Motocross apparel crossover brand Fasthouse entered the world of mountain biking two years ago, and signed a few key athletes like Tyler McCaul, Ryan Howard and Emil Johanss0n. After carving out their own unique take on retro style with contrast and clean lines, they also formed a close and collaborative relationship with Bell Helmets. This 2019 bike lineup looked intriguing to us, so the Fasthouse crew sent out a wide swath of samples to put to the test.
The ‘Fast Bolt’ long sleeve jersey was one of our favorite items, it’s got the signature Fasthouse look, but the color and design is fairly simple, and not too flashy. Exposed overlock stitching keeps the seams fairly tough, and for a long sleeve jersey it’s quite breathable. The relatively low price and availability of 6 sizes is a bonus.
The Crossline Shorts we tried out were all black, which we’re always a fan of, however they are available in red if you do want to make a statement. They have a nice fit that’d we’d describe as not too loose, not too tight. The initial 2018 gear was a bit on the baggy side, but Fasthouse listened to their athletes and adjusted sizing accordingly. The Crosslines are available in eight sizes, from 28-42 waist.
When it comes to gloves, unless it’s cold weather, simple, thin, and lightweight are typically the attributes we are keen to see in a glove, and the ‘Raven’ fits the bill.
We mainly pedal for a good distance uphill around these parts in Santa Cruz, before a steep and loose descent, so for us, ideal apparel is breathable enough to not make you feel like you’re in a sauna on the way up, yet not thin as swim shorts, so that you feel safe on the way down. With plenty of experience in motocross, we’d expect Fasthouse to have high quality manufacturing standards and material sourcing. Things like the stretch panel at the back of the shorts and simply the material in general allowed for loads of unrestricted movement on the bike. Thus far, we’ve yet to have anything come unstitched and even after a few minor bobbles, the materials have held up admirably.
Gloves have always been a piece of gear that seems to come apart the most quickly, but after a few washes, a multi day enduro race, and plenty of trail time, the Raven gloves are holding up well, especially given their minimalist nature. A snub fit is key, but also a stretchy material or pre curved shape at the hand is important to us, so as not to get any bunching up when gripping. We’re happy to report that we haven’t had any issues on that front.
As the trend toward ditching a backpack grows, and on bike storage becomes increasingly popular, it’s nice to have enough pockets to actually store gear and keys. Some light weight trail shorts only feature one pocket, yet Fasthouse’s Crossline still has four pockets, great for keys, a snack, and phone. The shorts feature an inner velcro waist adjustment, which is a welcome feature, as often times sizing isn’t an exact fit to your body type, and thus shorts are tight or too loose. The aforementioned stretch panel sits just below the rear waist, and proved to be nice while climbing, or any bent over position for that matter.
The Fast Bolt jersey features a relatively standard dimple fabric, that’s akin to a soccer type jersey. The quality of the fabric is evident though, in that it held up well to the abrasions from small falls, and it feels soft on the skin while riding. The breathability is quite good, although it’s nothing earth shattering in terms of being a high tech material. Unique graphics, and a predictable fit make the Fast Bolt a solid contender in the world of jerseys, just don’t expect any fancy materials, or hype.
Stepping foot into the realm of mountain bike apparel can be a tough feat, but given Fasthouse’s prior accomplishments in the world of motocross, and the fact that they’ve leaned on the right athletes, it’s evident they know what they’re doing. The gear is fairly straight forward, with no patented waterproofing, or anti-odor fabrics, yet everything we tried fit well, and was comfortable yet durable. If you like the signature ‘Fast’ look, and are looking for some reliable riding gear, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend giving Fasthouse apparel a try.
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