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Hype This – Style essentials

We gathered the hippest accessories and most stylish riding kit. Wearing this, you’ll look your best on the trail without feeling like you’re overdressed. And if you pass by the local ice cream parlour on your way home, you won’t look out of place either. So, get inspired and enjoy your cone of strawberry ice cream ;).

Smith Wildcat

The large Smith Wildcat glasses don’t just look cool, they also help protect your eyes from the elements. Whether rain, mud, flies or big cats, the Wildcat has your entire field of vision covered. The ChromaPop lenses provide lots of contrast in bright light conditions and the included transparent lenses offer full visibility and optimal protection even in the darkest woods or inclement weather. They come with a protective bag and case and are available in 5 colours with 5 different lens options each.

Price: € 199
Weight: 32 g
More information: smithoptics.com

Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar

The Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar is Garmin’s flagship sports watch. With ANT+, Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi and USB, there are hardly any limits to its connectivity… Whether it’s a heart rate monitor, power metre, Bluetooth headphones or the Garmin Varia radar to warn you about vehicles approaching from behind, the watch will let you connect almost anything. Moreover, it can be paired with many common ebike systems to indicate the support mode and battery level, so you’ve always got the most important information on your wrist. The sapphire glass keeps the watch protected and thanks to the solar module, you can extend the battery life by up to 4 days in smartwatch mode, according to Garmin. With the help of an adapter, you can also mount the watch to your handlebar, letting you keep an eye on all your data while riding.

Price: € 999.99
Weight: 89 g
More information: garmin.com

Stance UNO x Cartoon Crew

The UNO socks from Stance’s Infiknit collection are just what you need to get you through the bike season in style and they’ll make a good impression on game night, too. Infiknit technology interweaves combed cotton fibres with secondary fibres for added durability and a perfectly regulated foot climate. The crew socks feature reinforced toe and heel sections and go for € 19.99. In addition, the reinforced toe box doesn’t have any seams that unravel like on other socks, so the UNOs should last for years. Not convinced? No problem, Stance give a lifetime Infiknit guarantee. Should anything tear or develop a hole somewhere, Stance will send you a new pair for free.

Price: € 19.99
Weight: 74 g
More information: stance.com

Specialized Jaqueta Altered Trail Short Sleeve Rain Anorak

The Specialized JaquetaAltered is a very special rain jacket to slip into. With its short sleeves, you’ll have no problem wearing it in warmer temperatures, letting you hit the trails during a summer thunderstorm. Thanks to the marbled tie-dye look, mud splatters and dirt just blend in. The hood features a rain visor and it’s big enough to wear over your helmet. Thanks to the front zipper, you can comfortably slip the jacket on and off. When you don’t need the jacket, you can simply roll it into its own back pocket and use the integrated straps to wear it like a hip pack around your waist. The three-layer waterproof and breathable outer should keep you dry even in the worst downpours and the deepest puddles.

Price: € 180
Weight: 248 g
More information: specialized.com

Crankbrothers Mallet BOA

The clipless Crankbrothers Mallet BOA shoes don’t just look cool, they’re among the best in terms of function, too. The sole is slightly raised at the front so that you can click into the pedals as easily as possible and it’s made of Crankbrothers’ medium soft “Match” rubber. This compound combines the best of both worlds: good grip on the pedals and longer durability than their softer versions. Very handy if you do a lot of hike-a-biking. Thanks to the BOA lacing system, you can tie the shoes in seconds for a snug and secure fit. Along with the Mallet shoes, Crankbrothers also offer matching clipless pedals.

Price: € 199.99
Weight: 884 g (Size 42)
More information: crankbrothers.com

Rapha Trail Hip Pack

The Rapha Trail Hip Pack is part of the trendsetting brand’s first dedicated mountain bike line. With a three-litre capacity, the hip pack should be big enough to accommodate your smartphone, keys, wallet, puncture repair kit, multi-tool and a spare tube. The large main compartment stays organised with the help of elastic bands and the smaller front pocket has a key loop. There are mesh pockets with straps to the right and left of the main compartments, which are ideal for two water bottles. In addition, the elastic cord on the top of the pack is great for carrying things like a rain jacket. Thanks to the three large pads on the back, air can circulate, and the hip pack remains comfortable all day long.

Price: € 70
Weight: 293 g
More information: rapha.cc

100% Barstow

The 100% Barstow Goggle is bringing back the cool motorcycle look of the eighties. The goggle is available in 15 completely different, iconic designs and thanks to its anti-fog coating and numerous ventilation ports they’ll never mist up. The goggles come with a mirrored and a clear lens that you can swap out to suit the conditions. The particularly skinny frame offers a wide field of vision and will work perfectly with a full-face or half-shell helmet if you go riding in very adverse conditions. Moreover, the goggles don’t just cut a good figure on your ebike but also go well with a retro jet helmet when you feel like taking the old Vespa for a spin.

Price: € 109.90
More information: 100percent.eu

Helmade

Helmade have set themselves the task of adding some variety to helmet designs on the trail. Be it for your bicycle, motorcycle or scooter, the German company will take any helmet and give it a unique coat of paint. In addition to a selection of stock helmets from KED, Helmade will also transform your own helmet into a one-of-a-kind item. If that’s what you’re after, it’s best to contact them directly. How about a unique Dainese Linea 01 helmet in your favourite colours to decorate your living room shelf on those special occasions.

Price: on request
More information: helmade.com


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Words: Julian Schwede Photos: Manufacturer

About the author

Julian Schwede

Juli is used to dealing with big rigs. Besides working on his bike, he also tinkered and worked on buses after completing his training as a vehicle mechatronics engineer. Since the development of large-scale electric motors was too slow for him, he went on to study technical business administration while building carbon fibre tables on the side. Though his DJ bike is welded from thick aluminium tubes, his full-susser is made of carbon and it's already taken him to the top of numerous summits. Apart from biking, he likes climbing via ferratas or vertically on the wall. Nowadays, his personal bike gets ridden less as he tests the bikes that get sent to us, pushing them to their limits to see what they're capable of. In addition to bike reviews, Juli also takes care of the daily news and thinks of himself as the Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent.