We combed through hordes of gear to put together the best kit for road and mountain biking.
Giro Chrono Pro Shorts聽
A good chamois could be the single most important item in your gear closet. This is about the plushest we鈥檝e found, with a wide waist, leg bands that stay in place, and silky Lycra. 聽聽
Price $150
Specialized S-Works Evade Helmet聽
The secret to speed isn鈥檛 shedding weight鈥攊t鈥檚 getting aero. The Evade will save you 46 seconds over 24 miles compared with a standard helmet, says Specialized. We couldn鈥檛 verify the claim, but we sure felt fast. 聽 聽
Price $225
Garneau Stunner RTR Jersey
Upping your visibility at night is the best way to stay safer on the road. We like this reflective top from Garneau because it glows like a beacon when headlights hit it and doesn鈥檛 look like a traffic cone the rest of the time.聽
Price $180
Velocio Recon Jacket聽
Spandex-clad roadies aren鈥檛 known for high style, so when a company designs a shell that can seamlessly transition from a half-century to an espresso stop in SoHo, we take note. The Polartec NeoShell fabric (the stuff ski jackets are made of) kept us dry in the rain, and the long hem in back didn鈥檛 ride up when we hit the drops.
Price $395
Pearl Izumi Race Road IV Shoes聽
A good road shoe should hug your foot like a second skin and provide a rock-solid pedaling platform. This high-performance tool delivers on both counts, with a carbon sole and a dial to micro-adjust fit. 聽
Price $150
Specialized 2FO Cliplite聽Shoes聽
With a stiff sole and rigid heel cup, the Cliplite is an efficient pedaler, but it really shines on backcountry adventure rides. Aggressive rubber lugs and a Boa-Velcro combo inspire confidence on rough hike-a-bikes.
Price $180
Qloom Black Beach Shorts聽
Baggies, meet boardshorts. We love the surf-inspired print, but what really won us over was the airy stretch fabric and trim cut. We wore these bottoms on rides, runs, swims, and hikes. The one downside: that breathable material tears easily. 聽
Price $130
Giro Montara MIPS聽Helmet聽
With deep coverage on the sides and back, this helmet is intended for rowdy, big-hit riding. But it鈥檚 no slouch on cross-country trails, and 16 vents kept us cool in temps up to 95 degrees.聽
Price $150
Osprey Verve 3 Pack聽
The problem with most hydration packs: the weight and bulk throw us off-balance. When we can, we downsize to the Verve 3. Ideal for sub-two-hour rides, it holds a 2.5-liter bladder, a few snacks, a flat kit, and a light rain shell.聽
Price $80
Sombrio Burst Jersey聽
Sombrio makes kick-ass kit with attitude. The Burst pairs loud colors with smart engineering, including flat seams that don鈥檛 chafe under a pack.聽
Price $70