of bulk. At 7″ tall these soft socks go with both shorts and pants.
Rapha knee and arm warmers
- Price: $70 (arm) and $75 (knee)
- Buy from REI.
Tester: Jeff Barber
Rapha uses an exclusive 97% Merino wool blend for their arm and knee warmers that’s soft and warm yet lightweight and breathable. Silicon grippers ensure they stay in place even through the hardest efforts. These quality Rapha knee and arm warmers are great for extending your MTB wardrobe through shoulder season and they’re packable too for all-day epics under shifting weather conditions.
