Alps Mountain Biking: The Essential Kit List

MTB Protection

The simple reality of the matter is that you are going to crash at some point during your trip to the Alps. If you take that as a given, it’s far better to get some pads and a decent lid before you go than to scrape up your knees and limp into the local bike shop in Morzine. Besides, the extra confidence you get from being padded up gives your riding a boost: you’re more relaxed and you enjoy the biking more.

Knee Guards

If you only get pads for one part of your body, make sure it’s the knees. High speed down dry, dusty trails is pure fun until you slide it out a bit far and lose it on a corner. Save yourself some grief and get some decent knee guards.

Elbow Guards

Good elbow guards should feel like a second skin, so you can forget you’re wearing them. Then if you do stack it, you want them right where they started, not swivelling round your wrists. We’re after good protection, comfort and a design that stays put.

Body Armour

If you’re heading to the Alps to ride downhill, it’s worth seriously considering a back protector. Better still is a body armour suit where the back protector is integrated with the shoulders, elbows and lower-back pads, so nothing moves around. The downside is it’s roasting hot, so we’re looking for protection, comfort, good adjustment and breathability, which is why you won’t find any bargain-basement offerings here.

Open-Face & Enduro Helmets

Believe it or not, how good a helmet looks is only the second most important consideration. Number one is whether it will protect your melon when you stack it. An enduro helmet, though open-faced, covers more of your head than a classic XC lid, and that’s extra protection you want on high-altitude Alpine singletrack. We’ve weighed up construction, venting, fit, adjustability and overall comfort.

Full-Face Helmets

If you’re planning on hitting the bike parks, an open-face lid won’t cut it and you’ll need to go full face. Yes, they’re heavier and warmer, but they’re also massively confidence-inspiring, and if you go over the bars you’ll be glad of the extra protection. A good level of protection is almost a given, as these meet or exceed downhill standards, so the major consideration is fit: snug enough not to move around, without pressure points. It often comes down to whether a particular brand suits your head shape.

Luggage

Yes, it’s true, you can hire a bike when you get out to the Alps, and if you’re lucky it will be a decent enough machine. But nothing quite beats riding your own bike. For a lot of riders the extra hassle of taking your bike apart, transporting it to the Alps and putting it back together the other end is fully worth it, and a good bike bag makes things a lot easier with a well-organised packing system and decent baggage-handler-proof padding.

Bike Bags & Cases

With a proper bike travel bag you take a lot of the hassle out of travelling with your bike, packing it away securely in about half an hour. With most bags all you remove is the bars, pedals and wheels. The last thing you want after a cheeky half-day in the bike park is to spend two hours packing, so we’re after bags roomy enough for a DH bike with solid protection for the frame, wheels and vulnerable components.

Duffel Bags & Holdalls

A holdall is an essential bit of kit for any biking trip, and it comes into its own in the Alps. Use it to stash everything that wouldn’t fit in your bike bag in transit, then in resort throw your pads, helmet, goggles and a change of clothes in and leave it in the uplift bus or the shop at the bottom of the lifts. Super handy.

Backpacks & Hydration Packs

A decent hydration pack is a must in the Alps to carry the essentials for you and your bike. You’ll be out all day on a typical downhill or enduro trip, so we’d suggest a mid-sized pack of 10 to 18 litres with room for a 2-3 litre bladder, a spare tube, tools, a pump, snacks and a waterproof, with your pads and helmet strapped to the outside. We’ve picked packs that blend comfort and function: lightweight but sturdy, with a ventilated back panel, plenty of pockets and bladder compatibility.

Tyres & Tubes

Your wheels and tyres are arguably the most important part of your bike. Get some good stiff wheels with decent rubber attached and you’ll be rewarded with predictable handling, a faster-rolling bike and a more confidence-inspiring ride.

MTB Tyres

Do yourself and your riding buddies a favour and get hold of some decent tyres for your trip. Flats are the most common mechanical on the trails, and you can avoid the misery of holding up the group swapping tubes just by fitting purpose-built rubber. We’re after a tough tyre with reinforced sidewalls and loads of grip on mixed terrain.