Five years ago, I started writing an opinion series called The Stoke, where I occasionally talk about what gets me stoked for mountain biking. Though this isn’t one of those columns, I will share my stoke for button-up mountain bike jerseys.
Reviewer profile height: 190cm (6’3″) weight: 75kg (165lb) testing zone: Southeast, USA
What’s so great about them? The key is the buttons down the front of the jersey that allow you to regulate your temperature throughout the ride. And with a long-sleeve button-up, there are even more adjustments available to stay comfortable on the trail.
Here are some of my favorite button-up jerseys for mountain biking.
Cognative Catalyst
I picked up my first Cognative Catalyst jersey a few years ago, and the tan-colored jersey remains my go-to on the sunniest summer days. The light-green Moss Topo version shown here incorporates a couple of running changes that make this great jersey even better. “The front opening and most importantly the collar now have reinforcement fabric sewn inside,” Cognative founder Austin Bankert told me. “This helps the collar keep its shape better and is not affected after being washed.”
One thing that makes a button-up jersey even better is snaps. The Cognative Catalyst has ’em so venting is a one-handed affair on the bike. The front of the jersey is shorter than the back for a no-tuck, tucked look, and there’s an eyewear wipe sewn inside the bottom of the front opening. This is a top-three button-up jersey for me.
- Sizes: XS to 3XL (medium tested)
- Colors: 10 choices, including Moss Topo shown
- Price: $89.95
- Buy from Cognative
Flylow Anderson Shirt
The Flylow Anderson looks a bit like a dress shirt, but it rides like a backwoods jersey. The polyester/spandex blend fabric feels a little more rugged and stiff than the other jerseys on test, so I’m less concerned about snagging it while riding brushy trails.
Naturally I’m a fan of the snap closure with western-style snaps. This is probably the least technical of the jerseys I tested, and I’m ok with that. The Anderson is a jersey I’m just as happy to wear to a BBQ at a friend’s house as I am to wear it on the trail. This is also one of my top-three favorite button-up jerseys.
- Sizes: S to 2XL (medium tested)
- Colors: 7, including Ocean/Night Plaid shown
- Price: $90
- Buy from Flylow
Flylow Laser Short
I’ve also been wearing Flylow Laser shorts this summer, and unlike the Anderson jersey, they’re chock full of technical features. Like laser-cut ventilation. Honestly, I could write a whole ‘nother roundup of just laser-cut shorts because I love them so much. The 10-inch inseam on the Flylow shorts is on the short side for me, which is welcome on the hottest summer days when long, sweaty shorts stick to my legs.
The Flylow Laser shorts also feel softer and less stiff than some of the other laser-cut shorts I own. Waist adjusters make it easy to dial in a secure fit.
- Waist sizes 31-38 (33 tested)
- Price: $140
- Buy from Flylow
Smartwool Everyday short sleeve jersey
Smartwool offers some pretty wild patterns on their Everyday short sleeve jerseys, and I’m here for it. However, it might come as a surprise that most of the jersey is made with polyester rather than the merino wool Smarwool is known for. However, there is wool sewn into key places, like the back of the neck as shown above, and the armpits too. This offers ventilation just where it’s needed, and works especially well when the top one or two buttons are left undone for airflow.
The Smartwool Everyday jersey is one of the softest and most comfortable I tested. My only gripe is the buttons aren’t snaps, making it hard to unbutton while on the bike.
- Sizes: S – 2XL (medium tested)
- Colors: 5, Sable Brown Trail Ride shown
- Price: $85 (currently on sale for $59.50)
- Buy from Smartwool
Backcountry Slickrock short-sleeve button-up jersey
Backcountry seems to call all their mountain biking apparel pieces — jerseys, shorts, pants — “Slickrock,” which is a little confusing. To be clear, this is the Slickrock short-sleeve button-up jersey, and it’s available in both solid colors and patterned designs.
The Slickrock short-sleeve button-up uses a 86% polyester, 14% spandex blend, which is exactly the same blend as the Flylow and Smartwool jerseys above. What’s interesting is that, somehow, it doesn’t look or feel exactly like the others. The Slickrock look reminds me of the silk shirts guys used to wear in the 90s with a feel to match; it’s what I imagine silk pajamas feel like.
This isn’t the most breathable jersey as you can see in the left photo above — and that was taken in March! Of all the jerseys here, this is the one that I open up completely pretty much at the start of the ride.
As usual I’m a fan of the snap closure and there’s also a zippered pocket on the side which is handy for stashing keys or a small snack.
- Sizes: S to 2XL (medium tested)
- Colors: 3 solid and 2 patterned. Sierra colorway shown.
- Price: $99 (on sale for as low as $49.50, limited sizes and styles remain)
- Buy from Backcountry
Backcountry Slickrock long-sleeve button-up jersey
Backcountry also offers a long-sleeve verson of their Slickrock button-up jersey which I tested in the spring. This one feels a bit stretchier and flowier than the short-sleeve, though both feature the same polyester/spandex blend. I love starting the ride with long sleeves on cool mornings and then rolling them up as the temperature rises.
- Sizes: S to 2XL (medium tested)
- Colors: 2 solid and 2 plaid. Starfish Dropout Plaid tested.
- Price: $109 (on sale for $76.30)
- Buy from Backcountry
Roark Bless Up
The Roark Bless Up button-up jersey breaks the mold in more ways than one. For starters, this shirt features a 67% polyester, 33% nylon blend that feels surprisingly cotton-like. That is, a very lightweight and breathable cotton. And that’s the key: the Roark Bless Up is incredibly well-vented and provides some of the best airflow I’ve found.
Where the Bless Up loses points is the lack of a snap-button closure and zero pockets. While I do ride in this jersey, I probably wear it off the bike even more often. Overall, this is one of my top-three favorite button-up jerseys.
- Sizes: XS to 2XL (medium tested)
- Colors: 10+. Cagliari Military colorway shown here, though it appears to be discontinued. The closest current match appears to be Military Kelp.
- Price: $99
- Buy from REI
Club Ride Motive
Club Ride practically invented the button-up jersey category 18 years ago, and the brand has what’s likely the deepest selection of both long- and short-sleeve button-up jerseys available. While many of the earlier jerseys skewed toward lumberjack flannel, today’s crop spans all seasons.
The Club Ride Motive is a lightweight jersey made from 85% polyester and 15% spandex fabric. As you can see in the photo above, the shoulder panel is thicker than the main back panel, which is thin and well vented for the hottest days. That’s not to say it won’t stick to your back in humid conditions. It’s at those times that I use the snaps to open the jersey wide and keep moving!
- Sizes: S to 3XL
- Colors: 3 patterns and 1 solid (Burnt Ochre shown, not currently available)
- Price: $90
- Buy from Club Ride
Your turn: Do you wear a button-up jersey for mountain biking? Tell us which one in the comments below!
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