Wild Rye: Fun, Trail-Tested Clothing for Women Who Ride, Hike, and Adventure Hard

Wild Rye blends bold style with technical performance, creating outdoor apparel for women that fits muscular builds and works across trail sports. Great for biking and hiking.

Wild Rye: Fun, Trail-Tested Clothing for Women Who Ride, Hike, and Adventure Hard
Wild Rye clothes are stretchy, breathable, and made to move! Whether you're biking, hiking, backpacking or just chilling around town!

When it comes to outdoor apparel designed by women for women, Wild Rye stands out for all the right reasons. Best known for their mountain biking gear, this small but mighty brand has built a loyal following not just for their fun, bold prints, but also for their fit, comfort, and versatility on trail and off. And if you're someone with strong, muscular thighs or an athletic build, their bottoms might just be the unicorn you've been searching for!

 Person hiking a sunny desert trail with a large backpack, wearing Wild Rye shorts and an orange foam pad strapped to the pack.
Backpacking through the desert heat in Wild Rye shorts, proving they’re just as trail-worthy as they are bike-friendly. I lived in Wild Rye's shorts during a desert thru-hike. They fit awesome and are so durable.

But here’s the real secret: Wild Rye isn’t just for bikers. Many of their tops and bottoms cross over seamlessly into hiking, backpacking, and general outdoor use. Whether you're tackling technical terrain or lounging at camp with a cold drink in hand, Wild Rye offers performance-driven pieces that feel good, look good, and move with you.


Why We Love Wild Rye Clothing

Made for Muscular and Athletic Builds

Wild Rye bottoms are known for fitting muscular thighs without pinching, pulling, or squeezing in all the wrong places. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by too-tight shorts or hiking pants that weren’t built for your body, Wild Rye is a game-changer. The fabrics are stretchy, durable, and built to move, not restrict.

Feminine But Fierce Aesthetic

The brand brings bold, creative energy to outdoor wear; think punchy patterns, funky florals, and a strong sense of style that doesn’t compromise function. It’s technical gear that feels joyful to wear.

 Smiling woman in black Wild Rye top and colorful cap hiking among cacti in the Sonoran Desert.
Head-to-toe Wild Rye in the cactus-covered Sonoran Desert! This top performs like a base layer but feels like your favorite tee. The shorts could not possibly fit my muscular thighs better.

Mountain-Tested Performance

Every piece is tested in the rugged terrain of Idaho, where Wild Rye is based. The result? Clothing that holds up to crashes, scrapes, sweat, and summits.

Great for More Than Just Biking

While their flagship items- like the Freel and Freda bike shorts -are loved by mountain bikers, they’re also fantastic for hiking, long summer trail days, and even backpacking trips. Many of their tops layer well and dry quickly, and their shorts work just as well on foot as they do in the saddle.


What to Try First

Here are a few standout Wild Rye items that cross over beautifully from bike to hike:

  • Freel Bike Short – Burly, stretchy, and designed to fit strong legs with ease. A great short for hiking and mountain biking alike. I literally live in these for 8 months of the year in the Sonoran Desert.
  • Mackay Crop Tee – A super soft and comfortable tee that is quick drying and drapey. It manages to look super cute though, and I find it transitions perfectly from trail to town.
  • Rita Bike Short – A very lightweight, fast-drying short. These are stretchy and move with you. They're exceptionally comfortable!
  • Alden Anorak Windbreaker – Whether you're up in the alpine, or shredding in the desert, things can get super windy. This is a fantastic layer to keep it at bay. It packs down super small and can handle light rain easily.
 Top-down view of someone wearing Wild Rye printed shorts and trail runners next to two cameras on rocky desert ground.
Wild Rye’s prints are fun, but the real magic is the fit. These shorts move with strong legs and don’t ride up on the trail. They also make shorts with up to a 14" inseam which is pretty great!

More Than A Bike Brand

If you’ve ever struggled to find outdoor clothing that fits your body, makes you feel good, and performs across multiple activities, Wild Rye is worth your attention. Their women-led approach and commitment to creating gear that actually works has built a devoted fan base—and it’s easy to see why.

 Two women standing with skateboards wearing Wild Rye casualwear—a t-shirt and skirt on one, and overalls on the other.
Wild Rye blends casual style with active comfort. From skateboards to summits, their clothes are made for movement.

From epic backcountry hikes to mellow trail days to post-adventure hangs, Wild Rye delivers style, substance, and a killer fit especially for women with muscle, curves, and strength. Don’t let the bike branding fool you: these are adventure clothes, period.


This article is independent of the supplier and reflects my own opinions. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links at no additional cost to you.