Recently, my Chinese project road bike finally came together. During the build, I thought it would be interesting to test some cycling apparel from a Chinese brand as well. That’s how I found Monton, and I immediately liked their colors and overall design language.
Cycling apparel is an important part of the sport. There are many factors that can make a jersey, a bib short or a pair of gloves either comfortable or uncomfortable. That’s why it matters what we wear during long hours on the bike. For many riders, appearance matters too. Personally, I find it motivating to wear a stylish jersey.
Nowadays, Chinese brands have everything needed to produce top-level cycling apparel. Since the early 2000s, it has become common for major sportswear brands to manufacture their products in China. This gave local companies a strong foundation, and they were quick to invest in development and build their own brands.
From OEM Production to an Independent Brand
Monton started out as a contract manufacturer for Western brands around 25 years ago, which gave the company a strong foundation. They launched their own product range in 2009. The apparel I tested belongs to the SKMT. line — also known as Skullmonton — which is a sub-brand of Monton.
I really like their style and color palette. Even the simpler jerseys look good, but my personal favorites are the designs with colorful patterns on the fabric.
Price is also an important factor. Many cyclists start with products from the big French sports retailer, but later want to step up. At the same time, not many people are willing to pay triple-digit prices in euros or dollars for a jersey or a bib short. This is where the direct-to-consumer business model has clear advantages, as it allows riders to get higher quality products at more reasonable prices.
What Did I Test?
I received a complete summer kit: a jersey, bib shorts, fingerless gloves and a pair of socks, all chosen from Skullmonton’s Summer 2026 collection.
They provide sizing assistance, although it’s worth choosing a larger size compared to most Western brands. For example, I usually wear 2XL from the big French multisport retailer, but Monton recommended an Asia 4XL / EU 3XL jersey and Asia 3XL / EU 2XL bib shorts based on my measurements. In the end, both fit well.
I chose the Horizon – Soft Dawn jersey and the Motion Utility – Ultimate Grey bib shorts. For the socks, I went with the Minima Light Blue, while for the fingerless gloves I chose the Minima Lime Cream.
Quality You Can Feel
The apparel arrived in thick, resealable plastic bags that can later be reused for other purposes. The jersey is thin, lightweight and has a silky feel to it. It is stretchy and breathable. The zipper is full-length, and the manufacturer also highlights the use of YKK zippers.
The stitching quality is first-rate. I previously had an issue with a Van Rysel Racer series jersey, where the pocket stitching damaged the rear fabric panel over time. Here, Monton clearly paid attention to preventing this kind of problem. At the top edge of the pockets, they added a thicker inner reinforcement layer that helps stabilize the material.
The bib shorts are made from a thicker material, but that actually works in their favor, as they provide better support and shaping. Side pockets are an interesting addition.
The bib straps are also well done: wide, supportive, yet still soft with a silky feel. At the bottom of the legs, there is a wide rubberized gripper on the inside that helps keep the shorts securely in place.
What I really like about the fingerless gloves is the velcro-free design, although they are slightly harder to remove from my hands. The upper material is thin and breathable, while the palm features gel padding inside.
Cycling socks are something completely new to me, as I never really used this type of product before. There is actual technology behind them. The socks are compression-based and designed to wick away moisture as efficiently as possible.
How Does the Apparel Perform on the Road?
When we pull up the bib shirt it’s important to true up on our body. I have experience, how in the top of my ham can be rumpling and give uncomfortable feel. I rode three and half hours in this cloting, and chamois is fine, not soft, not too hard.
A larger jersey size does not necessarily mean a longer fit, which is important for bigger riders like me. There are three pockets on the back, and they are relatively spacious. A medium-sized banana fits inside without any problem. This is practical because there is enough room for snacks and ride nutrition, while a wind vest can also be stored comfortably.
The jersey tends to ride up a bit, although that is more related to my body shape, as I carry some extra weight around the waist area. A smaller size might improve this. On the other hand, the material feels great against the skin and does not cause nipple chafing, which is important because I had problems with that before.
The downside of the big pockets is that taking things out or putting them back can be a bit difficult. For me, the most problematic part is putting my smartphone back into the middle pocket after shooting some photos. However, this is probably something that could improve with better shoulder mobility exercises.
I hated the gel-equipped gloves during the first two rides, although I could already feel their positive effect against hand tingling. After that, they became comfortable. They fit tightly, so they are a bit hard to remove. However, that is not really a problem, because we usually wear them for hours anyway.
The socks are comfortable and fit well, so there is no chance of rubbing or irritation. I could not test them in really hot weather yet. However, I never feel my feet becoming wet from moisture. In this case, feeling nothing probably means the technology is working well.
Price to value ratio
This jersey costs $67.99, bib short is $70.99. Fingerless gloves are $34.99 and socks only $8.99. These are absolutely reliable prices. After I see material and manufacturing quality I feel it’s a nice value for my money.
Verdict
My impressions of the Skullmonton apparel are absolutely positive. I did not run into any real problems, only small details that come with both advantages and disadvantages. The clothing feels great to wear, and I also really like the design.
I am a very price-to-value sensitive rider, so it says a lot that I would personally pay for these products. Because of this, I can honestly recommend checking the manufacturer’s webshop. If you find something you like, you can order with confidence.
There is also one more advantage for our readers: with the coupon code FXbikemaghu15 you can get 15% off your order.
