Mountain Biking Helmet 

Choosing the right helmet is crucial—it’s the most important decision you’ll make about your biking gear. Whether you go with a full-face or half-face helmet depends on the type of riding you’re doing and your comfort level.

For cross-country riding on less challenging terrain, a half-face helmet might be sufficient. However, when I was new to mountain biking, I opted for a full-face helmet, even on cross-country trails, for extra protection. If you’re riding at a park with a chair lift or doing shuttle runs, I strongly recommend a full-face helmet. Many women skip this, but safety should come first. If you don’t have the budget to buy one, consider renting a full-face helmet at the bike park.

Personally, this is one item I refuse to buy second hand as you never know if you’re buying something that has been crashed in or not cared for. 

Key Considerations:

• Fit with your riding hair style: If you have long hair, consider how the helmet fits with a braid. Trying on helmets with your hair down isn’t the same as with a braid, so make sure to account for that. If you’re between sizes, brands like Fox recommend sizing up, which is something I wish I knew before purchasing a too-tight helmet that left my cheeks sore after rides.
• MIPS Technology: I always look for helmets with MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) technology. It adds a low-friction layer inside the helmet that can move slightly during an impact, helping to reduce rotational forces on the head and lowering the risk of brain injury. If a helmet doesn’t have MIPS, I won’t buy it.
• Color: The color of your helmet can affect its temperature. In one test, a black helmet was over 10 degrees hotter than a white one after just a few minutes in the sun. If you ride a lot in sunny, warm weather, opt for a lighter-colored helmet.
• Compatibility with Eye Protection: Make sure your helmet fits well with your eye protection. Some helmets, like those from Smith, have vents that can hold your glasses in place, which can be a real advantage. Some helmets – like the Smith Forefront 2 MIPS® also have a specific spot to set your glasses right on your helmet for when you feel like removing your glasses. 

Product Link: Smith Forefront 2 MIPS®

Mountain Biking Eye Protection 

Proper eye protection is essential when mountain biking. Regular sunglasses that can shatter shouldn’t be worn, as you’re likely to encounter flying debris on the trail. I never ride without my glasses; I’ve learned from experience that bugs and branches can be a real hazard.

Goggles vs. Glasses:
I prefer glasses over goggles, except when I’m doing hardcore downhill or park riding where extra face protection is needed. Glasses fog up less, are easier to clean, and offer a wider field of vision.

Key Considerations:

• Compatibility with Helmet: Your eyewear needs to fit well with your helmet. I use Smith Shift Mag glasses because the ear pieces bend to fit under a full-face helmet, which prevents discomfort over long rides.
• Lens Color: When mountain biking, you’re constantly moving between light and shadow, so lens color matters. I use transition (photochromic) lenses that adjust from dark to clear depending on the light. If you prefer non-transition lenses, look for glasses with removable lenses that allow you to switch based on the light conditions.

Product Link: Smith Shift Mag Glasses

Hydration Packs For Mountain Biking

Hydration is critical when you’re biking and I don’t love just having a water bottle sitting in my water cage. For one, it falls out all the time, for two it’s not a ton of water, and three it’s way more convenient to grab a straw than to dismount and grab a water bottle. So I wear a hydration back pack. 

Key Considerations

• Comfort: If you’re doing long rides you want to ensure your water pack isn’t putting excessive strain on any part of your body. You can get both hip packs as well as backpack style and this will come down to personal preference on which one offers more comfort. 
• Function: You’ll want to ensure your hydration pack works with your safety equipment and doesn’t impede your bike. My husband purchased a large hip pack water pack as he broke his collar bone and it felt like a better option than something rubbing on his clavicle- however, he did notice if he doesn’t wear it high enough it can rub his back tire when doing jumps. 

Personally, I use a POC pack vest because it places less pressure on my shoulders, making it more comfortable for long rides.

Product Link: Column VPD Backpack Vest

Mountain Biking Gloves

Whether you’re doing cross-country or downhill riding, gloves are essential. They protect your hands from injury, and let’s be honest—your hands are something you use for just about everything.

Key Considerations: 

• Fit: Make sure to get the right fit of gloves. Wearing gloves that are too big is not only annoying but can also be dangerous. Loose fabric can get caught on things like chair lifts or brake levers. I recommend fitted gloves with good ventilation and protection. They don’t need to be expensive, but they should cover your entire hand.

Product Link: Fox women’s mountain bike gloves

Knee Pads For Mountain Biking

I tend to wear knee pads for any kind of riding i’m doing. My primary reason for wearing them all the time is because I take pedals to the shins a regular basis – and i’m super uncomfortable with bare knees on any trails. They are the first thing that gets scraped and the first thing that causes me to need time off if my knees are all scratched up. For the type of riding I do, I wear enduro knee pads for both cross country and down hill- however if you’re fully sending it you may want to opt for something a bit beefier than enduro pads. 

Key Considerations 

• Coverage: Knee pads are best if they cover both your knees and shins. Especially if you’re riding with flat pedals. The further down they go on your shin- the better. 
• Flexibility: If you want to be able to wear your knee pads for both downhill and enduro, flexibility is going to be key.  I’m a huge fan of anything with D30 or VPD material as its flexible and allows your body to move while being protected. 
• Protection: Where a lot of knee pads offer flexibility, they lack in protection. However, the D30 and VPD material mentioned above maintains protective integrity while offering flexibility.  
• Fit: This may come as a surprise to many manufacturers, but our legs are generally not shaped the same as men (lol). With thicker thighs, smaller ankles, and a tendency to be shorter – buying knee pads is a bit more challenging. For this reason I usually opt to buy enduro style knee sleeves. They offer more stretch and forgiveness than your average knee pad.
• Grips: What I mean by grips are the part that grabs your leg to keep them up. I avoid Velcro at all costs and generally go for something that has a sticky material to grab my leg. Make sure this part isn’t cutting off your circulation and nicely hugs your leg- they will stay up as long as it’s not super loose. I tend to go for a wider grippy section so that if the sticky part that holds my leg gets sore I can reposition it lower or higher if needed.

Product Link: Fox Launch Elite Knee Pads

Elbow Pads for Mountain Biking

I usually only wear elbow pads for downhill riding, but they’re a good idea if you’re uncomfortable with exposed elbows on any type of trail.

Key Considerations: 

• Fit: To be honest, the only thing I look for in elbow pads is fit. I’ve tried several different kinds including cheaper elbow sleeves, and bulky ones with velcro to hold them up. I didn’t like either. I find the higher up the material goes up on your upper arm, the better. I’d also opt for a thicker band at the top to hold them up a bit better. You’d think you need to go crazy tight with arm bands – but I don’t recommend it. When your arm starts to get some pump into it from riding you’ll be glad you had some breathing room. 
• Flexibility: You want your elbow pads to move with you. Most of the movements you’ll be doing require your elbows to bend. There’s lots of chunky plastic options out there but they restrict your movement that you’ll need to bike safely. In my opinion anything with D30 or VPD material is great for this. 
• Protection: You want to ensure your elbow pads can actually handle the task at hand if you go down. Buying a cheap elbow pad made of nylon and foam is going to shred the second it touches the earth. Another reason why I like D30 or VPD material as it offers both flexibility and protection. 

Product Link: POC Oseus VPD Elbow 

Women’s Mountain Bike Jerseys

I used to think jerseys didn’t matter much until I bought a bunch of cheap ones and ended up soaked in sweat before my ride had even really started. You don’t necessarily have to break the bank to buy jerseys – but I can say having a good quality jersey does make a difference in terms of moisture wicking and breathability. The down side – even the most expensive jerseys tend to rip easily with crashes. 

Key Considerations 

• Sleeve length: Maybe it’s because I have tattoos, but I refuse to ride in short sleeves. So I always opt for long sleeves as even the lightest riding can cause me to get scratches from tree branches. 
• Color: If you’re anything like me it’s tempting to wear black but if you ride in any kind of heat you’re going to regret this. I actually buy white or off white jerseys all the time and the mud comes out in the wash. They aren’t perfect- but they do the trick and it keeps me cool when i’m on a chair lift in the sun doing park laps all day. 
• Breathability: Fox does a phenomenal job with breathability in their Flexair line. They are ultra lightweight and super breathable.
• Fit: Select a larger size so you can fit elbow pads or other protective equipment under it. 

Product Link: Fox Racing Flexair Jersey

Mountain Bike Shorts For Women

For a long time, I wore Lululemon shorts for biking, but after my first crash, I realized they weren’t the best choice. They’re expensive and offer no protection.

Key Considerations:

• Mountain Bike Specific Shorts: Mountain bike shorts are made from thick, protective material that’s also breathable.
• Flexibility: Flexibility is going to be even more important for women as we have hips and this is where our center of gravity is. Opt for a short that allows for plenty of movement and has no buttons, straps or Velcro digging in. 
• Length: As much as I love myself a pair of daisy dukes, there’s really no place for short shorts in mountain biking. Get yourself a pair that goes right down to your knee pads for ample coverage. 

Personally I prefer Troy Lee Designs Luxe Shorts, as they feel like yoga pants at the waist but offer protection in the legs. Plus, they don’t have buttons or Velcro, so they just slip on. 

Product Link: Troy Lee Designs Luxe Shorts

Mountain Bike Shoes For Women

You’ll need proper mountain biking shoes that work with your pedals. I ride with flats, so I use shoes designed for flat pedals. Regular running shoes don’t have the grip needed for mountain biking and can cause your feet to slip, leading to a loss of control.

Key Considerations: 

• Function: You need the right shoes for the type of pedals you have. Buying clipless shoes to use on flats is going basically render them useless. If you are riding with flat pedals, ensure to get shoes that say they are for flats. 
• Fit: You want your shoes snug to your foot- which can be a bit challenging as women have narrow feet- and they tend to make a lot of unisex shoes. I’m not a huge fan of this as I have yet to find unisex shoes that made my feet feel great. 

My favorite shoes so far have been the Five Ten Trailcross shoes because they work well both on and off the bike. They are also super narrow and fit my long skinny feet. 

Product Link: Five Ten Trailcross Shoes

Everyone is going to find their favorite items but hopefully this list of must have equipment and clothes for women to wear mountain biking was helpful. Leave a comment below to let us know your favorite items for mountain biking!