Video: 11 New Apparel & Protection Products - Pond Beaver 2020

Apr 13, 2020
by Pinkbike Originals  

Long gone are the days of wearing oversized hockey jerseys and soccer pads on bike rides. Companies are continuously stepping it up to make riding more comfortable and safer with apparel and protection that doesn't make you look like a low-level Empire Stormtrooper. Check out these 11 products that are all-new for 2020.


Pinkbike Pond Beaver 2020



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81 Comments
  • 63 5
 What's old is new again. Water bottles and fanny packs fell out of favor when the new, safer, Camel Back (two words then) became available, but for different reasons. On the rigid frame, water bottles were damn near impossible to keep in a cage. The fanny pack was effective, but you had to stop to get a drink. The hydration pack solved both problems and added spine protection without trying.

Shorts were padded road shorts under whatever gym/hiking shorts you had. Now the riding shorts are high-cost styling that still needs a padded liner for longer rides.

Welcome back to 1985!
  • 9 32
flag bulletbassman (Apr 13, 2020 at 8:34) (Below Threshold)
 Ride a rigid everyday on pretty gnarly trails and never once had a bottle fall out. Y'all just had some shitty water bottle mounts back in the day.
  • 32 1
 Our jerseys don't have pockets, because that's too roadie. We add pockets with a hip pack.
  • 5 2
 modern fanny packs you can get the bottle in and out while riding...
  • 3 0
 @bulletbassman: Camelback bottles with notches to stay locked in are amazing. Never fall out
  • 14 1
 @bulletbassman: Or you just don't ride hard enough.
  • 10 13
 @Geochemistry: Ok buddy whatever. But it's undeniable that the molded water bottle mounts of today function a million times better than the old school metal mounts of yesteryear. Had to fold the metal back into position just to keep a water bottle on a commuter.
  • 4 11
flag RedRedRe (Apr 13, 2020 at 10:35) (Below Threshold)
 Never had a bottle falling off. Just use a King ti-cage or Elite. They were available back then, and still the best nowadays.
  • 4 2
 @bulletbassman: He says "water bottles WERE damn near impossible to keep in a cage" and you want to argue and school him about modern molded ones?
  • 4 10
flag bulletbassman (Apr 13, 2020 at 11:04) (Below Threshold)
 @smithcreek: he implies it was because of rigid bikes they were impossible to keep in which is just not the case
  • 12 2
 C'mon, bro. These are NOT fanny packs. They are hip packs or Enduro™ packs. BIG difference!
  • 2 0
 Ahhhhhhh, 1985. I feel 21 again! Where is my pet rock now?
  • 1 0
 @bulletbassman: We had molded cages then too. The Specialized worked best for me. But in the 'gnar', they all dropped bottles, so we added toe-clip straps to keep them in place. Many brands added straps for that purpose. There were magnets, and velcro (Cannondale had a decent version), but the Camel Back (two words then) closed down the acceptance of bottles once it hit.

Oh, @dirtvert, explain what the difference is between the packs that fit around your waist and hold water bottles? I didn't say they were bad, in fact, I still have and use a 35+ year old JANDD double bottle fanny pack. It's one of the best made pieces of gear I've ever purchased.
  • 2 0
 Fanny packs were still all the rage with the original Camel Backs as they had no storage except for 70 oz of water and had skinny webbing with no padding for shoulder straps.
  • 3 0
 @whambat: Myself and most I met either used both the Camel Back and a small fanny together, or, I'd drop my wallet, patch kit and mini pump (which really sucked then) inside the sleeve. The Narrow Gauge Backpack, which held two bladders and had a minimal amount of storage, arrived the following year. I still have the Narrow Gauge and original bladder packs.

BTW, I was one of the two guys who developed the Camel Back, although Jim did all the mass production and patenting work.
  • 3 0
 I’ve still got and use an original CamelBak fanny pack and I think it’s better than the spare tyre wannabe packs available today
  • 2 0
 @Geochemistry: sweet! I rode for years with an EMS fanny pack and the original Iceback that didn’t have insulation on one side so icy water would cool you down. I also got a slide on sleeve to go over the original Camel Backs that could carry some gear: can’t remember if it was a Camel Back sleeve or a third party cottage industry thing. Damn those originals would bounce like crazy, don’t think there was even a sternum strap stock.
  • 1 0
 @whambat: You are correct. I'll PM you the origin story. I forgot about the Iceback. Even I made sleeves for the original. Mostly from flag bandanas. I still have a Texas flag somewhere in my ancient gear stash.
  • 31 2
 A water bottle in the small of my back is safer??? I understand trying to be different....but it's like buttoning the top button on shirts....you're putting yourself at a disadvantage.
  • 11 2
 bottle should be designed to be upside down, oil slick yer enemies!!
  • 6 1
 @nyles: or enima your oil slick.
  • 1 0
 User this guy instead of a bottle. www.camelbak.com/en/accessories/R04058--2019_QuickStow_21oz?color=eba5e1389e7c43e2804e7505cf6941ec.
A lot of fiddly purchases to though.
  • 1 0
 My back hurts just by looking at it.
  • 2 0
 My last crash involved me landing directly on a water bottle on my hip, it exploded and got everywhere but I think it actually saved me from worse injury since it absorbed a lot of the energy, I rode away with just a small bruise and a severely damaged ego.
  • 1 0
 Wouldn't belive how many WC DH riders I saw last year doing training runs with that setup. Just having water bottle in the back, held by pants. I know that they are pros, but they do crash as well.
  • 1 0
 @Archimonde: Good point....I'd also assume at their speeds it wouldn't matter as everything is going yard sale anyways. I'm still not going to trust it....It would be my luck, trying to manual my fat bike, loop out and land right on the bottle--Splitting my butt crack
  • 2 0
 @Alvey72: I have crashed back first into a tree, and the water bottle in my jersey pocket(xc rider) took the full impact. It actually worked just like a back protector. Bottle exploded water everywhere but totally absorbed most of the impact. I think it saved me from a major injury. Beyond that crash I also did a OTB and landed flat on my back on a wooded bridge and the same thing happened the bottle exploded and took the impact.

OK Great idea I call PATENT- A large flat water bottle for your back that doubles as a back protector.

Wait my wife tells me its been done, apparently its something called a Camel Back.
  • 1 0
 @fabwizard: Ha! Good point
  • 17 1
 Richard Pummel
  • 8 0
 Man - TLD jerseys and kit feature much cooler designs for the women than their men's gear for 2020.

I can't be the only one who wants to like TLD, but doesn't connect all that much with motocross/motorcycle design and culture.
  • 22 0
 I'm sure this won't be a popular opinion here, but I stopped wanting to like TLD years ago. In 25 years of riding, I've always found their stuff tacky and overly garish.
  • 4 0
 @big-red: Must be a look-at-me-Cali thing? TLD, 100%, Intense, Fox all LOGOS COLORS LOOK AT ME. I'll stick to Scandinavian Subtle, POC and Sweet Protection thanks.
  • 2 0
 @SvenNorske: I agree about the ott logos but I like to look like a clown on the trails so I'll keep my overly bright fox pants haha.
  • 9 0
 I don't even imagine falling right on my back with a bottle between my spine and the floor
  • 6 0
 Armour/protection has improved from the early days BUT is still severely lacking..fit/coverage is still bad. Full knee-shin guards still slip/move, etc. and armour /clothing integration is terrible. I've started making/testing my own prototypes that are a vast improvement over what is currently available. What's available now is fashionable but not very functional or less fashionable and fractionally more functional. I've been riding since 1988 trail-DH/Park so I've owned lots of pads, brands and worn light duty to full stormtrooper gear and I'm astonished at what's offered and what could and should be available at this point. Helmets make a good analogy.."Enduro" full face helmets are a very good evolution/option from full DH or XC/trail half helmets.
Protection has not evolved in the same way/pace.
Rant over.
  • 1 0
 Shinners suck, but full length pads suck more. At least for me that is.
  • 10 2
 Say “don’t touch my fanny pack!” Without grinning...



I rest my case.
  • 5 0
 I am confused : the gore jacket is "abrasion resistant" however, by definition Active goretex is NOT abrasion resistant.
Also, is it just me or all trousers are getting to tight these days ?
  • 21 1
 If your trousers are getting too tight, it's not the trousers. . .
  • 1 3
 @rrolly: nah lots of MTB stuff runs small compared to normal clothes at least here in america. Can be a bit of a pain if you are ordering online cause you don't have a bike shop with a good clothing section.
  • 3 1
 . . .
  • 1 0
 Maybe it is if you add an abrasion resistant layer to it (which would slightly lower breathability).
  • 5 0
 Thats not true at all. "Goretex" only refers to the teflon membrane within he garment that provides the waterproof layer. This goretex membrane is sandwiched between a durable outer shell (usually nylon) and a thin liner. This its what it means when you see "3L" goretex. It means its a 3 layer fabric. The abrasion resistance of a goretex jacket depends solely on how abrasion resistant the outer shell its made with it.
  • 2 0
 @rrolly: oops wrong comment
  • 1 0
 @sino428: yes, I agree. However I got told (about 2years ago now) by a sales rep that the "active" gore Tex is meant to be lighter (and probably thinner), stretchier, and more breathable than the more common goretex. But, is also more fragile. Which is why we usually don't find it on snow jackets but more on hiking/running jackets. Which is why I am confused.
  • 2 0
 @ibex-rider: that makes sense, I did not realize you were talk specifically about the gore tex "active" stuff. You are right that it seems like it wouldn't be the best or mountain biking.
  • 6 0
 So we got rid of jerseys with three pockets so we could strap three pockets to our jerseys?
  • 4 2
 Seems like the struggle is really between rider mounted weight vs. bike mounted weight. Either way something that holds water and gear is coming with you. Do you want that weight on your body adding to the amount of force pushing down on the pedal, or do you want to put it on the bike and make your legs work harder? I think it equals out in the end. Static weight on a bike is different from rotational weight in that you don't have to overcome a moment of inertia.
Seems to be more about form rather than function nowadays, we are fortunate to have a lot of products at our disposal. The choice is really what suits your riding style and comfort.
  • 3 0
 After a few years of fanny packs Ive gone back to a low profile minimalist back pack for longer rides.... Just enough for water, a light jacket and a few tools. Heat isn't an issue for me but the added spine protection is.
  • 2 0
 The fox gloves have a nice fit (ranger,dirtpaw,defend )but that Velcro what a piece of shit. The apparel 20 year ago was a joke and the protections oh my god :-))) ,things are getting way but way better,but the price is beginning to getting worse
  • 2 0
 I have some of the defend gloves with the same velcro and I second that. I barely tighten it nowadays just so it doesn't come undone.
  • 3 2
 @pinkbikeoriginals - videos are a *lousy* way to present this kind of content. Why should we spend 6 mins watching a video when we can fly over an article w/ pictures in seconds to determine whether the products you're showcasing are of interest or not? Also, more truth in advertising: this featured should be titled "Women's Apparel, Goofy-Assed Fannypacks, and Unisex Armor."
  • 1 1
 But you aren't forced to watch them, or are you?
  • 4 1
 Back in the day I was rocking sneackers, a flanel shirt and jeans, pretty much what slopestylers wear to this day.
  • 1 1
 Yes, late 80’s, and 90’s shit was super gay! I had a gayglo Scott, still have it. We all wore what was functional and not to impress. Cause mtb riding racing was tough, not many on the mountain. Now , the gates are open, bikes are built better so mongoliods are everywhere. Hey, jeans work great still, they have pockets,can be cheap, and they look great. Screw pads! We didn’t wear helmets. Well, I’m old! And tough.
  • 2 0
 More pants without the ordinary belt-option. Don't expect me going "well done"...!
  • 1 0
 Only thing I can say is, "get yourself some Mechanix gloves". You can work on the bike, work on a vehicle, ride the bike, shovel, build, with them.
  • 1 0
 LOL if you think MTB clothes looked bad 10 years ago, you would be horrified by the early 90's!
  • 1 0
 Would be a better review if Christina were modeling the swag. Woo woo, show it girl.
  • 1 0
 I can’t wait for baggy jerseys to make a comeback lol.
  • 1 0
 Fucking fannypacks.
  • 1 0
 Fanny packs for the win
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