It seems like there are more mountain bike apparel brands for women, by women, than ever before. Kaden Apparel added themselves to the list in 2017 with their first line-up of jerseys that were years in the making. In 2013, founder, Chelsea Camarata says she came up with the idea for Kaden after years of frustrations with women’s mountain bike clothing options. She knew we needed bike apparel that looked good and met our needs. The first prototypes, according to Kaden, were handmade and designed by Chelsea out of her dining room. Unlike some of the other brands out there, Kaden wants to be known for MTB apparel that makes the rider stand out for their skills rather than the patterns on their shorts.
Kaden Cady-V Jersey, $89
The Cady-V jersey is designed with a 4-way stretch fabric made of 90% nylon and 10% spandex, making it cool on the skin and quick drying. The blended material is silky to the touch but has an airy feeling during a ride. It’s a looser fitting jersey with a longer hem in the back to keep it from rising too much.
One of the first things I noticed about the Cady-V is that there are no annoying seams that get caught in the shoulders or armpits that would result in bunching. The underarm is gusseted, allowing for better movement, less bunching in the shoulders, and reduced underarm chaffing. My medium jersey felt true to size.
Kaden Pinner Shorts, $119
Four-way stretch fabrics are really just everywhere in women’s MTB clothing and the Pinner shorts also use it. The body of the shorts is made from a material that is a polyester microfiber and spandex blend. They are a board short style with a 12″ inseam that rests at about mid-knee.
The Pinner shorts feature three pockets, two in the rear and one side zippered pocket large enough for a phone or keys.
These are the first pair of mountain bike shorts I have tried with the yoga-pant style waist band. The band is a little thick, but it can be folded down to sit on the hips more than at the belly button. The waistband is perfect because the Pinner shorts are like the yoga pants of MTB apparel. They don’t feel like most others and the material is incredibly lightweight, so I can wear them and feel comfortable even when I’m not biking. When I am riding, the waist keeps my shorts in place even with items in the pockets and they maintain shape and on long rides. I went with a size L on these shorts and they fit true to size.
Overall, the Kaden Pinner shorts and the Cady-V Jersey have quickly moved to the front of my MTB wardrobe. They look good and feel even better.
Check out our mountain bike shorts buyers guide and our picks for the best mountain bike shorts.
The Feel Good, Ride Good series is an effort to help women find mountain bike gear and clothing that just feels right. We recognize women have different body shapes, styles, and needs so we hope to help them discover women’s products that fit those unique requirements so we can just focus on the ride. While we are all different, we all want gear that fits, that works, and matches the energy and personality we bring to the bike. We’ll be back on #FeelGoodFriday with more women’s MTB products.
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Sep 25, 2020