Smartwool’s ‘Bike Collection’ Is Its Lightest and Airiest Apparel Yet
The latest Smartwool cycling apparel sports mountain bike looks and can perform just as well for other activities.
The Bike Collection is part of Smartwool’s Ultralite line of apparel, which also features new lightweight Run and Hike apparel as well. The brand touts the line as its lightest and most breathable performance apparel.
We’ll run through some of the key styles in the collection. It’s all designed to wear throughout your summer days, no matter what you get up to.
Shop the Smartwool Bike Collection
Merino Wool-Blend Performance
If you’re familiar with Smartwool, you know about merino wool’s natural ability to draw sweat away from the body. Wool also doesn’t harbor odor-causing bacteria and can go a while between washes without raising a stink.
The brand changes up its usual formula with these Ultralite Sport pieces by blending the merino wool with TENCEL. Like merino wool, TENCEL is breathable, soft to the touch, and has natural wicking traits. It also resists wrinkles.
The Smartwool Bike Collection is made with riding in mind. But the relaxed fit of its shirts, jackets, and (some styles of) shorts won’t make you stick out like a sore thumb around town.
Smartwool Ultralite
Merino Sport Ultralite Mountain Bike 3/4 Short Sleeve Tee — Men’s & Women’s: $70
The wool-TENCEL mountain bike shirt has a regular fit to feel less restrained while riding. A lowered back hem provides coverage while you’re bent forward riding. To help reduce chafing, especially if you’re riding with a pack, the shirts have offset shoulders and side seams.
Another design element is the shirt’s reflective hits to stand out when riding at dusk (or getting an early start).
Merino Sport Ultralite Mountain Biking Short Sleeve Tee — Men’s & Women’s: $65
Just like the three-quarter-sleeve tee, this regular-fit short-sleeve combines merino wool and TENCEL for wicking and faster dry times, among other benefits. And it also has offset shoulder and side seams, a longer back hem, and reflective elements.
Merino Sport Ultralite Tanks — Men’s & Women’s: $45-50
If you enjoy the sun access and airflow of a tank top, well, here’s your answer. You can enjoy the roomy fit and wool-TENCEL blend’s performance whether you’re riding, working out, or just staying cool in your daily life.
In addition to the women’s racerback tank shown here, Smartwool also makes a women’s high-neck tank.
Merino Sport Ultralite Anorak — Men’s & Women’s: $130
The outer shell is all nylon for wind and light rain protection, thanks to its non-PFC DWR finish. Inside, the anorak has body-mapped panels of Smartwool’s Merino Sport 120 fabric to help with breathability and temperature.
Like the shirts, the anorak has a regular fit with a dropped tail and shoulder as well as relaxed sleeves. There’s a side-snap closure to make it easier to pull on and off. Lastly, it has double-welt hand pockets, elastic cuffs, and an adjustable cord at the neck to change the fit.
Merino 10” Short (Men’s) & Merino Sport Biker Short (Women’s): $70
The Men’s 10″ Short has a stretch-woven fabric on the outside to move with your pedaling. Inside, the shorts blend wool and polyester to aid in wicking sweat away from the body faster. The fit is a generally straight silhouette.
The slim-fit Women’s Merino Sport Biker Short uses four-way-stretch fabric. The high-rise waist should fit above your belly button, and it has an interior drawcord waistband. These shorts also have two pockets: one zippered pocket and another for quick access.
Bike Zero Cushion Socks — Men’s & Women’s: $17-21
Of course, Smartwool still makes socks. For bikers, there are zero-cushion designs in various heights with solid patterns or prints. These sock styles all include the brand’s 4 Degree fit system and tech for added durability, including in the “virtually seamless” toes. Lastly, the mesh areas in the sock should help aid airflow around your feet.
Crossover Apparel
A note on taking care of wool apparel: Like most athletic apparel, these garments will do best in a cold, gentle cycle and a tumble dry on low. (Besides, who irons their bike clothing?) One way to prevent a shirt from getting tangled in your washing machine’s agitator is to put it in a wide-mesh bag while washing it.
If you search around the Smartwool website, you’ll notice there’s considerable overlap between the Run, Bike, and Hike apparel. That’s because they’re all part of the Ultralite collection, which is the brand’s lightest to date.
Check out the rest of the Bike Collection, which comes in a variety of colors and styles, for all your summer fun in the sun.
Shop the Smartwool Bike Collection
This article is sponsored by Smartwool. Find out more about its Ultralite Bike Collection online.
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