Check Out: Animoz 2022 Clothing

Clermont-Ferrand, a city of some 150,000 people in central France, might not have the big-name draw of the Alps or the Pyrenees, but the area has deceptively good riding and a downhill scene to go with it. Not only do you have any number of low-key riding spots that deliver world class tracks, but you also have more formalised areas such as the Pierron bike park or well-used French Cup race venues such as Brioude.

It's no suprise then to see some freshed faced gravity orientated brands coming from the area. One such brand in Animoz.

I don't know whether we're in a post-enviromental-world or merely pre-climate-change-armageddon, however I would say that it is almost expected for a brand to talk a good game of sustainability, climate awareness and green intentions. In some ways, it's harder than every to decipher performative and shallow claims against earnest ones. That said, Animoz do at least appear to be making a concerted and genuine effort to mitigate the impacts of the industry on the environment.

In the place of vague claims there are clear policies. For instance, 3% of profits go towards their Respect Animals Program, they use male-hemp in the manufacturing of their clothes, they use a factory in China that meets SA8000 welfare standard and they don't use plastic packaging.

As we load our carbon-framed bicycles onto the back of our diesel guzzling vans it might not seem like much, but I personally like the level of transparency offered.

Wild Pant


It seems odd that it wasn't until a few years ago that pedal-friendly mountain bike pants weren't really a thing. In my opinion, it seems odder still that five years later and some brands still get it so wrong.

My perfect pant is this - a fitted yet stretchy pant that isn't uniform width from top to bottom. It should be tapered towards the ankle, have at least a zippered pocket on the left side for your lift pass and have enough flex or fitment around the knee to be able to accommodate kneepads of a variety of sizes. I also prefer to at least have the option of dark colours and subtle branding.





They're also not the thinnest pants out there, which isn't a bad thing, but it could be worth noting. I think for the fashionistas that wear pants all year round they could be slightly too thick for pedalling. For me though, the thickness is about right. Especially if you ride over winter months.

The pant has some great little features. Two large pockets as well as two further zipped ones on the thighs and a reasonable large pocket on the rear. The zippered side pockets are waterproof. I also love the stretchy panel behind the ankle that means you can have the best of both worlds - a fitted pant that's easy to take both on and off.


Wild Jerseys


To pair with the trousers, there are also jerseys in the Wild range. There are long and short-sleeve versions that share similar styles and features.



The flexible material offers a good deal of stretch and is very soft to the touch. Although not cheap at around €40 to €50 depending on arm length, it is a well made garment that feels like a quality product as you wear it or run it through your hands. There is a zippered pocket and goggle cleaner on the hip. I chose a size large and it fits well. There are also plenty of colors to choose from.

---