Another mom recently told me how much trouble she was having finding children’s cycling apparel for her kids. She was looking for bike shorts that were both affordable and “cool” and coming up short (no pun intended).
While I can’t promise that all of the options listed here are affordable (how much are you willing to spend on a kit that will last one season?), I can assure you that I’ve compiled the most comprehensive list of kids bike clothes on the market.
But why even bother?
You might be asking yourself why kids need bike clothes at all. The short answer is that they don’t NEED them. Little kids, in particular, might be perfectly happy biking in their street clothes. My son tends to prefer his pajamas. Whatever—it works.
As kids start riding more seriously, however, cycling-specific clothes become more important. Padded bike shorts can make long rides much more comfortable. Bike jerseys provide pocket storage and wick sweat.
But the biggest reason to buy your child bike-specific clothes is that they are COOL. Of course, non-cyclists might not think they’re cool, but we don’t care about them. For kids to feel like they fit in on the bike path or at the bike park, a bike jersey can go a long way. Putting on bike clothes can also put a child in the “let’s go biking” frame of mind and help motivate them to ride.
Consider joining a club
Does your child love to ride? Consider having them join a junior cycling club. These groups often offer cycling kits at more affordable prices—in addition to offering group rides, skill clinics, and more. Check out our list of youth cycling programs to find an organization local to you.
Clothes for girls
I will admit the list I’ve compiled is pretty pathetic when it comes to girl’s clothes—there’s just not that much out there. A lot of the stuff listed below are marketed as “Boys Clothes”—but I would just ignore that. Baggy black shorts are going to work just as well on a girl as a boy. That said, hopefully, in the future, we’ll see more companies offering girls-specific bike clothes.
Kids Cycling Jerseys and Jackets
I’ve listed all of the top cycling apparel manufacturers that offer kids cycling jerseys and jackets. These are in alphabetical order, not necessarily in order of reccomendation.
Jersey Pricing Guide:
- $: $20-$30
- $$: $30-$40
- $$$: $40+
Aero Tech Designs
Who doesn’t want a dino jersey?!? Aero Tech Designs offers kids jerseys with fun designs.
Price Range: $$
Castelli
The Castelli kids cycling jerseys are bright and look good on the road. We’ve had good experience with the zippers and elastic holding up well.
Price Range: $$$
Craft
I’ve had several parents tell me that they buy Craft exclusively for their kids. These jerseys are the same high quality as adult Craft cycling gear and last through multiple kids.
Price Range: $$$
Dakine
Dakine makes gorgeous short and long-sleeved mountain bike jerseys sized for kids.
Price Range: $$
Endura
Endura makes high-quality kid-sized jerseys and jackets. Of course, high-quality equals high price tag as well.
Price Range: $$$
Fox
The kids’ Ranger jerseys are t-shirt style mountain bike jerseys that look pro. This happens to be my son’s jersey of choice, mainly because he can match dad.
For more information, read my review of the Fox Ranger kids jersey.
Price Range: $$$
Rocky Mountain Rags
These short-sleeve cycling jerseys come in a wide variety of colorful and fun designs sure to please little riders. The smallest sizes even fit toddlers.
Price Range: $$$
Scott—Scott makes some fantastic kids bikes and they make jerseys to match. Choose from the mtb-style progressive jersey or tighter fitting RC team jersey.
Spindaroos
No matter how little your kiddo is, Spindaroos has a jersey for them. These cute tops are even made in infant sizes.
Read our detailed Spindaroos review.
Price Range: $$
Troy Lee Designs
This brand makes surprisingly affordable—and super bright—kids mountain bike jerseys.
Price Range: $$
Zoic
Zoic makes attractive short-sleeve mountain bike jerseys for both boys and girls.
Price Range: $$$
Kids Bike Shorts
Here’s a list of all the kids bike short options on the market. These are in alphabetical order by brand.
Short Pricing Guide:
- $: $20-$30
- $$: $30-$40
- $$$: $40+
Aero Tech Designs
If you are looking for affordable lycra-style bike shorts, these are your best option. They come in a wide variety of fun colors.
Price Range: $
Dakine
The super cool Pace baggy shorts come in sizes small enough for a 5-year-old.
Price Range: $$$
Fox
The Ranger short is a favorite amongst mountain bikers everywhere, and Fox makes them in kids sizes as well. Unfortunately, they come with an adult-sized price tag.
Price Range: $$$
Louis Garneau
These are a simple, yet practical, black bike short. Comes in both boys and girls versions.
Price Range: $$
Spindaroos
Just like their jerseys, Spindaroos shorts fit all sizes of kids ages infant to 12 years.
Price Range: $$
Troy Lee Designs
If your little ripper likes to spend their days at the bike park, they’ll fit right in with some Troy Lee baggies.
Price Range: $$$
Zoic
ZI have a couple pairs of Zoic shorts and LOVE them. These are the same high quality, just sized down for smaller riders. They even have awesome baggy shorts for girls.
For more information, read my detailed review of the kids Zoic Ether shorts.
Price Range: $$$
Kids Cycling Kits
You can often find a good deal by buying a full kit (i.e. jersey and shorts) together.
Weimostar
Looking for a great deal? Weimostar offers a TON of cute designs in their full kits. The quality is decent for the price, but not high-quality.
Price Range: $
FREE Fischer
Here’s another economical bike kit. As with the Weimostar kit, the price is good and the quality is fair for what you pay. Comes in a wide variety of fun designs.