Best mountain bike jerseys: top rated tops and what to look out for

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The best mountain bike jersey for you will depend on a few factors; what discipline you ride, weather conditions, personal comfort and of course personal style. But whatever you go for, rest assured that the following jerseys have been thoroughly ridden and tested by us, so if they’re on here, they’re guaranteed to be good.

If you’re looking to refresh your whole riding wardrobe then slide on over to our guide to best mountain bike shorts. We’ve also got buyer’s guides for the best mountain bike waterproof jackets as well as the best riding pants/trousers and best mountain bike shorts.

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Neat features and trendy styling

Weight: 111g | Sizes: XS – XXL | Colours: Purple, light grey, dark grey, navy, green | Rating: 9/10

Pros: Subtle, stylish and breathable, comes with repair patches

Cons: No pockets or glasses wipe; gets a bit smelly

While not exactly ground-breaking, this Trail Tech T-Shirt shows that Rapha’s entry to the mountain bike market is carefully considered and well executed; we’ve been impressed with the pieces we’ve tried so far. On-trail performance is good, the styling brings something slightly different to the table and the post-purchase back-up improves the green credentials as well as improving long term value.

The lightweight fabric blends 68% recycled polyester with 32% virgin polyester and is woven in a honeycomb pattern that is designed to lift the cloth above the skin for better wicking. There are no features such as a pocket or glasses wipe, but this does keep the weight down and the price more competitive. There’s also a four-way stretch that helps with mobility when getting dynamic on the bike.

The fit is best described as regular – neither tight nor baggy – with a shape that’s tailored to the riding position. When standing upright there’s a tightness across the upper chest and neck that disappears as you drop into your riding position. On the bike it’s certainly a comfortable jersey, where its standout features are its low weight and good wicking properties. Even on hot, sweaty rides we didn’t get clammy or sticky. However, despite boasting an antimicrobial finish, it did get a bit smelly. 

Rapha also produces a women’s version of Trail Technical t-shirt, which comes with a different cut, sizes and colour options.

Read our full test review of the Rapha Trail Technical T-shirt

Patagonia Merino 3/4 sleeve jersey

A great jersey for a range of different conditions and temperatures

Weight: 139g | Sizes: XS-XL | Colours: Black, orange, brown | Women’s version: Yes | Rating: 9/10

Pros: Doesn’t get smelly, great in a range of temperatures, durable, soft

Cons: High price (but worth it), ¾ sleeves ride up

The Patagonia Merino 3/4 sleeve jersey is one of the best jerseys we’ve tested. It’s good in cool and warm weather alike, doesn’t smell even when you don’t bother to wash it, and best of all feels supremely comfy next to your skin.

I’d also argue that it’s the most eco-friendly jersey we’ve tested. It’s made from a blend of responsibly sourced merino wool – certified to the Responsible Wool Standard – and recycled polyester. 

It’s also extremely durable and hardwearing, easier to repair, and likely to outlast the rest. And despite being merino, you can chuck it into a 40° wash and tumble dry it afterwards… although your green credentials will fly out the window if you do.

Great for the environment for sure, but it’s also really soft next to your skin, and there are no tags sewn in to irritate you or catch on things. In my experience thin, high quality merino like this is way better at wicking away sweat when it’s hot, and feels much more comfortable than any man made fibre when it’s doing this, never feeling clammy. The 3/4 sleeves are slightly quirky and arguably unnecessary given they quickly ride up above your elbows, but it’s the only real fault here.

The marketing claims are that the Merino 3/4 is just as good in colder conditions too, and for once that’s not misspeak – it’s warm enough used as a base layer, and also offers some wind protection on a chilly morning as a jersey. Patagonia has designed a ‘bike specific fit’, which means it’s a loose fitting T-shirt with a dropped hem.

Being merino, it sits nicely on your skin without riding up or sticking, and doesn’t pick up static. The price is high but in our opinion worth the initial outlay as it’s looking as-new despite months of use.

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7Mesh Optic Shirt 3/4

Feature-packed and robust trail jersey

Weight: 119g | Sizes: XS-XXL | Colours: Blue, black, orange, brown | Women’s version: No | Rating: 8/10

Pros: Excellent comfort, built-in sun protection, silky soft fabric

Cons: Fit feels tight around shoulders and armpits

The Optic jersey is one of eight in the 7Mesh mountain bike range and the only one with 3/4 length sleeves. 

The jersey fabric is silky smooth, super stretchy and one of the nicest fabrics of all the jerseys on test, which is impressive given the price. Flatlock seams are mostly undetectable, which helps with the excellent comfort. 7Mesh has also added a hydrophobic coating to help with wicking sweat, as well as built-in sun protection. 

The sleeves on the Optic end just below the elbow, offering a bit of extra protection against vegetation while increasing airflow. That’s the sales pitch, but to be honest we’re not that convinced that they bring more to the table than either short or long sleeve options. There’s some tightness at the shoulders and armpits in a riding position, which is somewhat at odds with the roomy torso. Yes, there’s plenty of stretch at the sleeves for elbow pads, but the garment feels a bit disjointed in terms of cut. 

We also think the v-collar looks a bit weird compared to a simple crew neck – although it feels comfortable – and there’s not much of a drop hem. In terms of features, the Optic is pretty bare. Overall we really loved the 7Mesh’s functional, comfortable fabric but weren’t so keen on the fit and styling. Which is why we’d save £15 and go for 7Mesh’s simpler Elevate Short Sleeve Bike T-Shirt instead. 

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Altura Kielder Lightweight Short Sleeve

Best budget mountain bike jersey

Weight: 106g | Sizes: S-XXL | Colours: Yellow, green, teal | Women’s version: Yes | Rating: 8/10

Pros: Excellent value for money, soft stretchy fabric, good size range

Cons: Breathability compromised when layered, fabric tends to snag

The Kielder jersey, part of Altura’s new gravel and MTB range, is excellent value – easily the cheapest on test here – and comes in multiple sizes, three colours and a long-sleeve version, although the women’s version only comes as a long-sleeve or ¾ sleeve. 

The fabric is 100% recycled polyester, and is smooth, soft and feels nice against the skin. It’s thin, light and stretchy, which is a good thing as it’s by far the most fitted jersey here. Altura describes it as ‘relaxed’ on its website, but that must refer to the styling rather than the cut. 

Talking of styling, the Altura logo has a definite Star Trek vibe to it, while this army green colour lets you channel your inner President Zelensky. Not a combo we’d normally associate with mountain biking, but it makes a change from looking like a supercross reject. 

There’s no awkwardly placed stitching, and being flatlock means it’s all unobtrusive. 

Most of its wicking properties seem to come from the thin, almost mesh-like material, so it’s not the most effective at cooling when worn under a jacket, but works well on its own. 

Perhaps reflected in the price is the durability; we caught our jersey on a branch and pulled a massive thread, and after a few rides there were quite a few bits of loose stitching. 

For a basic jersey at a realistic price, the Altura Kielder ticks a lot of boxes. Sure, it’s not the trendiest name around, and some might be put off by the Klingon styling and cling-on fit, but for hacking around during the summer months, it does a perfectly good job. 

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Troy Lee Designs Skyline Short Sleeve 

Stylish with a huge range of colour choices

Weight: 141g | Sizes: S-XXL | Colours: 10 options | Women’s version: No | Rating: 8/10

Pros: Lots of style and colour options, easy care, comfortable cut

Cons: Pricy for the spec

The Skyline short sleeve jersey is one of Troy Lee Designs’ most popular riding tops, and it’s easy to see why, with a cool, casual style that is equally off the bike as on.

There are 10 different styles for 2022 varying from plain and understated to full-on factory style SRAM-branded race tops, with the older designs currently £10 cheaper. 

Previous versions came with a zip pocket at the rear that held a lens wipe. This has since been removed and the lens wipe is now sewn into the back panel. It might seem like a downgrade, but in truth the old pocket couldn’t hold a smartphone without flapping about annoyingly, so it’s no great loss. 

Troy Lee has used a fabric that mixes 92% polyester with 8% elastane to give it a four-way stretch. It’s not one of the stretchiest jerseys on test, but there’s plenty of room in the cut, so it doesn’t really matter. Our medium was true to size with the fit of a casual t-shirt. 

There’s a slightly dropped hem, flatlock stitching throughout and feels nice against bare skin. 

We’ve worn older versions of this jersey multiple times in different temperatures and weather conditions and it’s always performed well, wicking sweat effectively. And despite a recommendation to line dry only, we’ve run them through the tumble dryer with no obvious ill effects. If you frequently ride in higher temps, or run hot, there’s also a Skyline Air jersey that uses a lighter mesh fabric, which allows greater airflow.  

We liked the fit, styling and off-bike potential of the Skyline jersey. The lens wipe is a useful addition and previous versions have proven durable. You do pay a premium for the TLD label though, which considering the lack of performance features, keeps it from the top spot. 

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Keeps you cool in the heat and warm in the cold

Weight: 215g | Sizes: S-XXL | Colours: Black, grey, khaki, red | Rating: 10/10

Pros: Keeps you warm, dry and comfortable in most weathers.

Cons: Slightly baggy fit, although that’s more of an observation than a criticism.

Another quality jersey using DriRelease fabric, this time from the Nukeproof wardrobe and using a cotton mix fabric rather than Merino. It still has a four-way stretch, so it doesn’t impede your movements on the bike, and the material does a great job of wicking moisture from your body. And if you don’t want to look like a convict, Nukeproof also offers a couple of other colours.

Read our full test review of the Nukeproof Outland DriRelease Long Sleeve jersey

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Great comfort and tailoring

Sizes: 8 – 16 | Colours: Red or blue | Rating: 9/10

Pros: Lightweight and wicking. Stretch fabric means good freedom of movement.

Cons: Not the trendiest design or fabric.

It just has a little bit of extra length at the rear, so you’re not exposed when leaning forward. We’re also giving it an extra mark for not being pink or purple. The Madison Flux Enduro Women’s Jersey is a comfortable, lightweight jersey that you can easily wear all year round. It also looks and feels great – totally recommended. Read our guide to the best mountain bike clothing for women.

Read our full test review of Madison Flux Enduro Women’s jersey

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Casual, t-shirt-style jersey that ticks all the boxes.

Sizes: XS-XL | Rating: 9/10

Pros: Super comfortable, good fit, great ventilation, nice low-key styling. Long-sleeve option also available to protect arms from foliage.

Cons: Fairly pricey at £60.

The Lilium jersey uses a soft four-way stretch knit (90 per cent polyester, 10 per cent spandex) with the engineered mesh adding extra ventilation. TLD has used only Bluesign fabrics for a number of years now while its flatlock stitching provides extra durability and comfort. Overall, the simple, clean and subtle design is backed by quality fabrics and proved to be a firm favourite with all of our women testers. Looking for more? Read our guide to the best mountain bike clothing for women.

Read our full test review of the Troy Lee Designs Lillium short sleeve jersey

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Merino luxury

Sizes: S – XL | Colour: Black/grey | Rating: 10/10

Pros: Fabric is lush next to bare skin. Wicks superbly.

Cons: 3/4 arms are a bit weird.

We’ve worn it at least twice as often as any other jersey over the last year, and it not only fits and looks great, and is super soft against the skin, it’s also kept its shape and looks good after tens of wash cycles too.

Read our full test review of the Specialized Enduro Drirelease Merino 3/4 jersey

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Classic raglan styling

Weight: 157g | Sizes: S – XL | Rating: 8/10

Pros: Good looking jersey that’s lightweight and breathable.

Cons: Loose fitting arms and threads can start to pull.

Although some of us found this jersey to a be a bit on the baggier end of the spectrum, that’s no bad thing for riders who carry a bit more body mass to them. Particularly if you’re blessed with – or spend hours hitting weights to get – big biceps and forearms. Having said that, it’s possibly a good idea for slimmer riders to size-down from their usual size. The body and arms are generous in length so down-sizing shouldn’t result in any undue exposed skin. All in all, the excellent fabric makes it great for summer riding for those who really don’t like to wear short sleeves when mountain biking.

Read our full test review of the Sweet Protection Hunter LS

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Superb value for money

Weight: 85g | Sizes: S – XL | Colours: Black, Cast Battleship, Redwood | Rating: 10/10

Pros: Cheap. Comfortable. Casual.

Cons: Bit shapeless. Nothing bike-specific in terms of features.

When does a jersey become a T-shirt (or Tee)? Who knows? Regardless, the lack of a zip and any pockets very much makes this a T-shirt. Its lack of bike specific… er, anything is both its strength and its weakness. It is a bit formless when on the bike – longer bodies peeps may find the smalls of their back exposed now and then – but as a base layer or a more casual layer for messing about bike rides, it’s a great option. It goes without saying that it also makes for a great top to where at any time before/after a bike ride too, or to wear down the gym or during other sporting activities.The material wicks really well a both a sinle garmetn in hot weather or as the lase layer part of a multi-layer set-up in cooler times.

Read our full test review of the Specialized DriRelease Tech Tee

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How we tested the best mountain bike jerseys

Comfort is key here – we’re looking for discrete, unobtrusive seams and breathable construction. The only way to put these to the test is by riding them for long distances. we also tested all the jerseys with backpacks and hip packs, because it’s hard to tell if a jersey rides up or chafes until you get on the trails and start pedalling. Recent warmer weathers allowed us to really put the breathability to the test.

Additional detailing like a glasses wipe or zippy pocket for your key also impressed us, but it’s not everything. Style also placed a decent nod towards style – who doesn’t want to look good when riding?

What to look for in the best mountain bike jerseys:

Mountain bike jerseys can either be tight-fitting with a traditional cut, a zip collar and three rear storage pockets, or loose, motocross-inspired jerseys, often with  no pockets. Both styles are usually made from lightweight, breathable polyester, often with with other materials blended in to improve the fit, help wick sweat away or to reduce odour. Jerseys are relatively simple to produce, so can be bought for as little as £20, with the most high-tech designs costing upwards of £50.

Fabrics

Polyester is the material of choice for its sheer strength. It’s also cheap, light, and good at wicking. Plenty of brands then add in extra material like elastane for its stretch, or natural materials like bamboo, silver, merino wool, drirelease cotton, or even charcoal to reduce odour.

Cut

The best cut for trail riding is loose fitting without being overly baggy. A jersey should be shaped to allow a good and comfortable riding position on the bike, and often that means it’s made from multiple panels. 

Ventilation

XC jerseys usually have zips down the front for increased airflow. Trail jerseys for hot weather can use perforated material under the arms or on the back, while some feature laser cut holes or mesh back panels.

Sleeve lengths

Counterintuitively, long sleeves can work well in summer as well as winter, giving you protection from both the sun (plenty come with inbuilt SPF) and spiky foliage. Three-quarter sleeves are a decent compromise between keeping cool and staying scar-free.

Glasses wipe

This is either a separate microfibre wipe on a tag in a pocket, or sewn under the hem at the front of the jersey and is designed for cleaning goggles or glasses.

Anti-odour

Lots of jerseys have bamboo, charcoal, metallic elements, or special compounds mixed in with the fabric to prevent odour build-up.

Mesh back

Mountain bikers often ride with a pack, so to increase wicking in this area, some jerseys feature a more breathable or lighter weight back.

Pockets

Not essential, but definitely useful, these are perfect for car keys, small change or a phone. If they’re deep you don’t need zips.

Correct fit on a mountain bike jersey

Fit can be quite a difficult and personal factor. But the main point is the right sized jersey should not restrict your movement when on the bike. Correspondingly a jersey that is either too tight for comfort or too big can have the same consequences.

It should be long enough to cover your lower back when riding in an active position on the bike – like in the picture below.

Many brands will produce jerseys for men and women, the main difference usually being the cut of the jersey and colour options.

What type of riding do you do?

Downhill (DH), all-mountain/trail riding and cross-country (XC) racing all demand different things from your mountain bike jersey.

Downhill specific jerseys are lightweight, airy and very loose in order to fit body armour underneath. The evolution of the DH jersey owes a lot to motocross clothing in both style and fit. A DH jersey might also incorporated reinforced patches in areas that might suffer in the event of a crash.

Other features might include a goggle/glasses wipe inside and a neck shape that avoids interference when wearing a neckbrace.

Enduro or trail riding jerseys encompass the widest variety of styles and technical features. Brands combine features taken from anything from road riding to motocross.

Normally made of thicker fabrics than a DH jersey but normally still incorporating vented or lighter weight panels for moisture management and temperature control.

Cuts can be as simple as basic t-shirt style jerseys to ones that incorporate multi-panelling, multi-pockets and zips for added ventilation.

XC Race jerseys are usually very similar to road cycling jerseys, being very closely fitting to eliminate flapping of material and as to not hinder the rider. Rear pockets are a must to carry spares and nutrition.

Varied weather means different mountain bike jerseys

As with any type of clothing, demands change dependent on weather and seasonal changes.

During colder or wetter rides a jersey becomes a vital mid or under-layer in conjunction with a more protective outer jacket. Then a thermal or windproof jersey is an ideal choice to retain body heat and also stay comfortable next to the skin.

Most thermal jerseys feature full or half zips and a much thicker textile. Hot weather obviously requires thinner and more ventilated fabrics with most riders opting for short sleeves.

Mountain bike jerseys and temperature regulation

Every one of us have specific ‘optimum operating conditions’, what we mean by that is we all feel temperatures differently and most of us know if we feel the cold or overheat given a certain scenario.

It’s the reason why you might see one rider wearing a single layer when riding in the snow, compared to another wrapped up in four layers on a sunny day.

If you wear a pack then a jersey with a mesh back panel and without pockets is the most comfortable style to go for. If you like keeping it minimal then you might want a jersey with one or two pockets for the essentials.