QUICK HITS
• Streetwear look, trail-ready performance
• Cotton-Tech blend fabric
• Packed with handy features, like a hidden goggle pouch
• Released in limited batches, with unique rear graphic prints
WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE DFYRS TRAILHOOD
Bringing streetwear style to the world of technical riding apparel, the Trailhood from UK brand DFYRS is a hoodie that’s ready for the trails and pub in equal measures. The sweat-wicking fabric looks and feels like cotton at first glance, but is blended with some tech to help with moisture wicking. The casual fit and styling ensures style off the bike, but elements like the dropped and split hem ensure it’s functional on the bike too.
On the trail, the DFYRS Trailhood packs a punch with its zipped arm-pit vents to prevent overheating when pushing hard. High-quality YKK zippers are used throughout, including on the zipped goggle pouch. This pouch has an integrated lens wipe and an elasticated mesh phone holder, adding hidden function to an otherwise casual looking hoodie.
DFYRS release the £99.99 / $ Trailhood in small batches, collaborating with artists on the rear graphic print. There are sizes XS to 3XL to offer the perfect fit for a wide range of riders, and typically a broad selection of colours to match your style.
THE DIRT
When the DFYRS Trailhood first landed with me, I was immediately hit by how soft the material is. The Trailhood is not your typical piece of mountain bike apparel, instead feeling much more like your favorite cosy hoodie. As a result, I was strongly inclined to reserve it for off-bike life only, with the combination of comfort and style making it an item I’d happily wear day-to-day. This cosiness didn’t make me particularly excited to wear it on the bike, with concerns for breathability and durability. After a little chat to myself, I took the Trailhood out for its maiden voyage, and thankfully my concerns were mostly dispelled.
The Trailhood is certainly an item that’ll suit riders on the more relaxed, freeride side of the sport. That’s to say, if you’re a pedaling fiend and regularly find yourself putting in efforts in the saddle, it might not quite offer the breathability and fit you’re after. That said, I’ve logged a number of pedal-fed rides in the Trailhood in temperatures from 3℃ (37℉) to 8℃ (46℉) with minimal complaint. Where it really shone was on uplift days in mild conditions though, where it made for a very comfortable place to be both up and down the hill. Deploying the hood over your helmet, you can seal in some welcome heat and keep things cosy.
The Cotton-Tech blend fabric does a better job at wicking sweat and regulating temperature than I had expected, keeping things relatively comfortable. That is, until you’ve sweated a bucket or been caught in a rainstorm, where a saturated Trailhood begins to feel more like a cotton hoodie, and can get rather heavy. The pit zips helped to vent a little heat, but won’t save you if you’ve been pushing hard. Because it’s on the slightly baggier side of things (which really helps with that casual style), it can begin to sag a little when wet. But of course, a wet ride or big pedaling effort are going to be better served by apparel purposely designed for such use cases.
The zippered pouch DFYRS equipped the Trailhood with came in very useful on a number of occasions, from storing a passport on my travels to New Zealand, to keeping the phone safe and easily accessible on the climbs. I found that having the phone in the pouch for the descents was uncomfortable, in part due to the slightly baggy fit letting it flap around, but also because you could feel it on dynamic movements.
Much to my relief, the DFYRS Trailhood has held up very well to the abuse, and still comes out of the washing machine looking good as new. It’s shaken off tangles with trees and bushes well without any damage, and that yellow is still popping. All in all, for more casual riding and general life, the Trailhood is an item I’m stoked to have in my kit bag.
The Wolf’s Last Word
The DFYRS Trailhood is a hoodie that manages to disguise some technical features behind a plush and stylish casual item. Perfect for park laps and post-ride beers, this is a hoodie more casual riders are likely to be stoked on. 
Price: £99.99 / $122
Website: DFYRS.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Robert’s habitat is the Tweed Valley, Scotland, which is renowned for its root-littered enduro mountain bike trails. Robert has been developing his bike handling skills for the last 16 years. Since he was a pup, he’s been riding everything from BMX through to enduro and downhill bikes. Combining a playful style with occasional speed-focused aggression, he favors supportive bikes, and does his best to push them hard.
Rank: European Tech Editor
Size: 6’2” / 189cm | 220lbs / 100kg
Social: @robert_johnston
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