Our picks for the season’s best new women’s mountain biking gear are for ladies who like to get after it on singletrack.
1. Specialized Fate Comp Carbon 29er
Meet the first and only women’s carbon hardtail 29er. While the style has been riling up male gear-hounds for the last couple years, women have been hard-pressed to fit on the taller frame that goes along with 29-inch wheels. Specialized solved that problem by designing a lower stand over height, a very short head tube and specifically tuned forks for lighter weight. Need proof? The five-foot seven-inch tall Rebecca Rusch won Leadville on this bike last year.
$2,900; specialized.com
2. Osprey Verve 7
Osprey’s hard-backed reservoir system prevents sloshing and barreling while you’re cranking on the bike, and makes it easy to put the reservoir into your pack when it’s full. The women’s specific Verve pack is a touch shorter than the men’s version and features the same built-in magnet for quick bite-valve attachment. It’s available in four different sizes, and we found the one-pound Verve 7 perfect for 2+ hour rides—there’s enough space for a pump, tube, multi-tool and phone, and the bungee lacing system will stash an extra layer.
$79; ospreypacks.com
3. Club Ride Bandara Jersey and Eden Shorts
Named for the club rides in Europe that always involve après cycling socialization, this Sun Valley, Idaho, company aims to create apparel that ensures the tourists won’t look at you funny in the coffee shop or brewpub after your ride. We love the western-inspired Bandara jersey, which features RideDryWear, a lightweight, quick drying stretch fabric. Pearl snap buttons add fun fashion flair, and back zippered storage pockets and a media port ensure function. Pair with the Eden Shorts, made of the same fabulous fabric with a flirty seven-inch inseam and a removable coolmax brief-cut liner.
$90 each; clubrideapparel.com
4. Road ID Wrist ID Slim
Now you can add your identification info to that Livestrong or other cause bracelet. Designed to be compatible with silicone bracelets, this stainless steel plate has room for five lines of emergency contact information, or choose the interactive version that gives a web link leading to more extensive medical data and contact instructions. Don’t have a favorite cause bracelet? Choose one from Road ID, available in seven different colors and included in the price of the plate.
$16; roadid.com
5. BG Ridge WireTap
Proportional sizing for women’s palm width and finger length are what make this glove women’s specific. It also includes BG mountain padding designed for optimal bar control and to relieve pressure on the ulnar nerve. The micro-width Velcro closure is a nice touch that helps enable unrestricted movement for smaller wrists. But what really makes this glove stand out is the WireTap technology built into the index finger that allows you to use any touch screen device without removing the glove.
$45; specialized.com
6. Keen Women’s Springwater II
In case you didn’t know, Keen has been making SPD-compatible mountain bike shoes for three years now, with the same lightweight durability and secure fit of other shoes in their line. The Springwater II is brand new this season and features a moisture wicking lining to keep feet dry, a removable metatomical footbed for comfort on long rides and a sturdy rubber outsole for those times when you have to hoof it. The shoes come in half sizes and weigh 12 ounces each.
$110; keenfootwear.com
