[Review] Women’s XC Lite Gear by Klim

If you live where you are riding in hot weather or traveling to a warm climate to ride, the investment of gear made for hot weather riding is absolutely worth it. Not only does my XC Lite Gear by Klim keep me cooler, but it has also improved my riding and here’s why. Recently in Arizona, I did not have riding gear made for hot weather. It was not well ventilated, was dark in color, and overall just not suited for hot temps. I was getting overheated and fatigued on more technical single track rides right around 17 miles. I would have to head back to camp because I was starting to feel sick and tired, most likely from heat exhaustion. I decided I couldn’t continue to feel that way, so a friend of mine let me borrow some of his hot weather gear. I could not believe the improvement in the way I felt which in turn made me a better rider and I was up for more riding after 30 miles. The day before, I was totally burnt out at half the distance. I knew then that a change needed to be made and that’s when I got the Klim XC Lite Gear. I can’t believe I’ve gone so long without it.

The Klim XC Lite Jersey and pants are very breathable, well-ventilated, lightweight, and surprisingly durable. I definitely thought the well-ventilated material would be a trade-off for durability but I was wrong. While this gear is ultra breathable, it’s still built well and ready to withstand abuse.

The XC Lite Jersey is extremely comfortable and won’t restrict your movement in any way. The v-neck design means that the jersey won’t pull back into your neck if your pack is pulling it back. It stays in place all day long. As you can see, the jersey material is highly ventilated and it also wicks moisture away. I have been extremely impressed with how well this jersey has held up. I have taken quite a few hard hits in it and it has yet to show any wear. There are no tears and no scuffs. I truly feel as though I can give all my other jerseys away because I’m not sure why I’d ever not reach for this one.

The XC Lite Pants are very similar to the jersey in that they are extremely breathable, they’re lined with a moisture-wicking mesh, and they are just so damn comfortable. I really didn’t realize a riding pant could be so comfortable. There’s a stretch crotch gusset that helps these pants to move with, not against you and I feel absolutely no movement restriction when wearing these.

The XC Lite Pants are reinforced where they should be giving you ultimate protection and extending their life. There are genuine leather patches on the interior of the knee and light padding on the knee. While I wouldn’t not wear kneepads because of the integrated padding, it does add a nice bit of protection.

For sizing, I’m 5’10 and 150 pounds and I usually wear a size 8 in pants and a medium/large top. I wear a full body protector underneath my jersey and the large fits me well. It doesn’t feel overly loose like I’m swimming in it but it is not so tight that I feel restricted. The length in both the sleeves and jersey is ideal. For the pants, I decided to size up after hearing that these run slightly small. I’m so glad I did. The pants fit me perfectly and I’m wearing long underwear, padded shorts, and knee pads under my pants. Especially if you are in between sizes and gear up under your pants, I would size up.

If you’re ready to be prepared for hot weather riding and not let the heat get you down, I would highly recommend investing in Klim’s XC Lite gear. This gear is incredibly breathable, well-ventilated and durable! It will curb heat exhaustion and keep you cool. Also, be sure to check out my review (coming soon) of the Klim XC Lite Gloves.

If you’re interested in buying Klim XC Lite gear, doing so using our provided links (jersey here and pants here) will benefit us in that we get a small kickback from your Amazon Purchase. We truly appreciate the support.