MTB Pants vs. MTB Shorts: Which Should You Wear?

Are you trying to decide between pants and shorts for mountain biking? This is something many new riders wonder about, especially when buying their first riding clothes.

Shorts are usually better for hot weather, cross-country riding, and long climbs. Pants provide more coverage and are often better for cold weather, bike-park laps, and more aggressive riding. However, personal preference also plays a big part, and you don’t necessarily need both when you’re starting out.

If you’re putting together your first riding setup, you can also read my guide on, what to wear mountain biking.

Why Riders Have Different Preferences

Some riders always wear pants, while others only wear shorts. Other riders choose what to wear based on the conditions, weather, and type of riding they plan to do.

My dad is an example of someone who sticks with shorts. It could be hot or cold, and he could be riding cross-country trails or doing bike-park laps. Either way, my dad will be wearing shorts.

He says he doesn’t like how pants can get caught on the chainring—even if he’s riding a bike with only one chainring now, lol. This reminds me of riding BMX when we would roll up one pant leg to keep it away from the chain. I’ve told him that modern MTB pants are fitted and shouldn’t have the same problem, but he still prefers shorts.

Some riders are the complete opposite and wear pants even when it’s hot because they want the added protection. I wear both. If it’s hot and I’m riding cross-country, I’ll usually wear shorts. If it’s cold or I’m doing more extreme riding, I’ll wear pants with protective pads underneath.

Benefits and Downsides of MTB Pants

One of the biggest benefits of MTB pants is the extra protection they provide compared with shorts. Crashing at speed—even on dirt—can lead to some gnarly scrapes and road rash. Pants aren’t going to prevent every injury, but the extra layer can help protect your skin.

I’ve also found that pants can help hold knee pads in place. When I wear pads with shorts, they sometimes slide around more than they do underneath pants.

Knee pads are normally worn underneath MTB pants, although they can be worn over regular pants if that is more comfortable or practical for you.

For more information about protection, see my guides on mountain bike shin pads and do you need knee pads for mountain biking?

The downside of pants is that they can feel a little more restrictive than shorts. You may also feel cold when you first get on the bike, dress warmly, and then become too hot once you start climbing and working harder.

Another issue I’ve found is that many riding pants don’t have enough pockets. I like having cargo pockets for my wallet and other small items. Most riding pants and shorts don’t have back pockets, and my OCD won’t let me keep my wallet in my backpack like my dad does. I need to check constantly and make sure I still have it.

You don’t necessarily need to spend a lot on your first pair. I made a post on the best budget mountain bike pants.

Benefits and Downsides of MTB Shorts

Shorts breathe better than pants and provide more airflow on hot days. They also feel less restrictive and make it easier to move around while pedaling.

You can find MTB shorts with cargo pockets, which I like because they give me room for my wallet, keys, snacks, and other things I bring on a ride.

On the downside, shorts offer less protection for your legs. I’ve also found that knee pads tend to move around more with shorts than they do underneath pants.

Baggier shorts can occasionally create another problem. I’ve had them snag on the seat when trying to move behind the bike during a manual or even while doing J-hops. The fit matters: you want enough room to move without having so much loose material that it catches on the bike.

If you want something made for riding without spending too much, check out my picks for the best budget mountain bike shorts.

Which Is Better for Different Types of Riding?

You should also consider the type of riding you plan to do.

If you’ll mostly be riding cross-country trails or doing a lot of climbing, shorts are often a good option. They keep you cooler and provide plenty of freedom of movement, especially when the trails aren’t too difficult or gnarly.

If you’ll be riding downhill trails, hitting jumps, or doing bike-park laps, pants with protective pads underneath may be a better choice. They provide more coverage without requiring you to wear heavy or baggy regular pants.

Weather also matters. Shorts are usually more comfortable during hot summer rides, while pants can help keep you warm in cold weather.

I used to wear leg warmers a lot when racing cross-country. They worked well when it was cold in the morning because I could remove them once I warmed up during the ride. They are a good middle ground when the temperature may change.

What Should You Wear Underneath?

Do you need Lycra or padded bike shorts underneath your regular MTB shorts or pants? Not necessarily—it depends on the rider.

I don’t really use Lycra anymore, although I wore it when I raced cross-country. I ride a lot for both commuting and mountain biking, and I don’t have many problems with chafing or discomfort without it.

My dad, on the other hand, always wears padded shorts underneath. Many MTB shorts also come with a removable padded liner, so you can try riding with it and decide what feels best for you.

For long rides, a padded liner may make you more comfortable. For shorter rides, dirt jumps, or bike-park laps, you may decide you don’t need one.

Can You Wear Regular Pants or Shorts?

Don’t feel like you need to buy MTB pants or shorts before going on your first ride. I’ve done a lot of riding in jeans, Dickies, cargo shorts, and even during my camo-shorts phase, lol.

Watch a slopestyle competition and you’ll see some riders wearing jeans with knee and shin pads underneath, along with a plain T-shirt and full-face helmet. Style-wise, they can get away with it because, well, if you’re doing a backflip double barspin, you’ll look like a pro no matter what you’re wearing.

Now, if you’re going two miles per hour down a blue trail with the brakes locked while wearing jeans, you might not look quite as professional. I’ve been there too, though—and who really cares what other people think?

Regular clothes are fine when you’re beginning. Just avoid pants that are extremely loose around the ankles because they could get close to the chain or chainring.

If you continue riding and become more serious about it, you’ll probably want some MTB-specific pants or shorts eventually. They are usually lighter, breathe better, and are designed to let you move comfortably on the bike.

Final Recommendation

There isn’t one correct choice between MTB pants and shorts.

If you’re just beginning, wear whatever you already own and feel comfortable riding in. You don’t need to buy an entire MTB outfit before your first ride.

As you ride more, you may want shorts for hot days, cross-country rides, and long climbs. Pants can give you more coverage during cold weather, downhill runs, bike-park laps, and more aggressive riding.

I use both depending on the conditions and what I plan to do on the bike. However, riders like my dad are perfectly happy sticking with shorts year-round. Try both if you have the opportunity, and choose what makes you feel the most comfortable and confident on the bike.

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