Kitsbow Clothing – high end MTB gear that doesn’t scream cyclist

Words | Justin Loretz

Complete the opposite to the bright and bold colours of brands like Troy Lee Designs, Kitsbow are an MTB clothing company that produce subtle, premium threads that look as great on the bike as they do in the beer garden.

Skinny, tanned and always smiling, Charlie Cronk and Zander Nosler (below) are the driving force behind Kitsbow. They share a love of cycling; specifically riding mountain bikes.

Which seems appropriate for a brand based in the manger of mountain biking – virtually within sight of Mt Tamalpais  itself. Their other shared obsession is with quality and detail – one bordering on unhealthy.

If we had to explain where Kitsbow apparel fits into the game of global cycling brand Jenga, they’d fit somewhere between the blocks of Giro’s New Road collection and Rapha’s casual ride apparel. Both Giro and Rapha  are redefining cycling apparel and breaking and blurring the boundaries and conventions of road cycling apparel.

Kitsbow do this for the off road brethren, only cranked up somewhat.

Everything is the best, whatever the cost. The best materials mean Kitsbow kit is trail tough and could well last two and half times the cheaper gear. If you’re still looking for more justification of the price, everything Kitsbow design is made by real Canadians, in Canada. They’re paid real wages, with real healthcare and tea breaks (with biscuits).

‘We’re not normal’ says Cronk, a sharp dressed Wisconsin native with a background in fashion at Levi’s. Nosler is a laid back Bay Area local, but is equally frank. ‘We’re just not interested in good.’

Nothing Kitsbow do in their pursuit of mountain biking apparel perfection is straight forward, or simple. Or quick. This also means nothing bearing the Kitsbow name is cheap.  As they’d tell you, anyone can do cheap and easy. Kitsbow believe it’s impossible to create truly special products, ones that will be the benchmark for others with cheap and easy . You might already be tuning out, looking at the prices and wondering what’s wrong with what you wear now. The answer is nothing, it’s probably perfectly good gear.

But as they’ve already stated, for Kitsbow, ‘Good’ is just a deserted stop on the line for the Kitsbow perfection train.

The Adjustable A/M shorts are the shortest length shorts in the Kitsbow range. Designed with a close fit and on the knee length, they’re more for fast, flowing XC missions and multi-minute climbs rather than for knee pad touting gravity botherers. Add two hidden  zip pockets where casual trouser pockets would be and two usefully shaped rear pockets with flaps, and there’s enough capacity to carry some essentials. They help to make the look of the shorts clean, slick and perhaps a little more adult than some other kit . Olive, black, navy or grey are the choices, and you can’t help but appreciate the water resistant, stain resistant Schoeller 3XDRY fabric.

It’s not an express train either. With limited people, limited funds and a lot to do, just to get the first pair of shorts into production, it took ‘some time’ to breathe enough heat into the company to the point where it was (is) a ‘brand’.

But hard work and persistence has paid off for Kitsbow Clothing. They’ve tapped a vein that few believed existed. Like it or not, there are a lot of people who have two and a half times the normal amount to spend on buying the best possible shorts, or jerseys. They’re well-heeled dirt riding obsessives.

We don’t try to justify the price of the things we use daily. But if you must, you could look at cost this way. Your bike costs more than £3k, maybe more than 6. The kit to ride it – even the expensive stuff – is cheap.

Or maybe consider the shorts are made from the best possible materials; every zip, button and logo patch. Kitsbow go to New Zealand for their sustainably farmed Merino wool; Switzerland for their un-stainable Schoeller 3XDRY fabrics.

The shoulders are reinforced against the rub and pressure from hydration pack straps – or cyclocross bike top tubes – in a low profile, barely noticing it at first glance way. It epitomises the Kitsbow Clothing anti ‘in-yer-face’ approach to design, and it’s quite pleasing when you start noticing these details.

There are a few little details here and there like contrast collar reinforcing (on the inside), stitched in same colour logo, that you rather pleasantly have to search to find. Branding is very low key at Kitsbow Clothing – you know you’ve bought it, Kitsbow know you’ve bought it. It’s nobody else’s business. The colours are adult, muted. Lovely. You’d hardly see them in the woods, let alone from space – like a lot of what mountain bikers are served up elsewhere.

Kitsbow knee warmers are fairly classic with silicone grippers to keep them up, and have a Schoeller patch over the front of the knees. This serves to add an added level of protection from the wind, but also a fraction more protection to the knee and durability to the warmer if you happen to get your knee down. In a flourish of excess and rampant marketing, Kitsbow add a small leather logo patch to the leg of the right warmer. Don’t worry, they’ve not gone nuts. It’s the size of a stamp.

The twin side mounted pouch pockets are easier to reach than rear pockets, and they also leave the back of the jersey free of zips or pockets – which would be covered by a hydration pack. They also camouflage your inner cyclist in the pub, should that kind of thing concern you. We really like details like the eye wear cleaner stashed in the chest pocket – also good for cleaning your phone when your grubby hands render the touch screen useless.  Arms are contoured, and overall cut is spot on.

The Kitsbow Clothing jersey uses a full zip and a cut that is right on the spot where sporty and casual collide. Before you put it on, you can feel the quality of the Kitsbow Merino – it has a wonderfully soft hand, and when you slip it on it feels like it’s moulded to your form. Not in a shrink wrapped, expose your man-handles way, more like it’s been designed and cut by a detail obsessive. Great cut, close fit and a distinct understated appeal.

So what do we think of Kitsbow Clothing?

We’re suckers for quality, and Kitsbow Clothing is the definition of quality. We love the cut and fit. We love the detailing and the durability, which is right where it needs to be for a life off-road. And there’s something appealing about wearing the right kit that’s fit for purpose, without screaming ‘mountain biker’. Kind of like having silent freewheels for those naughty trails. 

We’ve got our eyes on a few more bits of Kitsbow kit – and we’ll bring you some reviews once we’ve had some trail time on the clothing. In the mean time, you might want to gloss over the prices, it’ll lessen the impact.

LS AM Jersey | £183

Adjustable A/M shorts | £197

Knee Warmers |£45

What do you think of subtle, premium brands like Kitsbow? Are you a lover of bright and bold, or would you consider flying under the radar in Kitsbow kit?

We’d love to know what you think!

Let us know in the comments below…

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