When it comes to cycling kit, Northwave does things just a little bit differently. For example, even though it’s still a family-owned business after more than 50 years, there’s nothing old-fashioned about the company: innovation and development are its watchwords. Most importantly for mountain bikers, though, with a heritage firmly founded in the hills of Treviso, just north of Venice, Northwave is a brand that literally lives among woodland trails. 

Of course, Italian clothing has a bit of reputation for coming up on the weeny side, so another particular perk for UK riders is that Northwave’s approach to sizing is very much sympathetic to what British riders might expect. If something with a Northwave logo takes your fancy, you shouldn’t need to double guess what size to buy. 

And that knowledge will probably come in handy, because the Northwave 2023 range is chock-full of incredible bits of kit. Whether you’re looking for Enduro world-champion-approved kit, comfy weekend threads, or simply a pair or super-comfortable socks, Northwave has what you need.

So we caught up with distributor Raleigh UK’s Northwave brand manager, Tom Waugh, to look at some of Northwave’s 2023 mountain biking highlights.

Crew Pro Long Sleeve Jersey £69.99

“The Crew Pro long sleeve jersey is one of two garments that have been designed in cooperation with Northwave’s sponsored World Enduro riders. Multiple World Enduro champion Cecile Ravanel provided vital design feedback to make sure the Crew Pro jersey delivers top-level performance,” Tom says.

“The jersey is designed to be much closer fitting than typical off-road jerseys and one of its unique features is its additional flexibility around the shoulders. You can see in the image it looks a bit like a central vest with arms emerging from underneath. There’s actually a piece of elasticated material underneath those shoulder ‘Zaps’ that allow for a little more extra movement. With more and more mountain bikers choosing to use closer-fitting products, this helps to provide extra movement in the shoulder but keeps the body nice and tight. 

“The body is made out of a more breathable ventilated mesh, while the sleeves are laser perforated with the Northwave logo down the arm. Cosmetically, it provides a super clean look with additional ventilation in the arms. It only comes in black and its very subtle in terms branding, etc, It’s a very understated but high-performance jersey, and a real stand-out when it comes to the whole range.”

Product highlights

• Colours: Black only
• Enduro tank-top style jersey with extra range at the shoulders
• Ventilated mesh body panel
• Laser-perforated sleeves provide a guarantee of ventilation
• Heat-sealed sleeve ends and neck
• Sizes: S-4XL

Bomb Long Pants £99.99

“This is the other product that was designed with elite Enduro riders. The Bomb long pants come with a ratchet buckle, which is an ultra-secure method of closure. It’s designed to be another close-fitting garment, and on the backs of the calves and legs there are elasticated panels for enhanced freedom of movement, suitable for running knee pads underneath,” Tom says.  

“The Bomb pants feature a stretch panel that sits on the lower back, allowing the rider to move around on the bike without having the pants ride up or down. Together with the Crew Pro LS above, these are perfect examples of what Northwave is doing with performance mountain bike kit. At £100, the Bomb pants deliver way more than the competition at this price point.”

Product highlights

• Colours: Black only
• Elasticated lumbar panel that will adapt to a rider's movements 
• Ratchet closure with locking teeth for micro adjustment
• Elasticated leg bottom for quick and easy fit
• Abrasion-proof panel in crotch area to provide greater protection against saddle chafing
• Sizes: S-4XL

Bomb Jersey Long Sleeve £64.99 | Short Sleeve £59.99

“Both the Bomb short sleeve and long sleeve jerseys are made from the same fabric, which will wick away sweat keeping you cool and dry on the trail," Tom says.

"It's the only jersey to feature a square neck in the Northwave range, and while the Bomb jersey maintains the more modern mountain bike style of a closer fit, the neck line and fabric will deliver a light and airy feel. 

"The graphic on the Bomb jersey is a real nod to the snowboarding side of Northwave’s business. These are also available in three colours – and they look great in combination with the Bomb pants."

Product highlights

• Colours: Black | Deep Blue | Forest Green
• Specific material choice on front and back panels to promote windproofing and breathability
• Ergonomic collar
• Can be worn with a bib front or back protector and elbow pads
• Sizes: S-4XL

Northwave XTrail 2 Jersey Long Sleeve £59.99 | Short Sleeve £49.99

“This is Northwave’s entry-level mountain bike jersey, and there is both a men’s and women’s version available. It’s a slightly more relaxed fit compared to the two jerseys we’ve looked at already, and its super-soft fabric will wick away sweat, keeping you fresh on the trail all day," Tom says.

"The jersey features Northwave’s motto, ‘Ride Your Way’, which really sums up what Northwave is all about: ride with your own style and do your own thing. E-bike, trail bike or gravel bike, you do you."

Product highlights

• Colours: Blue | Grey
• Super-soft, perforated fabric treated to ensure fast wicking 
• Regular fit
• Sizes: S-4XL

Edge Baggy Shorts £74.99

“The Edge Baggy is the top-of-the-range short in the Northwave line-up coming to the UK. It has silicone grippers at the back and Velcro loops on the side, so there’s no need to use a belt with it – you can cinch up exactly as you need. Sizing wise, it comes in small, medium and large. But, like most of Northwave’s kit, the sizing is approximate to what you’d expect with UK sizing, so you don’t have to double guess what size to buy,” Tom says.

“On the back, it has the same feature as you get on the Bomb pants, with the additional elasticated panel across the lower back. This means, when you’re on the saddle bending forward to the handlebar, it stretches with you and your shorts aren’t pulled down. At the crotch, Northwave uses a different material which is specced for its suitability with the saddle. It’s a great product for all-day riding without the need to constantly adjust your short. 

“As far as cut goes, it is a fairly traditional baggy cut with zipped pockets, so you won’t lose any of their contents. It also has a DWR coating, so although this isn’t a waterproof garment, rain will roll off it.”

Product highlights

• Colours: Deep Blue | Green | Black
• Technical four-way stretch fabric provides maximum freedom of movement
• Welded leg cuffs for a seamless feel
• Durable water repellent impregnation (DWR)
• Waist adjustable with Velcro straps
• Two zipped side pockets (one with key ring), one smartphone pocket, one cargo pocket
• Sizes: S-4XL

In Dust We Trust Socks £13.99

“Finally, these ‘In Dust We Trust’ socks are just a bit of a tongue in-cheek reference to what Northwave does. The company makes quite a wide range of socks, many of which represent the fun side of the brand,” Tom says.

“Northwave has Italian heritage and, as well as cycling, it’s other main market is snowboarding. So these sorts of garments sum up the quality of the kit, but ultimately that kit is about getting out and having fun. And when it comes to the socks, there's no shortage of options when it comes to having that fun.”

Product highlights

• Colours: Black 
• Ribbed structure for greater protection on the shin, ideal for off-road riding
• Sponge sole for greater support and comfort
• Highly wear-resistant PE (R) techno yarn
• Height 15cm
• Sizes: XS-L