Wear kit made in the USA, Ornot

Until recently, Ornot was not on my radar screen. The San Francisco-based company is 11 years old, but I've never noticed the company's clothing before this. This is perhaps partially by design; one of the reasons the entire company exists is the founder Matt's push back against being a riding billboard. After all who can blame him. I wouldn't have loved racing with Muscle Milk in huge letters on my chest either.

Matt set out to build a company in 2013 doing things that sound de rigueur in 2024: climate conscious clothing with minimal branding, made in the USA. While I'm wary of words like "sustainable" and "ethical" being thrown around, Ornot has their ducks in a row, giving back through 1% For the Planet and their carbon claims certified by Climate Neutral.

For the sake of this being a review of bike clothing, we're going to skip a deep dive into the details of carbon accounting, the differences between offsets and removals, durability of nature-based solutions, and all the nitty gritty details and just applaud a small company spending some of its hard earned dollars to quantify and offset their impact to the best of their ability. It's easy to unsure of what to do in a confusing world of standards and terminology; the important part is starting to do something, and starting it now.

With that climate conscious mindset at the fore, the most important thing we consumers can do is buy less. That means anything you pick up should be versatile and long-lasting. Buy things that you'll be able to wear in more scenarios and need to replace less often. With that in mind, I've had some Ornot pieces in heavy rotation through winter and spring, coming away with positive impressions around construction, fit, and durability.

Micro Climate Vest

We've been through this - I'm a vest guy. The Micro Climate Vest was something that immediately popped out at me when I was initially perusing the Ornot website, and it hasn't let me down. It's not for rainy days, but it provides a remarkable amount of warmth for its diminutive packed size. Credit here likely goes to the 'grid fleece' lining which does an excellent job trapping warm air against you. If you're getting warm there's a two way zipper, if you need snacks there's three pockets on the back, and if it's getting dark, there are some reflective bits sewn in.

I really like this thing - you may have already seen across genres in my Yeti SB165 First Look, and it was part of my layering system for my Bay Area adventures. My only real note here is, be aware that the sizing is aggressive - if you like a baggier mountain bike fit, you'll definitely want to size up.

Ornot Micro Climate Vest

Merino Base Layer

The Xzibit meme writes itself here, I know. I like vests so much I wear a vest under my vest. But if you've never kept your core warm with a sleeveless merino base layer under your jersey, don't knock it till you try it.

I've enjoyed this underlayer biking all winter, and the occasional ski day where I need an extra core layer; while maybe I'd nitpick a higher wool/poly blend, there's no arguing it wicks better as constructed, and it'll likely hold up to more abuse and washes. As a bonus I've got one built from deadstock fabrics, something Ornot does regularly to reduce waste.

Ornot Merino Base Layer

Thermal Cargo Bib Tight

There's not a lot of mountain bikes on the Ornot website. None that I can see, in fact. And while many readers here may not see the utility in lycra (unless you're racing downhill), I'm here to tell you a secret. When you wear thermal tights under baggy pants, no one can tell, and you get to be extra warm. If you're not worried about the Enduro Fashion Police (and you shouldn't be), you can channel your inner Cary Elwes and roam the forest looking for fights.

I've been wearing these fleece-lined tights through the winter months here for gravel, commuting, mountain biking with baggies, and mountain biking without overlayers.

Ornot Thermal Cargo Bib Tight

If you've picked up on a theme here, it should be that I like everything I've tried from Ornot. All three things have held up admirably, have well thought out features and design, and I can get behind the company's mission and ethos. While nothing on offer from the brand is "cheap," it's not meant to be. There's value in buying a durable, well made product once instead of something lower cost that won't last as long. Some consumers will see additional value in products manufactured in a way that aligns with their personal standards, whether that's made in the USA, carbon neutral, or other ethical considerations around brand purchases. Whether or not that's you, I can't say, but I know there's a few other pieces in the catalogue here I'm keen to get my hands on.