Patagonia Enters the Mountain Bike Clothing Market
Climbers, skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts have long been fans of Patagonia, as much for its commitment to sustainability as its clothes: hence the term Patagoniac. But cyclists have mostly used its clothing in other activities.
Next spring, mountain bikers will get another choice for on-the-bike wear as Patagonia will introduce a limited line of mountain bike clothing under its Trail collection.
There will be just four pieces to start, offered in both men’s and women’s styles: a long-sleeve and short-sleeve top, both with a 1/2-zip front; a jacket; and shorts. Here’s a brief look at each piece.
Dirt Craft Shorts ($149)
Shorts are the foundation of any clothing line and the hardest to get right. Patagonia’s Dirt Craft baggie short starts with a nylon shell with some spandex added to the fabric for stretch. The men’s features a relatively short 11.5-inch inseam, with a 9-inch inseam on the women’s. There’s a removable liner as well, which is a change from how most clothing makers approach baggies, selling liners separately.
Fore Runner Zip Neck ($49 long-sleeve, $45 short sleeve)
Patagonia is known for its environmental commitment, so the Fore Runner uses a recycled polyester fabric for its tops. The fabric is approved by bluesign, a Swiss organization that works to make the textile industry more environmentally friendly. There aren’t a lot of cycling-specific cues here – no pockets and a half, rather than full, front zipper. Depending on your perspective, that’s either a drawback or a feature that makes the top more versatile for use in other sports.
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Dirt Craft Jacket ($129)
Like the Fore Runner, the Dirt Craft jacket uses a shell fabric that’s bluesign-approved, with 60 percent recycled nylon mixed with a small amount of spandex for stretch. The shell is ripstop to help prevent snags and tears and treated with a DWR finish for water repellency. There are three zipper pockets (two hand and one chest) and Velcro fasteners at the cuffs.
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In general, it’s a cautious entry to the sport. It’s also, price-wise, a fairly affordable start for a company whose products are not known for their low prices. We have yet to see any samples but hope to get some soon to check them out. Patagonia is renowned for the quality and durability of its clothing (as well as its generous clothing repair and warranty policies).
But it’s also the latest in a medium-sized line of outdoor/fitness clothing makers to jump into cycling. Technical cycling clothing is deceptively difficult to get right and others have tried and failed at it. Patagonia is second to none in terms of size and technical capability, and touches like the bluesign-approved fabrics on some pieces are a welcome addition to cycling clothing, where there is little focus on the sustainability of the clothes themselves. But as always, the test will be in the wearing.
CORRECTION: an earlier version of this piece incorrectly noted that there was a fifth piece in the line, a wind vest. According to Patagonia, that vest is part of the trail line and not specific to its new mountain bike line.
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