Update MTB clothing & accessories: Bike accessories made in Europe

The colourful product world of mountain bikes stops at Frames, brakes, gears and wheels is far from over. A large market for MTB accessories is flourishing around the actual bike. Bikers need tools, helmets, lubricants and cleaning agents, goggles, lights and much more. Even jewellery and decorations made from old bike parts can be found on the bike market. Very few bikers realise that much of this is manufactured in Europe. Finding out where a product actually comes from can be quite difficult.

Slogans such as "Engeneered in Europe" or "Designed in Europe" often conceal the true origin of MTB accessories. In addition, the company headquarters says nothing about the production location. While Elite is based in Italy, for example, most of its products are made in Asia. The helmet systems from MIPS are developed in Stockholm, Sweden, but they are produced in large numbers in China. To shed some light on the subject, we have done some research and compiled a list of European manufacturers of bike accessories and clothing.

These companies produce bike accessories in Europe

Our list is not exhaustive and we look forward to your additions. Do you know where other MTB accessories are produced in the EU? Then send us an e-mail: j.timmermann@bike-magazin.de

Manufacturer / Company headquarters / Production site / Remarks

• 44Elf / Ilvesheim (DE) / DE / Household items and art made from bike parts
• Abus / Wetter (DE) / Volmarstein (DE) / Helmets, locks and accessories
• Alpina / Sulzemoos (DE) / EN / Helmets and glasses
• BIKE / Munich (DE) / EN / Europe's number one mountain bike magazine
• Casco / Großröhrdorf (DE) / ROU / Helme
• Cratoni / Rudersberg (DE) / DE / Helme
• Danico-Biotech / Kelkheim (DE) / Worms (DE) / Lubricants
• Dowe / Lauchheim (DE) / SLO / MTB gear
• Dr Wack / Ingolstadt (DE) / EN / Care products
• Easyframe / Dresden (DE) / EN / Protective films
• Evil Eye / Linz (AT) / Linz (AT) / Spectacles
• Holmekol / Münster (DE) / Ludwigsburg (DE) / Care products
• Hope / Barnoldswick (GB) / Barnoldswick (DE) / Lamps
• KED / Freiberg am Neckar (DE) / DE / Helme
• Spoonbill / Ried im Innkreis (AT) / AT, CZ, ROU and BGR / MTB gear
• Lupine / Neumarkt (DE) / DE / Lamps
• maXalami / Reit im Winkl (DE) / Warendorf (DE), Reit im Winkl (DE) and Kössen (AT) / Tubeless repair kits
• Neatflow / Idar-Oberstein (DE) / DE / Care and cleaning products
• Ortema / Markgröningen (DE) / DE / Orthoses from DE
• Ortlieb / Heilsbronn (DE) / Heilsbronn (DE) / Bags
• React / Wattwill (CH) / CH / Spectacles
• Re-Cycle / Weinheim (DE) / Weinheim (DE) / Wallets made from old tubes
• Reset Racing / Hanover (DE) / DE / Tool
• Rohloff / Fuldatal (DE) / DE / Tool
• Schöffel / Schwabmünchen (DE) / DE, IT, PT, PL, LVA, LTU, SRB, BGR, MDA, ROU, TUR / MTB clothing
• Son / Tübingen (DE) / Tübingen (DE) / Hub dynamos and lamps
• Uebler / Forchheim (DE) / Forchheim (DE) / Bicycle rack
• Unior / SVN /SVN / Tool
• Uvex / Fürth (DE) / DE / Helmets from DE
• Wera / Wuppertal (DE) / Brystrice in Moravia (CZ) / Tools
• Zandona / Caerano di San Marco (IT) / IT / Protectors

A look at the list: Which bike accessories are made in Europe?

It may come as a surprise to some, but Germany has a very active helmet production industry. For example, helmets from Abus, Alpina, Casco, Cratoni, KED and Uvex are manufactured in Germany. The German chemical industry also produces a lot of lubricants and care products for bikes and bikers. Powerful lamps can be obtained from Son and Hope in Europe, for example. Uebler even claims that its rear carriers are 100% made in Europe. European MTB eyewear comes from Switzerland and Austria and all kinds of tools are also manufactured in Europe.

The number of cycle clothing suppliers producing in Europe is also encouraging. The German clothing manufacturer Dowe relocated its production within the EU from Italy to Slovenia in 2007. Löffler is particularly transparent in terms of its production location. Their bike clothing is produced in Austria, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria. Schöffel goes even further. The German company produced 1.6 million items in 2017. 14.42 per cent of these came from Europe, more precisely from Germany, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Turkey. 78.81 per cent of the parts were produced in Asia and 6.77 per cent in Africa.

9 examples of European MTB accessories

BIKE Magazine

BIKE is also part of the "mountain bike accessories world". Reason enough to take a look at ourselves and make transparent where Europe's biggest mountain bike magazine comes from. The BIKE editorial team is based in Munich. In addition to the editorial offices, the BIKE test laboratory is also located there. The test material is stored here and many pictures are taken in the in-house photo studio. The content for the magazine and for www.bike-magazin.de is created in Munich or by the editors in their home office. BIKE is printed in the Swabian town of Wemding. Most of the paper comes from Scandinavia. Like FREERIDE, EMTB, MYBIKE, TOUR and many other special interest titles, BIKE is part of the Bielefeld-based publishing house Delius Klasing. Since 2022, BIKE has been part of the Klambt media group headquartered in Speyer. Europe's number one mountain bike magazine therefore comes from Germany.

It is no coincidence that Europe's biggest mountain bike magazine comes from Germany. More people actively ride mountain bikes in Germany than actively play football. In fact, Germany has one of the largest MTB scenes in the world. Unfortunately, this is neither reflected in professional sport nor in the political perception. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE Editor and Head of BIKE PROJECT: EUROPE

Dr Wack F100 Organic Bicycle Cleaner

Dr Wack from Ingolstadt has been producing the F100 bicycle cleaner in Bavaria for four decades. The family-run company has been manufacturing its lubrication and care products in Germany since 1975. To ensure that this remains the case in the future, Dr. Wack is currently building new production capacities just a few kilometres away. The organic version of the cleaner consists of 97 per cent ecologically renewable raw materials, which are blended in Ingolstadt. No chemical reactions occur and water, air or soil are not polluted. The F100 organic bike cleaner comes in a refillable recycling bottle for 17.99 euros >> available here.

Evil Eye Traileye Pro

The Traileye Pro has little in common with the colourful plastic glasses produced by cheap suppliers from the Far East. Like all Evil Eye sports glasses, it is manufactured in Linz, Upper Austria. The full-length lens is self-tinting and is designed to provide a brightening and contrast-enhancing effect, especially when light conditions change quickly on the trail. The Evil Eye Traileye Pro costs 315.00 euros. Interchangeable lenses and the solutions for the optical glazing of the glasses also come from the heart of Europe and are made in Austria.

Danico Biotech Race Shok

When lubricants evaporate, they end up in nature. It's a good thing that the fork and damper oil from Danico Biotech is biodegradable and even has food approval. Race Shok, which is produced in Worms, is made from renewable raw materials. Climate-friendly organic oil from German sunflowers makes it less affected by temperature compared to mineral oil-based products. Longer service life also ensures longer maintenance intervals. The non-toxic organic hydraulic oil is available in stores for 36.90 euros per litre.

"The development and manufacture of products based exclusively on renewable raw materials in Germany guarantees us consistently high quality as well as climate-friendly and socially responsible production." - Arian Nek, Managing Director Danico Biotech

Uebler I31

All 50 parts of a Uebler bike rack are produced 100 per cent in Europe - including the raw materials. This means that the supply chains are also easy to trace: injection moulded parts come from the surrounding region and all metalworking processes have been carried out in-house for over 55 years. All development, production and administration takes place in the Franconian town of Forchheim. This is a strong commitment to the region and creates over 140 jobs. The I31 hitch carrier has space for three bikes with tyres up to 2.8 inches wide. The 849.00 euro I31 is approved for a maximum payload of 54 kilos >> available here.

Our carriers are 100 per cent European, from the raw materials to distribution. Clear supply chains have a positive effect on our quality assurance and sustainability. Production in Germany makes us independent and strengthens the region. - Mark Fohrer, Sales Manager Uebler

Holmenkol Chamois Cream

Exactly 100 years ago, Dr Max Fischer developed the world's first ski wax. He later named the resulting company in Ludwigsburg after his favourite ski jump in Norway. The portfolio now also includes lubricants and care products for bikes and bikers. Holmenkol produces 90 per cent of the ingredients itself in a factory near Münster. The Chamois seat cream based on deer tallow contains vitamin E as well as D-panthenol and is designed to help prevent sore buttocks and pressure sores after long hours in the saddle.

Ortlieb Seat Pack

For Ortlieb, production in Heilsbronn in Middle Franconia also has something to do with guarantees. The bag specialist has been producing in Germany since it was founded in 1982 and can best ensure that quality standards and environmental protection requirements are actually met in-house. This includes, for example, the professional recycling of waste. As a local company, Ortlieb supports social initiatives such as the Heilsbronn Community Foundation. The waterproof Seat Pack holds up to 16.5 litres and can be compressed thanks to the valve >> available here. For 149.99 euros, it will take you on a bikepacking adventure.

Lupine Neo

In Bavaria - more precisely: in the Upper Palatinate town of Neumarkt Lupine lamps are made by hand. This means that every relevant component can be checked for function and precision during assembly and, if necessary, immediate action can be taken. In addition, in-house production shortens delivery and development times. Lupine can react quickly to crises and trends. In times of sudden changes in demand due to corona and the like, this flexibility is more important than ever and ensures that Lupine continues to have a good supply situation. Weighing just 59 grams, the Neo helmet light illuminates the trail with up to 1000 lumens. The 3.5 ampere-hour battery provides energy for up to 80 hours of operation. The spotlight costs 236.00 euros.

For us, this means above all a big plus in terms of quality: reliable lamps at our performance level require extremely close quality control. Furthermore, the manufacture of high-precision optics in Germany is world-leading. - Joshua Koch, Marketing Manager Lupine

Löffler M Bike Jacket Alpha II WS

When we think of the textile industry, we inevitably think of huge factories in Vietnam or China, where workers sew together cheap fabrics for a pittance and in the stench of chemicals. This makes it all the more pleasing that Löffler has been producing cycling clothing in Austria since 1981. 14 employees produce 70 per cent of the fabrics in the company's own knitting mill in Ried im Innkreis. The yarns for this come exclusively from Europe. All other work steps, from design to cutting and sewing to dispatch, are also carried out in Austria - perfect for the BIKE Project Europe. The 159.99 euro Alpha II is windproof and water-repellent >> available here. Thanks to the in-house repair service and the fact that the fabrics are stored at Löffler for several years, it also scores highly in terms of sustainability.