Sensible, adaptable, and sustainable mountain bike apparel is always in style. This is what Patagonia consistently delivers with its clothing and gear designed for mountain biking.

While the line has slowly evolved over the few years since the company reintroduced bike apparel to its collection, each season has brought new tops and bottoms ideal for riding. From original staples like the Dirt Craft bike shorts to new items like the Dirt Craft pants, Patagonia's gear is versatile and suitable for various conditions, climates, and activities. Whether you're riding or camping—in wet or dry conditions—dressing for cold or warm weather, Patagonia offers clothing for everything a mountain biker may encounter.

The evolution of Patagonia’s mountain bike clothing is evident. After first entering the bike space decades ago with a collection that included a riding jacket and rain pants, Patagonia got back in the game in 2016. Since then, its mountain bike collection has progressed with fresh seasonal colors and patterns, modernized fits, and thoughtful bike-specific features. No longer exclusively for rad dads, browsing through Patagonia’s versatile tops and bottoms unveils combinations suitable for multiple generations of shredders and various types of riding. Breathable and fun-colored riding pants matched with a performance casual boxy cropped tee for laid-back rides? Check. Stashable and waterproof jackets for trail rides in wet weather, layered over a merino jersey to keep you extra dry? Epic-worthy chamois liners with added pockets to carry more snacks? Check. Check. Check.

Responsibility and sustainability define the Patagonia brand and mountain bike line—an ethos often outlined by its outspoken founder, Yvon Chouinard. Whether shopping the all-day and all-weather Dirt Roamer series, the trail riding Dirt Craft series or the multi-sport Tyrolean series, you can purchase with the assurance that material sourcing and product life cycle have been thoroughly considered. Much of the line is composed of OceanCycle certified recycled and Bluesign approved polyester, and every garment is Fair Trade certified. To ensure the longevity of each piece, repairs and trade-ins are available. In fact, repairs are considered in the design of each item so that they can be made easily and indiscreetly. 

“Apparel designs work to adopt mono materials, or single source materials,” says Eric Wallis, a senior product line manager for Patagonia’s snow and bike collections. “Building products this way means they are ready to participate in the recycling process.”

Dirt Craft Bike Shorts 
$199
Black, Cliffs and Waves: Golden Caramel, Utility Blue, Nouveau Green (reviewed)

Patagonia’s Dirt Craft bike shorts are a staple in the mountain bike line. 

“The Dirt Craft short was our first mountain bike-specific product in 2016,” Wallis said. “Now, eight years strong, spring 2024 introduces the third generation of the popular two-in-one hard working short.”

The updates include a slightly longer inseam, an additional zippered thigh pocket, and a new body fabric that borrows from the Dirt Craft pants: stretchy, breathable, and surprisingly durable. The removable liner has also been updated with improved padding and stretch woven panels that absorb less sweat and dry faster. The shorts still feature an effective hook and webbing waist adjustment and a relaxed fit.

The Dirt Craft bike shorts’ new breathable and stretchy body fabric is composed of 82-percent recycled polyester and 18-percent XLANCE, an elastic thread that claims cleaner production and longer wear. They’re finished with a PFAS-free DWR to repel water. The new fabric updates the shorts with an airy feel. The fabric is surprisingly tough and doesn’t bag out when body temperatures rise.

Both the men’s and women’s new iterations of the Dirt Craft shorts have a thigh pocket on each side, featuring angled horizontal zippers. This revision makes it easier to access pockets while on the bike and helps prevent items from accidentally falling out. The men’s version has two front hip pockets, while the women’s version does not. The new thigh pockets are perfect for carrying essentials like a phone, snacks, and tools. Both versions come with the updated chamois liner that is ideal for long rides. It’s breathable, fits perfectly under the Dirt Craft shorts and provides substantial padding. 

Patagonia’s Dirt Craft bike shorts are tried and true. The relaxed fit—now with a longer inseam—and functional waist adjustment mean these shorts work for many riders. Plus, they are available in an expanded size range. With a “What’s my size?” fit finder, detailed size charts, 12 numeric sizes for women, and nine numeric sizes for men, I’m confident many riders of all different sizes and body types will be comfortable in the Dirt Craft shorts. The shorts stay put while pedaling thanks to the contoured waist while the roomy thigh provides unrestricted movement. The included chamois liner is a no-brainer for long days in the saddle. 

Year after year, the Dirt Craft shorts are a riding essential that are only getting better with time. The increased breathability and improved pockets mean the shorts work harder as a daily driver. These bottoms can pair up with any top from Patagonia’s line and are the foundation for a great day on the bike.

Dirt Craft Pants
$149
Black, Utility Blue, Golden Caramel (reviewed)

As a newer addition to the mountain bike line, the men’s and women’s Dirt Craft pants are Patagonia’s answer to the increasingly popular pedal-friendly riding pants. There’s nothing fussy about these bike pants. With breathability as a focus, the Dirt Craft pants are simple, but certainly not basic. Lots of stretch and Patagonia’s most breathable body fabric make these a great bottom for keeping dirt, spiky plants, and urushiol-producing nemeses off your skin in three-season weather. They’re easy to wear for many types of rides and double-down as great pants for trailwork days or simply when kicking around the campsite. 

The Dirt Craft pants have a straightforward yet functional construction. A zippered fly and button closure make it easy to get the pants on and off while a contoured waistband allows for a comfortable slim fit that stays put while in the saddle. While there is no waistband adjustment, elastic panels at the waistband allow some fit variability. This creates a streamlined and minimal waistband that’s comfortable under hip packs and layers. All seams are double stitched and there are several contoured panels to create an ideal on-bike fit, particularly over knee pads. The bottom hem is a simple straight cuff with an elastic back panel to make it easier to pull the pants on and off. Two hip pockets with angled zippers are sized to hold phones, snacks and other trail essentials while also being easy to access while in the saddle. Laser-perforated venting at the inner thigh and back of the knee round out the pants’ emphasis on breathability.

The Dirt Craft pants have the same body fabric as the Dirt Craft bike shorts. The recycled polyester and XLANCE blend is lightweight, stretchy, and breathable. The laser-cut perforations for added breathability, combined with the airy fabric, make these pants ideal for times when you want a little more protection in warm weather or pedal missions. Should your ride be long enough to justify a chamois liner, pair the Dirt Craft pants with Patagonia’s Dirt Roamer bibs or Nether shorts and you can access the liner’s cargo pockets through the pants. Pass-through holes inside the zippered pocket allow you to reach valuables stashed in the liner without losing anything from the pants pockets themselves.

Further adding to the simple function of Dirt Craft pants, the fit is comfortable and uncomplicated. Thanks to the contoured waistband, articulated panels, and four-way stretch, the slim fit allows freedom of movement while pedaling or descending. In fact, the pants feel nearly weightless when worn. At 5-feet 2-inches tall and 115 pounds, size 2 fits me very comfortably with an appropriate length. The stretchy fabric and waistband may allow some riders to size down. Women get a wide-range of sizes to choose from—12 to be exact—while the men’s version comes in 11 size options. 

With spring on the horizon, I recommend the Patagonia Dirt Craft pants for anyone looking for pants to take them from cool to warm temperatures without sacrificing breathability. More practical for everyday trail riding than gravity or rough park laps, these lightweight pants are super comfortable and suitable for many types of riders. I personally like the bright Golden Caramel color and look forward to pairing the pants with Patagonia’s cropped Capilene tee for casual rides, and with the Dirt Craft jersey for more technical riding.

Patagonia’s sensibility comes through not only from the brand’s respectable social and environmental commitments, but also from the versatility of its products. The mountain bike line continues to be refined yet clearly remains focused on delivering premium riding essentials to those who prefer casual, clean styles that still perform on even the hardiest epics.

Patagonia Dirt Craft Women's Bottoms

MSRP Dirt Craft Shorts: $199
MSRP Dirt Craft Pants: $149

Learn more about the Women's Dirt Craft Shorts and Bottom's at patagonia.com.