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Hi,
I am not a fan of wearing huge logos which puts me off a lot of MTB gear.
Can anyone recommend any manufacturers that do not splash huge logos across their gear?
Cheers
Perfumed Ponce
You're in luck because aside from padded undershorts if that's your thing, you can ride your MTB in pretty much any clothes you can buy on the high street.
Rapha. Not got any of their Mtb kit yet but feedback seems good.
One of the reasons I like their road kit is that generally it’s not covered in shouty logos.
Well that's not strictly true.
Many tops just aren't long enough to cover your lower back when bent over the bars and many shorts aren't stretch enough. Also most non technical clothing soaks up sweat like a sponge.
Rapha. Not got any of their Mtb kit yet but feedback seems good.
Another requirement is that I don't have to sell my organs/children to pay for it 🙂
I wear generic, grey wicking gym t-shirts from TK Maxx, £12 a go.
I find walking shorts or trousers work ok, but MTB shorts probably better (stretch, pockets, toughness, cut).
Also, just get stuff from Decathlon. Hardly any branding
Madison stuff generally only has small logos. Can be had pretty bloody cheap as well.
https://www.startfitness.co.uk/cycles/bike-wear/jerseys.html?gender=98&manufacturer=378
Stick a pair of bibs on under your shorts and wear any tech T you like without worrying about lower back exposure.
Rapha pricing is pretty consistent with the usual Mtb brands like Fox, TLD etc. For lower price point try Madison, I also think Nukeproof have some more subtly branded kit these days.
Rapha not as expensive as you'd probably think, but it's still plastic/poly tee-shit- world, so you're not buying anything different from the TLD Fox equivalents.
Rapha.
One of the reasons I like their road kit is that generally it’s not covered in shouty logos
Yeah, but then at the same time, that's how everybody knows you're wearing Rapha.
Rapha shout the loudest by not shouting 😉
Try some of the budget stuff from eBay or Amazon. I've worn FDX shorts for ages for example and they've got no branding really.
Loads of generic riding kit on Amazon without logos.
Endura do plenty of plain stuff mercifully free from 'LOOK AT ME!' branding, and its great quality kit
I would second Madison, it's very well made and reasonably priced with very subtle logos (some of my Madison clothing has no logos and others just have a little label that could easily be cut off).
Basing entirely on what I have partly chosen for the same reasons as you, either Endura or DHb from Wiggle. The both have been excellent in terms of wear and tend to have quite small logos.
I've been using Muddyfox kit for commuting in the warmer months - cheap, hardwearing & subtle branding.
Another vote for Madison stuff. Not as popular as some other brands as shops who sell grey import Shimano stuff (ie not through Madison distributors) are sort of barred from selling it so it’s not in the big stores sometimes.
Simple, good quality and value, nice colours and hard wearing.
Yeah, but then at the same time, that’s how everybody knows you’re wearing Rapha.
Rapha shout the loudest by not shouting 😉
I live in SW London area, it would be more odd if I wore anything but Rapha or Castelli darling! 😆
Scott do some nice subtle stuff. Not especially cheap though.
I was also going to suggest Morvelo (OK, the patterns are not necessarily subtle, but the branding isn't too garish) but have they stopped doing MTB clothing now? It's all road / gravel on their website now. That's a shame.
but have they stopped doing MTB clothing now?
Seem to have. There was another thread that made me go and have a look at their site for the first time in an age, and it was 'virtually' empty.
decathlon
Decathlon and TK Maxx for me. Decent kit, no bright colours or racing stripes. Rock bottom prices.
Seem to have. There was another thread that made me go and have a look at their site for the first time in an age, and it was ‘virtually’ empty.
I'm holding out for the return of the **** cancer socks.
Because now I am down to one. walking round with a single pink sock that says **** with no context is a bit much.
Some of that Loose Riders (shame about the name?!) is worth checking. Good colours, small logos, decent prices (on sale, anyway).
https://www.bikester.co.uk/loose-riders.html
I quite like the one with the big flowers too 😀
Madison and Endura, Decathlon for bike kit, Northwave also do some subtle kit.
Mrs_oab and I wear good outdoor brand baselayers - Rab, Montane and Berghaus are all just fine, if not cycling specific.
I forgot - Alpkit too...
Polaris do some good value plain stuff.
you can ride your MTB in pretty much any clothes you can buy on the high street.
I tried that when on holiday, went for a gentle but long ride in the hot sun, wearing running kit - so generic shorts, polyesterish t-shirt.
Got a lovely red stripe of sunburn on my lower back.
I was idly thinking about this the other week - Pinkbike posted one of their summer riding kit type articles, and the road brands' (Rapha and Pearl Izumi) kit was far better looking than any of the core MTB lot in my opinion. But still, i wouldn't consider wearing Rapha.
Mons Royale if you can find it at a sensible price. Troy Lee normally have one line with more subtle branding and colours. Hidden amongst the tie die, Dharco have some nice stuff and now available in UK.
There's a big gap in the market for someone to make decent, well priced, reasonable looking kit. If anyone has contacts, drop me a line!
https://www.nologoracing.com/en/product-category/mtb-en/
NoLogo - does what it says on the tin. BMX world champions use it, so it's the required level of cool.
There’s a big gap in the market for someone to make decent, well priced, reasonable looking kit.
Couldn't agree more
Yeah, but then at the same time, that’s how everybody knows you’re wearing Rapha.
You say that like its a bad thing! I'm normally dressed head to toe in Rapha, it's the only brand to be seen in (on a road bike) 😉
NB A few friends do take the piss out of me for it, to which I always reply 'Don't worry, one day you'll be good enough and they'll accept your order rather than just returning with a note saying 'have you tried DHB'?'
DHB don't always have big logos. Not as expensive as Rapha, and still good quality.
7mesh if you're feeling spendy
Does it have to be specific MTB gear? Just an excuse to add premiums onto cheap clothing really. I just use any sports T-shirts, lightweight cargo short or cheap Decathlon shorts that are not too baggy. Not sure what specific MTB clothing does unless you want to look the part.
I mostly just wear Ion t-shirts, bought cheap from wherever I can find them. Thought I'd treat my kid to a Troy Lee, MTB specific shirt - bloody pricey it was! and after 1 day's use it was knackered! Backpack straps had worn away the top colouring and pilled the material. One day! some of which he was wearing a jacket over it. Unbelievable.
NoLogo, whilst having a logo, lol.
Anyway
50 euro:
vs
£6
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231729750615?hash=item35f42b6257:g:RNIAAOSw5VFWKn69
How do they sleep at night.
OP - saw this and though of you
https://singletrackmag.com/classifieds/advert/scott-trail-flow-button-jersey-brand-new/
https://www.startfitness.co.uk/cycles/bike-wear.html?manufacturer=17
Just an excuse to add premiums onto cheap clothing
That's the bit I'd like to move away from. I know some folks are happy to ride in cheap gear under the rule "I'll probably fall in a bush and get this ripped, there no point in spendy amounts of cash" and that's totally cool: but even a cursory glance at the roadie kit that's available puts everything we "accept" as MTB kit to shame. Even the Rapha stuff while nice is still just "polyester pajamas" and when you look even their cheap roadie gear, it pales by comparison.
We really are badly served when it comes to kit
Broken Riders bamboo tees are lovely!
https://brokenriders.com/collections/mens-apparel
I've got 5 of them. There are a few with minimal logos.
Patagonia and Aussie Grit (RIP).
There’s a big gap in the market for someone to make decent, well priced, reasonable looking kit. If anyone has contacts, drop me a line!
I suspect that people like Wiggle's DHB team, Altura, Decathlon, Madison and various others reckon they're in that area already. What stuff like this generally means is 'I want stuff like Rapha and 7Mesh, but at a quarter of the price, there's a huge opportunity there for anyone who wants to bankrupt themselves - or go and open a restaurant instead'.
I use a lot of outdoor kit on the mountain bike fwiw. Rab, Montane, Arc'teryx, OR, Haglöfs softshell shorts etc. Better fabrics and cut than most mountain bike gear and often half price on Sport Pursuit.
Aye, me too, outdoor gear rather than MTB specific, except shorts (Aussie grit +1) and shoes.
Good fitted baselayers with a decent length to them over bike tops every time.
There’s a big gap in the market for someone to make decent, well priced, reasonable looking kit.
Aussie Grit had a go at filling that void a couple of years ago but it seemed to go pear-shaped; some of us were fortunate enough to get in there and pick up some real bargains.
Nobody’s mentioned Sombrio kit, they do a mix of fairly subtle graphics and more overt with larger graphics on, plus more casual and a range of shorts as well.
https://ca-store.sombriocartel.com/collections/mens-tops
I’ve got two Sombrio tops that I’ve had for years, real good quality, one is an olive green sleeveless top with black trim and a black mesh back, with the logo in multicoloured fine stitching on the front, the other is blue with a white logo on the front and on one sleeve, with a white mesh back - bloody excellent in hot weather, I wear them to work under my hi-viz vest thing, they stop my back getting really sweaty, they were outstanding on the bike. Both must be ten-twelve years old, look almost new.
but even a cursory glance at the roadie kit that’s available puts everything we “accept” as MTB kit to shame.
What does that even mean? You want subtle and/or unbranded, yet every roadie I see looks like they’re practicing for a stage on a road-race! Everything is covered in branding and logos, tight fitting with Lycra tights.
Whereas I always rode wearing looser cut stuff, baggies, tops and jackets in muted colours that was perfect for off-road riding. I still have gear I bought twenty-odd years ago that I wear, from Cannondale, Kona, RaceFace, Sombrio, etc, and it’s all kit you could walk into a pub or cafe wearing and nobody would look twice at you, the only clue you’re a cyclist would be a helmet.
The kit’s out there, you’re not looking hard enough.
I did look at Uniqlo, but while they do sports and activity clothing, very little is really ideal for cycling, except for evening pootles around the local lanes.
I used to spend ages looking for lightweight MTB shorts so I didn't get too hot. Then I took up running, running* shorts are much breezier.... nice, they even ride up the legs so you get extra vit-d, it's OK because I don't wear knee pads etc.
T-shirts & long sleeve tops from Mountain Warehouse if they've got some I like on discount.
*running shorts from sportpursuit, not convinced they're actually specifically running shorts but whatever, generic gym/sports/running shorts, fine on the bike**.
Polaris clothing is excellent I’m ashamed to say that I’m still using some donated for a Mexico coast to coast over twenty years ago! Their current stuff is very good and particularly resistant to brambles and thorns. Madison is also excellent, discreet logos but top performance particularly the shorts and liners.
I'm not a massive fan of massive branding either. Shimano makes some really nice stuff with litte-to-no logo action going on. Other stuff kicking around in my kit drawers: Alpkit, Howies (they did some ace bibs a while back - not sure now), Endura, Patagonia (one really really nice jacket with a tiny logo I daren't use in the brambly Surrey Hills - therefore a bit of a waste of time as riding kit), random no-name thermals and that's about it. By far the biggest lot is from Endura. I've got really nice longs that must be 25 years old in there that are still going strong, zip pulls aside. And they also repair stuff really well. One other one: Ground Effect.
I've just bought a very nice Rivello MTB jersey from Sports Pursuits. The logo is tiny and it's super comfy.
I've a few Royal racing Ts and although the black ones have "royal" across the back it's not offensive. As a plus it looks and feels like cotton but is a tech T. I'd happily bin t-shirts for more of this type.
Ground Effect? Haven't bought anything from them for years, so don't know what they're like now.
Having just bought some last night, Pearl Izumi have some subtly branded yet brighter colours without being ott.
Same as OP I’m not a fan of big logos,
Usually buy endura, Rab and Berghaus as they fit my portly frame better.
I’ve also had some decent, cheap, subtle logo kit off sportpursuit.com that come with the added bonus of confusing gear snobs who think you’ve found the latest coolest brand 😁
Rivelo have started doing MTB gear. Can't see any logos form the sportpursuit site?
https://www.sportpursuit.com/sales/rivelo-mtb-jul21
If its as good as the road kit, I will be buying at some point.
Rivelo have started doing MTB gear.
Rivelo have realised that Mountain bikers are still willing to part with 40 quid for a square cut sublimated polyester tee shirt that you can buy for literally under a tenner for exactly the same thing from Amazon.
Nukeproof have some more subtly branded kit these days.
I picked up a black, black/grey fade top with a diddy yellow logo by the hip after a trawl on CRC.
Nice top, but the winky lolsters put a little white print patch on the shoulder that says "I own too much black" 😀
Aussie Grit had a go at filling that void a couple of years ago but it seemed to go pear-shaped; some of us were fortunate enough to get in there and pick up some real bargains.
Except they didn't really, the shorts I bought a couple of pairs of were supposed to be £150. Don't get me wrong, they are fantastic, the best shorts I've had, but I wouldn't say that price is classed as affordable. Looked like the main reason they went tits up, start up company wanting Rapha money.
@nobeerinthefridge Yes, the original pricing was niche but when they started selling off stock it was great value.
I suspect that people like Wiggle’s DHB team, Altura, Decathlon, Madison and various others reckon they’re in that area already. What stuff like this generally means is ‘I want stuff like Rapha and 7Mesh, but at a quarter of the price, there’s a huge opportunity there for anyone who wants to bankrupt themselves – or go and open a restaurant instead’.
I was specifically talking about myself / my peer group. I will happily admit I've drank the MTB Kool Aid and want to ride in MTB specific clothing. Roadie crossover brands don't enter consideration when I'm looking for riding gear. I do have a couple of bits of Decathlon, it's ok.
Whilst I believe most MTB clothing is horribly over priced, my point was that I don't think anyone is doing it particularly well, not that I want Rapha for £20.
Another vote for 7Mesh, super subtle, great colour choices and the fit/performance is far beyond anything else I've tried. Even better, they have a repair centre in the UK so if you do wreck a piece. Good luck doing that though, I've had one issue in 5 years across a number of bits of gear in constant use all year round, which they've offered to repair. Good gear, good people to deal and given how long it lasts, I'd say bloody good value in the long run!
I've got 3 Troy Lee Skyline jerseys that are very plain, fit well and seem pretty durable. None cost me more than £25 in the sales.
TLD make some really garish stuff but also some really nice bits.
Gore is my go-to MTB kit for exactly these reasons. It also lasts well unlike my Endura stuff which always seems to fail at the seams.
@militantmandy How do they come up size wise? I find that the sizing of primarily road brands when branching out into MTB, their sizing is not quite right. For me anyway
Nobody’s mentioned Sombrio kit
Probably cos it would cost an arm and a leg to get it imported. There's no UK distributor.
Specialized are surprisingly small of logo on lots of their MTB stuff now and it usually works very well.
Try:
https://terrainclothing.co.uk/
Custom made for less than £50 - bargain really compared to off the peg items.
Have a few jersey from them, well made and simple / discreet looking.
They are planning on other custom fit items like shorts etc. as soon as supply issues are resolved.
I'm a big fan (do you see what I did there) of FLAB - they do very branded and not very branded on a lot of kit.
I have several shorts and bibs and a few jackets - none of which have fallen apart.
https://fatladattheback.com/collections/mens-mtb