Muc-Off Technical Riders mountain bike clothing review

Muc-Off knows a lot about looking after bikes during and after a filthy ride and its translated that knowledge well when it comes to looking after the rider, too. The casual fit also makes it versatile off the bike and reduced pricing puts it right on the money for its performance.

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With a 20k waterproof rating the three-layer MOD 94 fabric is designed to hold off serious rain and it’s certainly good to see the beads just running off until it eventually gets wetted out or you whack through a wet bush. Welded seams mean it’s right up there for proofing performance without spending £200 and it’s definitely a lot more protective than many jackets at the new lower price point. The pop on/off hood offers extra protection and drawstring adjusters mean it won’t just blow straight back off your head as soon as you pick up speed. The soft collar stops drips and draughts nicely when the hood is off too. A cowled wrist cut on the long sleeves and a dropped tail mean no unwelcome draughts either and the main waterproof zip is backed with an extra flap.

Breathability is comparatively good at 20K WVT (Water Vapour Transmission rate) too and while it will start to steam up when you’re working hard small zips under the upper arm add a bit of air-con and cool your blood where it’s closest to the surface.

The fabric has a soft, quiet feel so it doesn’t feel cold and clammy or rustle like a crisp packet when you’re riding. While the claimed stretch is very limited a generous cut means mobility isn’t an issue and it’s held up well to shrubbery incidents and a couple of crashes fine too. While the reflective and pink Muc-Off logo and lightning strike print won’t be to everyone’s taste they definitely help visibility. There’s even a velcro shoulder patch for military-style embroidered badges (packs of three £3.99).

While sizing is on the large size and the casual cut certainly isn’t aero you won’t look weird wearing it when you’re off the bike. There are massive hand pockets and a smaller chest pocket and all zips are waterproof. That can make them a bit harder to pull but the 2 way main zip and hand pockets get massive rubber collar and shock cord pullers so even numb hands or fat gloves will be able to get a grip. 

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The matching shorts use the same waterproof and breathable MOD 94 fabric for impressive rain and splash proofing over most of their coverage. The rear yoke uses a very deep section of stretch material that isn’t waterproof though. That’s not so much of an issue if you’re wearing the jacket as the tail covers it even when bent over. If you’re wearing the shorts on their own though deep/long puddles can leave you with a creek down your crack. The big stretch yoke and Velcro waist tabs give them better fit and mobility than most waterproof shorts though, and the soft, quiet fabric also removes the ‘incontinence pants/bin liner’ vibe many of them give. Soft lined waist adds comfort and they breathe well enough that you won’t get an overly sweaty butt if you wear them on puddley/damp, not just full-on soaking wet days which obviously boosts versatility. 

The cut naturally sits high on the waist so while overall length is good, the leg length and lightweight fabric mean they can leave more of a ‘tw*t gap’ above knee/pads than other shorts. Otherwise zipped fly and hand pockets plus a popper closed thigh pocket that’ll take a large smartphone adds to the practicality. Logo-press studs and long rubberised pocket zip pullers give a quality feel and they’ve got reflective and velcro patch detailing too. There are even loops for a military-style Molle pack to create a built-in waist pack and the currently reduced price makes them a bargain for the level of detailing.

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Muc-Off’s mesh jersey works well under the jacket as a fast-wicking base layer or in its own right where the reflective sleeve logos keep your aesthetic consistent. Whether the big pink lightning print on the back works as an easy target for chasing riders or to make your pass more memorable depends on your skill levels. The cut is a simple T-shirt style, but easy stretch means it works fine and there’s plenty of length in the arms and back. It’s been through plenty of bushes and a couple of wash cycles without starting to look tatty either and the new reduced price makes it a really good deal. There’s a short sleeve version for £23.99, too.  

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Muc-Off has designed its MTB gloves with style in mind (which incidentally work fine for road and gravel too) by covering the suede effect palms in a sensationalist-but-usefully sticky, dayglo-pink silicon 'Ride or Die' blood spatter pattern. That makes them great for grip and feedback in wet and dry and the print is holding up okay so far too.

The index finger and thumb web are reinforced with extra panels and the fingertip is also touchscreen compatible for trailside selfies or rapid work call answering if you’re ‘shirking from home’. The outside of the thumb is a fully Terry towelling snot/sweat wipe and a short neoprene cuff keeps the pull-on fit snug and secure. The mid-weight stretch back is tougher and more weatherproof than summer mesh so works well most of the year and comes in bolt-black or subtle camo (shown here) designs.

You get a rubber Muc-Off logo patch as well as a stick-on one and a luminous pink lube drop in silicon just in case people didn’t realise what brand you are wearing. The full performance spec makes them a great all-round glove and Muc-Off currently has them discounted to £17.99 at the time of writing for an added bonus.