TESTED: Norman MTB men's and women's mountain bike clothing

Words: Hayden Wright | Photos: Gerard Lagana

Around a decade or so ago you would have been hard pressed to find some baggy Australian riding kit that didn’t have a bikini girl, or some horrid pattern strewn across it. Fortunately, those days are now a distant memory and there are a handful of Aussie born and bred brands to pick from if you are looking to pick up a new jersey or shorts. Norman MTB are the latest to enter the fray, bringing to market understated, gender specific items which are designed to suit the more casual rider who wants to be comfortable in their riding kit regardless of if they are pedalling through the mountains or at the pub enjoying a cold brew post ride.

Developed in the Snowy Mountains, Norman MTB have a strong focus on ensuring their customers have an uninhibited, guilt free connection with their surroundings while riding by delivering comfortable and long-lasting gear for us to enjoy throughout summer, Autumn and Spring. This ethos is supported by their commitment to the environment, embodied through their choice of materials which are either locally sourced, recycled or certified organic. In their words, they’re on a bid to “do less harm (and more good) to the landscape”. Norman MTB have also partnered with Keep It Cool, which is a tree-planting initiative local to their headquarters.

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Over the past few months, Ash and I have been testing some items from their range. Our main stand out was the material choices which proved to be both comfortable and hard wearing. While the cut lengths on the men’s clothing had me scratching my head a little, Ash absolutely loved the fit of her shorts and jerseys – a true women’s fit that was both complimentary and comfortable. Read on for more on specific items in the line.

Merino-Edge Tech Tee (Women’s)

From: Norman MTB
$99.95

This short sleeve jersey is made from Australian-certified organic Merino wool and fits true to size for a loose, comfortable fit which proved to breathe well. The hypo-allergic Marino wool did a great job at wicking away any sweat and was very hard wearing during testing. The sleeve circumference is generous with a long cut length, allowing plenty of space for your guns and providing ample sun coverage on the upper arm.

The neck line is also flattering yet sun safe, which when combined with the 50+ UV rating of this jersey makes it a clever choice when the sun is shining. On the bottom left you will find a zipper pocket perfect for your car key or a lift pass.

Kudos on Norman MTB for knowing lift passes always go on the left! This jersey has become one of Ash’s “go-to’s” over the past few months.

Recycled Enduro Shorts (Women’s)

From: Norman MTB
$139.95

Our pick from the Norman MTB line-up were these Women’s Recycled Enduro Shorts. The team at Norman nailed the cut pattern of these shorts, which when combined with the recycled polyester material has led to a product which is comfortable, form fitting and flattering.

The inseam length is right on the money and proves to work well both with or without knee pads. Continuing the theme of great fit, the Enduro shorts have a high waste for extra rear coverage, with closure being handled by a zipper fly with two buttons providing a snug fit, albeit without any adjustment. There is a waterproof zipper pocket on the front left of the shorts, however Ash found it better to store her phone in the deep pocket found at the mid waist.

Time and time again we find that these style pockets are the perfect spot to tuck away your phone during a ride, keeping it snug and out of harm’s way should you find yourself taking a dirt sample. As with the Merino-Edge Tech Tee, these shorts have become a favourite of Ash’s and are now on high rotation for her trail rides.

Bamboo Gravity Jersey (Men’s)

From: Norman MTB
$129.95

This understated long sleeve jersey was a standout to me. When I first saw it the first thing I thought to myself was ‘oh man this thing is going to stain’ due to its light colour and dropped tail.

Contrary to my expectations, this jersey has been hard wearing and is still stain free after months of muddy riding where I live in SEQ. The long sleeves have no restrictive end cuff, meaning they’re just as comfortable down as they are rolled up.

The left sleeve also features a nice little pocket for your lift pass, so this jersey is just as ready for park laps as it is for a relaxed ride to the pub. You can also find a pocket on the rear of the jersey where you could stash your car key or a snack.

As the name suggests, this jersey is constructed of a mixture of organic bamboo charcoal and polyester which is super stretchy and did a great job of wicking away sweat during those warmer rides. This jersey really epitomises what Norman MTB aim to deliver with their products – casually styled kit that performs well and is environmentally conscious.

Recycled Enduro Shorts (Men’s)

From: Norman MTB
$139.95

While these shorts carry the same name and construction as their women’s counterparts they are in fact quite a different product. Featuring two waterproof zipper pockets, an adjustable elastic waist band and a relaxed fit like that of what you would expect to find on high end gym attire, the Recycled Enduro Shorts were quite a surprise when I first put them on.

While the fit is comfortable, the shorts really lack the structure and inseam length of anything I would consider to be appropriate for anything more than the most casual of rides. The loose fit led to anything in your pockets flapping about during pedalling or vigorous riding and left much of my worryingly pale thighs exposed when moving at speed on the bike.

Add in an unavoidable knee pad gap and these shorts quickly went out of circulation for riding and in for day to day wear around the house and while doing workouts.

Hits and misses

Hits:
– Understated design
– Environmentally conscious
– Women’s cuts are both comfortable and complimentary
– Stretchy materials
– Zipper pockets a plenty

Miss:
– Men’s shorts lack structure and are too short

From: Norman MTB