WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE STUX SEMI-CUSTOM MTB KIT
Stux currently offers their mountain bike kit in a choice of three standard designs, which retail at £129.99. The semi-custom mtb kits begin with a choice of four base patterns, which can have the two primary colors independently selected from 28 possibilities. Logos, your name, and your number can be added too, free of charge, to create a truly customized sublimated kit. Pricing for Stux’s semi-custom program comes in at £159.99 for the jersey and pant combo.
The Stux mtb kit jersey and pants are available in a wide range of sizes, including youth sizes. The jersey sizing goes youth XS to L, and adult S to XXL. The pants go from a 20” to 40” waist in 2” increments.
The Stux mtb jerseys are made with a synthetic lightweight stretch material, which is relatively thin in the mountain bike space, akin to the Fox Flexair jersey. These are given a “premium fit”, and while I initially rolled my eyes at this terminology, the Stux jersey did feel premium when worn. The cut was athletic and clearly targeted towards a more racey than freeride vibe. That said, you could opt to size up if that’s your preference. The jersey is given laser-cut ventilation holes to improve breathability, and a drop tail to increase coverage in a riding position.
The Stux riding pant in their semi-custom mtb kit is a slim-fitting synthetic offering with an all-way stretch material. The cut is tapered in the lower leg, helping to give freedom of movement without being excessively baggy. The knee area is given room for a knee pad beneath, and uses a hard-wearing material to resist crash damage. A zip pocket on each leg offers storage space to keep the valuables safe, with ample room for a mobile phone. The waist features a ratchet buckle to tailor the fit. And finally, laser-cut ventilation holes are added on the thighs to improve breathability.
THE DIRT
When Stux reached out with the offer to test their semi-custom mountain bike kit, I was very excited to check it out. I can’t remember the inspiration, but my mind instantly went to fire and lava for the design, which I had intended to remain fairly subdued. Stux’s designer had other ideas, though, and the reality was a bold and eye-catching kit that looked aggressive and fast, for better and for worse. This design ended up being one of the foundational patterns for their semi-custom kits, called “Larva”. So, you could easily use the same pattern with a less bold accent color and get something more mellow.
Wearing the Stux kit for the first time, I was very impressed by the fit and the materials used. The premium feeling was especially notable with its comparably reasonable price tag, even without the custom element. Clearly race-inspired, the Stux mountain bike kit hugged my body close, yet offered ample flexibility to ride without any concern or discomfort. Honestly, I couldn’t have really asked for a better fit to take to the races.
The sleeves on the jersey ran close to the skin, so I would have struggled to get an elbow pad below. Much to my relief, their length was generous enough to avoid the typical gap between cuff and glove that my long arms often experience. The body was slightly more generous in its cut, but still very much a slim, race-inspired fit.
The Stux mountain bike pants were consistently figure-hugging without being too extreme, though my legs run on the thicker side, so slimmer riders are likely to experience a more relaxed cut. On the pants there was ample room for knee pads beneath, avoiding pronounced restriction when pedaling. The waist buckle secured them effectively, and the pockets were in a good size and position to store my phone on one side and tool and snack on the other.
Though I was very impressed by the feeling of the Stux semi-custom mtb kit, its bold design prevented me from wearing it frequently. While I am a good rider, I’m not inclined to shout about it…at least, not too loudly. When you wear a fitted kit with a bold design and graphics on it, you give off a certain air of confidence that I would simply struggle to live up to day-to-day. As a result, the Stux custom MTB kit was reserved only for “high-performance” days, such as the local downhill race I entered.
On these high-performance days, the Stux kit was comfortable and really encouraged a “send it for the badge” mentality. After all, you don’t want to go slow when you’ve got your company logos and slogans all over your kit, and your nickname on the back. I managed to channel this energy and slot into second place ahead of some riders who are definitely faster than me, which I can only attribute to Stux’s race kit. Magical? I don’t think so, but it was certainly supportive of riding as aggressively as you dare.
Of course, the semi-custom design element on the Stux mtb kit would allow you to choose a style that you’d be happy wearing day-in, day out. It’s just not what transpired from the Stux team coming up with the design following my extremely vague instructions. As such, we can’t hold it against them at all. In fact, I couldn’t think of a better race kit for the infrequent time I participate in a timed event, and I’m stoked to have a kit that’ll force me to try justify the racer looks the next time I take to a start line.
The Wolf’s Last Word
With reasonable pricing, quality materials, and a solid race-inspired cut, the Stux Semi-Custom mtb kit is impressive, so long as you can commit to wearing the design you create. 
Price: £159.99 (appx $220)
Website: Stuxgloves.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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