Gravel cycling is one of the most rewarding ways to explore by bike. Unlike road cycling, where conditions can often be relatively predictable, a gravel ride can take you from smooth tarmac to muddy tracks, woodland trails, exposed ridges and rough farm roads in the space of a few kilometres.
That means what you wear gravel cycling matters.
The right gravel cycling clothing should keep you comfortable, regulate your temperature, protect you from changing weather and, importantly, allow you to concentrate on the ride rather than what you're wearing.
At GRVL, we've developed our gravel cycling clothing around one simple principle:
The better your kit performs, the more you can enjoy the ride.
Here’s our guide to what to wear gravel cycling, starting with arguably the most important piece of kit you own.
1. Start with a quality pair of gravel bib shorts
If there is one piece of cycling clothing where we would recommend spending more rather than less, it is your gravel bib shorts.
You can ride a gravel bike in almost anything, but spending several hours in the saddle in a cheap pair of bibs can quickly turn a great gravel adventure into a very uncomfortable experience.
Poor-quality bib shorts can have inadequate padding, uncomfortable seams, poor fit, weak compression and a chamois that simply isn't designed for long hours on a bike.
And that can become expensive.
You might buy a cheap pair of bibs because they appear to offer good value, only to find that you eventually need to invest in a decent pair anyway. In that case, the cheap bibs weren't really cheap. Buy the best you can afford.
Our GRVL men's bib shorts are designed specifically around the demands of gravel riding.
They use a two-layer construction, combining a compressive inner bib with a tailored outer layer that helps protect against dust, dirt, drizzle and changing conditions. They also feature two rear storage pockets, reflective detailing and a hidden silicone leg gripper.
But the most important component is the chamois pad.
We use a premium Italian chamois from CyTech/Elastic Interface, a specialist manufacturer whose pads are developed around cycling posture and pressure points. The right chamois provides cushioning where you need it without creating unnecessary bulk or movement.
In our opinion, CyTech produce the world's best chamois pads.
For gravel rides lasting several hours, that can make the difference between finishing comfortably and spending the last 50 kilometres wishing you were already home.
Don't underestimate the importance of a good chamois. Your backside will thank you.
2. Choose the right gravel cycling jersey
Once you've sorted your bib shorts, your jersey is the next layer.
The best gravel jersey depends on the conditions you're riding in.
For variable temperatures and longer rides, our GRVL Merino + TENCEL™ jersey is designed to provide a combination of comfort, breathability and temperature regulation.
The unique fabric combines Merino Wool with TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres. Merino helps regulate temperature and resist odour, while the TENCEL™ blend provides a soft hand feel and moisture management. The result is a jersey that can work across a surprisingly broad temperature range.
It can help keep you warm when temperatures drop but cool when you're climbing in warmer conditions.
That makes it particularly useful for long gravel rides, bikepacking and days when the temperature changes significantly.
For warmer conditions, the GRVL ADVNTR Jersey takes a more technical, aero race feel approach.
It uses a recycled nylon and elastane fabric with a ventilated back panel designed to aid breathability. The fabric is also developed with biodegradable polymer technology developed to accelerate biodegradation in a controlled landfill environment, speeding up how fats it degrades to 4 years from centuries.
It is lightweight, fast-wicking and designed for long days in the saddle when temperatures rise.
3. Add a baselayer
A good gravel cycling baselayer is one of those pieces of kit you might not fully appreciate until you ride without one.
Its job is simple: move sweat away from your skin while providing a very thin additional layer between your body and your jersey.
That becomes particularly useful when you're working hard.
You can be climbing a steep gravel road in cool temperatures and still generate a significant amount of heat and sweat. A baselayer helps manage that moisture rather than allowing your jersey to become saturated.
It can also work in warmer conditions because the additional layer helps move moisture away from the skin and can improve comfort.
In colder weather, the same thin layer adds another layer of insulation underneath your jersey and outer layers.
That's the beauty of layering.
Rather than relying on one thick garment, you can build your clothing around the conditions.
Baselayer + jersey + gilet or jacket gives you considerably more flexibility than one heavy piece of clothing.
4. Never underestimate a gravel cycling gilet
If there is one item we would recommend carrying on almost every gravel ride, it's a gilet.
Why? - Because weather changes.
You might leave home at 7am in sunshine, climb into the hills, find yourself exposed to a cold headwind and suddenly wish you had another layer.
That's where a gilet can save your ride.
Our GRVL Gilet is lightweight, windproof and water-resistant, using recycled polyester made from recycled ocean plastic. It is designed to block wind, drizzle, dust and mud without adding significant weight or bulk.
Most importantly, it packs down small enough to stuff into your jersey pocket. This makes it an essential item you can take on every ride and one of the most useful pieces of gravel cycling clothing you can own.
Put it on for the first hour of an early morning ride, remove it when the temperature rises and put it back on for a cold descent.
It can also be worn underneath a jacket in colder conditions as part of a layering system.
For something that weighs so little and takes up so little space, a gilet can make a surprisingly big difference.
5. Take a proper three-season gravel jacket
When conditions get more serious, you'll want something more protective.
But there is an important distinction between a waterproof cycling jacket and a jacket designed specifically to balance weather protection with breathability.
Our GRVL 3 Season Jacket was developed around the latter.
Rather than using a traditional waterproof membrane, we chose a highly breathable microfibre construction that provides wind protection and water resistance while allowing heat and moisture to escape.
Why does that matter? Because getting wet from rain is only half the problem.
Getting soaked from your own sweat can be much more uncomfortable as you're hot, wet and uncomfortable. In our opinion, no membrane waterproof jacket works to keep you dry from your own sweat.
When you're working hard on a gravel climb, a completely waterproof jacket will feel like you're wearing a plastic bag. You stay protected from the rain but can struggle to get rid of the heat and moisture you're producing.
Our approach is to create a jacket that repels water while prioritising breathability.
The result is a versatile layer for autumn, winter and spring, as well as cold summer mornings and late-evening rides.
We've also added details designed specifically around gravel riding.
The jacket has three large rear stuff pockets plus a zipped security pocket, giving you considerably more storage than many traditional cycling jackets. It also has longer sleeves with an integrated thumb loop and a hood that rolls away into the collar when you don't need it.
It's a jacket designed around real riding rather than simply looking like a cycling jacket.
6. Don't forget your gravel cycling socks
Your feet work hard on a gravel ride, so your socks deserve more attention than they often receive. They are also an essential part of the attire you wear and a lot of riders judge other riders on the calibre of their socks. Trust us, it's a thing. #sockdoping
Our GRVL bamboo cycling socks use an 80% bamboo fibre blend with nylon and elastane.
Bamboo provides a soft feel against the skin while offering fast wicking and drying performance. The socks also have a ventilated upper section to help with temperature regulation.
That makes them suitable for everything from warm summer gravel rides to longer adventures where keeping your feet comfortable becomes increasingly important.
A flat toe seam also helps reduce potential irritation.
It's another small detail that you might not notice when everything is working correctly — which is exactly what good cycling clothing should do.
7. Carry your essentials with a gravel hydration pack
Gravel riding often takes you further away from roads, shops and civilisation.
That means you need to carry more.
Water, food, tools, spare tubes, puncture repair equipment, a phone and an extra layer can quickly fill your jersey pockets.
That's where a gravel cycling hydration pack becomes extremely useful.
The GRVL 2L ADVNTR Hydration Pack has been designed specifically for longer gravel rides and adventures.
It includes a 2-litre hydration bladder and a four-point adjustable harness designed to keep the pack stable over rough terrain. The modular design can also be expanded with a removable cargo section when you need to carry more equipment.
It's particularly useful when you're heading out for a full-day gravel adventure and don't want to overload your jersey pockets.
And because gravel riding often takes you a long way from the nearest café, carrying enough water and basic repair equipment isn't just convenient — it's sensible.
Building the perfect gravel cycling outfit
The beauty of gravel cycling clothing is that you don't necessarily need one outfit for every condition.
Instead, build a layering system.
WARM SUMMER RIDE
Bib shorts + ADVNTR jersey + socks
COOL MORNING
Bib shorts + baselayer + Merino jersey + gilet
CHANGEABLE WEATHER
Bib shorts + jersey + gilet + hydration pack
COLD & WETTER CONDITIONS
Bib shorts + baselayer + Merino jersey + gilet + 3 Season Jacket
The important thing is flexibility.
Gravel rides can be unpredictable. You might start in sunshine and finish in rain. You might climb for 20 minutes and descend into a freezing headwind. You might ride through woodland where it is noticeably colder than the open road.
The best gravel cycling clothing gives you the ability to adapt.
What to wear gravel cycling: the GRVL approach
We believe gravel clothing should do more than simply look good.
It needs to perform, protect and last.
That's why we've focused on quality materials, considered construction and features that solve genuine problems for gravel riders.
From a high-performance chamois that keeps you comfortable for hours in the saddle to a lightweight gilet that can save a ride when the weather changes, every layer has a purpose.
And because we ride the same trails, tracks and roads as you do, we understand that gravel isn't always about speed.
Sometimes it's about going further.
Sometimes it's about finding a trail you've never ridden.
Sometimes it's about getting lost and finding your way back.
Whatever your reason for riding, the right clothing means one less thing to worry about.
Dress for the conditions. Layer intelligently. Ride further. Explore more.
GRVL — CONSCIOUSLY CRAFTED GRAVEL APPAREL
Better product for the rider. Better thinking for the planet.
