Guide
Dirtlej bike clothing: I wish I’d known about this brand sooner
by Patrick Bardelli
Sports meets fashion with Dirtlej’s Weathershild Raincoat
2/4/2026
Translation: Eva Francis
Pictures: Patrick Bardelli
The German outdoor clothing brand Dirtlej specialises in functional mountain bike clothing and accessories. Now the brand’s expanding into another market – fashion. Its first sportswear product looks promising.
I spent a few days in Hamburg in March and got to experience more weather changes in one morning than I usually would in an entire week. Warm summer breeze was the only one missing. There was rain, hail, sun, snow – something new every fifteen minutes. Oh and let’s not forget plenty of cold wind on top.
Needless to say, I was glad I was well equipped to face Hamburg’s crazy weather with the new Weathershild Raincoat by Dirtlej.
I’ve been wearing the German brand’s mountain bike equipment for some time now and have only good things to say about it:
With the Weathershild Raincoat, Dirtlej is dabbling in the world of fashion. This trend isn’t new. In fact, many outdoor brands have been producing fashionable and functional clothes for years. Check out the people wearing La Sportiva shoes and Arc’teryx jackets in expensive shopping districts such as Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse and you’ll see first-hand that it’s a lucrative industry.
Source: Oliver Fischer
Perfect weather to test a raincoat
Dirtlej markets its new raincoat for both mountain biking and everyday use. The latter, however, seems to be the more natural fit – at least for me. I didn’t try it out on the MTB. It just doesn’t feel right for that, in my opinion.
The 3-in-1 system consists of a raincoat shell, a fleece and the combination of both. During my stay in Hamburg, with temperatures around seven or eight degrees and the changeable conditions described above, I always wore the full combo. I was never too warm.
Back home, I wore the Weathershild Raincoat on my regular dog walks. Interestingly, even though the outside temperature was only around four degrees, I felt warmer in the coat than I did up in northern Germany. I blame the Hamburg wind for that, which over time sneaked its way through every single layer.
The shell serves as rain and wind protection. The waterproof and breathable outer layer is made from recycled materials, while the soft fleece, which is also made from recycled material, is warm enough on cooler days.
Weathershild Raincoat specs
- Water column: 20,000 mm
- Breathability: 25,000 g/m²/24h
- Shell material: 100% recycled polyester / PU membrane, 100% PFC-free DWR
- Fleece jacket material: 100% recycled polyester
Apart from winter, I’d say this coat’s a good choice in all conditions and seasons – during changeable and often chilly April weather as well as in a rainy autumn. Add the fleece or not, depending on how cold it is. But even in summer, the raincoat without the fleece can be a good choice.
The 3-in-1 system and more
As I said, you can wear the Weathershild Raincoat as a combo of fleece and shell – or only one or the other. The shell and fleece are connected by two-way zippers. The straight cut and pre-shaped sleeves ensure a comfortable fit. Both the shell jacket and the fleece have two zippered pockets each, and I particularly like the magnetic flaps on the shell.
In addition, Dirtlej’s new product stands out for its recycled materials and PFC-free water-repellent treatment. I also like the simple design in the colours Dark Dust and Black.
In a nutshell
Fashionable sportswear? In this case: yes, please!
In my opinion, it’s a perfectly valid question whether sports gear such as trail running shoes or MTB clothing really needs to work in an urban setting, too. And anyone who commutes back and forth between their car and desk in a small Swiss town wearing expensive La Sportiva shoes and Arc’teryx technical clothing might well answer that question with a resounding no.
However, if you’re spending hours walking in a big city such as Hamburg, come rain or shine, you’re quite right to opt for clothes that are made specifically for such conditions. And if your functional outfit also looks good next to the Elbphilharmonie or Kunsthalle, what’s so bad about that?
My time in Hamburg and regular dog walks back home in Switzerland have been a great opportunity to test the Weathershild Raincoat Dirtlej provided to me. My verdict? It keeps me dry and warm all day long.
Pro
- Proven Dirtlej technology with good breathability and a high water column
- Versatile 3-in-1 system
- Handy details such as magnetic flaps or buttons to attach fleece sleeves
- Recycled materials
- Designed for an urban setting, too
Header image: Oliver Fischer
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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