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In snow, ice and temperatures below freezing, biking becomes a challenge. The wind chills the body - and especially the hands and feet - extremely quickly. If you still don't want to miss out on hours in the saddle, you need to dress appropriately. There is plenty of winter MTB clothing on the market. With our clothing tips, you can defy any winter weather, whether in wet and cold mud, snow or on frosty sunny days.
Warm vests and winter jackets
A warm vest as a first layer is essential for bike rides in winter. At best, they fit like a second skin and are often made from an elaborate mix of materials - frequently merino wool and a synthetic fibre. These blends keep the body warm and the inside feels pleasantly dry.
Until recently, you had to combine several layers on top to achieve the desired protection against the cold. Today, even in frosty conditions, a single layer is enough - insulation jackets and MTB jackets with Primaloft lining make it possible. If you can do without additional insulation, you can also get through the winter with a softshell jacket.
You can find even more warm things here:
- Löffler Shirt Transtex Merino long-sleeved vest - 85,95 Euro - available here
- Löffler Bike Iso winter jacket with Primaloft - 179,95 Euro - available here
- Craft Active Extreme - 59,95 Euro - available here
- Craft Active Extreme Windstopper - 69,95 Euro - available here
- Gore Wear Windstopper Base Layer L/S Thermo - 74,95 Euro - available here
- Q36.5 Base Layer 3 long sleeve - 81.95 Euro - available here
- Castelli Alpha RoS Jacket - 239,95 Euro - available here
- Gore C5 Gore WS Thermo Jacket - 179,95 Euro - available here
- Vaude Pro Insulation Jacket - 159,95 Euro - available here
Winter trousers for bikers
More and more bikers are choosing loose-fitting softshell trousers for their legs. There is a good reason for this. The loose fit allows an air cushion between the trousers and the skin and therefore insulates better than classic, tight bike trousers. It also gives you the option of combining short or long, thin or thick bike trousers underneath. Waterproof inserts and taped seams on the back keep splash water out. If you prefer a classic look, there is of course still a large selection of winter bib shorts with a tight cut on the market.
- Fox Attack Fire Softshell Pant - 119,95 Euro - available here
- Castelli Polar 3 Thermo Bib Shorts 199,95 Euro - available here at a reduced price
- Vaude Virt II Softshell Trousers - 159,95 Euro - available here
- Rose Wind Softshell II Trousers - 89,95 Euro - available here
- Endura MT500 Spray Trouser - 159,95 Euro - available here
- ION Softshell Pants Shelter - 169,99 Euro - available here
Winter gloves and helmet caps
The extremities are a particular focus of the frost. The further away a part of the body is from the centre, the faster it cools down. Bike gloves with a good lining are therefore essential in winter. But you can't simply reach for thick ski gloves. This is because too much lining on the inside of the gloves impairs the grip on the handlebars. Many of the MTB winter gloves are only insulated on the outside and some have a wind and water-repellent layer. Thanks to touchscreen fingers, even smartphones can still be operated with some winter gloves. On the head: A bike helmet cap with full-length windstopper material is the last resort in Siberian temperatures. However, some find them annoying because they rustle your ears. Others swear by it to prevent ice on the earlobes.
- 100% Hydromatic Brisker - 44,50 Euro - at Maciag Offroad or Decathlon available at a reduced price
- Fox Defend Thermo Off Road- 109,90 Euro - available here
- BBB ProShield BWG-39- 59,95 Euro - available here at a reduced price
- Craft Siberian 2.0 - 49,90 Euro - available here
- Chiba 2nd Skin- 37,82 Euro - available here
- Craft Shelter Hat 2.0 - 34,95 Euro
- GripGrab Skull Cap - 30,00 Euro - available here
Winter shoes and overshoes for bikers
There are again two options for the feet: e.g. overshoes with a thick layer of neoprene. Toes and heels are reinforced with robust rubber inserts or Kevlar. Or the right winter shoe, which keeps your feet warm and dry for a good while even in sub-zero temperatures and snow flurries. They often have waterproof and windproof properties thanks to a membrane, which combined with Velcro covers, depending on the model, also keep splash water out.
- Vaude Minaki MID II STX - 230,00 Euro - available here
- Northwave Celcius XC Arctic GTX - 269,99 Euro - available here
- Shimano SH-MW5 - 119,95 Euro - available here
- BBB ArcticDuty OSS neoprene overshoe - 42,50 Euro
- Endura MT500 Plus Overshoes - 39,95 Euro - available here
- Vaude Bike Gaiter Short Overshoes - 19,95 Euro - available here
- GripGrab Arctic X Overshoes - 54,95 Euro - available here
