Best men's gravel bike clothing 2023: baggy and form-fitting kit for cycling off road

As a style of riding, it’s true that ‘Gravel’ encompasses a truly massive variety of terrains, intensities, distances and approaches. From wide open dirt roads to technical descents, racing at the highest level to sociable and conversational rides - as well as the choice to ride short or long or break it up with overnighters. 

As you might expect, then, there is quite a range of gravel clothing out there, to best match those endeavours. Happily, though, the choice of kit is rather more straightforward: the first decision to make is whether you want to go baggy or form-fitting in your style of clothing. 

If you’re coming from road cycling, you’ll probably feel most at home in the more figure-hugging kit. The best gravel jerseys and best cargo bib shorts are all very familiar to the best short sleeve jerseys and best bib shorts for use on the tarmac. The main differences being a greater use of natural fibers and additional pockets - sometimes in places which might surprise you!

The main benefits of this more ‘roadie-influenced’ gravel clothing include top-notch breathability, reduced chance of chafing on longer rides, lighter weight and better aerodynamics. Essentially, if speed and distance are important aspects of your gravel riding, this style of kit is best for you.

On the other hand, if you’re coming from mountain biking or if you’re new to cycling in general, baggies will be the closest match to what you’d typically wear. These tend to be harder wearing garments that will better put up with errant foliage on the trails. They also look more like ‘normal clothes’ - so if you don’t want to attract too much attention in a pub or when sightseeing away from your bike, baggies are generally the better option. 

I’ll go into further detail at the bottom of the page. For now, let’s jump straight into our round up of the best gravel kit for men. 

The quick list

In a hurry? Here's a brief overview of the men's gravel clothing on this list, along with quick links that let you jump down the page directly to a review of whichever item of gravel clothing catches your eye.

Lightweight jerseys

Relaxed tops

Bib shorts

Baggy shorts

Our pick of the best gravel clothing

LIGHTWEIGHT JERSEYS

The best lightweight gravel cycling jersey

If you’re a seasoned roadie, you’ll feel right at home in this jersey. It has a figure-hugging fit with plenty of stretch - just as you’d expect from the best short-sleeved jerseys designed for the tarmac. No part of the jersey flapped in the wind - and the low cut collar further minimized issues there - nor was the jersey too tight in any area, with the hems fitting perfectly. 

The fabric is more towards the ‘mesh’ end of the spectrum, contrasting with the tighter weaves you see in aero jerseys designed for the road. I really appreciated the greater cooling of this fabric choice, as the slower speeds of gravel means that you don’t get the same airflow compared to road riding, so your heat tends to hang around a little more.

The one criticism I would make is that the double row of jersey pockets is a bit of a gimmick. Sure, the extra layer of three mesh pockets attached to the usual three pockets of the jersey does allow for greater organization - you can better separate your wallet from your phone and your pump from your tools etc.

But it doesn’t greatly change the actual volume of things you can carry in your jersey pockets, and it’s hard to get the best out of the organizational gains given that you can’t easily tell which pocket you’re putting your stuff into. Still, it doesn’t really detract from an otherwise excellent jersey.

The best gravel cycling jersey for performance and practicality

 First off, I’m going to have to disagree with MAAP’s temperature rating for this jersey. True, the thermoregulative properties of merino wool do extend to both ends of the spectrum, with the hydrophobic fibers helping with the wicking of sweat and, in being naturally antimicrobial, it helps with any smells, too.

But that doesn’t change the fact that those hot weather properties are best exemplified when the fabric employed itself quite lightweight and thin. A thick merino jersey is, first and foremost, best suited to colder conditions - and I would put MAAP’s Alt_Road jersey in that end of the spectrum. 

That’s not to say it doesn’t perform in the heat - on the contrary, I’ve been comfortable riding in conditions up to 28°C / 82.4°F in this jersey. But where I’ve found this jersey to be at its very best is when the temperature is around 16°C / 60°F and it’s persistently drizzling.

The moderately thick fabric does a good job at holding in heat, plus - one of the best features of merino wool - it retains its warmth when wet, meaning you can just ride through the rain (in mild to cool weather) without the need to pull on a rain jacket.

The best gravel cycling jersey for comfort

 This jersey has a particularly rich blend of merino wool in its construction (89%). Not all merino jerseys use quite so much - in fact, most don’t. For context, the MAAP Alt_Road Jersey is only actually 47% wool. To some extent more does equal better. The antimicrobial properties are greater with a higher blend of wool - and there is something about the particular soft comfort you get as well. 

On the other hand, merino wool simply doesn’t have the same elasticity as synthetic fibers. 7mesh mitigates this by adding 11% nylon into the mix, but still makes for a looser fit than the skin-tight MAAP Alt_Road jersey. 

Still, the thinner material and that less figure-hugging fit means that the 7mesh Aslu Merino Jersey performs better in hot weather compared to the Alt_Road Merino jersey - although it also means that cold breezes cut through it a little more easily on colder days. 

The great innovation of the Ashlu Merino Jersey is the pockets being made from a separate material. As mentioned, merino wool doesn’t have the best elasticity, and so traditional merino jerseys tend to suffer from sagging pockets. The polyester and elastane blend used for the pockets of this jersey are much more supportive and can be stuffed with a hefty amount of kit.

RELAXED JERSEYS

The best relaxed gravel cycling jersey for value

 If you’re in the market for a relaxed top, you’re probably more interested in the ride itself rather than your elapsed time or power numbers. If that’s the case, marginal gains probably also don’t mean as much as durability and good value. 

Happily, Endura’s Hummvee Jersey II represents an excellent option for that style of riding. It’s around half the price of those tighter fitting tops, but still offers excellent sweat wicking for comfort in the heat - plus the half length zip and general flowing feeling of the jersey helps to boost airflow too. Quite simply, it’s an excellent summer jersey which you won’t feel self-conscious wearing when stopping by a pub for lunch or evening meal. 

Similar to the Sportful Cliff Supergiara Jersey, it does have a downside. But, again similar to the Supergiara, it’s not one which necessarily represents much of a real world problem. The issue is the rear jersey pockets - with the jersey being so loose, if you store anything with some weight to it (such as a phone), then it flaps about and pulls on the jersey. 

It’s handy being able to store things in the pockets when hanging around a cafe, but they’re not so useful when riding. At least there’s a simple solution: don’t use them. Sure enough, many relaxed gravel jerseys don’t have triple jersey pockets at all because of this reason.

The best relaxed gravel cycling jersey for durability

This jersey is very similar to the Endura Hummvee for most intents and purposes. The differences lie mostly in the materials, the cut and the price. Assos is one of cycling’s most premium brands and pretty much all the products we’ve tested exude both quality and performance.

Let’s dwell on the first point a little longer. Instantly when you put on the jersey, the fabrics feel nicer and softer to the touch. But beyond that, as anyone who’s owned Assos products in that past can attest, Assos kit just lasts incredibly well. It might be hard to tell the difference after just one season, but after several years it really becomes apparent just how solid and well built the kit is.

As it is, I can’t fully comment on the durability of this jersey yet - but the early impression is that this is no departure from that reputation. 

Coming now to the second point, although this is a relaxed jersey, it still has a slim fit to it. A little like a high-end polo shirt - flattering but not tight. As such, it encourages a turn of speed, whilst not signalling it to all the world quite like a skin-tight jersey. 

The best long sleeve shirt for gravel cycling

 Right at the far end of the spectrum, if you’re looking for something you can go straight from the trailhead to an evening out, Scott’s Flow shirt is one for the short list. I’ve found it particularly useful on bikepacking trips where I’m stopping at cathedrals, castles and museums between legs on the bike. I really appreciate its versatility of looking just exactly like a normal shirt for that.

But a normal shirt it is not. The synthetic fabrics Scott uses are much more resistant to errant foliage than your standard cotton plaid shirt, and it’s much cooler and quicker wicking as well. Sure, it is still hotter than a jersey such as the Endura and Assos options, but you can still press on and really lean into a climb with it.

The sturdy poppers help with that, making it super easy to tear open the shirt for maximum ventilation. If it’s just a couple of popper you’ve undone, you can do them up again while riding. If you’ve gone most of the way down or fully open in the heat of the moment, it can be a little difficult to do it right the way up again while riding - easy to do at traffic lights though!

BIB SHORTS

The best cargo bib shorts for gravel cycling protection

 The Free Unlimited Bib Shorts use Castelli’s Progetto X2 Air chamois, which is featured on other premium shorts in its range and provides excellent comfort during long days in the saddle.

A particularly thoughtful addition is the two Dyneema side panels across the hip and side of the thigh. I’ve ruined many a pair of bib shorts after taking a tumble and tearing the fabric. Generally these weren’t even big falls, barely leaving a bruise or a scrape - lycra is simply more fragile than skin for the most part it seems! 

So, having a bit more protection - for the shorts themselves more than anything else - is a welcome addition. Although it’s not a feature I’ve tested yet, having thankfully stayed rubber side-down in all my rides with them so far!

The pockets are supportive and easy to access. They don’t have an extra flap of folded over material like the 7mesh and Assos shorts, so arguably they are less secure than those alternatives. Still, if you tend to use the cargo pockets more when you’re at the cafe or for less valuable items than a phone, that might not prove an issue for you.

Best all-rounder cargo bib shorts

 The 7mesh MK3 Cargo Bib Shorts are really great all-rounder bib shorts. The chamois is comfy and offers a good amount of cushion. The legs are compressive without being too tight and the bib straps have an excellent amount of stretch, so that they’re nether too tight nor too loose.

The cargo pockets have a neat construction to them, too, with a generous folded over flap of material which you can hook over to secure high value items (such as a phone) in place while riding - a really smart idea which we’re seeing adopted across ever more cargo bibs.

It does bring a downside that it can be a little bit more of a faff to get your kit out of the pockets, but I think that’s a price worth paying for the upside - and I haven’t come across a better solution for ease of access and security.

In all, these are simply really good cargo bib shorts that do the job without a fuss.

The best cargo bib shorts for comfort

 If you’re after the benefits which the Assos Mille GTC Kiespanzer C2 bib shorts are packing, then they’ll probably be your all-time favourite bibs. If you’re not, then likely the 7mesh MK3 Cargo bib shorts will be the better choice.

The chamois is incredibly plush and delivers a cloud-like level of cushion. It’s particularly good on rough terrain, helping to sound out the chattery bumps a little better than a standard chamois - but even just for long distance riding, it really helps with comfort. The downside is that you feel a little isolated from the bike. For harder and faster riding, it’s nicer having a chamois that offers a bit more of a feeling of connection to the bike.

Similarly, the leg length is a little on the shorter side by today’s standards. I actually quite like that - I’m not much of a fan of the super long leg look and prefer something a little higher (although, of course, not too high!). But if you like the look when your Vastus Lateralis thigh muscle is covered up, these probably aren’t the shorts for you.

In terms of the cut, fit, support and pockets, that’s all quite similar to the 7mesh MK3 Cargo bib shorts - i.e. all in perfect proportions and utilizing a cargo pocket with a folded over hem for added security. 

BAGGY SHORTS

The best gravel cycling shorts for value

 These shorts are a little heavy, but then they are super robust and are fully up for contending with branches, brambles and any other trailside detritus. They have a wide variety of pockets, most with zippers for added security. 

A bit like with the Endura Jersey, I didn’t find myself using the pockets much when actually riding because of the resultant flapping and weight distribution. But they are very handy when faffing about at a campsite, trying to put up a tent, unpack your bags and set your food cooking all at once. 

The downside is that they are pretty hot. If your riding is mainly is forested areas that attract a lot of rainfall, they are great for dealing with the rough and tumble. You can get by in hotter spells - the zip vents help with that - but if you live in a climate that’s hotter and more arid year round, this is probably a bit too much short for your situation.

Best gravel cycling shorts for performance

Contrasting heavily with the Endura Hummvee shorts, these are a lightweight (and expensive) option for more performance oriented riding. Also thanks to that lighter construction and more wicking material, these shorts are much more suitable for hotter and drier climates.

You miss out on some functionality, though. For instance there aren’t anywhere near as many pockets. But, as I mentioned previously, I don’t find much use for pockets on baggy shorts when riding anyway - and the two side pockets are plenty useful enough for stops at the cafe.

Despite being a loose fitting short, they don’t exactly meet the brief of being something you’d be happy wearing in all situation at all times. They do have an air of sport about them, whereas the Endura Hummvee merely exudes practicality. Not necessarily an issue, but something to bear in mind.

If you are after the highest performance baggy shorts on the market, though, being ultra light, fast wicking and super stretchy - then these are certainly it. Unlike the Endura shorts, I didn’t notice them so much out on the trail. But that’s quite a specific remit to be working within. 

Best gravel shorts overall

On the performance side, Rapha’s Nylon/Elastane blend is lightweight, stretchy and a truly excellent hot weather performer. To some extent this is helped by the cut and color: the Sand/Concrete model I had does a good job of reflecting the sun’s rays - plus these overshorts are a little shorter than Endura and Assos’ offerings, and simply having less material goes a long way to a cooler ride.

With that shorter leg length and lofty, stretchy fabric, it was easy to forget I was wearing these overshorts - I didn’t have any pulling on my legs or excessive heat build up. For the most part it was like just wearing a set of bib shorts, except that I had somewhere to stash my phone and head unit when off the bike and the only thing giving away how I got to the cafe was my helmet and shoes.

I also really appreciated the zipped pockets which can accommodate a phone, the reflective detailing and the little loop of elastic inside the waistband which you can use to keep your shorts rolled up when packing them away - really neat solution for bikepacking!

The downside is that the waistband itself doesn’t have much give. You can adjust how tight it is quite easily, but for hard efforts and racing, it is much nicer having an elasticated waistband that gives some room when you’re belly breathing (whilst also keeping your shorts up).

What's best for gravel riding, lycra or casual?

The best style of kit for gravel riding ultimately depends on two things; the situation and rider preference. You'll tend to see most people in competitive gravel races wearing aerodynamic lycra kit much like road cycling, whereas for multi-day bikepacking trips many riders opt for loose-fit casual gear.

Lycra or baggy, the choice is down to you. There's more choice than ever in between with brands launching constantly launching gravel-specific threads in addition to road and mountain biking gear, for example baggy shorts that are slim-fit and shorter than traditional mountain biking shorts.

For many, gravel riding can be a more casual alternative to road cycling, and their clothing style reflects this.

Can't I just wear my everyday clothes?

You certainly can wear your normal casual gear for gravel riding, although you might soon realize the benefits of more technical fabrics and fits that are specific to cycling or at least active wear. Cotton t-shirts don't tend to dry out very well, and riding without any chamois support can leave you sitting less than pretty.

What materials are best for gravel clothing?

You can largely divide technical materials adopted for cycling gear in two; synthetic and non-synthetic. On the whole, non-synthetic materials including merino and bamboo can help significantly with odor control, which is important for rides over multiple days.

Some synthetic technical tees excel at moisture wicking and breathability, which is really important for hot days in the saddle.

Even though you probably won't be going as fast as you would be on the road, the extra resistance from riding off-road can really make you work up a sweat, so breathable fabrics and layers are key.

You're also likely to need a greater range of movement for riding off-road compared to road cycling, as you maneuver over the bike and out of the saddle for technical descents. Look for fabrics that have plenty of stretch to prevent binding and pinching.

Baggy shorts or bib shorts?

The age-old question. Again, this tends to be personal preference, however there have been technological advances on both sides recently. Cargo pockets on bib shorts now make carrying kit like your phone or snacks easier, and advanced mesh liner bibs for wearing under baggies mean that you don't have to compromise on chamois comfort.