6 Women-Founded Brands Making Stylish Mountain Bike Apparel
These brands make technical and design-forward mountain bike apparel for women.
There’s never been a better time to start mountain biking. As the sport continues to grow in popularity, so have the options for high-quality, functional apparel designed for women of all sizes and shapes, and all style preferences. The global mountain bike market is projected to grow to $3.77 billion from 2024 to 2028, with women emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments. Not only are more women conquering the trails, but they are launching new businesses and transforming the industry.
Sure, many legacy brands make great women’s gear, but women-founded brands are often created to address a specific gap or frustration in the market, such as a lack of extended sizing, tailored fits, or women-specific features. These brands also prioritize community building and creating a more inclusive atmosphere on the trails.
Here are six women-founded brands creating technical, style-forward mountain bike apparel that we have tested, loved, and wear on the daily.
ABOUT THE BRAND:
The newest kid on the trail, Curious Creatures is the brainchild of designer Tasha Woodsworth and run by a group of self-professed “weirdos obsessed with exploring the world by bike.” The apparel leans more casual, offering a fresh proposition to the traditional mountain bike uniform. The brand emphasizes sustainability and transparency, offering 100% hand-dyed cotton tees sewn in the U.S and bluesign approved fabrics. Initially a women’s line, they recently expanded to include a men’s line.
STANDOUT PRODUCT:
Sun Dog Pant - Lightweight and stylish, these summer pants look different than anything else on the market. Functional design details like the pleated ankle closure that aids ventilation, zipped pockets, and a soft stretch waistband for comfort make them perfect for dry warm rides. From my experience, the fabric is prone to absorbing mud, so I keep these for the transitional days when the conditions are dry. When they’ve reached their end of the life, pants can be sent back to Curious Creatures for recycling, contributing to the circular economy.
SHREDLY
ABOUT THE BRAND:
Founded in 2012 by Ashley Rankin, SHREDLY exudes a youthful and joyful approach to technical design. If bright colors, glitter, and tie-die are your jam, SHREDLY will resonate with you. The brand recently partnered with Marley Blonsky of All Bodies on Bikes to create a body-inclusive apparel collection, encouraging riders of all shapes and sizes to ride unapologetically. Community-oriented, SHREDLY organizes group events and rides that are inclusive and straight-up fun.
STANDOUT PRODUCT:
Vented All-Time Zipper Pants - With moto-inspired pintuck pleats and zippered ankles, these pants look sharp and can accommodate knee pads. Perforated back leg panels provide ventilation and the fabric is water-resistant and sheds mud. These pants are on heavy rotation and easy to wear in almost every scenario. Breathable, yet rugged, these are great for daily rides or park laps. They come in fun colors, patterns or black. I own the Midnight color and highly recommend. The fit is true to size.
Beyond Tech Boxy Tee- A performance cropped tee with seamless construction and chemical-free antimicrobial properties available in various fun prints. This shirt is super cute and garners compliments every time its worn. Note, the crop is significant. I found it exposed too much skin for technical rides, but it’s great for casual days.
ABOUT THE BRAND:
Mons Royale specializes in high-performance merino wool apparel, and the brand has a fairytale origin. Two Kiwi farm kids meet, marry, and create one of New Zealand’s most iconic outdoor brands using the countrie’s most iconic resource, sheep. Co-founder Hannah Acland continues to lead brand design direction. The company is B-Corp certified.
STANDOUT PRODUCT:
Icon Merino Tee Shirt - A high-quality merino wool shirt is a wardrobe workhorse, and this is one of the best. The Icon is a lightweight (140 gsm) tee with all the signature benefits of wool: excellent moisture wicking, body temperature regulation and a soft-to-the-skin feel. It features a relaxed fit that drapes nicely and never feels clingy. Made for mountain biking but fit for life, this is the shirt I reach when planning any daily adventure, and it’s been going strong for years.
ABOUT THE BRAND:
A pioneer in the outdoor space, Wild Rye is now a formidable player in the recreation apparel market. Known for their colorful, patterned shorts and excellent fit, there’s no denying Wild Rye’s impact on women’s mountain bike trends. The brand recently introduced a maternity line, created a benefit tee supporting women’s reproductive rights, and is a B-corp certified company. Founder, Cassie Abel, consistently champions other women entrepreneurs, even creating a shopping day, Women-led Wednesday, to support female biz’.
STANDOUT PRODUCT:
Freel Shorts - The Freel shorts are durable and comfortable with a rugged fabric and a goldilocks, above-knee length. I have an athletic build and find the fit to be chefs kiss. The durable and stretchy material held up to a summer of heavy riding with no rips, snags, or stains. These have kept their shape through rides and washes, and they feel like they could keep going season after season. Great investment.
Alyssa Chammy- I bought this chammy out of necessity while riding at Roamfest in Sedona, Arizona. I quickly realized I needed more padding in order to spend long days on the bike. This chammy is a winner, providing saddle comfort and also breathability (dutifully tested in the hot Arizona sun.) The non-slip leg grips and stretch waist add to the comfort, making these a go-to for any bike adventure.
ABOUT THE BRAND:
Co-founded by a husband-and-wife duo, Hand Up Gloves aims to create a sense of community through their playful designs and messages written across the gloves palms. These gloves offer excellent fit, durability, and grip, making them both fun and functional.
STANDOUT PRODUCT:
Scoops Gloves - Seriously, how rad are these gloves? If bringing fun to the trails is part of the mission, consider this mission successful. And the cherry on top? These gloves are my best performing gloves. After a full year of use, no seams have ripped, and the palm fabric and grip is still intact. This is the longest I’ve worn a pair of gloves. Plus I just saw they have matching socks. Sundae Funday!
Peppermint Cycling
Canadian twin sisters Michèle and Véronik Bastien founded Peppermint Cycling in 2015 after seeing an opportunity to improve the cycling experience for women with beautiful, sophisticated apparel. Peppermint delivers high-quality and well-designed apparel for road, gravel, and mountain biking. Seasonal colors are muted and refined.
Standout Product:
MTB Overalls - These overalls have gained a cult following for their blend of style and functionality. Features include a zippered chest pocket, ankle zips, and waist zip for easy on and off. The tailored legs look good and function well on-bike. A water-repellant coating extends the season.
MTB Shirt- This button-down party shirt elevates style and is moisture-wicking. A great way to bring a more relaxed style to your mountain bike fit. Fabric breathes and is soft to the skin.