[Closed] Unbranded/Subtly branded MTB clothing

You're in luck because aside from padded undershorts if that's your thing, you can ride your MTB in pretty much any clothes you can buy on the high street.

Rapha.  Not got any of their Mtb kit yet but feedback seems good.

One of the reasons I like their road kit is that generally it’s not covered in shouty logos.

Well that's not strictly true.

Many tops just aren't long enough to cover your lower back when bent over the bars and many shorts aren't stretch enough. Also most non technical clothing soaks up sweat like a sponge.

Rapha. Not got any of their Mtb kit yet but feedback seems good.

Another requirement is that I don't have to sell my organs/children to pay for it 🙂

I wear generic, grey wicking gym t-shirts from TK Maxx, £12 a go.

I find walking shorts or trousers work ok, but MTB shorts probably better (stretch, pockets, toughness, cut).

Also, just get stuff from Decathlon. Hardly any branding

Madison stuff generally only has small logos. Can be had pretty bloody cheap as well.

https://www.startfitness.co.uk/cycles/bike-wear/jerseys.html?gender=98&manufacturer=378

Stick a pair of bibs on under your shorts and wear any tech T you like without worrying about lower back exposure.

Rapha pricing is pretty consistent with the usual Mtb brands like Fox, TLD etc.  For lower price point try Madison, I also think Nukeproof have some more subtly branded kit these days.

Rapha not as expensive as you'd probably think, but it's still plastic/poly tee-shit- world, so you're not buying anything different from the TLD Fox equivalents.

Rapha.
One of the reasons I like their road kit is that generally it’s not covered in shouty logos

Yeah, but then at the same time, that's how everybody knows you're wearing Rapha.
Rapha shout the loudest by not shouting 😉

Try some of the budget stuff from eBay or Amazon. I've worn FDX shorts for ages for example and they've got no branding really.
Loads of generic riding kit on Amazon without logos.

https://unicwear.com/en/

Custom, they'll even take the Únic logos off if you want.

Endura do plenty of plain stuff mercifully free from 'LOOK AT ME!' branding, and its great quality kit

I would second Madison, it's very well made and reasonably priced with very subtle logos (some of my Madison clothing has no logos and others just have a little label that could easily be cut off).

Basing entirely on what I have partly chosen for the same reasons as you, either Endura or DHb from Wiggle. The both have been excellent in terms of wear and tend to have quite small logos.

I've been using Muddyfox kit for commuting in the warmer months - cheap, hardwearing & subtle branding.

Most less than half price

Another vote for Madison stuff. Not as popular as some other brands as shops who sell grey import Shimano stuff (ie not through Madison distributors) are sort of barred from selling it so it’s not in the big stores sometimes.
Simple, good quality and value, nice colours and hard wearing.

Yeah, but then at the same time, that’s how everybody knows you’re wearing Rapha.
Rapha shout the loudest by not shouting 😉

I live in SW London area, it would be more odd if I wore anything but Rapha or Castelli darling! 😆

Scott do some nice subtle stuff. Not especially cheap though.

I was also going to suggest Morvelo (OK, the patterns are not necessarily subtle, but the branding isn't too garish) but have they stopped doing MTB clothing now? It's all road / gravel on their website now. That's a shame.

but have they stopped doing MTB clothing now?

Seem to have. There was another thread that made me go and have a look at their site for the first time in an age, and it was 'virtually' empty.

decathlon

Decathlon and TK Maxx for me. Decent kit, no bright colours or racing stripes. Rock bottom prices.

Seem to have. There was another thread that made me go and have a look at their site for the first time in an age, and it was ‘virtually’ empty.

I'm holding out for the return of the **** cancer socks.

Because now I am down to one. walking round with a single pink sock that says **** with no context is a bit much.

Some of that Loose Riders (shame about the name?!) is worth checking. Good colours, small logos, decent prices (on sale, anyway).
https://www.bikester.co.uk/loose-riders.html
I quite like the one with the big flowers too 😀

Madison and Endura, Decathlon for bike kit, Northwave also do some subtle kit.

Mrs_oab and I wear good outdoor brand baselayers - Rab, Montane and Berghaus are all just fine, if not cycling specific.

I forgot - Alpkit too...

Polaris do some good value plain stuff.

you can ride your MTB in pretty much any clothes you can buy on the high street.

I tried that when on holiday, went for a gentle but long ride in the hot sun, wearing running kit - so generic shorts, polyesterish t-shirt.

Got a lovely red stripe of sunburn on my lower back.

I was idly thinking about this the other week - Pinkbike posted one of their summer riding kit type articles, and the road brands' (Rapha and Pearl Izumi) kit was far better looking than any of the core MTB lot in my opinion. But still, i wouldn't consider wearing Rapha.

Mons Royale if you can find it at a sensible price. Troy Lee normally have one line with more subtle branding and colours. Hidden amongst the tie die, Dharco have some nice stuff and now available in UK.

There's a big gap in the market for someone to make decent, well priced, reasonable looking kit. If anyone has contacts, drop me a line!

https://www.nologoracing.com/en/product-category/mtb-en/

NoLogo - does what it says on the tin. BMX world champions use it, so it's the required level of cool.

There’s a big gap in the market for someone to make decent, well priced, reasonable looking kit.

Couldn't agree more

Yeah, but then at the same time, that’s how everybody knows you’re wearing Rapha.

You say that like its a bad thing! I'm normally dressed head to toe in Rapha, it's the only brand to be seen in (on a road bike) 😉

NB A few friends do take the piss out of me for it, to which I always reply 'Don't worry, one day you'll be good enough and they'll accept your order rather than just returning with a note saying 'have you tried DHB'?'

DHB don't always have big logos. Not as expensive as Rapha, and still good quality.

7mesh if you're feeling spendy

Does it have to be specific MTB gear? Just an excuse to add premiums onto cheap clothing really. I just use any sports T-shirts, lightweight cargo short or cheap Decathlon shorts that are not too baggy. Not sure what specific MTB clothing does unless you want to look the part.

I mostly just wear Ion t-shirts, bought cheap from wherever I can find them. Thought I'd treat my kid to a Troy Lee, MTB specific shirt - bloody pricey it was! and after 1 day's use it was knackered! Backpack straps had worn away the top colouring and pilled the material. One day! some of which he was wearing a jacket over it. Unbelievable.

NoLogo, whilst having a logo, lol.

Anyway

50 euro:

vs

£6

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231729750615?hash=item35f42b6257:g:RNIAAOSw5VFWKn69

How do they sleep at night.

OP - saw this and though of you

https://singletrackworld.com/classifieds/advert/scott-trail-flow-button-jersey-brand-new/

https://www.startfitness.co.uk/cycles/bike-wear.html?manufacturer=17

Just an excuse to add premiums onto cheap clothing

That's the bit I'd like to move away from. I know some folks are happy to ride in cheap gear under the rule "I'll probably fall in a bush and get this ripped, there no point in spendy amounts of cash" and that's totally cool: but even a cursory glance at the roadie kit that's available puts everything we "accept" as MTB kit to shame. Even the Rapha stuff while nice is still just "polyester pajamas" and when you look even their cheap roadie gear, it pales by comparison.

We really are badly served when it comes to kit

Broken Riders bamboo tees are lovely!

https://brokenriders.com/collections/mens-apparel

I've got 5 of them. There are a few with minimal logos.

Patagonia and Aussie Grit (RIP).

There’s a big gap in the market for someone to make decent, well priced, reasonable looking kit. If anyone has contacts, drop me a line!

I suspect that people like Wiggle's DHB team, Altura, Decathlon, Madison and various others reckon they're in that area already. What stuff like this generally means is 'I want stuff like Rapha and 7Mesh, but at a quarter of the price, there's a huge opportunity there for anyone who wants to bankrupt themselves - or go and open a restaurant instead'.

I use a lot of outdoor kit on the mountain bike fwiw. Rab, Montane, Arc'teryx, OR, Haglöfs softshell shorts etc. Better fabrics and cut than most mountain bike gear and often half price on Sport Pursuit.

Aye, me too, outdoor gear rather than MTB specific, except shorts (Aussie grit +1) and shoes.

Good fitted baselayers with a decent length to them over bike tops every time.

There’s a big gap in the market for someone to make decent, well priced, reasonable looking kit.

Aussie Grit had a go at filling that void a couple of years ago but it seemed to go pear-shaped; some of us were fortunate enough to get in there and pick up some real bargains.

Nobody’s mentioned Sombrio kit, they do a mix of fairly subtle graphics and more overt with larger graphics on, plus more casual and a range of shorts as well.
https://ca-store.sombriocartel.com/collections/mens-tops
I’ve got two Sombrio tops that I’ve had for years, real good quality, one is an olive green sleeveless top with black trim and a black mesh back, with the logo in multicoloured fine stitching on the front, the other is blue with a white logo on the front and on one sleeve, with a white mesh back - bloody excellent in hot weather, I wear them to work under my hi-viz vest thing, they stop my back getting really sweaty, they were outstanding on the bike. Both must be ten-twelve years old, look almost new.

but even a cursory glance at the roadie kit that’s available puts everything we “accept” as MTB kit to shame.

What does that even mean? You want subtle and/or unbranded, yet every roadie I see looks like they’re practicing for a stage on a road-race! Everything is covered in branding and logos, tight fitting with Lycra tights.
Whereas I always rode wearing looser cut stuff, baggies, tops and jackets in muted colours that was perfect for off-road riding. I still have gear I bought twenty-odd years ago that I wear, from Cannondale, Kona, RaceFace, Sombrio, etc, and it’s all kit you could walk into a pub or cafe wearing and nobody would look twice at you, the only clue you’re a cyclist would be a helmet.
The kit’s out there, you’re not looking hard enough.

I did look at Uniqlo, but while they do sports and activity clothing, very little is really ideal for cycling, except for evening pootles around the local lanes.