This is my favorite cycling gear for 2022

Amazon

After testing various hydration backpacks and hip-packs, I decided on Camelbak Chase for mountain bikes. It has the right amount of storage capacity – 70 ounces of water plus a good amount of equipment – as well as plenty of practical pockets and other bells and whistles. (It literally has an integrated safety whistle.) It also has an integrated impact protection panel that could come in handy when you fall off your bike and land on your back. It’s not cheap for $ 150. But if you are an aggressive rider, additional protection is worth it.

This means that if you want to spend less, I used the Osprey Syncro 12 for family hikes and actually prefer its bladder to the Camelbak system. In addition, Syncro has a great balance between storage capacity and availability, an integrated raincoat and costs a more reasonable $ 130.

Quad Lock

There are a lot of people who travel to leave emails, text messages and calls behind, but I prefer the phone at hand when I’m in the saddle. (Of course, I’ll stop at the side of the road before plugging in.) Until recently, I shoved my phone into my jersey pocket, which was often under my jacket, making it difficult – and dangerous – to access while driving. Then I got this Quad Lock case and holder. There has been a complete change in the game.

The Quad Lock holder sits on the wheel stem and I feel quite confident in its ability to keep my phone safe, even when driving through bumpy terrain. When the ride ends, or when I got off the road to take a picture, it’s deadly easy to release it; just pull the locking mechanism of the holder up and turn it. The Quad Lock phone case is massive – there is a raised bump on the back that fits into the holder – and I would believe that it will reliably protect the phone in the event of an impact.

NiteRider

I tested a lot of bike lights, but two of them outperformed the others. The NiteRider Lumina Dual 1800 is light, bright and easy to mount on a helmet or handlebars. At the second brightest setting (1,500 lumens), I was able to discharge the rechargeable battery for almost two hours. (I also like the Omega taillight from NiteRider.)

This means that if you are looking for something that is brighter or lasts longer, I highly recommend Gloworm XS. It’s expensive – over $ 400 – and requires a large battery, but it sheds an incredible amount of light. When set at 2,500 lumens, it basically changes from night to day, and I managed to get over two hours of light on a single charge. When I dimmed it to just under 2,000 lumens, my legs always disappeared before the light.

Chrome Industries

The third version of the acclaimed Cobra sweatshirt from Chrome hit the polka dot. It’s the perfect weight for the cold Maine spring and the Merino-poly blend strikes the right balance between durability, heat and resistance to wind, water and dirt. And there are a few thoughtful design features – including two front zip pockets on the front and one long zip pocket along the bottom of the back – that make them just as good for riding or hanging out. One of my favorite, most worn pieces of clothing.

Endura

The Luminite range from Enduro has become my favorite choice for wet and / or cold weather due to its lightweight construction, protective water resistance and comfortable wearing. The pants – currently on sale for $ 90 – have ankle zippers and adjustable button cuffs for on-the-go adjustments and have four reflective panels. And the Luminite 3 in 1 jacket has proven itself in a wide range of riding conditions. The waterproof shell with a hood and a removable, double-sided, insulated vest can be combined or worn separately depending on the temperature and conditions and have pockets in all the right places.

Pearl Izumi

Comfortable, sticky, stylish football boots that are just as good for mountain biking and the rest of life. The reinforced toe saved my leg from being pinched between stone and pedal several times. And although I love the new “Spruce / Berm Brown” style, I have an older navy and orange model that is currently on sale.

Trek

My favorite helmetless headgear.

Hiplok

This summer, I added a Z Lok safety hat from Hiplok to my little bike bag. Weighing 2.5 ounces, it’s almost imperceptibly light, and while it doesn’t deter a professional bike thief – I wouldn’t rely on it in a treacherous city like San Francisco – the steel core is strong enough to give me peace of mind. think when I park my bike on the beach.

I also lent the Hiplok Spin combination to my child, who is easier to manage than a four-digit code. He has everything I want in the castle – and a few things I didn’t know I wanted. It is strong, but not too heavy, reflective and wearable.

David Carnoy / CNET

If you are looking for an affordable water bottle that will keep your water chilled, Polar produces excellent 20- and 24-ounce insulated water pressure bottles in several different color variations. Just add a little ice and your water will stay cool – even on long rides. They start at $ 16, do not contain BPA and have a lifetime warranty.

Blacksmith

I’ve been wearing the same cycling helmet for a long time. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends replacing your helmet at least every 10 years, and mine was at least as old. After some research, I decided on a mountain bike helmet for extra protection and, in my opinion, a cooler look. After a few tries, I decided on a Smith Forefront 2 mountain bike helmet. I love it.

Most importantly, it includes a MIPS architecture that can mitigate the impact of your brain. It is relatively light and breathable and has a Koroyd inside – a layer that offers additional impact protection as well as a way to detect bugs.

Smith optics

The right shades are essential for driving in any weather and in all seasons and I have a few to recommend. At a higher level, HiPER sunglasses from Speedtrap are really good: the adjustable frame is light but strong and the scratch-resistant, removable lenses, which are easy to change and replace, provide 100% UV protection. And they blur much less than most other glasses I’ve tested.

For the evening rides, I used the Adidas Sport SP0001, which comes with two lens options – one of which is optimized for low light levels. Finally, there is the Smith Optics Tempo ChromaPop, which is comfortable to wear and safe.

Sarah Tew / CNET

I have been using the diet to track and share rides (and runs and tours) for years. But in March, I upgraded to a $ 8 Monthly Diet subscription service – or $ 60 if you pay in advance for a full year. I did this mainly for safety reasons: the Beacon app allows you to choose a contact who can track your whereabouts during each ride. However, there are other attractive features, including advanced training metrics and rankings.

Adidas

I will not claim that it is the safest choice to listen to music while cycling. Many cyclists frown at the practice of wearing headphones while cycling and claiming that all your senses should be alert to danger. I think it makes a lot of sense and I’m not going to argue otherwise.

However, if you listen to music while driving (or running), you can mitigate the risks with headphones that do not completely disconnect you from the world around you. A pair that has some version of transparency mode – like Apple AirPods Pro – is a good bet.

Otherwise, I highly recommend Adidas FWD-01. They are comfortable to wear, easy to operate with one hand and loud enough to be heard – even in very windy conditions. They have a built-in microphone so you can jump into a call if needed. The knitted cable, which is waterproof, is light and does not tangle. And battery life is great.