Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection: Alpine Brand Enters Mountain Biking for SS26
- May 2
- 9 min read
Germany's most respected alpine-safety brand just launched its first mountain bike collection. The Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection landed in April 2026 with a two-line structure, GORE-TEX ePE shells in the Trail line, merino-forward jerseys in the Free line, SQlab-padded shorts, and an MTB-specific pack range. For a brand whose name lives on transceivers and merino alpine layers, this is a real category move, and it is being read as such by the bike media.
What it is
The Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection is the German alpine specialist's debut in mountain biking apparel. The collection structures around two parallel lines.
The Sequence Trail line is built for steep climbs and long descents. Robust materials, GORE-TEX ePE jacket and pants for weather protection, padded shorts with SQlab collaboration on the chamois construction, MTB-specific pack systems, and the supporting accessories.
The Sequence Free line is built for airy flow-focused riding. Merino wool and TENCEL Lyocell blends in the jerseys, 2-way stretch shorts with a clean-cut design, and the corresponding base layers and accessories.
Pricing covers $25 socks to $170 packs, with most apparel pieces in the $115 to $170 range. The launch also paired with an expanded Ortovox Safety Academy that adds MTB-specific first aid programming to the brand's existing alpine training catalog.
Available now at ortovox.com (US and EU) and through select MTB specialty retailers.
Specs that matter
Sequence Free Jersey Long Sleeve: $135
Sequence Free Jersey T-Shirt: $115
Sequence Free Shorts: $160
Sequence Daypack 15: $170
Sequence Hip Pack 3: $115
Sequence Gloves (light / pro): $45 / $50
Sequence Socks: $25 to $35
Merino accessories: $35 to $40
A few of these earn a closer look.
The Sequence Free Jersey at $115 to $135 lands in the mid-tier of MTB jersey pricing. The merino and TENCEL Lyocell blend is the spec story. Most MTB jerseys are 100 percent synthetic for moisture wicking. The merino blend trades some wicking speed for temperature regulation across a wider range and natural odor resistance that lasts multiple ride days. For bikepackers, that is a genuine advantage.
The Sequence Free Shorts at $160 sit at the mid-to-upper tier for non-padded MTB shorts. The 2-way stretch fabric and clean-cut design read more like an alpine pant than the boxy MTB short cut a lot of brands ship. That fit philosophy is consistent with Ortovox's alpine-apparel design language.
The Sequence Daypack 15 at $170 is the headline pack in the collection. 15 liters is the volume sweet spot for an MTB day ride, big enough for food and water and a shell, small enough to ride without flopping. The MTB-specific carry features (tool routing, pad pockets, hydration sleeve) tell you Ortovox built the pack for bike riders rather than rebadging an alpine daypack.
The SQlab collaboration on the Trail shorts chamois is a credibility lever. SQlab is a respected German bike saddle and chamois specialist. Working with SQlab signals Ortovox did the homework on the engineering rather than guessing at chamois geometry.
Materials & construction
The merino-forward bet is the construction story. Mountain biking apparel has been a synthetic-only category for decades. Brands chase the lowest possible drying time and the highest possible wicking speed, which has driven the category to polyester and nylon blends with various proprietary treatments. Merino has been on the road bike fringe but largely absent from MTB.
Ortovox is the right brand to make the merino case to the MTB audience. They have decades of merino apparel construction experience in the alpine category, and the same physics that govern merino's value in a backcountry-skiing base layer apply on a long mountain bike day. Heat regulation across a wide temperature range. Odor resistance that lets you wear a jersey for three rides between washes. UV resistance through the fiber's natural protection.
The Sequence Trail line is the more conventional construction. Robust synthetic blends, GORE-TEX ePE for the weather protection pieces, recycled-material content across the line. ePE is the non-fluorinated successor to PFC-based GORE-TEX, which is the chemistry move the industry has been working through for the past three seasons. Ortovox using it across the Trail line is the bare minimum modern hardshell expectation, and they hit it.
The SQlab chamois pad on the Trail shorts is engineered for the MTB rider's pedaling angle, which is more upright and varied than the road-cycling crouch. SQlab's pad geometry reduces pressure on the perineum and supports the sit bones in a way that road chamois pads do not.
Who it's for
The Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection is built for the mountain biker who already values Ortovox in another part of their kit, and for the MTB rider who is curious enough about merino to try it on a long day. Trail riders doing 4-to-8-hour mountain efforts where temperature swings, hut-to-hut bikepackers who need apparel that performs across multiple ride days without laundry, and riders in the alpine MTB scene where European brand pedigree carries weight.
It is also for the rider who has been frustrated with MTB apparel that looks like it was designed by a marketer rather than a maker. The Ortovox cuts and color palette read like alpine apparel applied to a bike rider. That is either an aesthetic plus or minus depending on the rider's preference.
It is the wrong pick for a casual XC racer who needs the lowest possible weight and the fastest possible drying time. The merino-blend Free line trades weight and drying speed for temperature regulation. Get a fully synthetic jersey from Specialized or Endura instead. It is also the wrong pick for the rider who prioritizes brand-native MTB credibility over cross-category alpine pedigree; if you want a brand that has been in MTB since the start, Ortovox is not that.
A specific scenario this collection was made for: a four-day hut-to-hut MTB tour in the Italian Dolomites, mixed weather, mid-day temperature swings of 30 degrees, no laundry between huts.
How it compares
Against the Pearl Izumi Summit Pro MTB line (around $130 jerseys, fully synthetic): Pearl Izumi is the long-standing benchmark for technical MTB apparel. Pearl Izumi wins on drying speed and synthetic-jersey weight. Ortovox wins on temperature range and multi-day odor performance.
Against the Specialized Trail Series (around $90 to $130 jerseys, fully synthetic): Specialized is the broader-distribution alternative. Specialized wins on price and availability through the dealer network. Ortovox wins on materials specification and the niche alpine pedigree.
Against the Patagonia Dirt Roamer line (around $99 jerseys, recycled synthetic): Patagonia is the closer values match on sustainability claims. Both brands run recycled content. Patagonia has been in MTB longer; Ortovox has more refined alpine-derived material engineering.
Against the Arc'teryx MTB collection launching in 2026 (pricing TBC): Arc'teryx is the parallel alpine-into-MTB story. Singletracks has covered both as a paired narrative. Both brands are betting the MTB audience will pay alpine-tier prices for alpine-tier engineering. The two collections will spend the next two seasons defining whether that bet pays.
Where it shines (and where it doesn't)
It shines on multi-day rides where the merino fiber's odor resistance and temperature range earn their keep. It shines in alpine environments where a long climb hits hot and a long descent hits cold within the same hour. It shines for bikepackers who want one set of apparel that works across multiple riding contexts.
Where it does not shine: short, fast efforts where the lowest possible jersey weight is the deciding factor. The merino blend adds grams against a pure-synthetic jersey. It also does not shine for the rider who wants the lowest possible price point on a basic MTB jersey; the Sequence Free is in the mid-to-upper tier.
Where to get it
The Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection is available at ortovox.com (US and EU) and through select MTB specialty retailers. Pricing runs from $25 for socks to $170 for the Daypack 15. Apparel pieces sit in the $115 to $160 range. The collection rolled out in April 2026. Check the brand site for current colorway availability and size depth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection?
The Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection is the German alpine brand's first dedicated mountain biking apparel and pack range, launched April 2026. It splits into a Sequence Trail line built for steep climbs and long descents, and a Sequence Free line built around merino and TENCEL Lyocell blends for airy flow-focused riding. The collection covers jerseys, shorts, packs, gloves, and accessories.
Why is Ortovox launching a mountain bike collection?
The Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection is the brand's move into a category that overlaps with their core alpine audience. Ortovox is one of Europe's most respected names in avalanche safety and merino alpine apparel. Mountain bikers in alpine environments share temperature regulation needs and durability priorities with backcountry skiers, which is the strategic case for Ortovox entering the space.
Is the Ortovox Sequence Free line really made from merino wool?
The Ortovox Sequence Free line uses merino wool blended with TENCEL Lyocell in jerseys and accessories. Merino is the temperature-regulating fiber that keeps the rider cool in heat and warm in chill, with natural odor resistance that lasts multiday on a hut-to-hut bikepacking trip. The Free shorts use a 2-way stretch synthetic fabric, not merino. The merino positioning is real but applied to the right pieces.
How much does the Ortovox Sequence Daypack 15 cost?
The Ortovox Sequence Daypack 15 is the 15-liter MTB-specific pack in the Sequence collection at $170 USD. It is built around a hydration-bladder layout with mountain-biking-specific carry features for tools, pads, and a shell. The matching Sequence Hip Pack 3 is a 3-liter low-profile alternative at $115 USD for riders who prefer hip-belt carry over a back pack.
Does Ortovox use SQlab padding in the Sequence shorts?
The Ortovox Sequence Trail shorts use SQlab padding in the chamois construction. SQlab is a German bike-saddle and chamois specialist whose padding is engineered for sustained MTB ride positions. The collaboration is the credibility lever that signals Ortovox is taking the bike audience seriously and not building padded apparel by guess.
Where can I buy the Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection?
The Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection is available at ortovox.com (US and EU) and through select MTB specialty retailers. The collection rolled out in April 2026. Pricing runs from $25 for socks to $170 for the Daypack 15. Check the brand site for current colorway and size availability.
Is the Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection good for bikepacking?
The Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection is well-suited to bikepacking through the merino-forward Sequence Free line and the carry-capable Sequence Daypack 15. Merino's odor resistance is a multiday advantage on a self-supported trip where laundry is not an option. The Sequence Daypack 15 sized at 15 liters fits a day's worth of food, water, and a shell for a hut-to-hut MTB tour.
The bottom line
Buy from the Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection if you value merino's temperature range on long rides, if you trust the alpine-into-MTB engineering pedigree, and if the Sequence aesthetic reads right to you. Skip it if you race XC and need the lowest possible jersey weight. The reason this matters: this collection and the parallel Arc'teryx MTB launch are the two-brand story that will define whether the MTB audience pays alpine-tier prices for alpine-tier engineering across the next two seasons.
Specs and pricing accurate as of 2026-04-29 when this post was published. Check the brand page for current availability and colorways.
FAQ
What is the Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection?
The Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection is the German alpine brand's first dedicated mountain biking apparel and pack range, launched April 2026. It splits into a Sequence Trail line built for steep climbs and long descents, and a Sequence Free line built around merino and TENCEL Lyocell blends for airy flow-focused riding. The collection covers jerseys, shorts, packs, gloves, and accessories.
Why is Ortovox launching a mountain bike collection?
The Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection is the brand's move into a category that overlaps with their core alpine audience. Ortovox is one of Europe's most respected names in avalanche safety and merino alpine apparel. Mountain bikers in alpine environments share temperature regulation needs and durability priorities with backcountry skiers, which is the strategic case for Ortovox entering the space.
Is the Ortovox Sequence Free line really made from merino wool?
The Ortovox Sequence Free line uses merino wool blended with TENCEL Lyocell in jerseys and accessories. Merino is the temperature-regulating fiber that keeps the rider cool in heat and warm in chill, with natural odor resistance that lasts multiday on a hut-to-hut bikepacking trip. The Free shorts use a 2-way stretch synthetic fabric, not merino. The merino positioning is real but applied to the right pieces.
How much does the Ortovox Sequence Daypack 15 cost?
The Ortovox Sequence Daypack 15 is the 15-liter MTB-specific pack in the Sequence collection at $170 USD. It is built around a hydration-bladder layout with mountain-biking-specific carry features for tools, pads, and a shell. The matching Sequence Hip Pack 3 is a 3-liter low-profile alternative at $115 USD for riders who prefer hip-belt carry over a back pack.
Does Ortovox use SQlab padding in the Sequence shorts?
The Ortovox Sequence Trail shorts use SQlab padding in the chamois construction. SQlab is a German bike-saddle and chamois specialist whose padding is engineered for sustained MTB ride positions. The collaboration is the credibility lever that signals Ortovox is taking the bike audience seriously and not building padded apparel by guess.
Where can I buy the Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection?
The Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection is available at ortovox.com (US and EU) and through select MTB specialty retailers. The collection rolled out in April 2026. Pricing runs from $25 for socks to $170 for the Daypack 15. Check the brand site for current colorway and size availability.
Is the Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection good for bikepacking?
The Ortovox Sequence MTB Collection is well-suited to bikepacking through the merino-forward Sequence Free line and the carry-capable Sequence Daypack 15. Merino's odor resistance is a multiday advantage on a self-supported trip where laundry is not an option. The Sequence Daypack 15 sized at 15 liters fits a day's worth of food, water, and a shell for a hut-to-hut MTB tour.
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