Women’s summer kit

Our two-woman test team samples multiple styles and crucially, different fit and sizing

Women’s clothing can be a minefield, as every woman’s shape is different. Add mountain biking into the mix, where garments need to be fit for purpose for all shapes and sizes, and choosing the right kit can feel like an impossible task.

Walk into most bike shops up and down the country and you’ll struggle to find any women’s riding kit, let alone a choice of garments to try on. If you speak to many shop managers they’ll generally argue the reason women’s kit isn’t stocked is because it’s such a puzzle for them, as they struggle to select the right brand, stock popular sizes and styles. The lack of places to actually see and try on kit is a familiar problem for women.

The question of style is massively divisive, too. Some women love black kit, others prefer bright colours. Some women are put off by the addition of a flower, while others are annoyed if the kit is too bland.

But isn’t this an issue that bridges the gender gap? Men come in different shapes and sizes too, so what’s so special about women’s kit? While that’s true, men don’t have as many differentials as women. Height is one thing, then we have boobs, hips, bums and thighs. These lumps, bumps and unique shapes are what make us women so special – it’s something to celebrate. But, when it comes to finding riding kit that feels good, looks good and fits well while performing in the variable conditions we experience while mountain biking, that’s the tricky part.

Laura Bailey and Rachael Walker are no strangers to this issue. Standing at 5ft 9in and 82kg, Laura (UK size 16) is always on a never-ending quest to find shorts that don’t sit too high on the thigh. At 5ft 3(3/4)in and 59.5kg Rachael (UK size 10) has the opposite problem – finding kit that doesn’t look like her older brothers’ hand-me-downs. Using both Laura and Rachael to test each set of kit, we’ve selected eight jerseys and shorts ranging from the cheapest entry-level garments to more premium higher end pieces. Somewhere between these price points and the sizing feedback from both Laura and Rachael we hope you can find the right garments for you.