Some people write the best mountain bike jerseys off as expensive t-shirts. On the surface, they aren't totally wrong, but MTB-specific details like seams that play nicely with riding packs and neck braces, drop tails, reinforced panels, built-in ventilation, and goggle wipes are among the many features that set them apart.
There are tons of styles of mountain bike jerseys ranging from form-fitting XC-style options to heavy-duty long-sleeve downhill jerseys. Most brands offer lots of designs and colors so you can find one that matches your style. Jerseys don't have to be expensive either. The top brands can be found at reasonable prices in online shops, and last year's stock is sold at good discounts, too.
Our expert reviewers have thoroughly tested a range of the best mountain bike jerseys to compile this round-up of the best options for all types of riding disciplines.
Hopefully, you'll find what you need here to sort out the top half of your body, but if you also want to get fresh threads for your lower section, check out our guide on the best mountain bike shorts. Or perhaps you're looking for women-specific jerseys. In that case, head on over to our guide to the best women's mountain bike jerseys.
Best mountain bike jerseys
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1. Best overall
The Trail Lightweight T-Shirt features in a range of high-performance MTB clothing from high-end bike wear specialist, Rapha. Released as part of its Fast + Light range, while we're less sure that this jersey actually makes you faster, it is definitely very light and is a great option for hot weather.
Constructed with a microfiber and polyester yarn on the front panel, and sleeve fronts, we found the Rapha jersey wicked away sweat extremely well. The dropped back panel and rear of the sleeves are made with a smoother and less wicking fabric though, that we presume gives better sun protection.
The neck is low cut like a t-shirt rather than a jersey and while the overall shape of the garment is really good, you may want to size down as we found the medium size came up pretty big.
2. Best for hot days
Ideal for blasting trails on hot summer days, the Fox Flexair Pro is a light and cool-feeling jersey that rapidly wicks away moisture from your skin. The polyester/nylon/elastane material has plenty of stretch, while a tailored cut means there's minimal excess material to flap about.
The body of the jersey does a great job of wicking moisture away from your skin as you ride and the material dries super rapidly too. The tops and backs of the arms have tougher fabric panels as they're more likely to get snagged by thorns etc. That said, we've hit plenty of grasping foliage during testing and the whole jersey is has proved to be snag-resistant.
The Flexair Pro comes in long and short sleeve versions – we've tested both and have been impressed. Mick Kirkman has spent time with the long-sleeve model and summed it up as: "packing maximum technical fabrics and features into a jersey that’s clearly designed for the rough and tumble world of high-intensity mountain biking."
For more, see his full Fox Flexair Pro jersey review.
3. Best long sleeve
Long sleeves might seem like an odd option on warmer days but covering the arms can provide extra protection from the sun and trailside foliage while riding.
The unusual angular intersections create a fit that avoids any bunching on the bike and lets Scott position different weights of material where it's needed the most. The result is a close race-inspired fit that doesn't flap in the wind or bunch up when wearing a backpack.
The lightweight material does a good job at avoiding getting snagged on bushes and branches and the mesh fabric is light enough to keep a good breeze moving across the body to stop overheating. With the material being so light, we found it also dries quickly should you build up a bit of a sweat or get caught in a shower.
Our reviewer Guy Kesteven said, "You pay a bit extra for Scott’s Trail Vertic LS jersey but we reckon it’s well worth it. The mixed mesh fabric makes it cool and dry on its own or boosts the performance of an outer layer when worn as a base layer. The clever shoulder cut works really well in terms of fit and mobility, while the secret pocket and lens wipe is a nice touch, even if the latter could ideally be deeper."
For more, check out our full review of the Scott Trail Vertic LS Jersey.
4. Best recycled
There are a fair few MTB jerseys that contain recycled materials, but not many are made from 100 percent. Gorewear's TrailKPR Daily Shirt is one of them though, and as well as not consuming any raw manmade fibers to make the jersey, it also gives proper performance on the trail.
It's a well-made jersey with double blindstitched panels making up the body and the entire garment uses the same wicking material which we found did a great job of removing sweat from our skin. The fabric dries rapidly, though on the hottest days of testing this summer, our tester, Rich Owen, would have liked a more ventilated jersey. The TrailKPR works very well in cool to warm conditions – with a base layer in chillier temperatures.
After months of testing, it still looks good and the smooth-feeling fabric has resisted snags from thorned plants. It also comes as a long-sleeved version.
5. Best for warmth
This jersey from Leatt is a thermal, windproof top for aggressive enduro or downhill riders. Even though this jersey is somewhat heavierweight, the mid-weight 3D-knit rear panel breathes out moisture well, whether it's sweat or rain, to keep your body warm from any wintertime draughts.
We found this jersey will hold up to lots of use in changeable weather conditions and it kept us riding for longer without having to reach for a shell jacket. There are some nice details too; 'Brush Guard' material is used on the elbows to protect against tumble or bag wear, and there is also a pocket with an eyewear wipe for when your goggles or glasses get splotched with mud.
Reviewer Guy Kesteven summed up the Leatt top: "The jersey is a standout as it’s a rare combination of aggro style and thermal gains… It's been super useful right through the year from flat-out ‘power hours’ on warmer winter days to wet, single-digit temperature ‘summer’ nights. So far it’s not showing any signs that I’ve been wearing it a ton either, which makes it an even better investment."
Find out more about the DBX 5.0 All Mountain jersey, and the matching shorts, in our Leatt DBX 5.0 All Mountain kit review.
6. Best for durability
The Gorewear C5 Trail short sleeve jersey is a massive improvement from the previous version with the new version resisting thread pulls and bad smells better. The versatile cut is combined with the slightly stretchy material in case you want to size down for a slimmer fit too.
We found that with the multi-panel cut mobility wasn't an issue. While there are no pockets or glass wipe details, the reinforced collar and subtle black reflective strips on the side seams are quality details for the money. There's a women's version of the C5 as well.
You can match the C5 jersey with Gorewear's C5 shorts, which have received good reviews from our testers as well, although our test samples didn't have a perfect color match.
Our reviewer Guy Kesteven was impressed with the improved version of the C5 Trail jersey, saying, "it didn’t take long to become a real favorite".
To find out more, be sure to read our Gore C5 Trail mountain bike shirt and shorts review
7. Best venting
Fox's Ranger top is one of the most comfortable jerseys we've worn, and the TruDri fabric is soft to the touch and efficiently wicks moisture off your skin. The middle third of the jersey is mesh, allowing for plenty of air to find its way into the shirt and the seams are non-intrusive and flatlock stitching. While it does not command the same price as some of Fox's other tops like the Flexair and Indicator, it's made from the same material – the only difference being the lack of lie-flat cuffs and the perforations not being laser cut.
The Ranger jersey has a looser fit and as Fox puts it 'drapes' around your body. While we found this leaves ample room for padding underneath and airflow, if you like something a bit more fitted, consider sizing down.
8. Best casual style
Pearl Izumi has completely refreshed its Canyon mountain bike jersey, transforming it from a zippered and pocketed design to a more trail, casual style t-shirt. This means it can cross over between everyday wear and on the bike without standing out as sports apparel.
The jersey uses Drirelease fabric to help deal with any moisture build-up and improve all-day comfort. The rear has a dropped hem at the back and the raglan sleeves help avoid bunching around the arm-pits when on the bike.
How to choose the best mountain bike jerseys
How much should I spend on a mountain bike jersey?
There are plenty of budget models that will cost around $50. While they're great value for money and will do the job of wicking sweat away very well, they perhaps won't be as refined as more expensive models that cost in the region of $100 or more. That said, as in the fashion world, you can find yourself paying more just to have a desirable brand blazoned across your chest rather than a jersey that's actually superior to cheaper options.
How should a mountain bike jersey fit?
Beyond just navigating size charts to find the correct size jersey, your riding style will also play a role in how a riding top should fit.
XC whippets will usually err on the side of skin-tight lycra, and may even wear road-style jerseys (or even skinsuits) to eke out any possible aero gains and use the rear pockets for spares, food, and water.
Trail jerseys cover a large swath of riders and can mean anything from casual-looking dry-release t-shirt style tops to full zip garments with a mix of stretch and non-stretch panels and rear pockets. They come in several weights, sleeve lengths, cuts, and materials, and some feature zippered pockets and goggle wipes too.
Downhill jerseys are usually made from slightly thicker fabric, have a baggy fit to accommodate body armor underneath, and have long or three-quarter sleeves. Often DH jerseys will also see extra panels of soft fabric devoid of seams around the collar to play nice with neck braces, and may even have reinforcements in high friction areas.
Regardless of your riding style, a jersey should be comfortable in the riding position and should not restrict your movement or bind, which in some cases may make for an awkward fit off the bike. At the most basic end, this should mean a longer rear hem or 'drop tail,' and may also influence the placement of seams, moving them away from areas that rub.
What should I look for in a mountain bike jersey?
Even if a mountain bike jersey has every bell and whistle and the cut is bang on, if it's made from scratchy fabric it's still going to be uncomfortable. For the most part, jerseys will use materials designed to wick sweat and dry quickly to prevent you from overheating. For those who live in colder climates, there is also a broad range of thermal jerseys and jackets, but we will cover those in a separate guide.
MTB jerseys come in all sorts of polyester blends, and natural fibers like merino wool. While synthetic fibers often dry faster than natural ones, they do tend to pick up a perma-stink that will persist through an infinite number of washes – which also releases microfibers into the water supply. On the other hand, your merino jerseys can be worn multiple rides in a row and won't pick up a funk. Often fabrics will receive chemical treatments or something like silver thread woven throughout to add wicking properties or keep body odor at bay, however, these solutions don't seem to last.
Quite often, mountain bike jerseys will have mesh panels or lighter-weight fabrics in areas like the armpit or the back to further the ability to dump heat and moisture as you ride.
Are long or short sleeves best on a MTB jersey?
MTB jerseys are available in short, three-quarter length, and long-sleeve varieties. Look for a raglan sleeve, meaning the sleeve starts at the collar and the seam runs down under the armpit. This not only allows for a bit more freedom of movement, but it also moves the seams well clear of backpack straps that might cause chafing.
Obviously, longer sleeves are going to be warmer than short sleeves, but the layer of material over your arms also offers added protection from spiky trailside plants, the ground if you come unstuck, and the sun too. For both long and three-quarter sleeve tops if you wear elbow pads, make sure they fit underneath, however, don't get something overly baggy as it will flap when you ride. And no one likes that.
How can I look like a proper mountain biker?
The roots of MTB clothing come from motocross, with quite a few of the top brands making gear for both. With this, it shouldn't be a surprise that fluoro MX pajamas complete with massive logos have made the jump across to mountain biking.
While there are people on both sides of the debate, in recent years many brands have adopted a more casual style, with smaller logos and muted colors. However, there is still plenty of MX steeze to go around if that's your thing – no judgment here.
What features should I look for in a mountain bike jersey?
Beyond what we have listed above, the best mountain bike jerseys will often feature goggles or glasses wipes inside the bottom hem of the shirt and a zippered stash pocket situated behind your kidney.
Also be on the lookout for flatlock stitching, which will not only help the seams to last longer but reduce chafing too.
Finally, some jerseys will feature reinforced fabrics around high friction areas like crash points and shoulders where backpack straps sit. This should help increase the jersey's durability and extend its lifespan.
How we test the best mountain bike jerseys
All the mountain bike jerseys we've tested here have been put through many hours of riding in many different conditions. We've assessed their breathability, wicking ability, mobility, comfort, style and durability, as well as extra details they may feature, such as pockets, lens wipes, and antibacterial treatments.
Meet the testers
Rich Owen leads the Bikeperfect.com team. He's worked as a journalist and editor for over 24 years, with 12 years specializing in cycling media. As Rich prefers not to ride naked, he's tested a lot of MTB clothing during that time.
Guy Kesteven is BikePerfect's contributing tech editor. He’s written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear, MTB jerseys included!
