Clothes dont make the ride, but the can definitely mess it up. Photo courtesy Mavic

Clothes dont make the ride, but they can definitely mess it up. Photo courtesy Mavic​

Welcome to part 3 of the Mtbr mountain bike fashion show. This proverbial runway walk features clothing and gear from the likes of Kitsbow, Mavic, and Gore. Head here for part 1, which includes Pactimo, Pearl Izumi, and Qloom. And click here for the latest from Endura, Voler, and Garneau.

In each case, we logged at least a half dozen rides in the apparel, allowing fair evaluation of fashion, function, and fit. All photos are by Dave Kozlowski unless otherwise indicated.

Kitsbow

For true connoisseurs of clothing craftsmanship (who don't mind spending a little extra - or a lot in some cases), Kitsbow has few peers in the cycling apparel arena. The California-based company sources fine wools from as far away as Australia and New Zealand, uses high quality buttons and zippers, and then gets it all stitched together in North America, where they can assure quality control beginning to end. It's truly beautiful stuff.

Kitsbow

The highlight piece in this test was the Men's Adjustable A/M Short ($285, more info at www.kitsbow.com). They're not quite long enough (and way too expensive) for the kneepad crowd. But every other detail is immaculately attended to. An Italian-made slider snap at the fly means you never have to worry about an unscheduled opening, while four pockets (two rear, two front) provide a litany of storage options. The rear pockets have magnetic snap flaps (plus one with a zipper); the frontside hand pockets both have recessed zippers. And all four are mesh lined to enhance ventilation.

The waist belt is equally secure, with locking buckles that provide two inches of total adjustment and cleanly tuck away once you're sorted. You can also forget about saddle snags thanks to a well-tailored gusset. Branding is minimal and the fabric is soft on the skin, very durable, and water resistance. And yes, when riding is done, you can definitely wear them at the coffee shop or brew pub and not feel like "that guy."

Kitsbow Men's Adjustable A/M Short

The Kitsbow Ride Tee carves a similar dual purpose path, functional on the bike, fashionable off it, but not without a financial hit - $120 to be precise. Fabric is 88% merino wool blended with polyester. That means good temperature regulation - and no stink. I wasn't super impressed with this piece's wicking, though, as I managed to get it pretty soaked during an extended climbing session. But once over the top it dried quickly. Other notable details include nylon shoulder panels to counteract hydration pack strap abrasion, and a stylish two-button classic Henley look. It's available in seven colors and five sizes. More info here.

Underneath it all, we tested (and loved) the Kitsbow Ventilated Base Short ($170, more info here). Normally we prefer full bibs, but these shorts are tailored so well slippage was never an issue. The 3D chamois pad uses high-density foam inserts to relieve pressure, and is specifically designed for the more upright riding position of mountain biking. We rocked these on numerous all-day, high alpine epics with no complaint from the nether region. Leg hems are wide and compressive for a chafe-free fit, and the stretch mesh panels help keep things cool.

Kitsbow Ride Tee

And no matter how you feel about ultra-high-end MTB kit, entering the Kitsbow Slickrock Social contest is a no brainer. The winner and a pal get an all-expenses-paid trip to the Outerbike Moab demo event in October.

Continue to page 2 for four appealing apparel options from Gore »

Gore One Gore-Tex Active Jacket

Gore

Best rain jacket ever is a pretty bold statement. But in our many years of riding, few water-stopping tops equal the functionality and light weight of the Gore One Gore-Tex Active Jacket. The new-for-2016 fabric is all but impermeable to water, yet breathes remarkably well, and weighs about as much as a Clif Bar, while packing down to the size of a tennis ball.

Gore One Gore-Tex Active Jacket

Previous Gore-Tex cycling jackets employed a multi-layer design where the waterproof membrane resided between a breathable inner liner and more durable outer membrane. But that outer membrane required waterproofing, which would eventually wear off. With this jacket, the long lasting Gore-Tex membrane is the outer layer, meaning a permanent beading surface that requires little more than a shake to dry off. It's a truly impressive piece.

Gore One Gore-Tex Active Jacket

Just try not to crash. Gore says it's not designed for the rigors of high speed abrasion. So if you wear a pack all the time, best steer clear of this jacket, as the shoulder straps could do harm. But with the current prevalence of swat-style storage and fanny packs, we see a place for this jacket in the MTB world. Just know that MSRP is a wallet-soaking $299 and it doesn't have a hood. More info at www.goreapparel.com.

Photo by Dave Kozlowski


If you're a diehard pack user - and don't have 300 bucks to spend on a rain jacket - Gore's Rescue Windstopper Active Shell Jacket isn't a bad plan B. Though still spendy at $200, this sharp looking hooded top is nearly as light, packs down small, and is more durable. Fused seams block the wind and repel water, yet it still breathes relatively well. Our only major knock, and it'll be a deal breaker for some, is the lack of a full length zipper. My shoulders are narrow enough that it's easy to slip on and off, but I witnessed a fellow (wider) cycling journo from another publication struggle like a toddler covered by a king size sheet when trying to pull it off during a test ride. Also know that the hood doesn't fit over a cycling helmet. More info here.

Gore Bike Wear

For use rain or shine, we've been loving Gore's Power Trail 2in1 Shorts, the "2" referring to the very comfortable sewn-in bibtights. Two zip pockets (one on the back, another on the left thigh) provide secure stash space, while the dual-snap fly keeps things closed up at the fly. Length is borderline for kneepads, but honestly we see these shorts more as a great choice for the KOM-chasing XC rider who doesn't want to rock the Lycra look, nor sacrifice comfort and function.

Photo by Dave Kozlowski


Mesh bib construction helps keep you cool, while frictionless tape on the inside of the hem lessens the chance of chafe. Gore also gets props for using abrasion resistant material on the inner leg and saddle area, increasing durability. Price is $190. More info here.

Photo by Dave Kozlowski


Finally, we spent some time in the Power Trail Long Sleeve Jersey ($90, www.goreapparel.com). I'm not a fan of the look of this particular design, but it comes in three other more subdued color combos if pink+camo isn't your thing either. Fabric is 100% polyester, there are reflective accents on the sleeves and back, and fit is on the slim side, meaning elbow pads are out.

Continue to page 3 to check out the latest MTB clothing from Mavic »

Mavic MTB Apparel

Mavic

Mavic will likely forever be best known for its wheels and yellow neutral service cars. But the French company also consistently makes some of our favorite MTB apparel. This year's crop of goods is no exception. The only problem is that most of this gear is not yet available on this side of the Atlantic. But word from HQ in Annecy is that it will be here sometime this fall, so we'll go ahead and tell you about it ahead of time. Note that U.S. pricing on some items has not yet been set.

Mavic Crossride Long Sleeve Hoodie

Tops on the hit list is the good looking and versatile Crossride Long Sleeve Hoodie (see www.mavic.us), which can be worn on and off the bike, and is actually quite functional despite what might look like a simple design. The hood is stretchy enough to pull over a helmet if the weather turns chilly, and the sleeves can easily be pulled up to your elbows when the sun comes back out, which is a lot simpler than mucking around with arm warmers. We've typically worn it directly over a base layer on variable weather days. But fit is loose enough that it can go over top of a jersey, too. An articulated cut moves well in the riding position, and while not perfect, Mavic's trail wick fabric does a reasonable job of keeping sweat off your skin.

Mavic Crossride Jersey

For warmer days, the Crossride Jersey (more info here) is a solid choice. Stretchy, wicking fabric performs well on the bike. Subtle styling means you can keep it on post ride.

Mavic Crossride Short Set

Either top pairs well with the Crossride Short Set (www.mavic.us), which are long enough to wear with kneepads, but not so baggy that they get caught on your saddle when you're moving around. We love the clean look, soft-but-durable fabric, and adjustable Velcro belt that's reliably held these shorts in place during a long summer of riding. But the single snap fly is a little risky and we'd like to see at least one zipped pocket. As it is there's a rear pocket with a flap that's help in place by a strip of Velcro.

Stretchy fabric avails freedom of movement, and DWR treatment repels water. These shorts also come with a removable liner short, that's good but not great. Finally, a pair of belt loops are designed to interface with Mavic's integrated baggy short-hydrabelt hydration system. It's an interesting concept but one we've yet to test.

Mavic Crossmax Pro H2O Jacket

The waterproof Crossmax Pro H2O Jacket continues the design theme, while providing a robust barrier between rider and rain. It's not as light or packable as either of the Gore jackets, but the heavier weight serves you well when the temperature falls. A pair of zippered frontside vents allow for on-the-fly heat management, while Lycra wrist cuffs keep heat in, cold out. Unlike the Pearl Izumi WRX jacket, the hood does not fit over a helmet, but it does roll up and stow if you want to get it out of the way. The interior collar is very soft on the skin, and the sturdy YKK zipper with fully sealed seams can be operated with one hand. Available in sizes from S to XXL in both the pictured bright color combo and black. More info here.

Mavic Crossmax Pro Helmet

Finally, we tested the Crossmax Pro Helmet and Crossride Elite Shoes. The 331-gram helmet size medium has been our No. 1 lid this summer both for its looks and protection. The visor is adjustable for goggle use, there's ample rear protective coverage, and the front six vents are covered in mosquito netting to keep the bugs at bay. Fit adjustment is achieved by an easy-to-manipulate rear dial with height adjuster. There's also a foam insert at the forehead area for improved comfort and added protection in the case of an impact, something we successfully tested on Crested Butte South's techy Waterfall Trail.

Points are taken off for straps that can get twisted and the white upper shell coloring, which has gotten a little dingy over time. Price is $180. More info at www.mavic.us.

Mavic Crossride Shoes

Meanwhile, the Crossride Shoes are a little on the flashy side and not particularly light (450 grams per shoe, size 44). But comfort, durability, and price are right… sort of. The qualifier is there because we managed to tear a hole in toe area after scraping against a sharp rock on one of our go-to lunch ride trails. Normally we'd blame poor shoe construction. But a few days later the exact same thing happened to another pair of test shoes...on the same rock.

Besides the small tear (which was easily repaired with dab of super glue) these shoes have held up well during a long summer of use. The traction-enhancing sole tread is completely intact, and we've yet to see any significant thread fraying. If you're looking to squeeze every watt out of your pedal strokes, you'll want something with a stiffer sole. But for long days with the inevitable hike-a-bike sections, these shoes have performed remarkably well given their $100 price tag. And while I'm not a huge fan of the wonky lace-first-then-Velcro-strap closure system, it does allow for a fairly fined tuned fit and has never come loose. Reinforced toe and heel protection is another plus. More info at www.mavic.us.