Cycling indoors is hot work, even if your indoor set-up includes a high-output fan. But the best indoor cycle clothing can help make things a little more comfortable.
Indoor riding is not that different to a ride outdoors on a hot day though, so many riders just repurpose one of the best summer jerseys or summer base layers and a pair of summer bib shorts.
Best indoor cycling jerseys
+ Low-weight Pedal Mafia jersey
+ Zwift-specific branding
- Pockets may make back sweaty
Show off your Zwift affiliations with this lightly branded jersey made by Pedal Mafia. There's a full-length zip for when things heat up, although the rear pockets may get sweaty when you're going full gas.
+ No sleeves or pockets
+ Lightweight and sweat-wicking
- Close fit
Rapha says that its sleeveless base layer is designed for hot and humid conditions. If that sounds like your indoor training environment, this could be just what you need. Five colours and six sizes available.
+ Ultra-lightweight
+ Odour-resistant
- Expensive
Assos's base layer is seamless and very stretchy, as well as being soft and odour-resistant. It's also very lightweight at just 88g. Although expensive, Assos backs ists base layer with a two-year warranty.
Best indoor cycling shorts
+ Mesh panels
+ Pockets for food
- MTB seat pad
Designed for use under baggy MTB shorts, Endura's liner has mesh side panels and bibs, as well as pockets for food. It includes a quality seatpad, although this is geared at MTB rather than road use.
+ Top quality pad
+ Anti-rub inner thighs
- Expensive
If you're spending hours on the turbo, a quality pad is essential and Assos's are among the best. The RSR shorts are Assos's lightest summer offering, with great fit and, we found, a lack of chafing on the inner thighs.
+ Very lightweight
+ Quality pad
- Revealing if you're not riding alone
Mountain bike kit is a good option for riding indoors, as liners to be worn under baggy shorts are usually very lightweight. As they're designed to be worn under something, they can be a bit too revealing though.
Best indoor cycling shoes
+ Highly vented
+ SPD and SPD-SL cleat compatible
- Mondirectional micro adjustment
Features a stiff enough sole for whatever you want to do, a BOA dial, the ability to mount both types of cleats, and usability both indoors and outdoors pretty much covers every need you can think of, all at a reasonable price.
+ Low weight and high ventilation
+ Stiff carbon sole
- A little narrow for wider feet
The Fizik Vento Powerstrap R2 Aeroweave is a top-shelf outdoor cycling shoe appropriate for the hardest sprints you can throw at it. It’s also so airy that it feels like nothing and the big straps make it fast to get in and out of.
+ Great of spin classes
+ Sole venting
- Not the stiffest sole
The combination of a three-hole cleat interface, a walkable sole, and tons of ventilation make the Nike entry perfect for your next spin class at the gym.
Best indoor cycling socks
+ Many colour choices
+ Good value
- No mid-foot band
The DeFeet Aerator socks are made from breathable mesh with recycled polyester and are really comfy. Defeet makes them in a huge array of designs and multiple lengths, so you could choose a short sock for extra cooling.
+ Side-specific fit
+ Non-slip heel
- Extra padding over top of foot
The S-Phyre socks are left and right foot specific and are soft and comfy. There's an anti-slip heel to keep your feet locked in and a ribbed top surface to avoid pressure points. They're good outdoors on warm days too.
+ Very breathable
+ Modern height
- Few colour choices
The Pro socks from Sportful have a cuff that's almost all mesh and even the instep is mesh, so they're very breathable and should stay comfortable on the trainer. Use with indoor cycling shoes for ultimate ventilation.
Best indoor cycling extras
+ Lightweight mesh
+ Comfortable fit
- Peak is unnecessary
A cap can be really useful when riding indoors to keep sweat out of your eyes. The AC cap from Castelli is super lightweight for good air circulation, so your head won't get hotter, adding even more sweat.
+ Low bulk
+ Moves sweat away from eyes
- Cold or hand wash only
A headband is another great option if you want to keep sweat out of your eyes; useful if you're bald like me. The Halo headband is designed to wick sweat away from your eyes towards the sides of your face.
+ Highly absorbent
+ Quick drying
- Some are a bit large for turbo use
Microfibre towels are hugely absorbent and light and also pack down small. Perfect for a turbo session. Make sure you choose a small one though, so it doesn't get in the way if you want to use it while riding.
How to choose
What should I wear for indoor cycling?
When you cycle outside, you have to contend with the elements: wind, rain, scorching heat, and whatever else the world throws at you. When you're cycling indoors, however, you don't need to worry about these things, which in theory simplifies your cycling wardrobe.
Here's what we think you need to consider when choosing kit for indoor cycling:
- How airy is it? You'll want clothing that lets air from a fan cool you down.
- How well does it wick? You also want kit that doesn't saturate and feel too damp.
- What's the fit like? A close fit with plenty of stretch helps ensure that wicking is effective.
- For shorts, how good is the pad? You'll probably be sitting in one position a lot more than outdoors, so the pad needs to be comfortable.
- For shoes, how stiff are they? If you're spinning, this may not matter, but for Zwift racing you'll want a firm sole for good power transfer.
Everything you need to know about indoor cycle clothing
Do I really need indoor-specific cycling clothing?
While indoor-specific kit is nice to have if you're doing a lot of turbo sessions, you don't necessarily have to invest in it. Indeed, while there was an explosion of indoor kit a few years ago, dedicated indoor options are now scarce, suggesting a limited uptake by riders.
As we explained in our previous answer, it is important to manage your body temperature while training indoors, but if you already own lightweight summer kit that's designed to be used on hot days, then that's a great option.
As long as your clothing can quickly wick away moisture and dry afterwards, and allows a decent amount of airflow you should be fine. They're all features of summer cycling clothing.
Swapping from a jersey to a summer base layer will provide many of the benefits of a turbo-specific top. Lightweight summer cycling shorts, well-vented cycling shoes and summer socks will also help to keep you comfortable.
What else should I purchase to be comfortable?
There's a slew of other equipment you could buy to get the most from your indoor training.
A fan is essential, as is a towel to protect your bike's frame and components from sweat, which can cause corrosion.
Obviously, something to drink is important, so some extra-large bottles are handy, as is food if you're planning to spend longer on the trainer.
A floor mat will protect your carpet from sweat too and provide some vibration damping to avoid annoying partners and neighbours.
Finally, an indoor cycling app such as Zwift, Rouvy or MyWhoosh will make sessions more entertaining, while headphones and a playlist will help to pass the time.
What's with heat training?
Pro cyclists are increasingly turning to heat conditioning to improve their adaptation to racing. It needs to be managed carefully, but heating yourself up by wearing cold-weather clothing for indoor sessions will raise your core body temperature.
Over a series of sessions, your blood volume will increase as your body adapts to try to dissipate the heat. That can lead to increased transport of oxygen to the muscles and so greater power output for longer. Your heart rate when riding hard should decrease too, so a heat training session can mimic many of the effects of altitude training without leaving your house.
It's something that needs to be carefully used and monitored though and the frequency and intensity of heat training needs to be lower than a standard turbo session. We wouldn't recommend heat training without adequate support.
How do we test?
The Cyclingnews team spends our fair share of time training indoors and testing smart trainers. We put a lot of kit to the test, to ensure it is up to the job.
That means riding and racing through the heat of summer, as well as training camps and launch events in warmer climes. That kit is put to the test on the turbo too, once we're back home, so we can bring you the pick of lightweight clothing that's comfortable for a long ride on Zwift.
We take a systematic approach to testing and assessing the factors that make for the best bikes and cycling equipment. You can read more on our How We Test page.