protective wear, school me

dtrides

dtrides

Well-known member
Ok, so it's been a minute since I had a off road bike.:afm199
Back in the day some of my go-to gear consisted of:
Hi-point enduro boots
Flak Jacket
kidney belt
leather gloves that had rubber running down the back of the fingers
Bell helmet with snap on roost guard and some googles.

Just to get going I purchased some gear at Cycle gear (more or less dual sport stuff)
The dirt gear for the body seemed to offer very little protection.
The gloves looked like something I would wear gardening (no protection at all).
Same with the pants and jersey's.
I did some searching and found some beefy looking stuff but it was at eye watering prices (like way more expensive than my road racing gear).

So, do I really need $600 dollar knee guards and $1,000 dollar enduro coats to stay safe out there on the trail? (I sure hope not).
School me on some good gear that will get the job done and get me back home safe.
I have ordered Forma Terrain Enduro boots, thats my start...
DT
 
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1962siia

1962siia

Well-known member
I think it depends what/where you plan to ride. Minimum proper boots, shin/knee guards, helmet, and gloves.

I wear an upper body thing that is a chest protector, back protector and elbo guards all in one zip on thing. Depending on weather I’ll wear it over a base layer, put a jersey over it, or wear a jacket over it. Can’t remember the exact model but it’s made by leatt.

I always have moto-x boots and shin guards and padded riding undies and I always wear riding pants. Currently liking the klim dakar otb but that’s just my preference.

I wear regular dirt gloves and they are totally adequate. If you’re doing dual sport on pavement then you might want more protection.

My helmet hits the dirt pretty regularly so it gets replaced every few years with another cheapie eBay helmet. Currently running a particularly ugly Bell mx9. The ugly ones are usually cheaper. Lol. You need goggles as well.

A hydration pack is also a must and can also carry snacks and tools to replace/repair a flat tire.

Lots of different brands and quality out there. I’d say just get some less expensive basics and go ride with folks and learn from them. If you’re riding a lot the stuff wears out quickly so you can get better quality stuff as you replace worn out items.
 
1962siia

1962siia

Well-known member
In my gear bag normally: boots, compression socks, base layer knee covers, padded riding shorts, knee/shin guards, riding pants, long sleeve base layer shirt, upper body protector thing, jersey, enduro jacket, rain jacket, dirt gloves, neck gaiter thingy, helmet, goggles, hydration pack, tools/front tube/tow strap, ham radio, snacks, chocolate.

Radio isn’t needed but most of the folks I ride with carry them now and it’s helpful if there is a problem. We stay on a freq that doesn’t require a license but I do have my ham lic.
 
Starpower

Starpower

Well-known member
1962siia said:
I think it depends what/where you plan to ride. Minimum proper boots, shin/knee guards, helmet, and gloves.

I wear an upper body thing that is a chest protector, back protector and elbo guards all in one zip on thing. Depending on weather I’ll wear it over a base layer, put a jersey over it, or wear a jacket over it. Can’t remember the exact model but it’s made by leatt.

I always have moto-x boots and shin guards and padded riding undies and I always wear riding pants. Currently liking the klim dakar otb but that’s just my preference.

I wear regular dirt gloves and they are totally adequate. If you’re doing dual sport on pavement then you might want more protection.

My helmet hits the dirt pretty regularly so it gets replaced every few years with another cheapie eBay helmet. Currently running a particularly ugly Bell mx9. The ugly ones are usually cheaper. Lol. You need goggles as well.

A hydration pack is also a must and can also carry snacks and tools to replace/repair a flat tire.

Lots of different brands and quality out there. I’d say just get some less expensive basics and go ride with folks and learn from them. If you’re riding a lot the stuff wears out quickly so you can get better quality stuff as you replace worn out items.
Click to expand...

This ^ is good stuff and realistic. Buy used if you must over passing for now. In addition to the above I also wear this amazing Tee that I cannot tell I'm wearing due the custom fit and I have a freaky shape rib cage that I like as is along with my kidneys and spleen. This is worn under my compression/mesh/armored jacket as mentioned above. Like this -
https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-P...+jacket+armored+vented&qid=1609004426&sr=8-10

And this under:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J5T919Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Some of the jackets will provide the protection of this Tee, mine did not.
 
dtrides

dtrides

Well-known member
Any value in buying higher grade shin/knee guards such as Alpinestar SX-1 V2 vs house brand stuff from cycle gear?
 
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1962siia

1962siia

Well-known member
I haven't ever used those so no opinion. If I was trying to avoid knee injury I'd look into Asterisk knee braces or something like that.
 
dtrides

dtrides

Well-known member
..well, I was also trying to avoid wallet injury so I was considering something more affordable...
 
OaklandF4i

OaklandF4i

Darwin's exception
This is just my opinion.... and there others that will disagree.

I use just the basic two strap velcro knee/shin gaurds. There isn't enough of a difference for the basic guards to pay a lot more than the other.

I've tried a number of the fancier more expensive knee guards with hinges etc and broke them on a regular basis (rivets and hinges) every time I crashed. So went back to the simple velcro strap ones. IF I were going to spend more money, I'd spend a lot more money and get proper knee braces. Thankfully, I don't have any knee issues in many many years of riding.

For me, its boots, helmet, simple knee and elbow pads. That's it. Pants, jersey, gloves, keep you warmer or cooler depending on design and some brands/lines last longer than others. In my experience, that is the gist of it.

Some folks will wear all kinds of additional braces, armor, and padding, I won't try to dissuade them. In my opinion, they will only help reduce the number of bruises you might get in a crash... and not save you from breaking any bones. So if you are willing to pay for and wear them for bruise/bump protection, they are good.

Yes, I've owned and tried a number (compression upper armor.) I really don't like them in the heat and choose to forgo them. I'm not alone either.

Look at the starting line of any professional supercross race. Its pretty telling. None of them are wearing compression suits, very few if any elbow pads. Some might wear an under jersey chest protector... and that's for roost not crashes. Less than 1/2 neck braces. Most all are wearing knee braces.

If a Pro who's livelyhood depends on staying healthy doesn't wear one, there might not be a lot of value in it.

This is just what I wear, what I have tried, and why I wear what I do. You aren't going to find a consensus opinion or position on what to wear or not to wear. Just my opinion and experience, others will vary.
 
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Butch

Butch

poseur
Staff member
What CJ says, fookin smart guy.
Protect what you cannot afford to hurt.
I have a prescribed/ engineered knee brace that I actually wear most days. Rocks.

Healing is expensive.
 
dtrides

dtrides

Well-known member
Thanks all for the input.
I think/hope the Forma boots I ordered will serve me well.
I remember I really liked wearing the old flak-jacket ( i think thats what it was called?)as it was easy to take on and off (unlike some of the compression suits iv'e seen), not to hot and fantastic if I took a tree limb to the chest or landed on my back. It also had shoulder protection that I don't see on a lot of new stuff.
I will see if I can find something similar.
Mainly want to get out and put around and have a good time, not anything too serious. :thumbup:ride
DT
 
HadesOmega

HadesOmega

Well-known member
When I'm riding a durtbike doing durtbike things I wear:
- HJC Dirtbike Helmet
- Headsock
- Goggles with a quick strap
- Racer Rally Gloves (I use this when I Adventure ride offroad too)
- Jersey
- Pants
- The spandexy underpants
- Leatt Shin/knee pad (they're worn under the pants, they don't rotate in a crash but the pants easily gets holes in it unfortunately)
- Leatt Elbow pads (I really don't like to wear them they're so uncomfortable and they start riding down my arm, I'd really like to try on of those jackets with all the armor on it)
- Fox Comp5 full length dirtbike boots
- Chest Protector

HHORA2020-747-2494-L.jpg
 
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WoodsChick

WoodsChick

I Don't Do GPS
OaklandF4i said:
Look at the starting line of any professional supercross race. Its pretty telling. None of them are wearing compression suits, very few if any elbow pads. Some might wear an under jersey chest protector... and that's for roost not crashes. Less than 1/2 neck braces. Most all are wearing knee braces.

If a Pro who's livelyhood depends on staying healthy doesn't wear one, there might not be a lot of value in it.
Click to expand...

The starting line of any professional off-road race (enduro, desert, hare scrambles, etc) looks a little different than a SX race. You'll see more protection.
Since I ride more off-road than tracks I wear a chest protector. I punched a hole in one once with a pointy rock. A few friends of mine did the same, one with a manzanita branch and one with a handlebar. I've also taken a lot of hits that have made me glad that I had it on. That's all I needed to see. I'm also always riding right behind Eric, busting butt to not miss any slim chance to pass him. I eat a lot of rocks and trail junk in the process so that chest protector comes in handy :laughing

I also wear the regular 2-strap velcro knee and elbow protection. I have 2 surgically repaired (torn ACL) knees and wore custom cTi knee braces for years but I just quit wearing them for numerous reasons and am more than happy with the protection I've gotten from the fairly inexpensive Fox protection I wear now.
 
dtrides

dtrides

Well-known member
Thanks for the input WC.
I don't plan to race SC ...lol
In my younger years Trail riding it was more about getting wacked by a tree branch or falling off at a relative low speed.
I just remembered what a difference it made when I started wearing the flack jacket ( at least I think thats what is was called.)
No more getting the wind knocked out of me when I fell and tree branches could largely be ignored.
We mainly rode old logging roads, trails and river bars and had a ton of fun.
The videos I see online seem to be mainly how fast they can go or ludicrous difficult obstacles.
I don't mind a challenge now and then or pick up the pace on fire road if ground needs to be covered but my objective is to have fun and take in the scenery as well.
Just want to do it with some sense of self preservation....
DT
DT
 
1962siia

1962siia

Well-known member
The thing I dont like about armored jackets is the padding can move around in a crash. The body suit things seem to stay situated better IMHO.

I had a crash on the Knoxville Berryessa ride (leftcoastbias got it on video https://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8935925&postcount=2142 :laughing) wearing a decent quality jacket with armor. Cracked rib, bruised up elbow and jacket sleeve moved on impact and ended up with a tear in the jacket and my arm. Similar crashes with the leatt body armor thingy have just resulted in cracked ribs and smaller bruises but no precious red stuff leaking out! Currently healing from my latest cracked rib. Stalled on obsticle and fell backwards into some rocks. Protection is great but not crashing is better!

Hard to see in this screenshot but hopefully you can see the hole in my jacket where the sleeve rotated and tore on rocks. I did land pretty hard on my left side. Ymmv. Not sure how I put the black line on there. Techno savvy I am not!
picture.php
 
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dtrides

dtrides

Well-known member
Yep , I agree with you on how the armor can move around in a jacket or ADV pants.
It can happen even when you have good gear, I slid down the track face first and the accordion leather just above the knee guards in my race suit allowed the knee protection to move down slightly allowing the pavement to grind a nice hole in my knee...you just cant protect your self from every scenario.
That is why I was checking in here to see what the dirty Barfer's use.
Elbow protection is not something I remember from my early dirt days, how much importance would you give it for trail riding?
DT
 
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