Gone are the days of the “pink it and shrink it” approach to women’s cycling clothing, and thank goodness. Not that there’s anything wrong with the color of course, only the assumption that because we’re women we must like pink, and that’s an easy way to reach out to a new customer base, right? Either way, more and more brands are simply getting it right with women’s clothing; favorites of mine include the Specialized Trail Series Pant and Air Long Sleeve Jersey, as well as pretty much everything from the Rapha Performance Trailwear Collection, while our test editor Berne Broudy loves her Rapha Women’s Detachable Bib Short.
I’m delighted to see more and more brands getting amongst it with mountain bike clothing dedicated to women and their specific actual needs and wants, rather than what some brand manager imagines they need and want. The latest company to throw their hat in the ring is family-run PNW Components, better known for their Dropper Posts and Pedals than their apparel lines. The Ozone Jersey and Shuttle Short were developed for women, by women.
PNW Women’s Trail Apparel
“We’re so excited to contribute to the rapidly-growing women’s MTB space. These pieces are our answer to what we’ve been missing in our trail gear.” – Emily Stevenson Kerson, Co-Founder, PNW Components.
The new Women’s Trail Apparel from PNW has a very understated aesthetic; no bold color options here, and (pleasingly) no garish in-your-face branding. PNW simply wanted to make “gear that just works”. They’ve taken a sustainable approach too, using bluesign and OEKO-TEX certified fabrics. That means the wool and polyester that goes into these garments meets the demanding requirements of the highest environmental standards for the textile industry. The PNW Apparel ships in compostable, biodegradable packaging, too.
That sustainable approach isn’t mere tokenism, either. PNW aim to make every purchase carbon neutral, partnering with Cooler to purchase Pollution Permits from the US Government to invest in clean energy. While the validity of Pollution Permits may be debatable, PNW’s commitment to a circular economy by selling refurbished droppers rather than sending them to landfill, is undeniable. Enough waffle; here’s the PNW Women’s Apparel.
PNW Ozone Jersey for Women
The PNW Ozone Jersey is composed of a blend of 80% polyester and 20% wool, said to make it exceptionally soft, breathable, moisture wicking, and with anti-bacterial properties, too. It looks to have a casual, loose fit, with holes under the arms to enhance breathability. The sleeves are a fair bit longer than some short-sleeve MTB tops you’ll see for women. Hopefully that will help prevent any unsightly gaps between elbow pad and sleeve. There are just two color options for the Ozone Jersey, obscurely named Eclipse and Alien. Pick it up in sizes XS-XXL.
PNW Shuttle Short for Women
The Shuttle Short has a longer inseam length than most (13″), in a bid to avoid the knee pad-to-shorts gap too many women’s mountain bike shorts are guilty of (ahem… Specialized Trail Series Shorts). They are made of a 4-Way stretch fabric with a DWR water-repellent coating. Featured are so-called “smartphone compatible” zippered pockets, which presumably mean they are deep enough to accommodate the long to extra long phones we all carry around these days.
There are also non-zippered pockets down the front of each thigh. The waist band is secured via a zipper and button, and can be tightened or loosened off by virtue of an integrated belt.
Pricing & Availability
The PNW Women’s Ozone Jersey will set you back $49 USD, while the Shuttle Shorts are pricier at $99 USD. Both are covered by PNW’s lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.
