Summer Gear Roundup: Mountain Biking

Packed with more safety features than a car with annoyingly loud rear seat belt warnings, our tester felt the Smith Forefront 2 was, fittingly, at the forefront of bike helmet options. “Alecks crash detection ensures safety,” she said of the battery powered sensor that connects via Bluetooth to an app, sending alerts to selected friends, family or medical services after it detects a large impact. On top of the alert system, the Forefront features Mips and complete Koroyd coverage, a system of welded tubes that absorb impact like the crumple zone of a car. And while safety might be most important, the Forefront didn’t lack in other categories either. “Comfortable sweat cushion on the forehead,” our tester noted of the antimicrobial lining, after cranking the helmet snug for many perspiration-inducing rides. Twenty vents did work to maintain airflow but they can only do so much in heavy humidity. Little touches were appreciated too, such as a snug visor that stayed in place through techy terrain and worked to hold glasses or goggles in place on slower ascents.

Our tester wore the Smith Bobcat trail running and biking in the humid East Coast summer but its design lends year-round versatility for those with smaller heads. The ChromaPop lens, which selectively filters out wavelengths for maximum contrast, provided “good clarity,” per our tester, who added the small/medium size still has a wraparound fit that “blocks out all sun.” And for the days when the sun is hard to find, the Bobcat comes with a clear lens that our tester appreciated as well. An adjustable nose pad and long temple length are designed for comfort and grippy security. Our tester found the two-position nose pad was comfortable, but the glasses “start slipping once you become a little sweaty,” she noted. She also docked points for a tough lens change system. While she found it worked fine, it was best done before she was at the trailhead. On the other hand, the bio-based frame and locking hinge held up to a summer of hard use and she had no complaints about fogging due to plenty of airflow.

Designed and tested in Squamish, British Columbia, the folks creating 7mesh apparel are familiar with soggy riding conditions. Our Pacific Northwest tester could tell. “This jacket held up really well in downpouring PNW rain and mud,” he said. Made from Gore-Tex Paclite, a rendition of the classic waterproof tech in which the Gore-Tex A membrane is directly bonded to the outer shell, the Copilot is a tester-verified lightweight and packable jacket. For extra wet days, a helmet-compatible hood with three-way draw cord keeps the noggin’ dry. Plus, true to its name, when the raindrops cease, the whole jacket can be packed into a pocket and strapped onto your bike, though our tester did find the straps a bit challenging to secure when it was cold and wet. His only other request: “Vents would have been nice.”

Fall is here and that means more rides in pants. “So comfortable, I’ll rip a ride in these and want to wear them for the rest of the day,” raved our tester of Wild Rye’s Freyah Bike Pant. That comfort comes down to material and fit. Made from 88% nylon—55% recycled, 33% not recycled—and 12% spandex, the Freyah blends durability with stretch, perfect for days on the trail (or off). Paired with Wild Rye’s women’s-specific fit, with sizes ranging from zero to 16, these pants cater well to female athletes. A thick waistband with belt loops adds comfort and further customization. Additional elasticity around the knees and Velcro at the ankle, followed by a zipper, allow easy kneepad access. “Elastic on the trail and rugged against prickers, branches and more,” said our tester after taking these out on trails from Vermont to Ecuador. She paired it with Wild Rye’s Holly Jersey ($99) for cool days.

“My favorite bike shorts ever, period,” gushed our tester of the 88% nylon/12% spandex Freewheel. “The two waistband adjusters have made these my best fitting baggies!” she said of the adjustable drawcord accessible above either hip. The four-way stretch fabric, high-back waist and resin-based coating which added durability without inhibiting movement complemented the perfect fit. Laser cut holes in the back panel added some breathability, but coastal humidity is coastal humidity. The shorts had plenty of utility, too. “The two zippered pockets make for awesome storage on shorter rides. I’ve fit a bike tool, phone, keys and granola bar between them both,” she explained. With all the utility, Outdoor Research still remembered the style side. “I love how these are baggy without looking oversized,” our tester commented.

Our tester was quickly enamored with Mystery Ranch’s hip pack, giving it a 7 out of 7 rating, although she’s still confused how a monkey got involved in the naming process. Maybe it’s that the large, YKK zippers could be operated by anything with opposable thumbs, human or not. Or that the waist belt allows utility for this to “be a cross-body bag or hip pack,” per our tester, that fits any human-adjacent form. Regardless, she was impressed with the durability of the 500D Cordura fabric after a summer of abuse in Vermont’s thick underbrush and less than one pound weight. The 8 liters of storage lent itself to multiple uses, which Mystery Ranch claims can include a six pack or disc golf discs, or the more traditional layer, snacks and keys that our tester used it for. Adding to the functionality, the Hip Monkey comes in a multitude of colors for those who care about style, too.